This cross-sectional, questionnaire based descriptive study was carried out to evaluate the individual knowledge of diabetic complications in the diabetic patients and also to find the association of knowledge towards educational status and other socio-demographic profiles. A total 184 patients were included in this study. In this study, we found 91 subjects (48.9%) knew that heart disease was the most important diabetic complication, if blood glucose level wasn't controlled properly followed by cerebrovascular disease 27(14.7%), renal disease 24(13%) and eye diseases 9(4.9%). Unfortunately, awareness about frequency of diabetic foot disease, peripheral neurological problems, occurrence of sudden death were found in only 1(0.5%) cases. Awarness about other complications (miscellaneous) was 12(6.5%) and 8(4.3%) didn't know any of the above mentioned complications. Each subject was also asked whether they were apprehensive about the dreaded diabetic complications or not. Statistical difference wasn't observed in any of the parameter (i.e., individual education, an area of residence, monthly income, occupations, family history of individual) when compared with the degree of apprehension. None of the parameters was statistically significant. Further expansion of diabetic education programs like using mass media and involving national curriculum of education can improve self-regulatory awareness of diabetic complications which may reduce the morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients. Key words: diabetic complication, apprehension.   doi: 10.3329/jom.v10i2.2821 J MEDICINE 2009; 10 : 90-93

A recent innovation in assessing community vitamin A status is the Helen Keller International food-frequency method, which is based on weekly intakes of key foods among pre-school children. Since it excludes breastmilk, we investigated whether the amount of breastmilk received by 40 children aged one to three years in a rural area of Bangladesh contributed significantly to their vitamin A intake. Vitamin A intake was indirectly calculated from the consumption of breastmilk, which was quantified over a 9-hour period by a test-weighing technique. The estimated mean 24-hour milk intake was 548 g for the 97% who were breastfed at 12 to 23 months and 312 g for the 73% who were breastfed at 24 to 36 months. This represents an average daily intake of 41% and 23% of the safe recommended daily intake (400 RE) for vitamin A, respectively. The Helen Keller International food-frequency method should be revalidated for settings where breastfeeding is sustained beyond infancy.

Diabetes mellitus adversely influences the outcome of acute coronary syndrome. This study evaluated the in-hospital outcome of acute coronary syndrome in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this prospective observation study 130 patients with acute coronary syndrome were enrolled. They were divided into diabetic and nondiabetic group. Diabetic patients were taken as case and nondiabetic patients as control. Outcome parameter studied were in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, different arrhythmias and recurrent angina. In this study, one third (32%) of the patients were diabetic with mean age 58±10.0 years vs. 53.0±13.6 years in diabetic and nondiabetic group, respectively. Majority of the patients in both groups were male. Congestive heart failure and arrhythmias were more common in case group compared to those in control group (19% vs. 13.6% p=0.424; 23.8% vs. 13.6%, p= 0.148, respectively). Cardiogenic shock developed in 7.1% of diabetic patients and 8% of nondiabetic patients. In hospital mortality was 7.1% and 5.7% in diabetic and nondiabetic group, respectively. Recurrent angina developed only in diabetic patients. Therefore, diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome encountered more in- hospital adverse outcome.   doi: 10.3329/uhj.v5i1.3437 University Heart Journal Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2009 24-27

Background : Enteric fever is a common endemic disease in Bangladesh.1 Enteric fever caused by Salmonella typhi (typhoid fever) is a major therapeutic consideration of all prolonged illnesses with pyrexia in pediatric practices particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional survey was carried out during the period, October 2005 to December 2005, among 184 randomly chosen diabetic patients in Khulna Diabetic Centre, Khulna, Bangladesh, to evaluate the knowledge of the patients for their control of diabetes mellitus and also to explore the association(s) of their attitude and knowledge regarding diabetic awareness towards educational status and socio-demographic profile. In this study, we found a significant difference, in diabetic awareness to keep correct blood glucose level, in different educational group. But, it did not influence the subjects of different educational group to visit the diabetic clinic. There was no significant difference in the knowledge of correct blood glucose level and in regularity of visit to the diabetic clinic, in rural and urban people. Knowledge of correct blood glucose level varied significantly among male and female patients, although, no significant variation was found among them in visiting to the diabetic clinic. We can conclude that, diabetic education programs can improve self-regulatory behavior and in the long run, can reduce morbidity and mortality.   doi:10.3329/jom.v10i3.2008 J Medicine 2009; 10 (Supplement 1): 7-10 Â