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Nipah virus, a member of the genus Henipavirus, a new class of virus in the Paramyxoviridae family, has drawn attention as an emerging zoonotic virus in south east and south asian region. Case fatality rate of Nipah virus infection ranges from 40-70% although it has been as high as 100% in some outbreaks. Many of the outbreaks were attributed to pigs consuming fruits partially eaten by fruit bats, and transmission of infection to humans. In Bangladesh, 7 outbreaks of Nipah virus infection were identified during the period 2001-2007. In Bangladesh, Nipah virus infection was associated with contact with a sick cow, consumption of fresh date palm sap (potentially contaminated with pteropid bat saliva), and person-to-person transmission. In the most recent epidemic at least 15 people died due to Nipah virus infection in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat district in a remote northern Bangladesh town in 2011 adding to the previous death toll of 113 in the country . Human infections range from asymptomatic infection to fatal encephalitis. Infected people initially develop influenzalike symptoms of fever, headaches, myalgia , vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems. The virus is detected by ELISA, PCR, immunofluoroscent assay and isolation by cell culture. Treatment is mostly symptomatic and supportive as the effect of antiviral drugs is not satisfactory, and an effective vaccine is yet to be developed. So the very high case fatality addresses the need for adequate and strict control and preventive measures.

Background : Pregnancy is a state of physiological adaptations to accommodate the needs of the developing fetus. Elevated blood glucose during pregnancy could lead to gestational diabetes and anemia could cause intercurrent infection. Objective: To assess the serum glucose level & hemoglobin concentration in third trimester of pregnancy in order to find out the risk of gestational diabetes and physiological anemia. Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, between the period of July, 2013 to June,2014. One hundred pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy aged 18-35years were enrolled in study group and age matched 100 healthy non-pregnant women were control group. Random serum glucose was estimated by GOD-PAP method and hemoglobin concentration was measured by cyanmethemoglobin (CMG) method. Data were analyzed by student's un paired t test and chi square test. Result: Mean serum glucose level (6.76±1.72 mmol/L) was significantly higher and hemoglobin concentration (8.21±1.23 g/dl) was significantly lower in pregnant women than non-pregnant women. Increased frequency of high glucose (38%) and low H b(88%) was found in pregnant women in third trimester. Conclusion: This study concludes altered glucose metabolism may lead to gestational diabetes as well as physiological anemia may be exaggerated in third trimester of pregnancy.

Background: The mesentery of the appendix extends almost to the appendicular tip along the whole tube or may not be to the tip. The mesoappendix has a free border which carries the blood supply to the organ. Failure of the mesoappendix to reach the tip probably reduces the vascularization of the tip of the organ making it more liable to become gangrenous and hence early perforation occurs during inflammation. Objective: This cross sectional study was carried out to advance our knowledge regarding the extent of mesoappendix in Bangladeshi people and also to find out the variations in the anatomical positions of the vermiform appendix in Bangladeshi population and their distribution according to the sex. Methods: A total of 100 (60 male and 40 female) specimens of vermiform appendix were collected of different age and sex during postmortem examination in the morgue of Mymensingh Medical College from July 2006 to June 2007. Data was collected by convenient sampling technique. Results: In this study pelvic position of the vermiform appendix were common in both sexes. The two thirds extension of mesoappendix was found in 45% cases where as in pelvic position it was 26 (14 male and 12 female) cases. Half and whole extension of mesoappendix were found in 31% and 24% cases respectively. Among half extension of mesoappendix, retrocaecal position were found to be more (12) than other positions. In whole extension of vermiform appendix pelvic position were found to be common (16) than others. Conclusion: This study provides certain basic information of extent of mesoappendix of vermiform appendix of Bangladeshi population which is responsible for vascularization of the organ and severity during inflammation. Key words: Vermiform appendix, Mesoappendix   DOI: 10.3329/jbsp.v4i1.4065 J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2009 June; 4(1): 20-23

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