Objective: As no studies were reported from Bangladesh, the present study was conducted on serum lipid profile, i.e. triglyceride TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) in Bangladeshi patients with cholelithiasis Patients and methods: A total of 44 adult patients with cholelithiasis and 30 healthy subjects as normal controls (NC) were included in the study. The blood samples were taken from fasting patients at diagnosis before cholecystectomy (Serum-I 0 ), gall bladder bile during cholecystectomy (Bile-I 0 ) and blood sample again after 2-3 months at follow-up (Serum-II 0 ) and from fasting NC subjects. TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C were quantitated in serum and bile by standard methods using research kits from reputed companies. The results were compared statistically by ANOVA and Student's t-test using SPSS propramme Results: TG level was elevated in Serum-I 0 , Bile-I 0 and Serum-II 0 of patients, being highest in Bile-I 0 compared to controls (NC) (p<0.001). TG level was reduced in serum -II 0 after cholecystectomy compared to Serum-I 0 and Bile-I 0 , although it remained significantly elevated compared to controls (NC) (p<0.001). TC level was elevated in Bile-I 0 compared to Serum-I 0 and Serum-II 0 (p<0.001). Interestingly, TC was elevated in Serum-II 0 after cholecystectomy, although no significant difference was observed between NC and patients Serum-I 0 (p=0.835). LDL-C levels in NC, Serum-I 0 and Serum-II 0 were similar (p=0.126, p=0.121), although Serum-II 0 levels was elevated compared to Serum-I 0 (p<0.001) and it was much elevated in Bile-I 0 (p<0.001). HDL-C levels were similar (p>0.05) among NC, Serum-I 0 and Serum-II 0 , but it was higher in Bile-I 0 significantly (p<0.001) Conclusion:Alterations in lipid profile in cholelithiasis were significant but complex and cholecystectomy had profound impact suggesting a crucial role of gall bladder. The results were discussed accordingly.

The objective of the present study was to see the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) in Bangladeshi patients (35) with recurrent pregnancy loss. Thirty-seven women with normal pregnancy were included as control. Serum levels (mean ± SD) of ACA (u/mL) was significantly higher, whereas ANA (Ab-index) and anti-dsDNA (Ab-index) were similar in cases compared to controls (Cases vs Controls ACA: 31.8 ± 24.3 vs 10.5 ± 3.4, p<0.001; ANA: 1.07 ± 0.34 vs 0.92 ± 0.15, p>0.5; AdsDNA: 0.53 ± 0.16 vs 0.52 ± 0.18, p>0.5). The cases positive for ACA, ANA and anti-dsDNA were 37.1% (p<0.001), 20% (p>0.05) and 2.8% (p>0.1) respectively. Among the seropositive cases 4/35 (11.4%) and 4/13 (30.8%) were positive for both ACA and ANA. In controls only 2/37 (5.4%) and 2/37 (5.4%) were positive for ACA and ANA respectively and none were positive for both ACA and ANA together simultaneously. Significantly high proportion of cases had O positive blood group (23/35: 65.7%, 10/13: 76.9%) (p<0.01). The prevalence of ACA varies according to population being 37.1% (13/35) in our patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and 5.4% in controls.

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The objective of this review article was to highlight briefly the recent advances made relevant to applications of free circulating nucleic acids (FcNAs) in clinical medicine. Detection of FcNAs in plasma, serum and other body fluids from healthy subjects as well as in patients has opened up the possibility of diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. With the rapid developments in molecular biology techniques such as real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (rt-qPCR), quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMS-PCR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry, quantitative fluorescent PCR (QF-PCR), single allele primer extension reaction (SAPER) method and other techniques the applications in clinical medicine have increased. The recent discovery of epigenetic changes in placental/fetal DNA and the detection of fetal/placental-specific RNAs have made FcNAs to be used for diagnosis of genetic disorders in all pregnancies irrespective of the gender of the fetus in early intrauterine life. It is now possible to detect very small amounts of, and specific mutations in, fetal DNA in the presence of excess non-specific maternal DNA. In oncology, detection and monitoring of tumors are now possible by the detection of tumor-derived FcNAs. In other conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, trauma and stroke FcNAs have been shown to be useful also. In spite of these advances questions regarding the origin and biologic significance of FcNAs remain to be answered. Standardization of methodologies including pre-analytical and analytical aspects will revolutionize the applications of FcNAs in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases in clinical medicine in the next few years.

Background and Rationale: Fortification of staple foods and commonly used condiments with vitamins and minerals has been considered one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies. Because of its wide local consumption, acceptability, reach, and quantum of consumption, rice (Oryzasativa) far exceeds the requirements of a staple food vehicle that can be considered for fortification purposes at a population-level intervention. The World Health Organization (WHO) has the mandate to develop evidenceinformed guidelines for the fortification of staple foods as a public health intervention, including rice fortification with micronutrients. The WHO, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), convened a consultation on “Technical Considerations for Rice Fortification in Public Health” in Geneva, Switzerland in 2012 to provide technical inputs to the guideline development process, particularly with reference to feasibility and implementability. Conclusion: The industrial and regulatory technical considerations in rice fortification, as well as the considerations for implementing it as a public health strategy and assuring equitable access and universal coverage and priority research areas for the forthcoming years were reviewed in this article based on WHO consultation Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(2) 2020 p.189-193