Background: Clarithromycin resistance globally has challenged the success of conventional Clarithromycin based triple therapy for Helicobacter Pylori eradication. Levofloxacin has primarily been considered as a second-line treatment but may also be used as primary therapy. Recently, some studies have evaluated its efficacy as a valid alternative to standard antibiotics as first-line therapy for H. pylori infection. This study was intended to assess the eradication success of Levofloxacin based first-line triple therapy and also to see it’s compliance & adverse effect profile. Materials and methods: This non-randomized single-arm clinical trial was carried out in the Department of Gastroenterology, BSMMU from March 2016 to March 2017 involving 123 H. pylori-positive patients with endoscopically proven peptic ulcer disease to assess the eradication success of levofloxacin based first-line triple therapy and also to see its compliance and adverse effect profile. H. pylori status were detected by urea breath test. Patients were treated with amoxycillin 1 gm 12 hourly, levofloxacin 500 mg 12 hourly and omeprazole 20 mg 12 hourly for 14 days and were followed-up at 2 months after completion of therapy for repeat urea breath test. Results: A total of 97 patients returned for followup.  Male proportion was 63.41% and female was 36.58% with the median age of 57 years. On intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rate of H. pylori was 65.85% and on per-protocol analysis, it was 83.50%. Total 15.44% patients developed adverse effects, all were mild to moderate in nature. One patient discontinued treatment because of epigastric pain and vomiting. Conclusion: Levofloxacin-based therapy was effective, well-tolerated and compliance was excellent; but the eradication rate was not satisfactory.  JCMCTA 2020 ; 31 (1) : 102-107

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting almost all patients during their illness. They may appear in early pre-symptomatic stage as well as throughout the disease course. This observational cross sectional study was carried out in the Movement Disorder Clinic, Department of Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka to see the presence of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Seventy-six Parkinson’s Disease patients were recruited during October 2019 to September 2020. Presence of non–motor symptoms (NMSs) was sought by the 30-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-30). All patients (100%) of this study were suffering from one or more non-motor symptoms. Most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease were anxiety (78%), fatigue (78%), difficulty in falling or staying sleep (75%), depression (72%), forgetfulness 72%, dizziness (68%), loss of interest in doing activities (66%), flat mood (62%), lack of pleasure (60%), restless leg (59%) & problem in sustaining concentration (50%). Other non-motor symptoms were present in less than 50% patients. Non-motor symptoms are common and often unrecognized in Parkinson`s Disease. Address- ing this issue will help to manage these symptoms and thereby improve quality of life of patients with Parkinson`s Disease. BSMMU J 2021; 14(4): 121-124