Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Prevalence and Dietary Factors in the Sylhet District of Bangladesh.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder. Along with other factors diet plays an important role in the causation of IBS. This population-based study was done to find out the prevalence of IBS and to find out the dietary factors associated with IBS from August 2011 to December 2011 in Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Nineteen hundred apparently healthy subjects selected by cluster sampling methods were interviewed by a validated bowel disease questionnaire. Dietary history of the subjects was also taken. Irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed according to Rome III criteria. The prevalence of IBS was found 14.2% (n=269, M=15%, F=13.4%, p=0.365). Mean age of the IBS patients were higher than the study population (41.35 years vs. 34.74 years, p=0.000). Irritable bowel syndrome was found more in low education group (16.3%) with lower socioeconomic status (16.5%) and in single person (16.7%). IBSD was the most prevalent subtype (48.7%), IBSM was the next common subtype. Abdominal pain relieved by defecation (81%) and abdominal pain associated with loose stools (81%) were the two commonest symptoms. Age (OR 1.023, p=0.000), less intake of meat (OR 2.281, p=0.000) and pulses (OR 1.648, p=0.001) and more intake of tea (OR 1.524, p=0.009) and spices (OR 0.452, p=0.000) were found as independent predictor of IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder in our community. IBSD is the most prevalent subtype. Less intake of meat, pulses and more intakes of tea and spices are important associated factors for IBS.

Sonographically Detected Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Apparently Healthy Adults and Associated Factors.

This hospital-based study was done to see the prevalence of sonologically detected non alcoholic fatty liver disease and associated factors in the apparently healthy adults. Apparently healthy and non alcoholic companions of the patients visiting the Centre of Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Sylhet were subjected to abdominal ultrasonography to see the presence of fatty liver. Demographic features and other relevant data were collected in a semi structured questionnaire to find out the associated factors for non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Total 1019 persons with mean age of 37.23 years were included in the study. Among them 703 (69%) were female and 316 (31%) were male. Out of them 189 (18.5%) persons had sonologically detectable nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. NAFLD was more prevalent in male than female (25.6% vs. 15.4%, p=0.000). In univariate analysis NAFLD were more in male (25.6%) 41-50 years age group (29.3%, p=0.000), over weight (32.3%)/obese subjects (51.4%), businessmen (24.0%), service holders (28.7%), high income group, diabetics (27.0% vs. 18.0%, p=0.000) and hypertensive subjects (43.3% vs. 15.24%, p=0.000). In multivariate analysis, BMI over 23kg/m² (OR 6.683, p=0.000), age >30 years (OR 1.787, p=0.006) and higher income (OR 1.788, 95% CI 0.970-3.293) were independent factors associated with NAFLD. Sonologically detected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (18.5%) is common in our apparently healthy adults. BMI over 23kg/m² was the most important predictor for NAFLD.

Comparison of 2 high-throughput spectral techniques to predict differences in diet composition of grazing sheep and cattle.

Diet composition can be estimated in free-ranging animals by the use of n-alkane and long-chain fatty alcohol concentrations in feces. However, this technique involves relatively laborious and costly analytical techniques. Two spectroscopy techniques were investigated as a way of determining whether dietary differences are likely, thus indicating whether the more expensive and labor-intensive techniques for more detailed analysis are justified. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and front-face fluorescence emission spectroscopy (lambda(excitation) = 380 nm, lambda(emission) = 600 to 760 nm) were used to analyze fecal samples collected from 2 different breeds of cattle and sheep (4 groups in total, n = 6 per group) grazing moorland plants in 2 grazing sessions. These fecal samples were also analyzed for alkane and alcohol concentrations. Fourier-transform infrared spectra, particularly in the alkane regions, demonstrated clear separation between animal species. Fluorescence emission spectra showed similar separation; fluorophores were most likely chlorophylls and their derivatives. Multivariate analysis of all 3 data sets showed similar variation within and between groups of cattle and sheep, indicating differences in diet selection particularly between species, but also between breed and grazing session. Both spectroscopy methods showed utility in suggesting differences in diet composition that would be worth investigating using more detailed chemical analyses. Of the 2 techniques, the FTIR spectroscopy gave the better comparative results, being able to detect differences in sampling months that were detected with alkanes and alcohols that the fluorescence emission spectroscopy did not detect.

2-nitroimidazol-5-ylmethyl as a potential bioreductively activated prodrug system: reductively triggered release of the PARP inhibitor 5-bromoisoquinolinone.

5-Chloromethyl-1-methyl-2-nitroimidazole reacted efficiently with the anion derived from 5-bromoisoquinolin-1-one to give 5-bromo-2-((1-methyl-2-nitroimidazol-5-yl)methyl)isoquinolin -1-one. Biomimetic reduction effected release of the 5-bromoisoquinolin-1-one. The 2-nitroimidazol-5-ylmethyl unit thus has potential for development as a general prodrug system for selective drug delivery to hypoxic tissues.