Assessment of Dialysis Adequacy Using Small Solute Clearance Indices among Twice versus Thrice Weekly Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh.

This observational study was carried out in the Department of Nephrology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 179 patients were included in this study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed written consent was taken from each patient. All patients were underwent detail history taking, thorough physical examination and relevant investigations. Data collection was conducted through a structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS 23.0. Mean age ±SD of the study patients was 47.06±14.1 with a majority in age group 41-50 years. Male predominance was observed with a male: female ratio of 2.19:1 and 68.7% male patients. Level of pre-dialysis, post-dialysis urea in the study population was 123.77±26.86mg/dl, 50.27±15.70mg/dl respectively and mean ±SD of Urea Reduction Ratio (URR) in hemodialysis (target >65.0%) was 67.2±1.9. Most of the 8 hours (two times) per week hemolysis patients could not achieve the target value of dialysis adequacy parameters. On the other hand, maximum people in 12 hours (three times) per week hemodialysis group achieved the target value of dialysis adequacy parameters. It is important to calculate Kt/V or URR and individualize the dialysis doses for each patient.

COVID-19 Induces Neuroinflammation and Suppresses Peroxisomes in the Brain.

OBJECTIVE: Peroxisome injury occurs in the central nervous system (CNS) during multiple virus infections that result in neurological disabilities. We investigated host neuroimmune responses and peroxisome biogenesis factors during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using a multiplatform strategy. METHODS: Brain tissues from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (n = 12) and other disease control (ODC) (n = 12) patients, as well as primary human neural cells and Syrian hamsters, infected with a clinical variant of SARS-CoV-2, were investigated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR), and immunodetection methods. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the CNS of 4 patients with COVID-19 with viral protein (NSP3 and spike) immunodetection in the brainstem. Olfactory bulb, brainstem, and cerebrum from patients with COVID-19 showed induction of pro-inflammatory transcripts (IL8, IL18, CXCL10, NOD2) and cytokines (GM-CSF and IL-18) compared to CNS tissues from ODC patients (p < 0.05). Peroxisome biogenesis factor transcripts (PEX3, PEX5L, PEX11ß, and PEX14) and proteins (PEX3, PEX14, PMP70) were suppressed in the CNS of COVID-19 compared to ODC patients (p < 0.05). SARS-CoV-2 infection of hamsters revealed viral RNA detection in the olfactory bulb at days 4 and 7 post-infection while inflammatory gene expression was upregulated in the cerebrum of infected animals by day 14 post-infection (p < 0.05). Pex3 transcript levels together with catalase and PMP70 immunoreactivity were suppressed in the cerebrum of SARS-CoV-2 infected animals (p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION: COVID-19 induced sustained neuroinflammatory responses with peroxisome biogenesis factor suppression despite limited brainstem SARS-CoV-2 neurotropism in humans. These observations offer insights into developing biomarkers and therapies, while also implicating persistent peroxisome dysfunction as a contributor to the neurological post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:531-546.

Antibacterial effect of kitchen herbs against pathogenic multidrug-resistant E. coli isolates from calf diarrhoea.

Calf diarrhoea remains the biggest challenge both in the small and large farms. Infectious diarrhoea is associated with many pathogens, Escherichia coli being one, but majority are systematically treated with antibiotics. Since antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing menace, the need to find alternative prophylactic solutions using popular kitchen herbs such as Trachyspermum ammi (carom seeds), Curcuma longa (turmeric) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum sp.) extracts is been investigated against virulent form of E. coli isolated from calf diarrhoea. The virulence factors identified in these isolates were ST (32.5%), LT (20%), eaeA (15%), stx1 (2.5%) and stx2 (5%) with the occurrence of the most common serogroups as O18 (15%) followed by O111 (12.5%). Highest resistance was seen with beta lactam + beta lactamase inhibitor (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) followed by beta lactams (ampicillin, cefuroxime and cefepime). The zone of inhibition due to cinnamon (methanol) and carom seed (ethanol) extracts (500 to 250 µg/mL concentration) on E. coli bacteria was >19 mm, respectively. Turmeric, cinnamon and carom had the potency of inhibiting the pathogenic E. coli which maybe suggestive of its use in calf diets as prophylaxis against diarrhoea.

