Para-Phenylenediamine (PPD) in commercially available Henna preparations in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh Henna is one of the most popular cosmetic products. The leaves of Henna are dried to make powder on which oil or water is mixed to get a paste to stain the body or hair. Although the occurance of contact allergic dermatitis in natural Henna is not so common, but this risk is increased by adding para-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which is used to make the Henna color dark to deep black. According to Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP), para-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is treated as an allergen and is considered as a very strong potential skin sensitizer. The presence of PPD in the commercially used tube Henna increases the risk of allergic contact dermatitis and several cases have already been reported worldwide. For this study, about 10 Henna samples were randomly collected from 10 selected areas of Dhaka city. The presence of PPD in Henna samples was determined by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The result showed the presence of PPD in all of the Henna samples at substantial concentrations, ranging between 79.12-204.77 mg/kg where the average range is 142.36 mg/kg, which is much higher than the permissible levels (<2% or 0.1 mg/m3). The finding suggests that there should be a regulation and monitoring condition for the production and distribution of these adulterated Henna products in Bangladesh. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1088-1092, 2022 (January)

Interrelationship Among Seed Quality Parameters and Fungi Associated with Seeds of Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.)

A total of twenty nine species of fungi namely Aspergillus aculeatus Lizuka, A. flavus Link, A. fumigatus Fresenius, A. niger Van Tiegh, A. nidulans Eidam, A. subramanianii Visagie, Frisvad & Samson, A. tamariiKita G., A. toxicarius Murak, A. wentii Wehmer, Curvularial unata (Wakker) Boedijn, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc., C. gossypii Southw., Chaetomium globosum Kunze., Fusarium moniliforme J. Shelden, F. nivale (Fr.) Sorauer, F. oxysporum Schlechtendal, F. fujikuroi Nirenberg, F. solani(Mart.) Sacc., Lasiodiplodiatheobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl., Meyerozyma guilliermondii (Wick.) Kurtzman & M. Suzuki., Mucor sp. P. Micheli ex L., Penicillium aculeatum Raper& Fennell, Penicillium citrinum Thom, Rhizoctonia solani Khun., Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill., Rhizopus oryzae Went & Prins. Geerl., Rhizo mucor sp. Luce t & Costantin, Syncephalastrum racemosum Cohn and Trichoderma viride Pers. were found to be associated with the seeds of 14 varieties viz. CB-1 to CB-14 of cotton. Seed quality analysis showed that percentage of pure seeds, germination, moisture, seedling mortality and associated fungi with different varieties of cotton seeds varies from 97.08-99.92%, 80-93%, 10-11.3%, 16.05-50.30% and 24-78.0% respectively. Present study deals with estimation of interrelationship between some quality factors through correlation and regression analysis are important for the assessment of seed quality. There were negative correlations between seedling mortality and purity percentage and between germination rate and fungus frequency. On the other hand, positive correlations were found between germination rate and purity percentage, between seedling mortality and fungus frequency, between purity percentage and fungus frequency, between germination rate and seed moisture and between fungus frequency and seed moisture. CB 8 was superior from the other cotton variety as it showed higher physical purity of seed (98.41%), higher seed germination (92%), lower fungal incidence (24%) and lower mortality of seedling (23.91%). Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1061-1067, 2022 (January)

Impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on human health

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent infectious disease around the globe and it is caused by the parasite named Toxoplasma gondii. Infections normally lead to asymptomatic parasite persistence in immunocompetent warm-blooded hosts, including up to 30-50% of humans. However, T. gondii infection has also a major medical concern and can lead to life-threatening diseases, after reactivation in immunocompromized individuals, particularly in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/cancer or organ transplant recipients, after vertical transmission to fetuses of pregnant women and by inducing recurrent uveitis in immunocompetent adults. More importantly, T. gondii undergoes stage conversion from its fast-replicating tachyzoite to slow replicating dormant bradyzoite preferentially in the brain and skeletal muscles, and lesser extent in the eye, liver, kidney and lung which enable the parasite to persist for the whole life of an individual. Due to the persistence behavior of the parasite in different parts of human body, T. gondii can develop multiple human diseases with severe clinical symptoms. In this study, we have summarized the association of T. gondii in multiple human diseases for instance Encephalitis, Parkinson’s disease, Schizophrenia, Heart disease, Ocular Toxoplasmosis, Congenital abnormalities, Cancer and Diabetes. This highlights the potential role of T. gondii in developing fatal diseases, particularly in immunocompromised individuals despite having asymptomatic nature of the parasite. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1093-1099, 2022 (January)

