Association of phenylthiocarbamide taste sensitivity with diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh

Screening for phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste insensitivity was performed and PTC taste threshold values using 13 solutions were obtained for 102 newly detected male diabetics and 103 male non-diabetics aged 21-40 years. The study revealed a significant difference in taste sensitivity to the bitterness of PTC crystals between the diabetics and non-diabetics, the former being less sensitive than the latter (16.7 vs. 6.8%).

Occupation and blood pressure: a study in rural and urban communities in Dhaka

One thousand six hundred and ninety six males and females living in Dhaka city and a nearby village were grouped according to their age and occupation. The subjects blood pressure and occupation were recorded. The study revealed that occupation had a significant effect on both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, specially in relation to social status, Age, smoking, BMI appeared to modulate the blood pressure.

Evaluation of the common cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.) as carrier of medically important bacteria

The bacterial flora associated with external body parts, stomach and intestine of male and female Periplaneta americana inhabitating students' halls, teachers' residences and houses of low-paid employees in Jahangirnagar, University Campus were examined and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative study in P. americana revealed the presence of 31 species of bacteria belonging to 16 genera. Most of these bacteria are pathogenic to man and domestic animals. The total viable bacterial counts (TVBC/g) in students' halls, teachers' residences and houses of low-paid employees were 1.27 x 10(8), 6.04 x 10(7) and 1.65 x 10(8) respectively in the male and 1.43 x 10(8), 5.83 x 10(7) and 1.63 x 10(8) respectively in the female cockroaches. The highest prevalence of bacterial flora both in number and types occurred in stomach followed by intestine and the external body parts.