Evaluation of transfer factors of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides from soil to grass and mango in the northern region of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a rapidly developing country, which is vulnerable to various types of pollution due to the large-scale industrial and associated human activities that might potentially affect the locally harvested foodstuffs. Therefore, the transfer factor is an essential tool to assess the safety of foodstuffs due to the presence of natural radioactivity in environmental matrix and/or strata. This is a first study of its kind conducted in a well-known region for mango farming in Bangladesh, measuring the uptake of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) by grass and mango from soil to assess the ingestion doses to humans. The HPGe gamma-ray detector was used to determine the concentrations of NORMs in samples of soil (20), grass (10), and mango (10), which were then used to calculate the transfer factors of soil to grass and soil to mango. Average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in associated soil samples (47.27 ± 4.10, 64.49 ± 4.32, 421.60 ± 28.85) of mango and 226Ra and 232Th in associated soil samples (45.07 ± 3.93, 52.17 ± 3.95) of grass were found to exceed the world average values. The average transfer factors (TFs) for mango were obtained in the order of 40K(0.80) > 226Ra (0.61) > 232Th (0.31), and for grass, it shows the order of 40K (0.78) > 232Th (0.64) > 226Ra (0.56). However, a few values (3 mango samples and 3 grass samples) of the estimated TFs exceeded the recommended limits. Moreover, Bangladesh lacks the transfer factors for most of the food crops; therefore, calculation of TFs in the major agricultural products is required all over Bangladesh, especially the foodstuffs produced near the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.

Effect of long-term caloric restriction on DNA methylation measures of biological aging in healthy adults from the CALERIE trial.

The geroscience hypothesis proposes that therapy to slow or reverse molecular changes that occur with aging can delay or prevent multiple chronic diseases and extend healthy lifespan1-3. Caloric restriction (CR), defined as lessening caloric intake without depriving essential nutrients4, results in changes in molecular processes that have been associated with aging, including DNA methylation (DNAm)5-7, and is established to increase healthy lifespan in multiple species8,9. Here we report the results of a post hoc analysis of the influence of CR on DNAm measures of aging in blood samples from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trial, a randomized controlled trial in which n = 220 adults without obesity were randomized to 25% CR or ad libitum control diet for 2 yr (ref. 10). We found that CALERIE intervention slowed the pace of aging, as measured by the DunedinPACE DNAm algorithm, but did not lead to significant changes in biological age estimates measured by various DNAm clocks including PhenoAge and GrimAge. Treatment effect sizes were small. Nevertheless, modest slowing of the pace of aging can have profound effects on population health11-13. The finding that CR modified DunedinPACE in a randomized controlled trial supports the geroscience hypothesis, building on evidence from small and uncontrolled studies14-16 and contrasting with reports that biological aging may not be modifiable17. Ultimately, a conclusive test of the geroscience hypothesis will require trials with long-term follow-up to establish effects of intervention on primary healthy-aging endpoints, including incidence of chronic disease and mortality18-20.

Towards next generation digital twin in robotics: Trends, scopes, challenges, and future.

With the advent of Industry 4.0, several cutting-edge technologies such as cyber-physical systems, digital twins, IoT, robots, big data, cloud computation have emerged. However, how these technologies are interconnected or fused for collaborative and increased functionality is what elevates 4.0 to a grand scale. Among these fusions, the digital twin (DT) in robotics is relatively new but has unrivaled possibilities. In order to move forward with DT-integrated robotics research, a complete evaluation of the literature and the creation of a framework are now required. Given the importance of this research, the paper seeks to explore the trends of DT incorporated robotics in both high and low research saturated robotic domains in order to discover the gap, rising and dying trends, potential scopes, challenges, and viable solutions. Finally, considering the findings, the study proposes a framework based on a hypothesis for the future paradigm of DT incorporated robotics.

Pattern of Glomerular Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh.

