Restricting calcium currents is required for correct fiber type specification in skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle excitation-contraction (EC) coupling is independent of calcium influx. In fact, alternative splicing of the voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.1 actively suppresses calcium currents in mature muscle. Whether this is necessary for normal development and function of muscle is not known. However, splicing defects that cause aberrant expression of the calcium-conducting developmental CaV1.1e splice variant correlate with muscle weakness in myotonic dystrophy. Here, we deleted CaV1.1 (Cacna1s) exon 29 in mice. These mice displayed normal overall motor performance, although grip force and voluntary running were reduced. Continued expression of the developmental CaV1.1e splice variant in adult mice caused increased calcium influx during EC coupling, altered calcium homeostasis, and spontaneous calcium sparklets in isolated muscle fibers. Contractile force was reduced and endurance enhanced. Key regulators of fiber type specification were dysregulated and the fiber type composition was shifted toward slower fibers. However, oxidative enzyme activity and mitochondrial content declined. These findings indicate that limiting calcium influx during skeletal muscle EC coupling is important for the secondary function of the calcium signal in the activity-dependent regulation of fiber type composition and to prevent muscle disease.

Studies on the Causes, Impacts and Mitigation Strategies of Landslide in Chittagong city, Bangladesh

Landslide is becoming a regular hazard in the urbanized hilly areas in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Generally, the hills consist of unconsolidated sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, siltstone, shale and conglomerate. Applying questionnaire survey with 120 respondents, and collection of secondary information, the study was carried out in two landslide prone sites located in Batali hill and Motijhrna area of Chittagong city for assessing the socio-economic condition of the people, causes of landslide, impacts of landslide on local people and mitigation strategies of landslide. People living in the study area were characterized by dominance of middle age group of population (52%), illiterate (49%), day laborer (27%), migrated from the other places (93%), low income (57%) and having poor housing infrastructure. The present study indicates that landslide affect the poor people living on the slope of hilly areas. The main reasons identified for landslide were hill cutting (36%), weak soil structure (23%) and devegetation (16%). The major impacts of landslide on the local communities, as reported by the respondents were loss of natural scenic beauty (77%), economic loss (77%), destruction of lives (57%) and environmental problems (47%). According to the respondents, the main mitigation strategies were stopping of hill cutting (75%), resettlement of the affected people in other places (57%), planting the affected area (55%) and development of robust policy (42%).J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 8(2): 1-5 2015

Markers of Hepatitis Viruses by ELISA among Healthy Blood Donors

This cross sectional study was done to have a comprehensive idea about prevalence and distribution of HBsAg and anti-HCV. The present serosurveilance study was done on healthy selected blood donors and conducted in the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh for their relatives and friends and also voluntarily from January 2001 to July 2003. Samples were collected from blood donors (Voluntary and Party) who came for donation of blood. Blood samples taken from 10,200 apparently healthy blood donors with or without the previous history of jaundice in the Transfusion Medicine department of BSMMU was tested for HBsAg and Anti-HCV by standard commercial ELISA method during the period from 1st January 2001 to 30th June 2003. Reactive samples were retested. Samples positive in duplicate tests were taken as positive. Within 10,200 samples 550(5.39%) were found positive for HBsAg and 84(0.823%) positive for anti-HCV. Among 8670(8%) male donors 470(5.42%) was positive for HBaAg and 70(0.91%) positive for anti-HCV. Among 1530(15%) female donors 80(5.29%) found positive for HBsAg and 14(0.807%) positive for anti-HCV. Prevalence of both is more in male than female, young donors below 30 years (80%) are of least prevalence 4.43% for HBsAg and 0.73% for anti-HCV. Markers are raised in prevalence with age, highest among aged donors above 40 years 14.5% and 2.62 respectively. Markers are of least prevalence among students (4.47% and 0.47%), highest among working people (7.90 and 0.91%). Within 10,200 donors no one was found concomitantly positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV, study may help to have a comprehensive idea about prevalence and distribution of HBV and HCV among healthy blood donors/party donors 9,996(98%) and voluntary donors 204(2%).

