The C-terminal family 9 carbohydrate-binding module of xylanase 10A from Thermotoga maritima (CBM9-2) binds to amorphous cellulose, crystalline cellulose, and the insoluble fraction of oat spelt xylan. The association constants (K(a)) for adsorption to insoluble polysaccharides are 1 x 10(5) to 3 x 10(5) M(-1). Of the soluble polysaccharides tested, CBM9-2 binds to barley beta-glucan, xyloglucan, and xylan. CBM9-2 binds specifically to the reducing ends of cellulose and soluble polysaccharides, a property that is currently unique to this CBM. CBM9-2 also binds glucose, xylose, galactose, arabinose, cellooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides, maltose, and lactose, with affinities ranging from 10(3) M(-1) for monosaccharides to 10(6) M(-1) for disaccharides and oligosaccharides. Cellooligosaccharides longer than two glucose units do not bind with improved affinity, indicating that cellobiose is sufficient to occupy the entire binding site. In general, the binding reaction is dominated by favorable changes in enthalpy, which are partially compensated by unfavorable entropy changes.

Background: A definitive treatment of SARS CoV-2 is yet to arrive and the human death toll rises exponentially globally. In this health emergency, it might be useful to look into the old therapies which could be effective against the virus. In vitro research showed Ivermectin could decrease the concentration of coronavirus 4000 to 5000 folds in living lung tissue. Aim: In this prospective study a combination of Ivermectin and Doxycycline will be evaluated therapeutically to treat COVID-19 patients. Methods: 100 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this study with a predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RT- PCR of the SERS-CoV-2 will be done at designated government hospitals. The clinical features and response to treatment were noted according to a dedicated protocol. Results: In this study male and female were 64 and 36 respectively, the age ranged between 8 to 84 years. Retesting was done between 4 and 18 days of starting medication. All patients tested negative and their symptoms improved within 72 hours. There were no noticeable side effects. Conclusion: Combination of Ivermectin and doxycycline was found to be very effective in viral clearance in mild and moderately sick COVID-19 patients. Medical societies and institutions should undertake larger multi center studies to validate and recommend this combination therapy to include in national guidelines. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2020; 38(0): 10-15

BackgroundSouth Asians have a higher overall incidence rate and younger age of onset for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to Western populations. However, limited information is available on the association of preventable risk factors and outcomes of AMI among young individuals in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and in-hospital outcome of AMI among young (age ≤40 years) adults in Bangladesh.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study among consecutive 50 patients aged ≤40 years and 50 patients aged >40 years with acute ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) and followed-up in-hospital at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD). Clinical characteristics, biochemical findings, diet, echocardiography and in-hospital outcomes were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between risk factors and in-hospital outcome in young patients adjusting for other confounding variables.ResultsThe mean age of the young and older patient groups was 36.5 ± 4.6 years and 57.0 ± 9.1 years respectively. Male sex (OR 3.4, 95 % CI 1.2 − 9.75), smoking (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.04 − 5,62), family history of MI (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.11 − 5,54), homocysteine (OR 1.2, 95 % CI 1.08 − 1.36), eating rice ≥2 times daily (OR 3.5, 95 % CI 1.15 − 10.6) and eating beef (OR 4.5, 95 % CI 1.83 − 11.3) were significantly associated with the risk of AMI in the young group compared to older group. In multivariate analysis, older patients had significantly greater chance of developing heart failure (OR 7.5, 95 % CI 1.51 to 37.31), re-infarction (OR 7.0, 95 % CI 1.08 − 45.72), arrhythmia (OR 15.3, 95 % CI 2.69 − 87.77) and cardiogenic shock (OR 69.0, 95 % CI 5.81 − 85.52) than the younger group.ConclusionYounger AMI patients have a different risk profile and better in-hospital outcomes compared to the older patients. Control of preventable risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, obesity and dyslipidemia should be reinforced at an early age in Bangladesh.

