Blood serves as a vehicle for transmission of blood-borne pathogens and transfusion-associated malaria is a potentially serious complication. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Malaria parasites in blood donors. Total of 400 blood donors were selected from Transfusion Medicine Department of two teaching institutes, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Dhaka between the period of 1st January and 30th April 2003. The blood samples were examined under microscope by thick film in the laboratory of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR), Dhaka. The socio-demographic characteristics of the study subjects show that 304 (76%) blood donors were males and 96 (24%) of them were females. The malaria parasites were found in 3 (0.76%) donors out of 400 donors. From 400 donors, 52 (13%) donors had the history of residence/ travel in malaria zone and 348 (87%) had no such history. The 8 (15%) out of 52 who had the history of residence/ travel in malaria zone had previous history of malaria and had taken anti-malarial drug. It can be concluded from the present study that there is some risk of transmission of malaria parasites in blood transfusion among the voluntary and professional blood donors in Bangladesh. Key words: Malaria parasites; Blood donors; Thick film. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v17i2.6590J Dhaka Med Coll. 2008; 17(2) : 94-97

Background The exact mechanism for the pathophysiology of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) remains unknown. According to past knowledge, neuropsychiatric disorders, weak immune responses, fungal infections, antioxidants deficiencies, and inadequate nutrition might involve in SD. Here we evaluated serum trace elements, micronutrients, antioxidants, malondialdehyde (MDA), and immunoglobulins in SD patients. Methods This case-control study recruited 75 SD patients and 76 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). We measured serum micronutrients using atomic absorption spectroscopic methods. Similarly, we assessed serum antioxidants applying the RP-HPLC techniques. Also, serum MDA and immunoglobulins levels were evaluated by UV-spectrophotometric and turbidimetric methods, respectively. Results We observed higher serum levels of copper, manganese, iron, calcium, magnesium, and MDA in SD patients than HCs. Together with vitamin E, we noticed lower serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A, G, and M in SD patients than HCs. The present study detected a positive correlation between serum zinc and calcium levels (r = 0.365, p = 0.009) in SD patients. However, we identified a negative correlation between serum copper and calcium levels (r = -0.298, p = 0.035). Conclusion The present study suggests that the altered levels of micronutrients, antioxidants, MDA, and immunoglobulins are associated with the pathophysiology of SD. These changes may not be the cause but the consequences of the disease. These findings might help to understand the etiopathology and management of SD.

Rectal prolapse is a relatively common self limiting problem in young children. The peak age of prolapse is 2-3 years, a time during which the rectal mucosa is relatively loosely adherent to the underlying muscles, pelvic floor musculature is not fully developed and sacrum is relatively flat which directs increases in intra abdominal pressure towards anus instead of the protected hollow of the pelvi’s1,2. Rectal prolapse is a very common childhood problem in our country due to frequency of diarrhoeal and parasitic diseases accentuated by lack of personal hygiene and mal-nutrition, Majority of the patients are poor; majority of childhood prolapse are mucosal limited to 2-3 cm from anal verge 3. Diagnosis of rectal prolapse is straight forward by inspection and palpation. Colonoscopy and Barium enema are indicated only to exclude any other secondary causes in suspected cases. We have managed 30 (thirty) cases of recurrent rectal prolapse after failure of medical treatment in a prospective study by injection sclerotherapy as a Day care procedure; 5% phenol in olive oil was used as sclerosing agent and the procedure was performed under general anaesthesia and caudal block. The patients were kept under observation for 4-6 hours. 28 (twenty eight) patients responded satisfactorily (93.3%); 2 patients (6.67%) needed open operation -rectopexy. Only one patient was admitted for 48 hours due to reactionary haemorrhage which was managed conservatively. Few patients had minor complications like constipation, diarrhoea and acute retention; all managed conservatively. There was no mortality. Injection sclerotherapy appeared to be a safe, effective and cheap procedure for management of rectal prolapse in children. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v17i2.6594J Dhaka Med Coll. 2008; 17(2) : 116-120

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v20i2.10544 J. Dhaka Med. Coll. 2011; 20(2): 168-173

Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is the most common cutaneous xanthoma occurs over or surrounding the eyelids in yellowish color and various shapes. The objective of this study was to describe the status of cardiovascular disease risk factors in XP patients and determine their association with XP. A case-control study was conducted among 81 cases (have XP) and 81 controls (no XP) among patients attended for cardiac check-up between January 2019 to July 2019 at Ad-Din Women's Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Among 162 subjects were interviewed in our study, majority were female (62.3%). XP were found more prevalent among female and several cardiac risk factors were significantly associated with XP. The chi-square analysis indicates gender (p=0.035), BMI (p=0.01), Angina history (p=0.008), and serum LDL (p=0.024) were significantly associated with presence of XP. A higher percentage of patients with high total serum cholesterol, TG levels, and LDL was observed in patients with XP in compared to control group. Our study reveals an increased presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among patients with xanthelasma. Moreover, a statistically significant association of gender, BMI, angina history, and serum LDL with XP were observed. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2019, 5(4): 324-329