Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Beximco Pharmaceutical Limited, Bangladesh OnBehalf Cardiology Study Group (Bangladesh) Background The fact that SAARS-Cov2 virus enters cells through ACE2 receptors and the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors (RAASi) upregulate the ACE2 receptors, there was speculation that use of RAASi may lead increased cellular entry of the virus.  There was a pause for a brief period of the use of RAASi in COVID 19 patients. But clinically the speculation has been found to be incorrect. Different professional societies come up with the assertion to continue to use RAASi. As the hesitancy among the clinicians appears to continue and there is no first hand data regarding the safety of the use of RAASi in Bangladeshi population, the study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of RAASi in COVID 19 patients. Aims & Methods This study was a prospective, observational multi-center study to evaluate the outcome of COVID-19 patients receiving RAAS inhibitors. Adult Hypertensive patients (age ≥18 years) with diagnosed COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR test who have a history of taking either ACE inhibitor/ARB or any other anti-hypertensive medication. Evaluation of outcome was assessed by rate of hospitalization, requirement of oxygen therapy, requirement of high flow nasal cannula, admission to ICU and mortality between two groups. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results We collected data from 147 Covid-19 positive patients confirmed by RT-PCR. Among them, 117 (79.6%) had a history of taking RAAS inhibitor and 30 had history of taking other antihypertensive medications. Of them, two-third patients had more than 50 years of age and more than half of the patients had overweight or obesity. Other than hypertension they had several comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus (45.4%), Ischemic Heart Diseases (35.4%), Asthma or COPD (15%) etc. Rate of hospitalization had no statistical difference between RAAS inhibitor group and other hypertensive group (48.7% vs 46.70% respectively; p-value - 0.841). There was no statistical difference between two groups in terms of requirement of oxygen therapy (p-value - 0.297), High Flow Nasal Cannula (p-value - 0.430), intensive care unit (p-value - 0.194) and death (p-value – 0.383) also. Almost half and one-third of the patients had persistence of symptoms even after 14 days and 28 days respectively. Fatigue, cough, breathlessness, loss of appetite and taste were the most common symptoms among those. Conclusion In our study we found that RAAS inhibitor treatment had no adverse effect on the outcome of COVID-19 patients compared with other antihypertensive drugs. Patients may continue receiving ACEIs and ARBs for the treatment of any indication for RAASi without an increased risk of worse outcomes.

Abstract:Background: Rotavirus infects almost all children by the age of five. More than 180,000 annual deaths due to rotavirus, occurs in Bangladesh. Aims: This study aimed to determine the incidence of rotavirus infection in children by a modified polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in stool samples. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive type cross sectional study, a total of 400 stool samples were examined for the presence of rotavirus by a modified PAGE analysis of viral genome. Stool culture was done for common enteric pathogens. The study was carried out from November 2012 to July 2013 in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh. Results: PAGE results were found in 365 of 400 (91%) specimens. Maximum incidence of rotavirus infection was seen in age group of 6 months -24 months (67.25%). All 151 rotavirus positive cases did not show infection with bacterial pathogens. Conclusion: The modified PAGE technique for the detection of viral RNA was found to be rapid, simple, reliable and less expensive technique.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the major health problems and causes of chronic morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh as well as worldwide. Echocardiogram was performed to observe changes among the patients of COPD. Objectives: To observe echocardiographic changes among the patients of COPD. Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study carried out in the Department of Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi from July, 2010 to June, 2012. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria 64 people aged 40-70 years having COPD were selected. Thorough history, physical examination and spirometric along with echocardiographic assessment were done. Results: In case of COPD, 22(34.4%) cases showed echocardiographic changes and 42(65.6%) cases showed normal echocardiogram. Conclusion: In this study, Echocardiographic changes were 34.4% in COPD patients which would help in early detection of cardiac morbidity among those patients and to manage them accordingly.TAJ 2015; 28(1): 16-20

Background: Bronchial asthma isone of the major health problems and causes of chronic morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh as well as worldwide. ECG was performed to observe changes among the patients of bronchial asthma.Objectives: To observe ECG changes among the patients ofbronchial Asthma.Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study carried out in the Department of Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi from July, 2010 to June, 2012. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria 73 people having bronchial asthma were selected. Thorough history, physical examination and spirometric along with ECG assessment were done.Results: In case of bronchial asthma, 03(4.11%) cases showed ECG changes and 70 (95.89%) cases showed normal ECG.Conclusion: In this study, ECG changes were 4.11% in bronchial asthma patients.TAJ 2016; 29(2): 57-61

The increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with higher serum cholesterol levels in middle-aged persons has been established, but there have been few studies conducted regarding the issues in Mymensingh. For evaluation of serum cholesterol and BMI in women of Mymensingh, across-sectional studywas conducted in several private chambers in the districts of Mymensingh, Bangladesh during the period from January 2017 to December 2017. A total of 48 Female patients participated in the study. In the study, participants were aged between 18 to 29 years of age. The study suggested that the serum cholesterol was below 4.99 were 15(31.25%), 5.00 to 6.49 were 13(26.08%) and above 6.50 were 20 (41.67%), the Mean ± SD was 4.45 (0.76). The health status according to BMI showed that 12.50% (n=6) of the participants were underweight <18.49, majority 50.00% (n=24) of the population were from normal weight range (18.5-24.9), 16.67% (n=8) of the participants were overweight and 20.83 %( n=10) of the participants were obese >30. The Mean ± SD was 18.93± (3.68). Measurement of BMI and Serum Cholesterol levels can help doctors to treat patients properly for reducing the burden of death in our country. CBMJ 2019 July: Vol. 08 No. 02 P: 4-9