Immunophenotypic characteristics of Diffuse Large Bcell Lymphoma

Introduction: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is essential in the diagnostic workup of Diffuse Large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Determination of biological heterogenicity of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is critical to institute precise treatment and predict prognosis. IHC confirms B cell phenotypes, reflects molecular subtype based on cell of origin and determines other immunophenotypic characteristics. Methods and Material: All cases of DLBCL diagnosed in 2020 (Jan-Dec) in histopathology department of Evercare Hospital Dhaka were included in this study. Histopathological sections were stained with CD20, CD3, CD5, CD30, BCL2, BCL6, CD10, MUM1, MYC, Ki67 and other markers. Hans algorithm was applied to classify DLBCL cases into germinal center B-cell (GCB) or Non-GCB. Results: Out of 64 DLBCL cases, 21 (24%) of DLBCL were GCB, while 76% (43 cases) were non-GCB subtypes. 30% cases of DLBCL showed double expression for MYC and BCL2. Fewer cases were immunoreactive for CD5 and CD30. Conclusion: This first study at Dhaka with wide range of antibody to characterize the Immunophenotypic features of DLBCL. The main finding of this study is the identification of non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) as the major immunophenotype of DLBCL. This may be an enabler for further studies to observe the clinical outcome of different subtypes of GCB and Non-GCB. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1049-1052, 2022 (January)

Misconception of consumers and retailers regarding fungal spoilage of onion and prevalence of fungi in rotten onion

Onion is an inevitable part of our food habits. Fungal infection is one of the major reasons of onion spoilage which not only cause economic losses but also may cause public health threat through mycoses and mycotoxicoses. A total 15 onion samples from different places in Chattagram, Bangladesh were collected to assess the fungal contaminants.Onion consumers along with retailers were interviewed to evaluate their awareness about fungal food spoilage and associated health risk. Three different fungal species were identified and isolated by analysing their macroscopic and microscopic features. These isolates were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium spp. A. niger was the most prevalent and found in 14 samples out of 15. Biochemical characterization of the isolated fungi was also done to assess their ability to produce extracellular enzymes and amylase, protease, and cellulase activities were observed. Survey data showed that only around 20% of the interviewees had some idea about fungal contamination, while nearly about 80% of them believed that washing, sunburn and cooking can make the food safe. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1068-1076, 2022 (January)

All four dengue virus serotypes co-circulate in concurrent dengue infections in a single dengue session in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Purposes: Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, is a global public health burden affecting millions of people each year and over 40% of world populations are at risk of dengue. Therefore, prompt and accurate dengue diagnosis is inevitable for disease surveillance and for aiding disease management. In this study we report dengue virus (DENV) seroprevalence in Chittagong, Bangladesh along with clinical manifestation of dengue infections. Methods: All samples included in this study were selected based on dengue NS1-based diagnosis, clinical sign and symptoms were judged by expert clinical physicians and infecting DENV serotyping was done by RT-PCR. The blood cells (Platelet, Haematocrit, WBC etc) were analyzed using Haematology cell counter. Results: First, among the 112 DENV infected serum samples tested by RT-PCR, 42 were DENV positive where 76% samples had single DENV serotype infection and 24% were concurrently infected with two or more DENV serotypes, indicating that all four DENVs were present in a single dengue session in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Then, DENV4 was the most prevailed serotype, followed by DENV2, DENV1 and DENV3 in single DENV serotype infections. However, in almost 90% cases of concurrent multiple DENV infections DENV1 serotype was present. A detail analysis of clinical data clearly indicated that DENV1 and DENV2 resulted very similar patterns of clinical symptoms which were quite different from those caused by DENV3 and DENV4. For example, ache and pain were absent in DENV3 infection and diarrhea was absent in DENV4 infections. Furthermore, DENV3, both in single and concurrent multiple DENV infections, might increase dengue disease severity as observed highly reduced platelet counts along with increased WBC in patients infected with DENV3 serotype. Conclusion: All four DENV serotypes, both as single and concurrent multiple DENV infections, were present in single dengue session in Bangladesh. Despite having very similar sequences and structures all four DENVs might produce different disease spectra, ranging from classical dengue fever to dengue hemorrhagic fever. Concurrent multiple DENV infections could contribute increased dengue disease severity in dengue outbreaks in Bangladesh. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1042-1048, 2022 (January)

Effects of Wet and Dry Intermittent Fasting on Weight and Cardiovascular Risk Indicators

