Background: Physical inactivity and low resting heart rate variability (HRV) are associated with increased incidence of coronary heart disease. Heavy physical activity is associated with higher heart rate variability and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease Objective: To assess some time domain measures of HRV in order to compare Cardiac Autonomic Function between sedentary and heavy workers. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University between 1 st July 2008 to 30 th June 2009 on 30 apparently healthy heavy workers aged 28-50 years from low socioeconomic condition (study group). For comparison 30 age, sex, BMI and socioeconomic status matched apparently healthy sedentary subjects (group A) were also studied. The study subjects were selected among rickshaw-pullers living in the slum areas nearby BSMMU, Dhaka and the controls were from fourth class employee of BSMMU, Dhaka. Heart Rate Variability were assessed by a Polygraph. Several time domain measures of HRV such as mean R-R interval, mean HR, SDNN, RMSSD were analyzed. For statistical analysis, Independent-Samples t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient tests were done as applicable. Results: Resting mean heart rate (P<0.01), SDNN (P<0.01) and RMSSD (P<0.001) were significantly lower but mean R-R interval (P<0.001) was significantly higher in heavy workers than those of sedentary control. The mean R-R interval (P<0.05) showed significant positive correlation in heavy workers but significant negative correlation in sedentary workers with BMI. Conclusion: Cardiac autonomic nerve function status may be higher with parasympathetic dominance by increased physical activity.

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Introduction: Infertility is an increasingly prevalent condition which causes considerable psychological problems among infertile couples. Objective: To assess the psychological state of infertility in terms of depression, anxiety and stress among the infertile couples of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the fertility centre of Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka from January to July 2018 among purposively selected 112 infertile couple. Data were collected by face to face interview through a pretested semi-structured Bangla questionnaire of Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale and analyzed by computer software SPSS 19.0. Results: Among the 112 infertile couples, depression was found among 54.5%, anxiety among 53.6% and stress in 30.4% of females. Whereas among males depression was found in 38.4%, anxiety 26.8% and stress 21.4%. This study also revealed that couples with primary infertility had more depression, anxiety and stress than others. Conclusion: Females have been psychologically more affected than their husbands due to infertility. More than half of the females had depression and anxiety and about one third was affected by stress which was higher than their husbands. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.14(1) 2018: 41-45

Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth is an important event in the life cycle of women and their health during this period is very much vital for the mother and children. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of a country is an important indicator of the overall health status of mother. Objectives: To assess the health care seeking behaviour of postnatal women in rural Bangladesh.  Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Chaturia in Dhamrai upazilla of Dhaka district from January 2019 to March 2019 among purposively selected 196 rural women of reproductive age who had at least one living child. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using pretested questionnaire. Results: Among 196 respondents average monthly family income was 12561 Taka with SD of 10462 taka. Majority of them were housewives and about two-third (64.8%) were educated above secondary level. 70.9% respondents had their delivery of last child in a government health care center and 37.8% deliveries were conducted by nurses which was followed by government doctors (36.2%). Majority (62.2%) had their health checkup within 42 days, 59.2% of them had checkup for three or more times and the checkup were done by government doctors (60.2%). 47.1% of the respondents experienced high grade fever as postpartum complication. Statistically significant association (p<0.05) were revealed between age group of the respondents with health personnel conducted deliveries and also between educational level of the respondents with place of delivery of last child. Conclusion: Awareness, motivation and infrastructural development play a vital role in utilizing the government healthcare services by the postnatal women in rural Bangladesh. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 16, No 2 (December) 2020: 80-83

Introduction: Inguinal hernias and hydroceles are among the common surgical problems in children. Both the hernia and hydrocele share a similar aetiology. Inguinal hernia in a child is usually an indirect inguinal hernia due to patent processus vaginalis. Likewise a fluid filled sac typically found in the scrotum may result from patent processus vaginalis or due to an imbalance between the secretion and absorption within the tunica vaginalis. Very little study was done in Bangladesh on inguinal hernia and hydrocele though these are very common in children. Objective: To observe the pattern of inguinal hernia and hydrocele amongst the children reported to a tertiary level hospital. Materials and Methods: This observational study was carried out in the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka during the period of January 2014 to December 2017. During the study period, a total of 258 children with inguinal hernia and hydrocele admitted in this hospital for operative treatment were included in this study. Results: During the study period 258 children with inguinal hernia and hydrocele were operated. Among them 246 (95.35%) had inguinal hernia and 12(4.65%) had hydrocele. Out of the children with inguinal hernia 206 (83.74%) were male and 40(16.26%) were female with male female ratio of 5.15:1. All had indirect inguinal hernia. Right side was involved in 140(56.91%) children. Out of 246 children with inguinal hernia, 161(65.44%) reported between 6 months to 5 years. Thirteen (5.28%) presented before 6 months and 72 (29.27%) presented after 5 years of age. All children were operated by traditional open method as admitted case. Among 12 children with hydrocele 10(83.33%) had right sided hydrocele and 2(16.67%) had hydrocele on the left side. Conclusion: Inguinal hernia and hydrocele occur most frequently in premature neonates. Inguinal hernia does not resolve spontaneously and there is high risk of incarceration requiring operative treatment as early as possible. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.13(1) 2017: 46-50