Glomerular disease is one of the most important causes of chronic kidney disease in developing countries like Bangladesh as well as the whole world. The pattern of glomerular disease varies in different countries and can have different clinical presentations. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical profile and to determine the histological pattern of glomerular diseases in a large tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. All kidney biopsies performed in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from October 2018 to March 2020 were prospectively analyzed in the study. A total of 101 patients with kidney biopsy were examined by clinical and laboratory findings and by light and immuno-fluorescence microscopy. The mean age was 30.0±14.6 years and 50(49.5%) were male and 51(50.5%) were female with a male to female ratio of 1:1. The clinical syndromes namely nephrotic syndrome, nephritic syndrome, nephrito-nephrotic presentation, RPGN like presentation, macroscopic haematuria and asymptomatic urine abnormality were present in 31.7%, 34.5%, 22.8%, 11.9%, 19.8% and 10.9% patients respectively. The most common histological varieties found in the study were mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) (18.8%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (18.8%). Other histopathological pattern among the studied subjects revealed minimal change disease (MCD) in 5.9%, membranous nephropathy (MN) in 7.9%, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 16.8%, IgA nephropathy in 5%, IgM nephropathy in 2%, IgG nephropathy in 2%, diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN) in 1%, focal proliferative glomerulo-nephritis (FPGN) in 3%, crescentic GN in 3%, lupus nephritis (LN) in 13.9%, amyloidosis in 1% and fibrillary glomerulopathy in 1% patient. The pattern of glomerular disease found in this study was similar to other studies performed in Bangladesh with a little variation. It may guide the future researchers to establish a national kidney biopsy registry in Bangladesh.

Do children in India grow well into adolescents? Longitudinal analysis of growth transitions from Young Lives panel survey in India.

OBJECTIVES: Studies that examined the growth during late childhood and early adolescence beyond 8 years of age are very limited. Further, most studies have used dichotomized classification of stunting, thereby limiting the understanding of moderate stunting in childhood growth trajectory. We aimed to examine the course of stunting from childhood to adolescence by undertaking robust analyses of the Young Lives Survey (YLS) longitudinal data from India using multilevel categorization of stunting. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken from YLS in India among 1827 children from the younger cohort born in 2001-02 with complete follow-up data in all five rounds of YLS collected in 2002, 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2016. METHODS: A three-state multistate Markov model (not stunted, moderate, severe) was performed to estimate annual transition probabilities, mean sojourn-time, and transition-specific risk factors. RESULTS: Between Round-one and Round-five, cross-sectional prevalence of severe stunting decreased from 10.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.8%, 13.7%) to 5.3% (95% CI: 3.8%, 7.3%), while moderate stunting increased from 19.9% (95% CI: 16.3%,23.9%) to 21.7% (95% CI: 18.4%, 24.9%). Mean Sojourn time estimation indicated a relatively concise state for moderate stunting. The stunting trajectory had shown gender differential where more faltering to severe stunting and lower recovery to the normal state was observed among girls between 8 and 12 years and among boys between 12 and 15 years. Compared with boys, girls had 40% excess likelihood (Hazard Ratio: 1.40; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.95) for moderate-to-severe stunting transition and also had 19% excess likelihood (Hazard Ratio: 1.19; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.40) of favorable transition (moderate-to-non-stunted). CONCLUSIONS: The transition trajectory highlights preadolescence, especially among girls, as an additional window of opportunity to ensure better nutrition in adolescent life. With a fifth of adolescents living in India, study findings call for coordinated, multisectoral, age-appropriate, and gender-responsive approach to take India closer to meeting SDG-2.

Gall bladder Ascariasis: A rare entity.

Gall bladder ascariasis is a rare entity. The causative organism for gall bladder ascariasis is Ascaris lumbricoides It usually presents as acute acalculous cholecystitis. Conservative management with anti-helminthic drugs is preferred while sometimes the patient may need surgical intervention.

Open Label Randomized Controlled Comparison of Three Alternative Regimes of Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin and Cefixime for Treatment of Uncomplicated Typhoid Fever in Bangladesh.

Multi-drug resistant Typhoid fever (resistant to previously used chloramphenicol, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) has been commonly described in the South East Asia region and a recent report suggests that the salmonella typhi have reduced response to fluoroquinolones (nalidixic acid-resistant). The optimum treatment protocol for this type of serovar has not been established. This study compared different antimicrobial regimens for the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever which was conducted in the medicine ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and outdoor setting in private practice in Dhaka metropolitan city, Mymensingh and Sylhet town from January 2017 to December 2017. Bangladeshi adults with uncomplicated typhoid fever were included in this an open-label randomized controlled trial. Ciprofloxacin (20mg/kg of body weight/day for 14 days), azithromycin (20mg/kg/day for 14 days), and Cefixime (16mg/kg/day for 14 days) were compared. Of the 81 enrolled patients, 62 were eligible for analysis (61 S. enterica serovar Typhi, 1 Salmonella enterica serovar paratyphi A). Of the S enterica serovar Typhi isolates, 88.7% (55/62) were MDR and 93.5% (58/62) were nalidixic acid resistant (NAR). The clinical cure rate was 62% (13/21) with ciprofloxacin, 71% (15/21) with Cefixime, and 85% (17/20) with azithromycin (p=0.053). The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) fever clearance time for patients treated with azithromycin (5.8 days [5.1 to 6.5 days]) was shorter than that for patients treated with cefixime (7.1 days [6.2 to 8.1 days]) and ciprofloxacin (8.2 days [7.2 to 9.2 days]) (p<0.001). All three antibiotics were well tolerated. A 7-day course of azithromycin can be successfully used in uncomplicated typhoid fever due to isolates of MDR S enterica serovar Typhi.

