Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Co (II) and Co (III) in acidic medium with partial least squares regression and artificial neural networks

This study aims at the application of two chemometric techniques to visible spectra of acetic acid solutions of Co (II) and Co (III) for simultaneous determination thereof. Spectral data of 145 samples in the range of 400-700 nm were used to build the models. Partial least squares regression models were developed for which latent variables were determined using internal cross-validation with a leave-one-out strategy and 3 and 2 latent variables were selected for Co(II) and Co(III) based on root mean square error of cross-validation. For these models, root mean square errors of prediction were 1.16 and 0.536 mM and coefficients of determination were 0.975 and 0.892 for Co (II) and Co (III). As an alternate method, artificial neural networks consisting of three layers, with 10 neurons in hidden layer, were trained to model spectra and concentrations of cobalt species. Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm with feed-forward back-propagation learning resulted root mean square errors of prediction of 0.316 and 0.346 mM for Co (II) and Co (III) respectively and coefficients of determination were 0.996 and 0.988.

Pattern of Anti-hypertensives Usage in Hypertension with or without Comorbidities in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Hypertension is a chronic illness associated with high morbidity & mortality. A large number of antihypertensive drugs alone or in various combinations are available and physicians need to choose the most appropriate drug for a particular patient. The standard treatment guidelines and drug utilization studies at regular intervals help physicians to prescribe drugs rationally. The present study was conducted to evaluate the use of antihypertensive in hypertension with or without ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus at Department of Cardiology in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh from July 2015 to October 2015. It was an observational type of descriptive cross sectional study. The study was performed among 400 hypertensive patients in Cardiology department in MMCH who received antihypertensive drug. Out of 400 hypertensive patients 67% were male and 33% were female. Maximum patients (54%) found in 40 - <60 years age group and ≤60 years age group (37.5%). Mean age of the patients was 55.02±12.47 years. Mean systolic BP was 146.74±28.28 and diastolic BP was 90.60±14.27mmHg. In overall prescription combination therapy (63.25%) was prescribed more frequently than mono-therapy (36.75%). In monotherapy ramipril was the most commonly prescribed (27.89%) antihypertensive drug and ARB was the most commonly prescribed group (37.41%). In our study 5 groups of antihypertensive were found (ARB, ACEI, BB, Diuretics, and CCB). In combination therapy 2-drugs combination were found most frequently (37.50%) and ACEI + Diuretics (23.72%) was the most common combination followed by ARB + Diuretics (12.25%), ACEI + BB (11.86%). Average number of antihypertensive drug per prescription was 1.9.

Effectiveness of Topical Corticosteroid, Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors and Combination of Them in the Treatment of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary skin disorder which is disfiguring and difficult to treat. Cure and response rates for vitiligo are significantly lower. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of topical corticosteroid, topical calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus) and combination of them in the treatment of vitilligo in two tertiary care Hospital, in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology OPD (out patient department) in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital, Bajitpur, Kishoregonj from January 2015 to December 2015. Newly diagnosed 112 vitiligo patients, aged more than 1 year to 70 years were assigned for therapy and to observe the response. This study indicates that, in case of vitiligo treatment topical tacrolimus was the most effective drug. Topical tacrolimus, topical corticosteroid and combination of them are to be effective in the treatment of vitiligo with reduction in the number of vitiliginous spots by increased repigmentation. But topical tacrolimus was the most effective drug, as it caused highest percentage of repigmentation of vitiliginous spot.

Current Trends of Using Antimicrobial Drugs in the ICU at a Tertiary Level Teaching Hospital in Mymensingh

The aim of the present study was to investigate the current trends of using antimicrobial drugs in the ICU at a tertiary level teaching hospital in Mymensingh. The study of prescribing patterns seeks to monitor, evaluate and suggest modifications in clinicians prescribing habits so as to make medical care rational. It was an observational type of descriptive study, conducted in the Mymensingh medical college hospital, Mymensingh, during the study period of June 2016 to September 2016.The study was approved by the institutional ethical committee. Most patients in the ICU belonged to the older age group >60 years. Male patients were more than the female patients in ICU. Average duration of stay in ICU was 4.35 days. Admissions in ICU were common due to respiratory system related diseases and the present study showed that 31.68% of the reported cases belong to the respiratory system. Average number of drugs per prescription was 6.46. Average number of anti-microbial drugs per prescription was 1.38. Cephalosporin group and individually ceftriaxone was the most frequently prescribed antimicrobial group and agent respectively in the ICU. Most commonly used antimicrobial combination was Cephalosporin and Metronidazole (43.33%) followed by Carbapenem (Meropenem) and Metronidazole (13.33%). Most antimicrobial agents were prescribed without bacteriological culture and sensivity testing evidence. There is a need for motivating the physicians to prescribe antimicrobial agents with supportive bacteriological evidences.