Assessment of Iron Contamination in Groundwater at Tangail Municipality, Bangladesh

The study was conducted to investigate the iron (Fe) contamination in groundwater at Tangail municipality during the period from January to June 2011. Groundwater samples were collected from 18 locations, where 15 were tube-wells, 2 deep tube-wells and 1 pump. The result of the study showed that the highest level of Fe (24.50 mg/l) was found at Dewla north, while the lowest level (1.03 mg/l) was recorded from Bepari para. The highest and lowest amount of Fe was found in ward 1 and 4, respectively. The results were compared with the Bangladesh drinking water quality standards as well as with the international standards. In Bangladesh, permissible limit of Fe is 0.3-1.0 mg/l, whereas WHO standard level is 0.3 mg/l. All the samples were exceeded the standard levels of Fe, whereas ward 1, 2 and 7 were worstly affected. The study also reveal that the availability of Fe does not depend on the type of water sources, but it depends on the aquifers or water table. If the aquifer contains Fe, then the tube-well water will contain Fe or vice versa. These higher Fe concentrations found in the study area may be harmful for those families who are consuming the water from these sources on regular basis. Thus, to overcome this problem the consumers should not drink these higher amounts of Fe, and they should find other sources or replace the tube-well or treat the water before drinking and other domestic and household purposes.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v6i1.22051 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 6(1): 117-121 2013

Controlling the aggregation of sodium dodecylsulphate in aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) solutions

The role of PEG's of different molecular weights on the self-assembly of SDS and the role of added NaCl has been addressed opening new scopes for further studies.

Influence of hydrotropic coions on the shape transitions of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate aggregates in an aqueous medium

The slope change of the CH plot is a manifestation of the shape change of the ionic micelles. However, binding of the salicylate coion to ionic micelles is an exception to this inference.

Oncolytic viruses in head and neck cancer: a new ray of hope in the management protocol

This paper intends to highlight the different types of oncolytic viruses (OVs), mechanism of tumor specificity, its safety, and various obstacles in the design of treatment and combination therapy utilizing oncotherapy. Search was conducted using the internet-based search engines and scholarly bibliographic databases with key words such as OVs, head and neck cancer, viruses, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and gene therapy. Revolutionary technologies in the field of cancer treatment have gone through a series changes leading to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Oncolytic virotherapy is one such therapeutic approach that has awaited phase III clinical trial validation. OVs are self-replicating, tumor selective and lyse cancer cells following viral infection. By modifying the viral genome, it is possible to direct their toxicity toward cancer cells. Viruses that are used for treatment of head and neck cancer are either naturally occurring or genetically modified. OVs are tumor selective and potential anticancer agents. Virotherapy may become the standard of care and part of combination therapy in the management of head and neck cancer in the future.

Central Obesity Plays an Important Role for the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Bangladeshi Women

Background: Diabetes mellitus coexists at a greater frequency with hypertension, obesity, central obesity, and dyslipidemia. Obesity has been identified as the most important modifiable risk factor in the aetiology of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Central obesity has been shown to be the most pathogenically important in the causation of metabolic disorders including type-2 diabetes. Aims: To determine the association of central obesity with type 2 diabetes in Bangladeshi women. Subjects and Methods: A total of 60 type 2 diabetic female subjects along with 60 healthy female subjects were recruited in this study. Anthropometric indices were measured using standard techniques. Serum glucose was measured using glucose-oxidase method, insulin was measured using ELISA and thyroid hormones were measured using chemiluminescence based automated Immulite Auto analyzer (DPC, USA). Insulin secretory capacity and insulin sensitivity were estimated using fasting glucose and fasting insulin by HOMA-CIGMA software. Results: Waist circumference of the control (89±8) subjects was significantly (p=0.046) lower than the diabetic (94±11) subjects. Waist-hip ratio of the control subjects was significantly lower compared to diabetic subjects. Fasting plasma insulin level in control subjects (7.6±2.2) was significantly (p=0.009) lower compared to diabetic subjects (11.8±9.8). Plasma lipid profile and thyroid hormone status in control and diabetic subjects were not found significantly different. Insulin secretory capacity (HOMA %B) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S) in control subjects (93±21, 95±39 respectively) were found to be significantly higher com-pared to diabetic subjects (45±32, 67±42 respectively). In age-adjusted binary logistic regression analysis, waist circumference was found to be significantly associated with diabetes. In multiple linear regression analysis TSH was found to be significantly associated with waist circumference. Conclusion: Waist circumference may be an independent indicator for the development type 2 diabetes in Bangladeshi women which may have influenced by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i3.19149 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(3) 2014 p.278-284