Seasonal variation in photosynthetic rates and satellite-based GPP estimation over mangrove forest.

In view of increasing anthropogenic influences and global changes, quantification of carbon assimilation through photosynthesis has gained tremendous significance. Precise estimation of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is essential for several ecosystem models and is typically done using coarser scale satellite data. The mangrove ecosystem, which offers significant protection to the coastal environment, is one of the critical habitats from a global change point of view. Light use efficiency (LUE) was measured using diurnal in situ photosynthetic rate observations for 13 dominant mangrove species for 3 seasons at each of the three mangrove dominant test-sites situated along the east and west coast of India. Variations in photosynthetic rates among these species were studied for 3 seasons that indicated varying responses of mangrove ecosystem at each site. Among all species, Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia apetala indicated higher values at two of the test-sites. IRS Resourcesat-2 LISS-IV datasets were used for the estimation of GPP. Mean GPP for all the sites varied from 1.2 to 7.7 g C m-2 day-1 with maximum value of 14.4 g C m-2 day-1. Mean values of GPP varied across the sites, based on its maximum LUE values and available photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The results provide GPP values at much better spatial resolution for a threatened habitat like mangroves that typically survive in a narrow habitat along the coasts.

Correlation of eGFR By MDRD and CKD-EPI Formula with Creatinine Clearance Estimation in CKD Patients and Healthy Subjects.

This cross sectional comparative study was conducted in the Nephrology and Medicine outdoor and in-patients department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from April 2014 to March 2015. A total of 100 patients with CKD and 100 healthy subjects were included in the study. Data were collected by interview of the patients, clinical examination and laboratory investigations using a semi-structured case record form. Among all subjects, 50.0% had no CKD and 50.0% patients had CKD: Stage 3 CKD were 8.5%, CKD Stage 4 CKD were 21.0%, CKD Stage 5 CKD were 20.5%. Serum creatinine was 4.32±3.08mg/dl in patients with CKD and 1.00±0.22mg/dl was in healthy subjects. Mean±SD of CCR/ml/min was found 17.67±11.63ml/min in patients with CKD and 79.31±13.31ml/min was found in healthy subjects. On the other hand, Mean±SD CCCR/ml/m/1.73m² was found 19.79±12.85 ml/m/1.73m² in patient with CKD and healthy subjects had 83.83±13.33 ml/m/1.73m². Urinary creatinine was 45.59±15.63 & 57.66±11.45mg/dl respectively. CKD-EPI eGFR was 22.10±15.02 & 90.61±23.27ml/m/1.73m²; MDRD eGFR was 22.15±14.18 & 89.35±26.19 ml/m/1.73m² respectively. Difference between all the variables between CKD group and healthy group was found statistically significant (p<0.001). CKD-EPIeGFR and MDRDeGFR were increased both in CKD patients and healthy subjects in respect to CCR and CCCR. There was a strong positive correlation between CCCR (ml/m/1.73m2) and CKD-EPI (ml/m/1.73m²) among all patients (r=0.934 and p<0.001) and also a positive correlation of CCCR with MDRD among all patients (r=0.913 and p<0.001). A positive correlation of CCCR was found with CKD-EPIeGFR among CKD patients (r=0.848 and p<0.001). A positive correlation of CCCR was also found with MDRDeGFR among CKD patients (r=0.841, p<0.001). There are positive correlations between CCCR and CKD/EPI among healthy subjects (r=0.616 and p<0.05) and between CCCR with MDRD among healthy subjects (r=0.568 and p<0.05). Various formulae were used to calculate GFR on the basis of serum creatinine levels. The Overall correlation of population (healthy and CKD patients) between CCCR and CKD EPI and MDRD formula was (r=0.93 and 0.91) respectively, among CKD patients it was (r=0.848 and r=0.841) in healthy subjects it was (r=0.616 and r=0.568) respectively. CKD EPI eGFR and MDRD eGFR formula had fairly good correlation with conventional 24 hours creatinine clearance in both CKD patient and healthy subjects, there was even more strong correlation especially in CKD patients. The performance of CKD-EPI equation is better than MDRD equation to estimate the eGFR in both CKD patients and healthy subjects.

Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Hospitalized Pre-dialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Among general population sub-clinical primary hypothyroidism is common. The cross sectional descriptive type of observational study was conducted in medicine and allied wards in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from January 2010 to December 2010; among 230 purposively selected hospitalized pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. The purpose of the study was to find out the prevalence of sub-clinical hypothyroidism in hospitalized pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. Data were collected from the patients using a case record form by face to face interview, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. The collected data were entered into SPSS version 20.0 and analyzed accordingly. Mean age of the patients was 47.2 years with a SD of ±2.05 years. Maximum patients were male with a male female ratio of 5:1. A significant number of patients were smoker- 11.8% of sub-clinical hypothyroidism group and 13.6% of euthyroid group. Among the patients 40 (17.40%) had sub-clinical hypothyroidism while the majority 190 (82.60%) did not have it. Estimated prevalence of sub-clinical hypothyroidism in hospitalized pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease was 17.40%. Co-morbidities found in the patients were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic glomerulonephritis and obstructive uropathy. All the patients (40, 100.0%) with sub-clinical hypothyroidism were hypertensive. On the other hand, 184 (97.1%) patients without sub-clinical hypothyroidism were hypertensive. Presence of co-morbidities in patients with sub-clinical hypothyroidism did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from patients without sub-clinical hypothyroidism. Patients in group with sub-clinical hypothyroidism were more over weight in comparison to patients without sub-clinical hypothyroidism (p<0.05). Biochemical parameters of patients with sub-clinical hypothyroidism differed significantly (p<0.05) from those of patients without sub-clinical hypothyroidism. There was no significant difference between urinary albumin of two groups of patients (p>0.05). Stage 4 CKD patients were more in sub-clinical hypothyroidism group in comparison to euthyroid group. As this study may not reflect the actual picture, further large scale multi-centric study is recommended to explore the real situation of sub-clinical hypothyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Pathodynamics of Circulating Strains of Duck Enteritis Virus: A Step Forward to Understand Its Pathogenesis.

Duck enteritis virus (DEV) causes an acute and contagious infection in duck. The present study was carried out to evaluate the pathogenicity and pathodynamics of DEV isolates from different natural outbreaks in the Assam Province of India. A total of six wild-type isolates of DEV were revived in ducklings to determine its biologic characterization. Postmortem examination of infected ducklings revealed DEV-specific gross lesions in different organs. The presence of DEV was confirmed by its genome amplification and the presence of viral antigens from collected tissue samples by indirect fluorescent antibody test. All the isolates revived in ducklings were further propagated in duck embryo fibroblast cells. Highly virulent and low virulent isolates of DEV were selected for further study based on median duck infectivity dose (DID50) and median tissue culture infectivity dose (TCID50). The highly virulent isolate of DEV had values of 102 DID50/ml and 106.33 TCID50/ml, whereas the low virulent strain had titers of 10 DID50/ml and 104.83 TCID50/ml in the cell culture. Our results showed replication of DEV in ducks with the highest and lowest viral titers in the thymus and bursa of Fabricius, respectively. In addition, microscopic analysis revealed necrosis and degeneration of submucosal esophageal glands and glandular epithelium. The study will be useful to understand the organ tropism and pathologic alteration among the virulent DEV isolates.

