Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal

3D printing technology in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome: A case report

Md. Israt Hasan — 2024-03-30

A 35-year-old individual with carpal tunnel syndrome presented with tingling and numbness in the left thumb, index, and middle finger. A 3D printed CTS splint was crafted to immobilize the affected wrist joint, aiding pharmacotherapy. At six weeks, evaluations included the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology (QUEST) version 2.0.9. Substantial improvements were observed in Bangla-BCTQ scores (symptom severity scale: 3.68 vs. 1.27; functional status scale: 2.74 vs. 1.31), VAS (70 vs. 30), and QUEST scores. 3D printing technology may contribute to better personalized musculoskeletal care enhancing quality of life.

Intrauterine foetal death product as a foreign body in urinary bladder: A case report

Md. Abu Nahid — 2024-02-15

Migration of intrauterine fetal death (IUD) products from the uterus to different nearby intra abdominal organ of body especially to urinary bladder is a rare clinical situation to report. Here we are presenting a case , where a woman of 54 years of age presented to us with the history of IUD at 27 weeks of gestation 17 years back with history of passage of hard brittle bony fragment like material with urine and an abdominal lump. Laparotomy was done, some parts of IUD product was found to migrate to urinary bladder cavity, some parts to incompletely invade the intestinal loops & some parts towards the abdominal wall to form the lump. Hysterectomy was done, product was removed and the entire involved organ was repaired successfully and patient cure was uneventful.

Unexplained bleeding as a presentation of Munchausen syndrome: A case report

Fatima Zohra — 2024-02-07

Physicians sometimes face difficulty identifying underlying diseases of some signs and symptoms created by individuals intentionally but without any apparent practical gain. This case report presents the clinical profile of a woman aged 22 years with a history of recurrent bleeding from the oral cavity since childhood, which has recently been worsened and now involves bleeding from the nose, eye, ear, and umbilicus. However, no physical or laboratory abnormalities could be identified. She had mental trauma in her childhood. After a comprehensive assessment that included a medical history, observation, physical examination, and psychiatric evaluation, she was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome, which is a psychological condition where people pretend to be ill or deliberately produce symptoms of illness in themselves. She was treated with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy and discharged from the hospital bleeding-free, which persisted till several follow-up visits.

Challenges and experiences in establishing a zonal pharmacovigilance centre at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University: A 10-month journey

Elora Sharmin — 2024-03-28

Not available

Hospital management system using web technology is a demand of time

Mansoor Ahmed Siddiqui — 2024-03-30

Not available

Association of nailfold capillaroscopic findings with clinical features in patients with systemic sclerosis

Tajkia Haque — 2024-03-26

Background: Microvascular damage is one of the most important etiopathogenetic and clinical characteristics of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive imaging technique to assess the skin microcirculation. The aim of this study was to determine the association between NFC findings and clinical features in patients with SSc.

Methods: This study was done in the Department of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, from July 2019 to August 2020. Twenty-nine adult patients with SSc were selected according to ACR/EULAR (American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) criteria 2013. NFC variables (capillary loss, avascular area, giant capillary, microhemorrhage and neoangiogenesis) and their NFC patterns (nonspecific, early, active, and late scleroderma) were analyzed using a dynamic nailfold capillaroscope. Their associations with disease duration, skin thickness score, interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary hypertension (PH) and peripheral vascular involvement (pitting scar, and others) were examined.

Results: Among 29 patients, scleroderma patterns were present in 27 (93.1%) patients. Thirteen (44.8%) patients had late scleroderma pattern. Early scleroderma pattern and active scleroderma patterns were observed in 7 (24.1%) patients. Disease duration was significantly associated with avascular area (P=0.04) and NFC pattern (P=0.001). Microhemorrhage was significantly associated (P=0.04) with PH, but NFC pattern was associated with ILD (P=0.03).

Conclusion: NFC pattern found to be significantly associated with disease duration and ILD. Among the individual NFC findings, avascular area shows association with disease duration and microhaemorrhage showed association with pulmonary hypertension in SSc patients.

Effect of sidestream cigarette smoking on memory of male Long-Evans rats

Amina Begum — 2024-03-30

Background: Memory impairment is an important presentation of many diseases. Sidestream cigarette smoke (SCS), a form of passive smoke, causes neural complications such as impaired memory. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sidestream cigarette smoke on memory of male Long-Evans rats.

Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the Physiology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Twelve male Long-Evans rats, having 150 to 200 grams body weight were collected from central animal house of this University. Rats were divided into fresh air group (control) and experimental group (exposer to SCS for 30 minutes twice daily) for 30 consecutive days. For memory evaluation, Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed. Working memory was measured as escape latency in training and four trial phases. Reference memory (escape latency in acquisition phase and target crossings in probe trial. For estimation of hippocampal antioxidant enzymes, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels were measured by ELISA. Data were expressed as mean (standard error of mean) and t test was done to compare the two groups. P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Two to five times higher escape latency (working memory) was observed in experimental rats compared to those of control rats (P<0.001). Moreover, significantly lower (3.8 versus 7.8) target crossings (P<0.001) were found in experimental rats compared to the control rats. In addition, hippocampal catalase (6.2 versus 17.6 U/mg protein) and glutathione peroxidase (1.9 versus 5.6 U/mg protein) levels were found significantly lower (P<0.001) in experimental rats when compared to control rats.

Conclusion: The sidestream cigarette smoke caused memory impairment and decrement of hippocampal antioxidant enzymes level in male Long-Evans rats.

Infection and co-infection patterns of common upper respiratory tract viruses in patients with flu-like symptoms attending a fever clinic of a tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Md. Hossain Rahman — 2024-03-28

Background: More than 200 viruses can cause respiratory tract infections. It is clinically indistinguishable to differentiate SARS-CoV-2 viral infections from other viruses that cause flu-like symptoms. This study was done to determine the infection and co-infection patterns of common respiratory tract viruses in patients with flu-like symptoms attending a fever clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 288 participants attending the Fever Clinic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University having respiratory symptoms were enrolled in this cross-sectional study done from November 2021 to March 2022. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained for molecular detection of selected respiratory viruses by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The study participants were aged 18 to 72 (mean 33.2) years. SARS-CoV-2 infection was 16.7% among the participants, while other respiratory viruses were 24.3% that included rhinovirus (14.6%) followed by adenovirus (5.6%) and parainfluenza viruses (3.5%). SARS CoV-2 and rhinovirus (29.4%), adenovirus and rhinovirus (23.5%), and rhinovirus and parainfluenza virus (17.6%) were the most common co-infections among them (n = 17).

Conclusion: Nearly 17% infections were caused by SARS-CoV-2. Rhinovirus infection was the second most common of other upper respiratory viral infections. There is also evidence of co-infections between SARS-CoV-2 and other common upper respiratory tract viruses.

Demineralization level of human tooth enamel after exposure to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages: A scanning electron microscopic study

Rozina Akter — 2024-03-30

Background: In any beverage, human tooth enamel dissociates into its ionic products at a threshold pH of beverage <5.5. This study was done to illustrate and compare the demineralization level of enamel after exposure to alcoholic (beer, wine, distilled spirit) and non-alcoholic (carbonated beverage, apple cider vinegar, commercial fruit juice) beverages.

Methods: Prior to starting this quasi-experimental study of beverage exposure, buccal surface of enamel was scanned under scanning electron microscope to examine the existing score of enamel samples. Twenty-four non-demineralized samples were randomly flushed with attributed beverage and saliva simultaneously for three minutes by a digital automatic flusher. Samples were further scanned under scanning electron microscope after 30 exposures.

Results: pH levels of all beverages were <5.5. After exposure to beverages, all samples were demineralized and 66.6% of samples had the demineralization score of 3. Demineralization score of 2 was observed in 33.3% of samples. The demineralization mean score in non-alcoholic beverages was 3.0 compared to alcoholic beverages 2.3 (P=0.02).

Conclusion: All tested beverages had potential to demineralize the enamel structure. The enamel demineralization capacity of non-alcoholic beverages was higher compared to alcoholic beverages. The demineralization capacity of beverages is inversely proportional to their pH.

Oxidative stress in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study

Shuvra Chakraborty — 2024-02-13

Abstract not available

Surgery for complicated pulmonary tuberculosis

Farooq Ahmad Ganie — 2024-01-31

Abstract not available

Fostering physicians' research engagement in the healthcare landscape of Bangladesh

Md Atiqul Haque — 2024-03-17

Not available

Editorial Board

2024-03-29