Introduction Both dietary diversity and physical activity during pregnancy are very important since they are known to affect pregnancy and birth outcomes. However, little is documented on dietary diversity and physical activity among pregnant women in Bangladesh. Accordingly, this study was designed to assess the dietary diversity and physical activity level, as well as their associated factors, among pregnant women at an antenatal care setting in Bangladesh. Methods An institution‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted with 96 randomly selected pregnant women who sought antenatal care at a hospital in Khulna City, Bangladesh in July 2020. Dietary diversity and physical activity were assessed using the 24‐h dietary recall method of consuming seven food groups, and standardized Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), respectively. Simple and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to determine the factors associated with dietary diversity and physical activity among pregnant women. Results Around 70% of participants had high dietary diversity and 58.3% were physically active. Being job holders, getting counseling on diet, and being from higher income and food‐secured families were identified as potential determinants of the high dietary diversity of participants. Having higher secondary education, being job holders, and being from families with a size of below five were more likely to be physically active compared to others. Conclusion In light of these findings, there is a need to support existing policies and devise new policies targeting these variables. Improving awareness on the importance of dietary diversity during pregnancy, incorporating counseling services, ensuring household food security especially during this pandemic situation, and providing women with diet counseling are recommended to increase pregnant women's dietary diversity and physical activity level.

Diabetic patients with associated dyslipidemia are easy targets for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Glycated hemoglobin predicts the risk for the development of diabetic complications. This study was an attempt to determine lipid abnormalities associated with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and serum lipid profile to assess the importance of HbA1c as an indicator of dyslipidemia and future risk of cardiovascular disease in Bhola District, Barisal. In this cross-sectional study, 200 known patients of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus within 35-85 years of age were randomly selected. They were investigated for HbA1c and lipid profile. The data were evaluated by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 version software. Independent samples t-test (2-tailed) was used to compare means of anthropometric, clinical and laboratory parameters and the effect of the glycemic control on their lipid profile was determined using correlation coefficient. Amongst the study group, 65% patients showed poor glycemic control, 35% with good glycemic control and 59.60% patient’s haddyslipidemia.HbA1c was found to have significant positive correlation with total cholesterol (TCHO), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) and significant negative correlation with high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). The mean value of TC, LDL-C and TG was found to be lower in patients with good glycemic control than those with poor glycemic control. These differences were significant at the level of P<0.05. These findings conclude that the glycemic control of the patient has got a strong impact on the serum lipid level and dyslipidemia is frequently encountered in those who have got poor glycemic control.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.5(2): 185-192, August 2018

Rice, the highest producing cereal crops in Bangladesh. Saline induced changes in growth was screened at germination to find out the salt tolerant traditional rice genotypes and chemical tests were carried out to detect the protein-content of rice genotypes. Four traditional rice genotypes (Kalijira, Sakkor khana, Chinigura, Ghoto balam) with one improved variety BRRI dhan28 were used in this experiment. The germination experiment was conducted in petri dish at 0, 8, 12, 16 dS/m salinity with three replications each.  Based on the data obtained, the genotypes were scored and categorized as highly tolerant (score 1), tolerant (score 3), moderately tolerant (score 5), susceptible (score 7), and highly susceptible (score 9) to salinity. Salinity caused reduction in germination and declines of shoot length, root length, shoot wet weight and shoot dry weight. Mean salinity tolerance score (MSTS) was computed. Based on MSTS, two genotypes named Kalijira and Chinigura were selected as tolerant, two genotypes named Sakkor khana and BRRI dhan28 as susceptible, and the rest one genotype named Ghoto balam as highly susceptible to salinity in germination stage. Total protein content of rice genotypes were determined by Kjeldahl method. Among 5 varieties studied, Chinigura contains the highest amount of protein (8.855%). The overall data estimated that, Chinigura is more salt tolerant and highly protein rich genotype than other rice genotypes.

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