Patodinámica de las cepas circulantes del virus de la enteritis del pato: Un paso adelante para comprender su patogenia. El virus de la enteritis del pato (DEV) causa una infección aguda y contagiosa en el pato. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo para evaluar la patogenicidad y la patodinámica de los aislamientos del virus de la enteritis del pato de diferentes brotes naturales en la provincia de Assam en la India. Se replicaron un total de seis aislamientos del virus de la enteritis del pato de tipo silvestre en patitos para su caracterización biológica. El examen post mortem de los patitos infectados reveló lesiones macroscópicas específicas de la enteritis viral en diferentes órganos. La presencia del virus de la enteritis viral de pato fue confirmada por su amplificación del genoma y por la presencia de antígenos virales mediante la prueba indirecta de anticuerpos fluorescentes con muestras de tejido recolectadas. Todos los aislamientos replicados en patitos se propagaron adicionalmente en células de fibroblastos de embriones de pato. Se seleccionaron aislamientos del virus de la enteritis del pato altamente virulentos y poco virulentos para un estudio adicional basado en la dosis de infectividad en el pato (DID50) y la dosis de infectividad de cultivo de tejidos (TCID50). El aislado altamente virulento del virus de la enteritis del pato mostró valores de 102 DID50/ml y 106.33 TCID50/ml, mientras que la cepa virulenta baja tenía títulos de 10 DID50/ml y 104.83 TCID50/ml en cultivo celular. Nuestros resultados mostraron la replicación del virus de la enteritis viral en patos con los títulos virales más altos y más bajos en el timo y en la bolsa de Fabricio, respectivamente. Además, el análisis microscópico reveló necrosis y degeneración de las glándulas esofágicas submucosas y del epitelio glandular. El estudio será útil para comprender el tropismo de los órganos y la alteración patológica entre los aislados virulentos del virus de la enteritis viral del pato.

Comparison of Serum Amylase and Lipase Levels between Predialysis and Maintenance Haemodialysis CKD Patients.

This cross sectional study was done to compare serum levels of amylase and lipase between predialysis and maintenance haemodialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and also to find out their relationship between degrees of renal impairment in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, Dhaka, Bangladesh from May 2016 to April 2017. A total of 80 patients were included purposively as study subjects and made into two groups namely predialysis CKD group comprising 50 patients and other as maintenance haemodialysis group comprising of 30 patients. Among the predialysis group majority of the CKD was caused by glomerulonephritis (48%) followed by diabetes (26%), HTN (2%) and large portion undiagnosed (24%) whereas in the haemodialysis group ESRD was caused by diabetes (46%) followed by glomerulonephritis (16%), HTN (13%) and undiagnosed (23%). This study showed that mean serum amylase (158±718U/L vs. 111±41U/L) did not significantly differ between study groups except being above reference level but serum lipase (739±888U/L vs. 434±214U/L) was significantly higher in the predialysis group. There was a correlation between rising serum creatinine with serum amylase and lipase.

Electrophoretic profile of seminal proteins and their correlation with in vitro sperm characters in Black Bengal buck semen.

AIM: This study aimed to study the electrophoretic properties of seminal plasma and sperm proteins of Black Bengal buck semen and their correlation with in vitro sperm characters and freezability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen ejaculates from nine Black Bengal bucks were collected by artificial vagina (n=20/buck). Ejaculates were evaluated for in vitro sperm characters and electrophoretic profile of seminal protein. In vitro sperm characters were evaluated immediately after collection, after completion of equilibration period, and after freeze-thawing. For seminal protein studies, seminal plasma proteins were precipitated by ice-cold ethanol method, and sperm proteins were extracted by Triton X detergent extraction method. Discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed to assess the molecular weight of seminal proteins. Correlation between in vitro sperm characters and protein bands was determined by Pearson's correlation coefficient, and two-way ANOVA was applied to find the individual buck differences. RESULTS: Significant difference (p<0.01) among the bucks was noticed in the in vitro sperm characters evaluated at all the three stages of semen evaluation such as immediately after collection, after completion of equilibration period, and post-freeze thawing. Progressive loss of sperm motility, membrane integrity, and other in vitro sperm characters were noticed during cryopreservation. A total of ten protein bands in the molecular weight ranging from 17 to 180 kDa were found in the SDS-PAGE of seminal plasma proteins, while nine bands of 17-134 kDa were observed in sperm proteins. Seminal plasma proteins of molecular weight 75, 62-49, 20, and 17 kDa and sperm proteins of 75, 20, and 17 kDa were present in all the nine bucks (100%) screened, and variation among the bucks was noticed for the presence of other proteins. Seminal plasma protein of 180-134 kDa showed a negative correlation with individual motility (-0.716) and functional membrane integrity of sperm cells (-0.724) in post-freeze-thaw analysis and 48 kDa protein had a positive correlation with individual motility (0.649) and functional membrane integrity of sperm cells (0.664) in post-thaw analysis. Sperm proteins of 63 kDa had a negative correlation (-0.616) with sperm concentration in neat semen. CONCLUSION: Variation among the bucks was noticed in the in vitro sperm characters and semen freezability. Correlation between seminal proteins and in vitro sperm characters and semen freezability had been found which might be useful as a tool to select breeding bucks.