Serum Lipid Profile in Ischemic Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Risk of coronary heart disease and other forms of atherosclerotic vascular diseases, rises with plasma cholesterol concentration and in particular with the rise of ratio of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol. A much weaker correlation also exists with plasma triglyceride concentration. Extensive large-scale randomized trials have shown that lowering total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations reduces the risk of cardiovascular events including death, myocardial infarction and stroke and reduces the need for revascularisation.This cross-sectional analytical study was designed to observe association between lipid profile level with chronic ischaemic heart disease and the study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2010 to June 2011. A total of 50 cases were selected purposively according to the selection criteria from the patients admitted in the Department of Cardiology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital with chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Diagnosed IHD patients were taken as cases and 50 age- & sex- matched healthy subjects were taken as controls. Serum TC, TG, LDL-C & HDL-C were measured in all study subjects.The mean±SD of serum TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C concentration in cases were 314.54±73.72 mg/dl, 288.04±60.45 mg/dl, 36.02±4.12 mg/dl, and 178.62±22.7 mg/dl respectively and in controls were 174.64±18.97 mg/dl, 119.42±12.47 mg/dl, 43.04±2.58 mg/dl & 126.28±11.45 mg/dl respectively. Serum Total Cholesterol, TG & LDL-C were found to be significantly higher in cases than that of controls. Serum HDL-C was found to be significantly lower in cases than that of controls. The present study reveals that the patients with chronic ischemic heart disease is accociated with significantly higher levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-C whereas HDL-C was found to be lower in IHD patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v7i1.18574 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2014; 7(1): 14-16

Sonographic evaluation of thyroiditis with color flow study

This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh in collaboration with the Department of Endocrinology and Department of Histopathology of the same hospital during the period of March 2007 to February 2008 to determine efficacy of ultrasonogram in the evaluation of thyroiditis and to compare its results with color flow Doppler study. For this purpose, a total of 50 patients having clinical suspicion of thyroiditis were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound and color Doppler were done in all these patients. Then all patients underwent for FNAC in the Histopathology department. Correlation between sonographic diagnosis and histopathological diagnosis were observed. Out of these 50 patients 10(20%) were male and 40 (80%) were female with age ranging from 12 to 50 years, highest between 21 to 30 years. The mean age of the patients was 30.42±9.57 years. On unltrasonographic findings of thyroid gland 42.0% patients had regular and 58.0% had irregular margin. Seventy percent had fibrosis, 14.0% had feature of necrosis, 48.0% had lymphadenopathy. Out of all patients 6.0% had normal echogenic feature, 16.0% had increased and 78.0% decreased echogeneic feature. Twelve percent (12.0%) patients had homogeneous and 88.0% had heterogeneous pattern of echogenecity. Thirty eight percent (38%) patients had focal nodules. Sixty percent (60.0%) patients had focal swelling and 40.0% had diffuse swelling. On color flow Doppler 28.0% had normal, 38.0% had increased and 34.0% decreased vascular flow pattern. USG reports revealed that 48.0% had thyromegaly, 36.0% had thyroid nodule, 10.0% had multinodular goiter and 6.0% had thyroid abscess. FNAC diagnosis revealed that 34.0% patients had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 24.0% had lymphocytic thyroiditis, 18.0% had granulomatous thyroiditis, 6.0% had abscess, 8.0% had goitre and 10.0% nonspecific. USG and CFD are recommended modalities for the diagnosis of thyroiditis as these cost-effective and non invasive procedures.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of breast mass

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women. The aim of the present study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in correlation with histopathology in suspected patients of breast mass. In this cross-sectional study, ultrasonography and histopathology was done on 50 clinically suspected patients of breast mass in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh from 1st April 2008 to 30th March 2009 for the period of one year. Women of all ages were included in the study. Findings of USG and histopathology were correlated. In diagnosis of malignant mass by USG, 32(64%) of cases were diagnosed as malignant and 18(36%) cases as other than malignant. Here 31(86.1%) of sonographically diagnosed malignant lesions were also proved as malignant lesion by histopathologically and 1(7.1%) other than malignant. Out of 18 sonographically diagnosed cases of other than malignant lesions 13(92.9%) were proved histopathologically and 5(13.9%) did not match with sonographic findings as other than normal. USG, in diagnosis of malignant lesion, sensitivity was 86.1%, specificity 92.9%, positive predictive value (PPV) (96.6%), negative predictive value 72.2% and accuracy was 88.0% and comparable to other study. In the conclusion this study permits to conclude that ultrasonography has significant sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in the diagnosis of both benign and malignant breast mass.

