Helicobacter pylori is one of the commonest bacterial pathogens in human. The organism is associated with development of peptic ulcer diseases, lymphoproliferative disorders and gastric cancer. Residence in a developing country, poor socio-economic conditions and genetic predisposition are regarded as risk factors. Prevalence of infection is higher in developing countries and re-infection is higher among under five children. It is transmitted mainly through feco-oral route in developing countries and gastro-oral route in developed nations. Transmission of 'close-contact infection' depends on the degree of mixing and age-distribution between susceptible and infected individuals. Host and bacterial factors with interaction of environment contribute pathogenicity. H. pylori cytotoxin-associated geneA (cagA), vacuolating toxinA (vacA) and adherence factors to gastric epithelium have been linked to enhanced pathogenicity of the bacterium. Host genetic polymorphism of cytokines, related legends, receptors and enzymes influence H. pylori infection.

The study was conducted to ensure knowledge, attitude, awareness about breast and cervical cancer among the female students of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University. This study was carried out from July to September, 2015 among the participants of university female halls, different female hostels and different faculty of the university by using a validated questionnaire which was developed for this study. A total 250 female students, at the age of (18 -26) years were participated. Collected information was analyzed using SPSS, Graph-pad Prism and MS Excel. The results showed that about 87.6% participants were undergraduate. Most of them come from village (45.6%) and city (36.0%). About 90% were Muslims and the socioeconomic level of most of the participants was middle (90.4%). In case of food intake patterns, it was observed that 35.6% participants eat chips, soft drinks, popcorn everyday; 40.4% eat meat regularly; 24% eat sugar everyday; 27.6% eat fruits and vegetables every day. Among them, 55.6% girls maintained daily 1 hour physical activity; 37.2% did exercise rarely; 34.8% participants rarely do strenuous exercise. About 84.4% respondents have not any family history of cancer; 6% participants have sister or mother having breast tumor and 7.2% have at least more than one close relative who have cancer. Among the participants, only 0.8% drank alcohol; 1.2% have addiction of smoking cigarette; 15.6% girls wear tight bra; 3.6% have benign breast disease and 2.8% participants have attended in breast or cervical cancer screening programs. The 50moderate numbers of girls have breast cancer screening practice. Among them, only 28.8% participants have ever heard about BSE (Breast self-examination) and 40.4% have not any knowledge about breast cancer treatment. About 50.8% respondents don't have any knowledge about cervical cancer treatment. The village people are the most risky group. About 17.02% girls recognized weakened immune system as a risk factor of cervical cancer. It can be concluded that, knowledge of participants regarding breast and cervical cancer is poor. Targeted education should be implemented to improve the knowledge of respondents about early detection methods and symptoms of breast and cervical cancer.

Background: Pulse oximetry is a convenient method of monitoring oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ). Pulse oximeter probes have been reported to be associated with injuries in neonates. Objectives: This study was conducted with the objective of examining whether application of a protective covering influences values of SpO 2 .Method: A cross sectional study was carried out in the Neonatology, over a period of one year. Hospitalized 140 neonates within 28 postnatal days were included in the study. Neonates with major congenital malformation, heart disease, severe anemia, shock and deep jaundice were excluded. Readings of SpO 2 were taken on right foot and right hand directly and through micropore by researcher himself when the saturation display was steadied.Results: The mean readings of SpO 2 on foot directly and through micropore were 94.5±3.4% and 94.2±3.4% respectively. On right hand, the values were 94.3±3.3% and 94.5±3.3% respectively. For each of the 13 subgroups formed on the basis of gestational age, weight and postnatal age of the newborns, oximetry readings of two sites i.e. hand and foot were compared using T-test and 95% confidence interval. Thus there were in all 26 statistical comparisons. Of these, in 22 comparisons the differences in the reading with micropore and without micropore were found statistically not significant. In the remaining 4, differences in 2 cases were significant at 0.04 and 0.05 level. The paired mean differences between readings of SpO 2 by pulse oximeter without micropore and with micropore on foot (0.25±1.11) and hand (0.22±1.12) were very similar to paired mean difference of SpO 2 readings by direct method (0.15±1.22) on hand and foot and were within this limit.Conclusion: The work concluded that the micropore protective covering did not influence oxygen saturation readings, suggesting that covering can be satisfactorily used for protection of neonates from probe related injuries.

Key words: socio-biological factors; parity; pregnancy duration; spacing; association; birth weightdoi: 10.3329/jcmcta.v19i1.3851Journal of Chittagong Medical College Teachers' Association 2008: 19(1):37-42

Background: Birth weight is an important indicator of neonatal health. Incidence of low birth weight infants in developing country like Bangladesh is high. Deliveries as 75% are conducted in rural community mainly by Traditional Birth Attendants or by relatives. Facility of birth weight recording is not existent. To overcome the problem of weight recording, it was justified to find out other simple measurements that could be used as substitute of weighing babies. Aim of the study was to examine the validity of anthropometric measurements as a screening method of low birth weight babies. Material & Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted on 560 newborns over a period of 18 months in 2000-2001 in Dhaka city. Mid-arm circumference, length, head circumference, chest circumference, abdominal girth and calf circumference were considered. Results: A significant correlation was observed for birth weight with all other anthropometrical parameters (P<0.001). However, there was a higher correlation (r=0.946) between birth weight and mid-arm circumference. The study showed that in identifying newborns of <2500 gm a mid-arm circumference of <9 cm had the best sensitivity (96.2%) and specificity (97.3%). A value of <8 cm and <6.8 cm for mid-arm circumference showed highest validity for picking up newborns weighing <2000 gm and <1500 gm respectively. Cut-off values for all other parameters to screen neonates categorically were observed. Regression analysis of birth weight on all other parameters was seen. Conclusion:The work concluded that anthropometric parameters might be a valid alternative method in screening low birth weight infants.