Prevalence of Microalbuminuria and Overt Proteinuria in Diabetes Mellitus and their Association with Renal Function.

This cross sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Nephrology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from April 2009 to March 2010. Samples were collectedfrom rural area of Khalishaur union of Purbadhala upazilla in Netrakona District, 30km away from Mymensingh Town. The main objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of microalbuminuria as well as overt proteinuria in diabetes mellitus in a rural population and to observe their association with renal function. In this study 1048 adult participants of 18 to 65 years in a rural area of Netrakona were included purposively as study subjects. Among them 54% were male and 46% were female. Mean age of study subjects was 42.4±13.4 years. Prevalence of microalbuminuria among diabetic participants was 29.72% where as in non diabetic non hypertensive participants it was 6.62%. Diabetic persons 9.45% and 3.9% of non diabetic participants showed overt proteinuria by dipstick test. Prevalence of hypertension in diabetic and non diabetic participants was 45.94% and 16.52% respectively. The mean eCCr of the diabetic patients and non-microalbuminuric healthy persons was 78.4±25.4 ml/min/1.73m² and 94.67±24.8 ml/min/l.73m² respectively according to Cock Croft-Gault equation. The mean eCCr of diabetic participants with overt proteinuria was 57.44±28.33 ml/min/l.73m² but diabetic patients with microalbuminuria had better mean eCCr 80.62±21.17 ml/min/1.73m² which justifies the importance of detection of microalbuminuria for early intervention. By regression analysis it was found that degree of microalbuminuria had linear relation with renal function and random blood sugar level. Neither BMI nor duration of diabetes showed any correlation with urine microalbumin. There was no effect of sex on the prevalence of microalbuminuria in diabetes mellitus. Microalbuminuria is the first sign of renal involvement in diabetic patients which is a risk factor for overt nephropathy. Monitoring of this condition is important because early treatment of microalbuminuria can prevent or postpone overt nephropathy.

Epidermal mucus, a major determinant in fish health: a review.

Fish epidermal mucus contains innate immune components, secreted by globlet cells that provide the primary defence against different pathogenic microbes and act as a barrier between fish and its immediate niche. The major function of mucus includes entrapment and sloughing of microbes. The mucus also contains many factors such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), lysozymes, lectins, proteases, etc that provide innate immunity. The AMPs secreted by epidermal mucus cells displayed antimicrobial activity against a variety of pathogens. Besides, mucosal lysozyme was found to produce significant bacteriolytic action whereas different proteases found in skin mucus of fish can kill the pathogens by cleaving its protein or by activating immunological mechanisms. Lectins are also mucosal agglutinins that play a diverse role in innate immunity like opsonization, activation of complement, etc. Epidermal mucus in fish thus provides an innate and fast acting protection which is non-specific and is found to be relatively temperature independent. The aim of the present review is to provide a broad overview of the different components of epidermal mucus including AMPs, proteases, lysozymes as well as their mode of action on pathogens.

Virulence gene profiling of porcine Pasteurella multocida isolates of Assam.

AIM: The present study was conducted to detect and identify the virulence genes in Pasteurella multocida isolates of porcine origin from Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 porcine P. multocida isolates were subjected to capsular typing and detection of virulence-associated genes (pfhA, tbpA, hgbB, toxA, oma87, ompH, and nanB) using various polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods reported elsewhere. Further, pathogenicity of the porcine isolates of P. multocida was studied in mice. For each strain of P. multocida selected for pathogenicity trial, the group of mice was injected intraperitoneally (i/p) with 0.1 ml of the inoculum prepared from respective field isolates, containing 109 organisms per ml. RESULTS: Capsular typing of the isolates by multiplex PCR showed two capsular types, type A (66.66%) and type D (33.33%). All the isolates were positive for outer membrane protein genes, oma87 and ompH genes. Iron acquisition genes, tbpA and hgbB, were detected in 14.28% and 19.04% of the isolates. The dermonecrotoxin encoding gene, toxA, was present in 23.80% of the isolates. Filamentous hemagglutinin encoding gene, pfhA, was detected in 28.57%. The virulence gene distribution pattern of the isolates indicates the important role of the genes in disease pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: From the present study, it can be concluded that toxA gene is an important marker gene for defining the pathogenic potential of P. multocida strains in swine.