Circulating dengue virus serotypes, demographics, and epidemiology in the 2023 dengue outbreak in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Dengue is a serious epidemic for Bangladesh affecting thousands of lives. This study aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of the circulating variants of dengue virus (DENV) and their association with demographics and clinical manifestations among the dengue-infected patients. A total of 711 participants with NS1 antigen positivity were enrolled, followed by viral RNA extraction from the collected blood samples and a multiplex real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to determine the dengue virus serotypes. Of 711 dengue-infected patients, 503 (70.7%) were male. Among different age groups, most of the patients were 21-30 years old (n = 255, 35.9%). The DENV2 (n = 483, 67.9%) serotype was more prevalent than the DENV3 (n = 144, 20.3%) and DENV1 (n = 84, 11.8%). The duration of fever was highest in the DENV-1 patients (4.79 ± 1.84 days) in contrast to DENV-3 (4.48 ± 1.68 days) and DENV-2 (4.33 ± 1.45 days) (P = 0.039). Importantly, five highly populated areas were identified as dengue hotspots in Chittagong metropolitan city. Our results provide crucial insights into the patterns of dengue virus transmission and severity among southern Bangladeshi population, thereby aiding in the development of targeted public health interventions and management strategies to combat future outbreaks.

Heavy metal pollution through hand loom-dyeing effluents and its effect on the community health.

Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia district of western Bangladesh has become especially vulnerable to dye-effluent pollution over the last two decades. Twenty dyeing effluent samples were obtained at random from various dyeing units and used to determine the heavy metal concentration. The effluent pH, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids ranged from 3.69 to 13.68, 627 to 7160 mS cm-1 and 4140 to 19800 mg L-1, respectively. In dyeing effluents, the average concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn, Fe and Cr ions were 5.50, 82.75, 6.80, 14.27, 66.03 and 65.28 µg mL-1, respectively, while the amount of Cd was barely detectable. Total annual discharges of Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe and Cr were found to be 21.52, 1.43, 1.77, 3.71, 17.12 and 16.98 kg year-1, respectively, which were high enough to pollute the local environment. According to the survey report, only a minority were aware of public safety measures and proper disposal procedures, though many respondents were conscious of the dangers associated with dyes and chemical substances. Most interviewees (58.33%) used synthetic dyes and other dangerous chemicals throughout the dyeing process, despite the fact that 43.33% did not use hand gloves. A remarkable 80% of respondents were improperly disposing of unused dyes and chemicals. Overall, there was a lack of awareness, right attitude and appropriate behavioural patterns about using dyeing chemicals. To prevent the negative effects of dyeing effluents on the community in the research area, environmental conservation rules should be appropriately implemented.

Predictive Relationship Of Narcissism And Psychopathy With Relational Aggression Moderated By Age Among Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Relational aggression stresses on the application of one's link to interfere the someone else relationships. Narcissism is manifest by heavenliness, a feeling of being advantaged, and a nonappearance of compassion while psychopathy is a personality issue that is about reduced regret, debilitated sympathy, and critical reserved behaviours. Present study was designed to assess the predictive relationship of narcissism and psychopathy with relational aggression among adolescents moderated by age. METHODS: Cross-sectional correlational research design was implied. Study was conducted at department of Psychology University of Gujrat from August 10th 2017 to 5th January 2018. 612 students from diverse academic institute of Gujrat, with age range 12-19 year were selected. Urdu version of dark triad personality scale short version was used to assess narcissism and psychopathy while diverse adolescent relational aggression scale, Urdu version was used to gauge relational aggression. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis was carried out to find out the combined effect of narcissism and psychopathy on relational aggression among adolescent students. Findings revealed significant predictive relation among the variables (p<0.01). Result further indicated that one unit in narcissism will increase the relational aggression by .333 unit (ß=.333) while on unit increase in psychopathy will increase the relational aggression by .374 unit (ß=.374). Furthermore, results support the moderating effect of age in the relation among narcissism, psychopathy and relational aggression (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Narcissism and psychopathy have predictive relationship with relational aggression moreover age play moderating role in afore said association.