Effect of coated cysteamine hydrochloride and probiotics supplemented alone or in combination on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolites of Kamphaeng Saen beef heifers.

This study aimed to determine the effects of coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) and probiotics (PB) supplemented alone or in combination on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolites of heifer beef cattle. Sixteen heifers (body weight = 210 ± 41 kg; age = 9 ± 2 months) were assigned according to a randomized complete block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. All animals were fed the basal diet, which contained an 82:17 concentrate-to-forage ratio, and the forage source was rice straw. The treatments were as follows: (1) 0% PB + 0 g/d CSH, (2) 0.1% PB + 0 g/d CSH, (3) 0% PB + 20 g/d CSH, and (4) 0.1% PB + 20 g/d CSH. The main effect of CSH supplementation has been found to improve feed intake (P < 0.05). There were no treatment interactions with nutrient digestibility or rumen fermentation parameters. Supplementation of CSH did not affect any of the variables evaluated, while probiotics supplementation increased DM digestibility due to the increases in CP and fiber fraction digestibility. Compared to controls and CSH, at 16 h post-feeding, heifers receiving probiotics tended (P = 0.07) to show 17% greater ruminal NH3-N concentration, but this effect was not evident at 2 h post-feeding. However, the main effects of probiotic supplementation showed a tendency to increase the number of total bacteria and fungal zoospores in the rumen at 2 h post-feeding. The blood triglyceride (BTG) concentration of heifers fed a diet supplemented with 20 g/d CSH and 0.1% probiotics was found to be greater than those fed CSH alone (P < 0.1) at 16 h post-feeding, and then, there were greater BTG concentrations than other treatments (P < 0.05) at 2 h post-feeding. In conclusion, the combination of CSH and PB did not potentiate the effects of probiotics on digestibility and rumen fermentation and had minimal effects on blood parameters.

Disproportionate COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate among healthcare professionals on the eve of nationwide vaccine distribution in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine by the target groups would play a crucial role in stemming the pandemic. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are the priority group for vaccination due to them having the highest risk of exposure to infection. This survey aimed to assess their acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire was conducted between January 3 to 25, 2021, among HCPs (n = 834) in Bangladesh. RESULTS: Less than 50% of HCPs would receive the vaccine against COVID-19 if available and 54% were willing to take the vaccine at some stage in the future. Female participants (OR:1.64;95%CI:1.172-2.297), respondents between 18-34 years old (OR:2.42; 95% CI:1.314-4.463), HCPs in the public sector (OR:2.09; 95% CI:1.521-2.878), and those who did not receive a flu vaccine in the previous year (OR:3.1; 95% CI:1.552-6.001) were more likely to delay vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that, if available, less than half of the HCPs would accept a COVID-19 vaccine in Bangladesh. To ensure the broader success of the vaccination drive, tailored strategies and vaccine promotion campaigns targeting HCPs and the general population are needed.

Effects of alternate nostril breathing exercise on cardiac functions in healthy young adults leading a stressful lifestyle.

Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) is one of the best and easiest breathing exercises. ANB exercise has beneficial effects on cardiac function in healthy and diseased people. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of ANB exercise on cardiac physiology among healthy medical students. This was a prospective interventional study that was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Chittagong Medical College (CMC), Chattogram, Bangladesh, from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 100 research participants (RPs) aged 18-20 years, Year-I medical students of CMC, were selected. A simple random sampling method was adopted. The selection was done after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The age and body mass index (BMI) of the RPs were analogous in both the control and experimental groups. Cardiac parameters, like pulse and blood pressure (BP), were measured. The initial baseline data were recorded for both groups and after 4 weeks. The research respondents of the experimental group performed ANB exercise for 4 weeks. The mean value pulse and BP were significantly (p < 0.001) changed after breathing exercise, compared to the values before the breathing exercise. The results of this study suggest that cardiac function significantly improves after the breathing exercise. Therefore, ANB can be recommended for increasing cardiac efficiency.

Internet use and addiction among medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: The use of Internet has now become indispensable, and the technology has revolutionized the medical education and practice worldwide. Currently, medical students and professionals have an enormous opportunity to keep them always updated with the exponential growth of knowledge because of potential progression of Internet throughout the world that enables them to become a lifelong learner. Internet addiction is a widespread phenomenon among students and academicians at universities in Malaysia. Students use the Internet for recreational purpose and personal and professional development. The Internet has become an integral part of day-to-day life of the university students, including medical students. The aim of the present study was to examine the Internet use and addiction among students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which a questionnaire, Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire, developed by the Center for Internet Addiction, USA, was used. One hundred forty-nine medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin participated in this study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. RESULTS: The mean scores were 44.9±14.05 and 41.4±13.05 for male and female participants, respectively, which indicated that both the genders were suffering from mild Internet addiction. CONCLUSION: This study shows almost similar level of Internet usage among medical students irrespective of their socioeconomic background, with no statistically significant (p>0.05) differences, except among the years of study (p=0.007). Overall, from the research data and having worked with this cohort very closely, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin medical students can be labeled as wonted and recurring users of the Internet. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to define as Internet addicts or pathological users of the Internet because of small sample size and cross-sectional study.