In-vitro Screening of some Chemicals and Biocontrol Agents against Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, the Causal Agent of Soft Rot of Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora was isolated from the infected potato tuber and was identified by pathological, morphological and biochemical studies. Five chemicals viz. Cupravit 50 WP (Copper oxychloride), Sulcox 50 WP (Copper oxychloride), Champion 77 WP (Copper hydroxide), Indofil M- 45 (Mancozeb) and Bavistin 50 WP (Carbendazim) and five biocontrol agents viz. Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus flavus were screened out in vitro against the growth of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora by well diffusion method measuring the inhibition zone. Among the chemicals, Sulcox 50 WP (Copper oxychloride) was highly effective against it with 31.00 mm inhibition zone after 48 hours of incubation at 0.2% concentration when 100 ?l/well was used. In case of biocontrol agents, Bacillus subtilis was the best against the bacterium with 16.67 mm inhibition zone after 48 hours of incubation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v11i2.17480 The Agriculturists 2013; 11(2) 1-9

Growth and production performance of monosex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed with homemade feed in earthen mini ponds

Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of monosex tilapia using homemade feed with Peninsula Group fish meal and commercially available feed with local fish meal in earthen mini ponds from June-September 2010. Three ponds (T1) were supplied with prepared feed and the other three ponds (T2) with commercially available fish feed. Fish were fed at the rate of 10% of their body weight for the first thirty days then gradually reduced to 6% for the next ten days, 2% for the next ten days and 3% for remaining days. The temperature were ranged from 31.5-33.0 degrees C, DO from 5.5-15 mg L(-1) in T1 and 6.5-14 mg L(-1) in T2, pH from 7.1-8.0 in T1 and 7.1-7.7 in T2, alkalinity from 105-160 mg L(-1) inT1 and 100-145 mg L(-1) in T2, nitrate was 0.06 mg L(-1) in both treatments and ammonia from 0.02 and 0.04 mg L(-1) in T1 and T2, respectively. The results of the present study showed that the best weight gain was observed as 123.48 g in T1 than T2 (111.82 g). The Specific Growth Rate (SGR) was recorded 3.09 and 2.97 and the Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) was 1.51 and 1.40 in T1 and T2, respectively. There was significant (p < 0.05) variation among the survival rate (%) of fishes which were 75.55 and 90.37% in T1 and T2, respectively. The fish productions were 19076 and 16312.11 kg ha(-1) in T1 and T2. The highest net profit (Taka/ha/70 days) of Tk. 15, 83,213 was obtained with T1 So, the prepared feed showed better performance with monosex tilapia in compared with commercial fish feed with local fish meal.

Socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors of ante-partum fetal death in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka City

The objectives of this study were to assess the socio-demographic profile and to identify the risk factors of ante-partum fetal death which occurs after the age of viability of fetus. This prospective observational study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Ad-din Women Medical College Hospital from June 2009 to July 2010. A total of 14,015 pregnant patients were admitted in the study place after the age of viability, which was taken as 28 weeks of gestation for our facilities. Eighty-three (0.59%) of them were identified as intrauterine fetal death. Assessment of maternal socio-demographic characteristics and maternal-fetal risk factors were evaluated with a semi structured questionnaire which was pre-tested before executing in this study. Majority (81.92%, n=68) of the patients were below 30 years of age, 78.31% belonged to middle socioeconomic group. Almost 58% women had education below secondary school certificate (SSC) level and 28.91% took regular antenatal checkup. About 61.45% patients were multi-gravida. Most (59.04%) ante-partum deaths were identified below 32 weeks of pregnancy. Out of 83 patients, maternal risk factors were identified in 41(49.59%) cases where fetal risk factors were found in 16(19.27%) cases; no risk factors could be determined in rests. Hypertension (48.78%), diabetes (21.95%), hyperpyrexia (17.3%), abruptio placentae (4.88%) and UTI (7.36%) were identified as maternal factors; and congenital anomaly (37.5%), Rh incompatibility (37.5%), multiple pregnancy (12.5%) and post-maturity (12.5%) were the fetal risk factors. Here, proximal biological risk factors are most important in ante-partum fetal deaths. More investigations and facilities are needed to explain the causes of ante-partum deaths.

