IntroductionThe older population is rapidly growing throughout the world. It has been estimated that the elderly will exceed 1 billion by 2020. 1 The increasing number of the older people has imposed a huge health impact on the society and is also accompanied by the greater decline in health and different domains of function. 2 Among the old population dementia has become the focus of attention of health care professionals' worldwide. This chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Dementia is a condition which usually starts after the age of 65 years, but it may occur before the age of 65 years. 3 In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) dementia is placed under major neurocognitive disorders where cognitive deficits interfere with independence in everyday activities. 4 The prevalence of dementia is approximately 5% in general population older than 65 years of age and 20-40% in general population older than 85 years. 5 Different studies in Asia showed the prevalence of dementia among the persons aged 65 years and above were in between 2.4% to 3.5%. [6][7][8] According to World Health Organization (WHO), dementia has emerged as a public health priority because it causes the devastating economic burden on families and nations. The cost of dementia will rise at a greater rate than the prevalence. Therefore, societies all over the world should be prepared to face the social and economic burden of dementia. 9 Dementia is overwhelming for the caregivers. One study in India found that caregivers of people with dementia spent significantly longer time providing care and 16 times more likely to have a common mental disorder than care givers of other chronic disorders. 10 With the world's eighth largest population with 160 million people, the percentage of people aged more than 60 years in Bangladesh is projected to increase to 9% by 2025 and 21% by 2050. 11 Considering the above-mentioned facts on the dearth of data on dementia in Bangladesh and its huge importance have impelled the author to undertake the study. The objective of the study was to find out the proportion of dementia among older patients as well as to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with dementia. This study will be a baseline study on dementia. SummaryDementia has become the focus of attention of health care professionals' worldwide. The objective of the study was to find out the proportion of dementia among older patients as well as to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with dementia attending National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This was a cross sectional study conducted in NIMH during the period from 1 st November 2014 to 30 th April 2015. For this purpose, 78 elderly patients aged e"60 years attending both in outpatient and inpatient departments of NIMH, satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected by convenient sampling tech...

The abuse of methamphetamine, locally known as Yaba locally, has increased in Bangladesh recently. The study was designed to determine the proportion of co-morbidities, in terms of physical, psychiatric and other substances, and family history of substance use and other psychiatric disorders among methamphetamine abusers in Bangladesh.This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from the available medical documents of a private hospital dedicated for the management of substance abusers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Information of the individuals admitted in the hospital during 1 January, 2014 to 31 December, 2015 due to substance related disorders having history of using methamphetamine within one month of hospitalization were enrolled in the study. Completed data of 115 individuals were taken and data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.Most (91.3%) of the respondents were male. Mean age of the respondents was 24.6 (±5.8) years. Half of the respondents (50.4%) belonged to the age group 21-30 years. Most (89.6%) of them resided in urban area and was Muslim (94.8%). Majority (52.2%) was unmarried. Regarding education status, majority (34.8%) completed graduation. About one-third (33.9%) were currently unemployed. All the methamphetamine users had used other substances. Among the other co-morbid substances, nicotine was the substance used by most (94.8%) respondents, followed by cannabinoids (56.5%) and opiates (38.3%). Among the respondents about one-third (33.9%) had current physical co-morbidities. Co-morbid psychiatric disorders were present among 29.6% of the respondents. Among the respondents, more than one-fourth (27.8%) had family history of substance use, 20.9% had family history of other psychiatric illnesses. All the methamphetamine users had used other substances. A substantial proportion of methamphetamine users had physical and other psychiatric comorbidities and family history of substance and other psychiatric disorders. This essential issue should be considered in the management strategy of methamphetamine use. Bangladesh Med J. 2021 May; 50(2) : 15-20

The elder people are rapidly increasing throughout the world and dementia has become the important point of interest of health care professionals. The objective of the study was to find out the physical illness and dementia as well as their association among the elderly patients. This was a cross sectional and analytical study conducted in National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from 1st November 2014 to 30th April 2015. For this purpose 78 elderly patients aged e”60 years attending both in outpatient and inpatient department of NIMH satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria, irrespective of age and gender were selected as study population by convenient sampling technique. The result showed that majority (59%) had co-morbid physical illness. Common co-morbid physical illness was hypertension (26.9%). Among the respondants, 5 (6.4%) were current smokers and 12 (15.38%) had past history of smoking for more than five years. In the study, 50% of the respondents diagnosed with dementia had hypertension (c2 = 3.8808, P= 0.04884), 25% dementia patient had co-morbid diabetes mellitus (c2 = 2.4287, P= 0.11913), history of cerebro vascular accident (CVA) was present in 25% of patient and 25% patient had history of smoking (c2 = 0.0088, P= 0.92533). This study provided baseline information about clinical factors associated with dementic patients in Bangladesh which could be used in future studies. Bang J Psychiatry June 2017; 31(1): 20-23

Background: Blood stream infections are an important cause of mortality & morbidity in all age group worldwide. Aim & Objective: The aim of this study was to perform bacteriological analysis and assess antibiotic sensitivity patterns of isolates from bloodstream infections in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka city. Material & methods: The study is a retrospective observational analysis of blood culture isolates received in the Department of Microbiology, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College & Hospital from January to December, 2021. A total sample size was 2371, out of them positive aerobic bacterial growth was observed in 85 (3.58%) isolates.  Sampling technique was used to collect data from the laboratory records and written consent was taken from concerned authority collected data were compiled and analyzed with the help of SPSS version 20. All samples were collected in BacT/ ALERT 3D 60 aerobic bottles irrespective to antibiotics administration. One to five (1-5) ml blood for children and 5-10 ml blood for adult were collected respectively. Samples were incubated in the automated BacT/ ALERT 3D. Subculture was done on blood agar, chocolate agar media & MacConkey’s agar media. Identification of organisms by Gram stain & biochemical tests were done as per the standard methods. Negative signal blood culture bottles were kept in machine for up to 5 days. No mixed cultures (the association of two microorganisms) were identified. All the isolates were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern by Kirby-Bauer’s disk diffusion technique according to the Clinical and Laboratory standards institute guideline. Results: Overall, 45/874 (5.14%) positive blood cultures were isolated from adult followed by neonate 31/709(4.37%), children 6/390(1.54%) & infant 3/398(0.75%). Bacteremia was more or less equal in both sexes, female 44 (51.77%) & male 41(48.23%). Trend of pathogens recover in highest in November 13(15.29%). The most common organism isolated was Staph. aureus 26(30.58%) followed by Klebsiella species 15(17.64%), Acinetobacter species 13(15.29%), Pseudomonas species 11(12.94%), Salmonella Typhi 10(11.76%) and E. coli 10(11.76%). In Staph. aureus, linezolid and vancomycin were 100% sensitive. In Klebsiella spp. meropenem was 87% & in E. coli 80% sensitive. In Acinetobacter spp. amoxicillin/ clavanic acid 85% & colistin 70% sensitive. In Pseudomonas spp., meropenem and piperacillin tazobactum 100% sensitive followed by ciprofloxacin 82%, ceftazidime 82% & amikacin 81.8% sensitive. In Salmonella Typhi, ceftriaxone was 100% sensitive. Conclusion: Drug resistant bacteria are increasing over the years, so, antibiotic policy which formulates according to local sensitivity pattern will be implemented effectively. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.14(2) July 2023: 84-91