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Transfusion transmitted infections have remained a major deterrent to public health, particularly among the patients with transfusion-dependent Beta thalassemia in developing countries. Although proper donor selection through adoption of WHO-advised infection panel has lowered the rate of infections, the multi-transfused patients are not free of risk. In this study, we screened 148 transfusion-dependent Beta thalassemia patients to determine the frequency of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) using the ELISA method. Among them, infected cases with HCV, HBV and HIV were 13.51%, 3.37% and 0%, respectively. Moreover, 2% of the patients were found to be co-infected with both HBV and HCV. The percentage of infections in the patients with frequent transfusion interval (≤30 days) was significantly higher (p < 0.0005) than that in the patients with less frequent transfusion intervals (>30 days). Immunochromatography (ICT)-based rapid test kits are usually used to screen and confirm these infections in the blood of the patients. However, ICT-based tests are not sensitive enough to detect the infections. So, a combination of both Nucleic Acid testing (NAT) and serological testing are suggested to significantly reduce the risk of viral infections during blood transfusion.

Inadequate knowledge about health, illiteracy, cultural and religious issues, poverty, chronic infection, and malnutrition are continuously adding additional threat on the huge burden of cancers in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to determine the trends and distributions of cancers in Bangladesh. Retrospective analysis was done on the cancer patients registered in the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) in Dhaka, Bangladesh during January, 2008 to December, 2010. Of total 27,281 cancer patients, 56.2% were male and majority were from 45-54 years age group. There was an increasing trend of cancers during the study period (P <0.05). According to International Classification of Diseases for Oncology 3 rd edition), most frequent cancers were respiratory system and intrathoracic organs (23.1%) followed by digestive organs (18.5%), female genital organs (11.9%), breast (11.7%), and lip, oral cavity and pharynx (11.6%). Overall, lung cancer was the leading cancer followed by breast, cervical, lymph node and lymphatics, and esophageal cancer. Lung cancer was the leading cancer among male followed by lymph node and lymphatics, and esophagus. However, top of the list was occupied by the breast cancer among females followed by cervical cancer, and lung cancer. In conclusion, an increasing trend of cancer was observed in Bangladesh. Lung and breast cancer was the leading cancer in male and female, respectively; and most frequent cancer was observed among illiterate and middle aged population. We recommend exerting proper emphasis on anti-tobacco campaign and breast self-examination for the females in addition to increasing overall awareness against cancers in Bangladesh.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the association of household fuel use with hypertension, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among adult women.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey through face‐to‐face interviews and blood pressure (BP) measurement were conducted among 2182 randomly selected women (1236 solid fuel users and 946 clean fuel users) in rural areas of Bangladesh.ResultsOverall, 21% of women were hypertensive. Mean SBP and DBP for the study population were 121.27 mmHg (SD ± 15.43) and 76.18 mmHg (SD ± 12.00), respectively. Hypertension was found significantly (p = .006) higher among solid fuel users (23%) compared to clean fuel users (18%). Women using solid fuels have a 35% higher chance (AOR: 1.35, CI: 1.10–1.80) of having hypertension and have more than twice the risk of developing elevated SBP (AOR: 2.01, CI: 1.55–2.95) relative to women using clean fuels for their daily cooking. The probability of hypertension (AOR: 1.39, CI: 1.17–1.60) and elevated SBP (AOR: 1.35, CI: 1.10–1.61) increased significantly for every hour of fuel use.ConclusionsUsing clean fuel, reducing the duration of daily cooking time, and improved cooking facilities may help minimizing hypertension and ultimately cardiovascular disease risk among women.

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