Effectiveness of radioiodine therapy in treatment of hyperthyroidism

The present non randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Mymensingh, Bangladesh for duration of one year. Total 30 patients with hyperthyroidism diagnosed by clinical and biochemical profile were included in the study. All patients received radioiodine treatment and regular follow up at 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month & 9th month were done to evaluate clinical and biochemical status and complications. Data were analyzed by computer with SPSS programme using 't' test and chi-square test. In the present study, out of 30 respondents more than three fourth of the respondents (76.6%) were in the age group of 31-50 years followed by less than 30 years are group (16.7%) and rest of respondents were in the age group of more than 50 years (06.7%). Mean±SD and range of age of the respondents were 39.80±10.02 years and 17-65 years respectively. Among the 30 respondents 11(36.7%) were male and 19(63.3%) were female. Male to female ratio was 1:1.73. Out of 30 patients 26(86.7%) presented with goiter and among them 21(80.8%) has diffused goiter and five (19.2%) had nodular goiter. Baseline mean±SD, median, range of serum T₃ level were 5.24±3.62, 4.34, 1.48-14.65nmol/L respectively. Base line mean±SD, median range of serum T₄ level were 192.25±99.17, 201.77, 1.75-336.25nmol/L respectively. Baseline mean±SD, median range of serum TSH level were 6.33±23.93, 0.15-0.07, 130.46nmol/L respectively. In the present study serum T₃, T₄ level among the respondents sharply decrease from baseline to 2nd follow up then gradually decrease from 2nd to 4th follow up. Serum TSH level gradually increases from baseline to 3rd follow up and then gradually decreases from 3rd to 4th follow up. The result showed radioiodine is an effective option for the treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

Maternal & fetal outcome of eclamptic patients admitted in obstetrics & gynaecology department of secondary care hospital in Bangladesh

This cross sectional observational study was done in Department of Obs & Gynae, General Hospital Tangail, to find out the maternal and fetal outcome of eclamptic admitted patient in secondary care hospital in Bangladesh. Study period was Jan 2008 to Dec 2008. Sample size was 100. During this period total 4727 patients were admitted among them 124(2.62%) were eclamptic patients. From that 124 patients 100 cases were randomly included. Among all patients 80% had age <25 years and 62% were primigravidae. Maximum (75%) patients had antepartum eclampsia. Postpartum and intrapartum eclampsia were 18% and 7% accordingly. Among all patients, 45% had primary education and 36% were illiterate. Most of the patients (73%) were from below average class family. Fifty two percent (52%) patients had >37 weeks completed pregnancy. Maximum patients (91%) had no or infrequent antenatal check-up. All the patients had convulsion before admission and 85% were unconscious. Among total patients 55% were delivered by lower uterine caesarian section and 45% were delivered by vaginal route. Maximum 74(74%) patients could not reached hospital within 4 hours of first convulsion. Time interval between the first convulsion and delivery was <12 hours in 72% cases. In 98(98%) cases magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) and in 2% of cases diazepam was used as anticonvulsant. Complications of eclampsia were found in 30% cases. Complications were pulmonary edema, PPH, CVA, HELLP syndrome, obstetric shock, DIC, acute renal failure. Among all 9(9%) patients were expired. Causes of maternal death were pulmonary edema, heart failure, CVA, HELLP syndrome. Maternal morbidities after delivery were observed in 53% cases. Recorded morbidities were infection, CVA and hypertension. Among 100 cases 87 were live born and 13 were still born. Out of 87 live born babies 50 were needed admission. Among admitted neonates 11 were died in the first week. Causes of early neonatal death were perinatal asphyxia, septicemia and prematurity. Among 100 deliveries 66% had low birth weight (LBW). Among 11 neonatal death, 9(81%) had low birth weight. In this study we observe maternal mortality, still born, early neonatal death and perinatal mortality rates are still high. So, this study implicates to improve the existing management of eclampsia.

