HG strength is an excellent tool to assess at bed side the nutrition status in patients with cirrhosis and has the highest diagnostic accuracy compared to other anthropometric tests such as MAMC and TST.

Objectives: Globally about 15.5% of all births are born with low birth weight (LBW) and in Bangladesh, LBW rate is quite high. The present study was conducted to determine the socioeconomic and nutritional factors affecting LBW in urban community of Bangladesh.Methods: This case control study was done at Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Normally delivered singleton live births babies from January 2003 to January 2005 were selected purposively and after enrollment all newborns birth weight was measured. Then from the total (N=583) study populations childmother pairs formed and were divided in LBW group (n=135) and NBW group (n=448). Data were collected regarding maternal socioeconomic and nutritional factors by interviewing the mothers and family members. Variables were analyzed to find out significant maternal factors affecting LBW.Results: The LBW incidences in this study was found 23.2%. And 51.1% of the LBW came from the mother of <20year of age group, 50% mothers of LBW were found illiterate, socioeconomic status was significantly more poor, maternal anaemia was found significantly more common in LBW and iron & vitamin supplementation during pregnancy were found significantly less among the mothers of LBW babies in comparison to NBW. Significant relationship was found between early maternal age, poor educational and socioeconomic status, anaemia, iron & vitamin supplementation during pregnancy with LBW. No relationship was found between LBW and maternal height but significant relationship was found with maternal weight and BMI.Conclusion: These findings suggest that selectively targeted interventions such as delay age at first pregnancy (at >20 year of age), improving maternal education and nutrition, iron and vitamin supplementation can prevent LBW in Bangladesh.. Key words: LBW (Low Birth Weight); NBW (Normal Birth Weight); IUGR(intrauterine growth retardation). DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v17i2.6588J Dhaka Med Coll. 2008; 17(2) : 83-87

LSM is a reliable predictor of hepatic fibrosis in Indian patients. LSM is superior to APRI for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, and high bilirubin (10.5 mg/dL) and Ishak HAI grade (>11) were independent predictors of discordance between LB and LSM.

Context: In Bangladesh, typhoid fever is a round the year problem which sometimes take epidemic proportions. The reason behind such occurrences are unsafe water supply, defective sewage system and unhygienic food handling practice. This study was designed to find out the prevalence of typhoid fever and related factors like sanitation facilities and food practice among the children of low income group people living in Kamrangir char and its adjacent areas in the semi urban Dhaka. Methodology: Data were collected from June 2009 to May 2010, from a sample of 96 patients with fever of more than seven days duration, who presented in the paediatric outpatient department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Detailed history, comprehensive physical examination and other relevant informations of the patients were recorded by following standard procedures. A raised anti O level with titre of >1:160 as well as other blood parameters were considered significant of having typhoid fever. Results: This study shows that 84(87.50%) patients had typhoid fever based on clinical examination and serological test results (widal test). It was observed that prevalence of enteric fever was high among the patients of school going age group (66.67%), habituated with unsafe drinking water (58.33%) and junk foods (72.92%). Statistical analysis showed that SSC level education in the parents who remain outside during the major part of the day for their livelihood had significant positive relationship with prevalence of typhoid fever. It was concluded that prevalence of typhoid fever was high among the children of school going age, who consume unsafe drinking water and food from outside source. Keywords: Typhoid fever; semi urban area; children. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v20i1.8570 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2011; 20(1) :37-43

Objectives: In Bangladesh low birth weight (LBW) rate is quite high even in urban area. The present study was conducted to determine the maternal factors (e.g. socioeconomic, nutritional and pregnancy related) affecting LBW in urban community of Bangladesh. Methods: This case control study was done at Shaheed Shohrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Normally delivered singleton live births babies from January 2003 to January 2005 in obstetrics wards were selected purposively and after enrollment all newborn's birth weight was measured. Then from the total (N=583) study populations child-mother pairs formed and were divided in LBW group (n=135) and normal birth weight (NBW) group (n=448). Maternal socioeconomic, nutritional and pregnancy regarding data (e.g. parity, inter pregnancy interval, number of antenatal visits) were collected and then variables were analyzed to find out maternal factors affecting LBW. Results: The LBW incidence was found 23.2% and mean birth weight was found 2762 gm. More proportion of LBW babies came from the mother of <20year of age group. Significant relationship was found between early maternal age, education, socioeconomic status, anaemia, iron & vitamin supplementation during pregnancy, maternal weight, body mass index (BMI) with LBW. Parity, inter pregnancy interval and number of antenatal visit were also found significant risk factors for LBW. No relationship was found between tobacco use and maternal height with LBW. Conclusion: Among the various epidemiological factors the maternal factors like antenatal care, parity, inter pregnancy interval, iron & vitamin supplementation during pregnancy are found to influence birth weight. Hence, it is the need of the hour to strengthen the existing maternal services at the community level to reduce LBW in Bangladesh. Key words: LBW (Low Birth Weight); NBW (Normal Birth Weight). DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6309 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 64-69