Intermittent fasting (IF) has two broad types: wet (with water) and dry (without water) fasting. Studies suggest that both are effective for reducing weight and for promoting overall metabolic well-being; however, their relative efficacy is not yet established. The study was a 9-day cross-over clinical trial with the purpose to compare the effectiveness of wet and dry fasting. Adult overweight women (n = 18) from Dhaka, Bangladesh were recruited as subjects of this study. It included 3 days of wet IF and 3 days of dry IF (14 h fasting and 50% calorie restriction), with a 3-day washout period (ad libitum intake) in between. Both types of IF resulted in significant weight loss. The loss was significantly higher after 3 days of dry IF (−0.23 ± 0.02 kg; P < 0.05). Waist circumference and BMI were significantly reduced in both interventions (P <0.05) and diastolic pressure changed significantly after dry fasting (P <0.05). None of the biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, atherogenic coefficient, and fasting plasma glucose) changed significantly within or between interventions. The intervention compliance percentage was high for both, with no significant difference. The study findings suggest that both wet and dry IF were effective for weight loss but dry IF was more effective. The biochemical parameters did not change significantly in short term and so longer trials are needed. [Trial registration number: UMIN000041481] Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1053-1060, 2022 (January)

Effects of an integrated intervention on the nutritional status and IYCF practices under two years of children in the southern part of Bangladesh

Objective: The significance of appropriate infant and young children feeding (IYCF) to ensure proper nutrition for children is well-documented. Although nutrition interventions with agricultural components have the potential, the evidence for this relationship is insufficient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an integrated health-based intervention on the dietary pattern and nutritional status of children under two years of age. Methodology: This study was a pre-post analysis of secondary data of the project titled “Integrated Agriculture and Health-Based Interventions for Improved Food and Nutrition Security in Selected Districts of Southern Bangladesh”, which were collected from Barisal and Khulna district. We used data of 268 children aged 0-23 months from baseline and 554 children from endline which comprised the study population to assess socio-demographic, anthropometric and IYCF indicators. Further, horticulture, cooking and hygiene indices were created to analyze the effectiveness of the project interventions. Results: A significant reduction of stunting and underweight and insignificant reduction of wasting were observed from baseline to end line. Compared to baseline, the horticulture index, hygiene index and cooking index differ significantly between the baseline and end line surveys. Further, significant improvement of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and insignificant improvement of continued breastfeeding up to 1 year were found from baseline to end line. Conclusion: This study shows that integrated agriculture and health-based interventions with nutrition components have a positive impact on stunting and underweight but exert a mixed effect on wasting and IYCF practices. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1077-1087, 2022 (January)

Genetic polymorphism and phylogenetic analysis of 15 autosomal STR markers in the Santal indigenous population of Bangladesh

Fifteen autosomal STR markers, namely D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, and FGA were typed using AmpFlSTR® Identifiler® Plus PCR amplification systems in 132 unrelated Santal individuals of Bangladesh. Forensic efficiency parameters like, matching probability (MP), power of discrimination (PD), polymorphism information content (PIC), power of exclusion (PE), typical paternity index (TPI), observed heterozygosity (Hobs), and expected heterozygosity (Hexp) were calculated for all the loci. No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected for the loci after Bonferroni correction. The combined matching probability (MP), combined power of discrimination (PD) and combined power of exclusion (PE) for the 15 tested STR markers were 8.38 x 10-17, 0.999999998 and 0.0.999993866, respectively. A comparison of the locus wise allele frequencies of autosomal STR data of the Santal population with the published geographically close population data based on Nei’s genetic distance revealed that the Santal population is closely related to Munda population from Jharkhand, India. Bioresearch Commu. 7(2): 1004-1009, 2021 (June)

Alteration of biomarkers of expired and cured COVID- 19 ICU patients in a tertiary care hospital

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2). This is a retrospective observational study aimed to find the alteration of some biochemical and hematological parameters of 121 COVID-19 patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) of Evercare Hospital Dhaka during May to December 2020. Methods: Retrospective biochemical, hematological and molecular (COVID-19 RT-PCR Ct value) markers were analyzed on COVID-19 patients in ICU and compared on those who died in the ICU and those cured. Results: Comparison of viral titer assessed by RT-PCR Ct values of target genes of SARS-CoV-2 among cured and expired patients did not show any significant differences. However, biochemical parameters such as CRP, Ferritin and hematological parameters such as WBC, absolute neutrophil, absolute lymphocyte, D-dimer showed significant differences among cured and expired patients. Patients who died in ICU mean CRP, Ferritin, D-dimer, WBC, absolute neutrophil were 10.39, 7694.30, 3196, 16.38, 15.12 respectively, compared to cured patients 0.93, 457.57, 773, 11.24, 8.86 respectively, with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Platelets and absolute lymphocytes were observed decreased in expired patients compared to cured. Further, elevated level of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and reduced level of lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) has significant correlation with disease severity. Conclusion: These findings indicate that biochemical parameters such as CRP, Ferritin and hematological parameters such as CBC, D-Dimer, NLR, LCR can be monitored to identify severity and fatality of COVID-19 patients and thus, may help in improving disease outcome. Bioresearch Commu. 7(2): 1031-1037, 2021 (June)