The Incidence, Predisposing Factors, Complications and Outcome of Preeclampsia in Diabetic Pregnancy

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy and common cause of fetal and maternal morbidity as well as mortality worldwide. In diabetic women, the chance of preeclampsia is increased. The incidence of preeclampsia in diabetic pregnancy is approximately 10 to 15 percent, which is associated with poor glycaemic control. Aim: This study was carried out to find the predisposing factors related to preeclampsia and determine the complications of preeclampsia in diabetic pregnancy and also the impact of preeclampsia in infants born to diabetic mothers. Methods: This prospective study was carried out at the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Dhaka. The Patient population consisted of 80 diabetic pregnant women who attended or admitted to BIRDEM hospital during the study period. The women were divided into groups: 50 pregnant diabetic women with preeclampsia were taken as case. 30 pregnant diabetic women without preeclampsia were taken as control. Diagnosis of preeclampsia was made on the basis of the criteria of the Committee on Terminology of the American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologist. Results: Preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation) was higher among study group (64%) compared to control (33.3%) women. Term delivery was 36.0 vs 66.7 percent among case and control women, respectively. The distribution is statistically significant (P<0.01). 35 percent of Caesarean section was done due to fetal distress in the study group and in control group it was 20 percent. In study group, 22.5 percent Caesarean sections were done due to impending eclampsia and eclampsia, 705 percent due to accidental haemorrhage and 5 percent due to IUGR. Maternal complication in study and control subjects. In the case group, maximum number of the women (16%) showed signs of impending eclampsia, while among control women, maximum number (10%) developed postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). 48 percent neonates were of low birth weight and in controls it was 13.3 percent. Both hyperbilirubinaemia (40%) and hypoglycaemia (30%) were more in study group than controls (16.66% and 20%, respectively). Perinatal outcome among study group and controls. Neonatal survival was 82.0 percent in study group and 86.7 percent in control group. Comparison of Perinatal outcome between the groups is not statistically significant. Most of the perinatal mortality was due to prematurity (8%) and intrauterine death (6%). In control group, most of the perinatal deaths were due to congenital anomalies (6.6%). Conclusion: The higher incidence among study group may be, in part, the result of more preterm birth or shortened gestational duration because early delivery is a consequence of preeclampsia. The higher rate in associated with preeclampsia was due to increased incidence of IUD and prematurity. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/birdem.v1i1.12379 Birdem Med J 2011; 1(1): 10-14

Electrolyte changes in stroke

The present study was carried out in the department of Neurology and Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh during the period of January 2009 to December 2010 to see the electrolyte changes in stroke. The serum concentration of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ were measured in 110 cases during acute period of stroke (55 ischemic and 55 haemorrhagic strokes). Data were analyzed by computer with SPSS programme using 't' test and chi square test. In haemorrhagic stroke, out of 55 patients 29(52.72%) had abnormal sodium level, of them 23(41.8%) had hyponatremia, 6(10.9%) had hypernatremia. In contrast in ischemic stroke 23(41.80%) out of 55 had abnormal sodium level, of them 21(38%) had hyponatremia. The result showed that hyponatremia is almost equally common in both haemorrhagic and ischaemic group without significant difference (p>0.05). The study also revealed that hyponatremia is more common than hypernatremia in both groups. Mean ± SD of age of the haemorrhagic group was 60.80 ± 15.97 while the age of ischaemic group was 59.89 ± 15.84 years. Male, female ratio in haemorrhagic and ischaemic group 1:0.62 and 1:0.89 respectively. Mean ± SD of serum Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻ in haemorrhagic group were 136.18 ± 10.5, 3.83 ± 0.65, 97.96 ± 16.74 mmol/L, in ischaemic group 135.08 ± 9.08, 4.00 ± 0.75, 100.27 ± 8.39 mmol/L. The result showed no significant difference in haemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Hyponatremia, hypokalamia and hyperchloredemia were more common than hypernatremia, hyperkalamia and hyperchloredemia. In haemorrhagic stroke, out of 55 patients, 21(38.18%) had abnormal potassium level, of them 19(34.55%) had hypokalemia, 2(3.63%) had hyperkalemia. In contrasts, in ischemic stroke, 15 out of 55(27.22%) had abnormal potassium level. Of them 12(21.81%) had hypokalemia and 3(5.45%) had hyperkalemia. The finding showed that hypokalemia is almost equally common in both haemorrhagic and ischaemic group without significant difference. The study also revealed that hypokalemia is more common than hyperkalemia in both groups. In haemorrhagic stroke, out of 55 patients 33(60%) had abnormal chloride level. Of them 20(36.4%) had hypochrloridemia, 13(23%) had hyperchrloridemia, in contrast, in ischemic stroke, 40 out of 55(60%) had abnormal chloride level, of them 22(40%) had hypochrloridemia and 18(32.7%) had hyperchrloridemia. The result showed that changes in chloride level after haemorrhagic and ischemic stroke are similar. The result showed hypochrloridemia is more common than hyperchrloridemia in both groups.