Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex syndrome, in which reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines are important stressors that contribute to the pathogenesis. Aim: We have studied physiological stress response parameters in CHF, in particular the redox-active regulator thioredoxin. Subjects: A case -control study was conducted including a consecutive sample of CHF patients (n = 27) of NYHA class II and III; comparison control subjects (n = 29) were recruited from an association for retired people. Method: Baseline levels of Trx, lipid peroxides (oxidative stress), TNF and IL-6 cytokines, platelet-activation marker P-selectin, cortisol (as peripheral effector of HPA axis), and the potent antioxidant selenoprotein Trx-reductase were assessed. Results: Mean ( F S.E.M.) plasma levels of Trx were significantly higher in patients with CHF (32 F 3 ng/ml), than in the healthy subjects (12 F 3 ng/ml, P < 0.0001). Trx levels increased in proportion to severity of disease (NYHA class III>NYHA class II) and degree of stress. Trx elevation correlated well with increased oxidative stress (lipid peroxides, P < 0.0001), circulatory P-selectin ( P < 0.0001), morning level of free salivary cortisol ( P = 0.0002), and serum creatinine ( P = 0.0417), but not with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6. Conclusion: Trx was strikingly elevated in heart failure cases compared with controls, signifying an adaptive stress response that is higher the more severe the disease.

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This paper investigates the dyeing and antimicrobial properties of jute fiber with natural dye henna after treatment with biopolymer chitosan. The treatment was carried out by applying chitosan solution on the fiber followed by dyeing with henna dye. Then, the performance was assessed in terms of the depth of shade by measuring K/S value and colorfastness properties of chitosan-treated dyed fabric samples. It has been observed that chitosantreated fabrics showed a higher depth of shade compared to untreated dyed samples. As far as colorfastness is concerned, the dyed samples with and without chitosan pretreatment exhibited almost similar dry rubbing fastness. However, chitosan-treated fabrics showed inferior fastness ratings for wet rubbing and washing, particularly for the fabrics with higher chitosan concentrations. Again, the experimental results demonstrated that the combination of chitosan and henna dye can significantly enhance the antibacterial activity of jute fiber against the organism Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. These findings suggest that the application of chitosan and natural dye from henna onto jute fiber is an approach to get the desired dyeing and antibacterial property.

In Bangladesh, the tannery solid wastes are converted to protein-concentrate to be used as poultry feed, fish feed, and in production of organic fertilizers. Over the last several years it is a common phenomenon in the largest tanning area of the country, the Hazaribagh tannery area at the south-east part of Dhaka city. One of the major concerns of these activities is the heavy metals, especially chromium, used in the tanning processes. A total of 18 samples were collected to study the heavy metal status of protein-concentrate production in the tanning area at various stages from the source to the final product, and to compare this with the imported ones. The various types of solid waste processing for protein-concentrate production were covered in sampling, and along with the heavy metal status these processes were studied comprehensively. The maximum chromium content of the solid waste was found to be 3.2 %. The final products sampled at two different places contained as high as 2.49 % and 1.94 % chromium. Cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury contents of all samples were also determined. The detected maximum and minimum concentrations of these elements were found to be: 3.888 ppm and 0.991 ppm for cadmium, 30.114 ppm and 7.577 ppm for lead, 2.212 ppm and 0.099 ppm for arsenic, and 13.916 ppm and 0.166 ppm for mercury.

Two novel Cu(II)-based metal–organic frameworks [C 40 H 34 Cu 2 N 6 O 18 ( 1 ) and C 20 H 18 CuN 2 O 10 ( 2 )] have been synthesized using 2-aminopyrimidine or pyrazine ligands and phthalate ion and characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Both 1 and 2 show electrical conductivity and photosensitivity, evidencing their potentiality in optoelectronic device applications. Experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that the electrical conductivity under irradiation of visible light increases compared to that under dark condition (photosensitive Schottky barrier diode behavior), especially in complex 2 . Both 1 and 2 have been successfully applied in technologically challenging thin-film active devices.

Poultry is one of the major protein sources for people in Bangladesh. It is a promising sector. It requires large scale feed production activities. There are various sources of raw materials for poultry feed production. In many ways these sources can be associated with anthropogenic heavy metal pollution. It is better to monitor any probable propagation of heavy metals into the food chain through the final feeds rather than the various raw materials for feeds. Three widely used feedsUsha, Fresh, and Saudi-Bangla feeds were selected for the study. Cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, selenium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, and zinc contents of all samples were measured. The detected maximum and minimum concentrations of these elements were found to be: 0.1852 ppm and 0.0232 ppm for cadmium, 20.6498 ppm and 0.6019 ppm for lead, 0.7640 ppm and 0.0069 ppm for arsenic, 0.0579 ppm and 0.0116 ppm for mercury, 0.0347 ppm and 0.0069 ppm for selenium, 5.7875 ppm and 0.0926 ppm for chromium, 302.2001 ppm and 0.0695 ppm for manganese, 5.1625 ppm and 0.0125 ppm for nickel, 37.5725 ppm and 0.0463 ppm for copper, and 422.3023 ppm and 0.0232 ppm for zinc. The "Poultry Feed Reference Standards, February 2002", prepared by Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Govt. of the People's Republic of Bangladesh contains no standards for the heavy metals as contaminants into poultry feeds which demands immediate attention.

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