Background Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II) is a widely used valid instrument to assess the severity of depression in clinical and normal settings. To meet the necessity of a standard scale for measuring depression among above 265 million Bangla speaking population around the world, this scale was translated and validated. Methods Two translations of BDI‐II into Bangla were prepared, and then, two back translations were done by medical and language experts in parallel. Thereafter, sentence revision followed by pretest on 20 respondents was done to finalize the Bangla version of BDI‐II (BDI‐II BV). Afterward, a cross‐sectional, comparative, and descriptive study was conducted to validate the scale by purposive sampling technique consisting of 111 persons (both clinical and normal) in three tertiary‐level hospitals in Bangladesh. Everyone was given to fill up BDI‐II BV at first. Then, they were given to fill up BDI‐II BV (n = 49), Bangla version of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21‐item (DASS21‐BV, n = 47) and BDI‐II (n = 25) 3–7 days later. The diagnosis of depressive disorder was made according to DSM‐5. Correlation study and factor analysis were completed. Results The mean age was 28.83(±8.70) years. The male–female ratio was 1:0.82. Correlation of scores for BDI‐II BV with the DASS21‐BV depression subscale was .920; BDI‐II BV with BDI‐II was .985 (Cronbach's α .993; t test not significant) and BDI‐II BV applied first and the second time was .960 (Cronbach's α .979; z test not significant). The interitem correlation for all the items was found highly significant (p < .01). Patients having depressive disorder or episodes had significantly higher BDI‐II BV scores than normal (M + SD 30.18 + 10.127 than 8.34 + 5.910; p < .001). Partial confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated two‐factor loading comprising Cognitive and Somatic‐affective symptoms. Conclusions Through the translation and validation process, a validated Bangla version of BDI‐II was produced to measure depression and its severity among the Bengali population.

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of VZV (varicella zoster virus) following primary infection or vaccination. VZV remains latent in sensory dorsal root ganglion cells. The virus begins to replicate in some later time, traveling down the sensory nerve into the skin. Forty one cases (3 children and 38 adults) of Herpes Zoster were assessed over a period of three and half years. Structured questionnaire, check-list and face-to-face interview were used as tools of data collection. The prevalence of herpes zoster amongst Skin & Eye OPD cases were found 0.60 percent. Maximum cases (23; 63.41%) were above 45 years of age. The male female ratio was 1.4:1.0. By socioeconomic status maximum patient from middle class (13; 31.70%), followed by poor (12; 26.26%) and very poor (11; 26.82%). Prodromal syndrome in maximum cases was paresthesia (13; 31.70%) and pain (11; 26.82%). Cases were mostly presented with pain (35; 85.36%). Twenty-three cases had classic herpes zoster followed by necrotic or ulcerated herpes zoster (16 cases) and hemorrhagic herpes zoster (2 case). Trigeminal dermatome was the most common involvement in 18 cases (43.9%) followed by thoracic dermatome 16 cases (39.02%). Unidermatomal involvement was seen in 97.56% cases (40) followed by multidermatomal 1 case (2.43%). Nine cases were screened for HIV-1 by ELISA, but none was detected as seropositive. . The analysis and findings put this recommendation that large scale study needed to examine the correlation ship between VZV infection and socioeconomic status of patients. Medicine Today 2010 Volume 22 Number 02 Page 80-82 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v22i2.12439

Overweight and obesity are recognized as an 'escalating epidemic' affecting both developed and developing countries. Obesity and its associated morbidities are leading causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type-2 diabetes and several other health problems 3 . Physical activities promote controlling blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes, and obesity. On the other hand, sedentary lifestyle is associated with

Background: Overweight and obesity are recognized as recent threat which affecting both developing and developed countries. Obesity and its associated morbidities are leading cause of most non-communicable diseases. Few recent studies have indicated the presence of increase in overweight and obesity among children and adolescent but there is no study among adult groups. Method and material: This cross sectional study was done to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity and metabolic variables with their relation among medical students. Result: Our result reveals that 8.6% & 1.9% male and 15% & 3.2% female are suffering from overweight and obesity (based on BMI) respectively. More females (31.3% and 65.2%) are centrally obese than males (3.5% and 34.8%) (According to Waist Hip ratio and Waist Height ratio respectively). But according to Waist circumference more males (30.7%) are obese than females (24%). There is also significant difference of male and female BP. DBP and SBP of male (79.22mmHg & 118.9 mmHg) have high normal level than female (72.71mmHg and 108.67mmHg) (P<0.001). There is no significant difference of glycaemic status (p<.286) and lipid profile ( p<.347) with central obesity. Conclusion: Although male students have high upper level of blood pressure, female students are more obese than males (both according to BMI and central obesity). High blood pressure and obesity both acts as risk factors for the development of non communicable disease. Student’s awareness therefore should be increased to reduce central obesity and BP within normal range.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v14i1.21559 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.14(1) 2015 p.53-58

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