In Vitro Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Aqueous Garlic Extract and Imipenem against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

An interventional study was performed to determine and compare the MICs of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) and Imipenem against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 & Eschericha coli ATCC 25922. The study was conducted in Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in collaboration with Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from July 2014 to January 2015. The MIC of AGE and antibiotic Imipenem were determined with the help of broth dilution method. The MIC of AGE was determined as 400μg/ml and 700μg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli respectively and the MIC of Imipenem was 1μg/ml against Staphylococus aureus and 1.5μg/ml against Escherichia coli. The MICs of Imipenem was much lower in comparison to MICs of AGE for the test organisms. The subculture study showed the same results with that of the primary isolates. From the study it was clearly observed that AGE have anti bacterial effect but is not potent like antibiotic Imipenem. In this regard active ingredient present in garlic needs to be separated & purified for further study.

Histomorphological Study on Number of Acini of the Prostate Gland of Bangladeshi Cadaver

The prostate is made up of 30 to 50 compound tubuloalveolar glands that are embedded in a framework of fibromuscular tissue and arranged in three concentric groups (mucosal, submucosal and main prostatic gland). The prostate consists of peripheral, central and transitional zone accounting for approximately 70%, 20% and 5% of the glandular substances. Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects the transitional zone and carcinoma of the prostate affects the peripheral zone. The glandular tissue consists of numerous acini with frequent internal papillae. Follicular epithelium is variable but predominantly columnar and either single-layered or pseudostratified. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in Department of Anatomy, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh to find out the difference in number of acini of the prostate gland of Bangladeshi people in relation to age. The present study was performed on 67 postmortem human prostate gland collected from the morgue in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College by non random purposive sampling technique. The specimens were collected from Bangladeshi cadaver of age ranging from 10 to 80 years. All the specimens were grouped into three categories: Group A (up to 18 years), Group B (19 to 45 years) and Group C (above 45 years) according to age. Dissection was performed following standard autopsy techniques. In the present study, total 60 slides were made for histological study from both central and peripheral zone of the prostate which were examined under low power objectives. The number of the acini of the prostate gland were counted and recorded. The mean number of the acini of the prostate gland was 16.45, 43.54 and 42.45 in Group A, B and C respectively in central zone and 30.08, 51.35 and 44.16 in Group A, B and C respectively in peripheral zone of the prostate. Variance analysis shows that mean differences were highly significant between Group A & B and Group C & A and non significant between Group B & C in central zone of the prostate. Mean differences were non significant among all three groups in peripheral zone of the prostate. The number of the acini of prostate gland was increased up to certain age limit but decreased in extreme age. In statistical analysis, differences between age groups were analyzed by using students unpaired 't' test. The present study will help to increase the information pool on the number of the acini of the prostate gland of Bangladeshi people at different age group.

Comparison between Angiographic Findings of Coronary Artery Disease in STEMI and NSTEMI Patients of Bangladesh

Coronary Angiogram (CAG) has been used to detect coronary artery disease in myocardial infarction (both STEMI and NSTEMI) patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of coronary artery disease among STEMI and NSTEMI patients. Among acute coronary syndrome in NSTEMI we found more widespread coronary artery disease other than STEMI. Lack of documentations encouraged us to perform this study in our center. In this retrospective observational study we summarized all myocardial infarction (MI) patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) from August 2013 to August 2014 at Enam Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh and data of degree of coronary artery disease were recorded. Data of 100 consecutive MI patients who underwent CAG during that period were recorded. Among them 50 patients having STEMI as Group I (male 45, female 5) & other 50 patients sustained NSTEMI as Group II (male 38, female 12). Among NSTEMI patient group 80% were having multi-vessel disease and in STEMI patient group 80% having single vessel disease and remaining having multi-vessel disease. The degree of coronary artery disease is extensive in NSTEMI patients than in STEMI group. Coronary angiogram can visualize the degree of coronary artery involvement and is a useful screening modality to compare disease extent in MI patients.