Introduction: While multiple vaccines are undergoing clinical trial across the globe, we yearn for an FDA approved drug to protect us from the devastating pandemic for the time being. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Ivermectin when administered as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19. Method: An observational study, with 118 healthcare providers who were enrolled purposively, was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Dhaka from May 2020 to August 2020. The subjects were divided into experimental and control groups; and the experimental group received an oral monthly dose of Ivermectin 12mg for 4 months. Both groups were exposed to COVID-19 positive patients admitted in the hospital during the course of study. The symptomatic subjects were evaluated by physical examination, COVID-19 RT-PCR and/or HRCT of chest. Differences between the variables were determined using the Chi-square test and the level of statistical significance was reached when p<0.05. Result: 73.3% (44 out of 60) subjects in control group were positive for COVID-19, whereas only 6.9% (4 out of 58) of the experimental group were diagnosed with COVID-19 (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: Ivermectin, an FDA-approved, safe, cheap and widely available drug, should be subjected to large-scale trials all over the world to ascertain its effectiveness as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19.

. The MIC of the cloxacillin for 5 MRSA strains were ≥32 (µg/ml), for 1 MRSA strain was ≥ 128(µg/ml) and for another 4 MRSA strains were above ≥128 (µg/ml). Antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolated organisms were done by disc diffusion method. On antibiotic susceptibility test, MRSA strains showed 100% resistant against penicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin and amoxycillin. Cent per cent susceptibility of MRSA was found against vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, fusidic acid and rifampicin.

The present study on molecular epidemiologic study on avian rotavirus prevailing in Bangladesh was attempted to know the present status of avian rotavirus in Bangladesh. A total of 210 faecal samples of chickens were collected from August 2006 to March 2007 and examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining (PAGE-ss) technique for the presence of rotavirus dsRNA. The prevalence of avian rotavirus infection was 13.81% in chickens. The prevalence of avian rotavirus infection in Chittagong, Mymensingh, Gazipur and Barisal were 2.86%, 21.25%, 5% and 22.5%, respectively. The highest prevalence was recorded in Barisal (22.5%) and the lowest in Chittagong (2.86%). The highest prevalence (40%) was observed in 12 day-old birds and the lowest (5.71%) in 22 days old birds. The highest percentage (18%) of avian rotavirus was detected in the summer season. The migration patterns of all detected positive strains were similar in gel electrophoresis and their migration speed was same as previously designated avian rotavirus group D.

A total of 315 stool samples were screened from hospitalized diarrheic human patient and 251 from diarrheic birds from July 2006 to May 2007 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining (PAGE-SS) technique. Human rotavirus (HRV) and avian rotavirus were detected in 35.28% stool specimens and 13.15% bird's faecal specimens respectively. The occurrence of rotavirus infection in human patients of 181-365 days age group was relatively high (45.75%) while it was 41.82% in under 5 years old. The birds of 7-12 days age group was found most frequently associated with rotavirus infection and the rate was found 45%.

Giardia lamblia is highly infectious protozoan parasite capable of causing gastrointestinal illness in both humans and animals. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection in children < 5 years old and calves. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) has been used for the detection of Giardia lamblia. A total of 266 children and 15 calves diarrheic fecal samples were tested for Giardia lamblia during January 2011 to May 2012. The prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection among children was 3.8% while 13.3% in calves. Giardia lamblia was highest in children between 24 and 60 months of age (8.7%). Giardia lamblia infection was higher in male (4.7%) than in female (2.0%). Male calves (14.3%) have slightly higher prevalence than female calves (12.5%). The highest prevalence (33.3%) of Giardia lamblia infection in calves was between the ages 6 and 9 months. This is the first study to determine the prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection in calves using ELISA method in Bangladesh. A larger scale study is needed for accurate estimates of prevalence of Giardia lamblia to undertake an appropriate control strategy in future.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v9i2.13474