Aim: To compare Desarda’s versus Lichtenstein’s mesh repair in patients with unilateral, primary, reducible inguinal hernia in terms of mean operative time and seroma formation Methods: This randomized control trial conducted at Department of Surgery, Patuakhali Medical College & Hospital, Patuakhali. Eighty patients with unilateral, primary, reducible inguinal hernia were randomly distributed into two groups to undergo hernia repair i.e. Lichtenstein (L) and Desarda’s (D). Outcome was measured in terms of mean operative time and seroma formation. Seroma formation was defined as presence of enclosed cavity containing serous fluid determined by ultrasonography at 30th post-operative day. Results: Thirty three patients (41.25%) were above 50 years of age, whereas remaining 47 patients (58.75%) were below 50 years of age. Five patients (6.25%) were female and 75 patients(93.75%) were male. Seroma formation was 5% in Desarda’s group while 7.5% in Lichtenstein group (P> 0.05). Similarly difference in mean operative time was statistically non-significant. Seroma formation was common in older age group. There was no effect of smoking, obesity, operative time and gender on seroma formation. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is no difference in frequency of seroma formation and mean operative time in Desarda’s or Lichtenstein’s technique of hernia repair. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2018) Vol. 22 (2) : 99-103

SARS-CoV-2 corona virus infection (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern causing many deaths. The aim of this study was to assess demography, clinical presentation, blood group, disease severity and outcome of COVID-19 infected patients in Bangladesh. This is a cross sectional, observational study of 436 COVID- 19 infected patients, confirmed by RT-PCR assay's on nasopharyngeal swab specimens, presented at Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital during the month of May to September, 2020. Data were collected in a preformed data sheet and analyzed for variables included demography, source of infection, spreading within family, clinical features, blood group, disease severity and outcome. Study showed mean age 41.27±16.65 years with slight male predominance (1.87:1), most were service holder (47%), source of infection was unknown (40%), from infected family members (35%) and working place (23%). In 44% cases, family members of infected index cases were unaffected. Common co-morbidities were Diabetes Mellitus (19.7%) and Hypertension (19%). Blood group of most (41.29%) was B positive. Disease spectrum ranged from asymptomatic (15%), mild (53%), moderate (19%) and severe (13%) disease. Common presenting symptoms were fever (72.2%), cough (42.9%) dyspnoea (29.6%), myalgia (22.9%), anorexia (17.9%), fatigue (17.4%), diarrhea (13.5%), headache (12.4%) and anosmia (12.4%). Majority (75.2%) had nonspecific (fever, mayalgia, fatigue) symptoms and in 16.28% cases it was the only presentation. Respiratory (61.9%) and GI (28.4%) symptoms presented either concomitantly or with nonspecific symptoms (55%). Majority (95%) of patients recovered and only 5% died. Faridpur Med. Coll. J. Jan 2020;15(2): 53-57

Background and Purpose: COVID-19 patients treated with RAAS blockers are among the patients at highest risk of poor outcome. ACE2 is the functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Animal studies suggest that RAAS blockers might increase the expression of ACE2 and potentially increase the risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection. Experimental Approach and Key Results: The effect of ACE inhibitor treatment on the incidence of pneumonia in non-COVID-19 patients was analyzed in 25 studies (330,780 patients). ACE inhibitor use was associated with a 27% reduction of pneumonia risk (OR: 0.73, p<0.001). Pneumonia related death cases in ACE inhibitor treated non-COVID-19 patients were reduced by 27% (OR: 0.73, p=0.004). ARB treatment was analyzed in 10 studies (275,621 non-COVID-19 patients). The risk of pneumonia was not different between patients who did or did not use ARBs. Pooled results from 16 studies in 22,333 COVID-19 patients showed that COVID-19 related server adverse clinical outcomes (admission to ICU, need for assisted ventilation or death) were reduced by 26% when using RAAS blocking agents (OR=0.74, p=0.04). Pooled results from 10 studies in 11,514 COVID-19 patients showed that RAAS blockede reduces all-cause mortality by 41% (OR=0.59, p=0.01). Conclusion and Implications: Given the weak evidence coming from animal studies and the clear beneficial data of ACE inhibition in non-COVID-19 patients and the promising data in COVID-19 patients, the use of RAAS blocking agents in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection is justified and should be maintained. Further clinical studies analysing ARBs and ACE inhibitors separately in COVID-19 patients are needed.

Background and Aims Rice mill workers are frequently exposed to rice dust specks containing bacteria, endotoxins, spores, and chemicals in workplaces. Consequently, they develop diverse respiratory symptoms that lead to increased disability and social burden. The present study was conducted to observe the frequency of respiratory symptoms among rice mill workers in Bangladesh. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted at different rice mills in Rangpur district of Bangladesh. Three hundred and forty‐six rice mill workers, both male and female of 18 years and above, with a job experience of at least 3 years, were selected as study subjects. An equal number of people who had never worked at rice mills were selected from the nearby locality as the nonexposed group. Enquiries were made regarding respiratory symptoms with the help of a preformed questionnaire which contained sociodemographic characteristics, occupational history, potential confounding factors, and physical parameters. A respiratory dust sampler was used to measure workplace dust concentration. Results The presence of one or more respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among rice mill workers than in the nonexposed group (52.3% vs. 17.6%). Rice mill workers who worked for more than 10 h and had a working experience of more than 15 years had a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms (41.3% and 39.8%, respectively). Rice mill workers with body mass index (BMI) <18.5 also exhibited more respiratory symptoms (25.4%). All working sections had a higher‐than‐average dust concentration level, with the milling section being the dustiest (PM 2.5 492.1 µg/m 3 ). Conclusion This study showed an increased frequency of respiratory symptoms among rice mill workers of Bangladesh. Longer working experience and working hours, low BMI and high dust concentration levels were strongly associated with that increase in frequency.

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