Objective:To determine the course of depression and the effects of treatment during pregnancy and into the postpartum period.Method: This is a longitudinal study of a community sample of 649 pregnant women who were assessed in early pregnancy (17.4 ± 4.9 weeks), late pregnancy (30.6 ± 2.7 weeks), and postpartum (4.2 ± 2.1 weeks) with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Women who scored 12 or more on the EPDS were encouraged to seek assessment and treatment. We used generalized estimating equation modelling to determine the predicted mean depression scores, taking age, ethnicity, history of depression, and previous and present treatment status into account. Results:The unadjusted prevalence of depression (EPDS ≥ 12) was 14.1% (n = 91) in early pregnancy, 10.4% (n = 62) in late pregnancy, and 8.1% (n = 48) postpartum. Twelve per cent of women were engaged in treatment. The predicted mean EPDS score decreased over the course of the pregnancy into the postpartum period, most significantly when women were engaged in counselling or taking psychotropic medication. Counselling was the more common method of treatment during pregnancy and medication in the postpartum period. Women who were depressed and untreated were more likely to be younger, more stressed, have less support, have a history of depression, and use alcohol. Conclusions:We confirm that depressive symptoms improve over the course of the pregnancy into the postpartum period, particularly for women who receive treatment. Our study is unique as it takes the history of depression, present and past treatment status, and the longitudinal nature of the data into account. W W WObjectif : Déterminer le cours de la dépression et les effets du traitement durant la grossesse et la période du postpartum. Méthode : Il s'agit d'une étude longitudinale d'un échantillon communautaire de 649 femmes enceintes qui ont été évaluées au début de la grossesse (17,4 ± 4,9 semaines), à la fin de la grossesse (30,6 ± 2,7 semaines), et au postpartum (4,2 ± 2,1 semaines) à l'aide de l'échelle de dépression postnatale d'Édimbourg (EPDS). Les femmes qui avaient un score de 12 ou plus à l'EPDS étaient incitées à obtenir une évaluation et un traitement. Nous avons utilisé la modélisation d'équations d'estimation généralisées pour déterminer les scores de dépression moyens prédits, en tenant compte de l'âge, de l'ethnicité, des antécédents de dépression, et de l'état des traitements précédents et actuels.Résultats : La prévalence non ajustée de la dépression (EPDS ≥ 12) était de 14,1 % (n = 91) en début de grossesse, 10,4 % (n = 62) en fin de grossesse, et 8,1 % (n = 48) au postpartum. Douze pour cent des femmes suivaient un traitement. Le score moyen prédit à l'EPDS a diminué au cours de la grossesse et dans la période du postpartum, de façon la plus significative lorsque les femmes étaient en consultation ou qu'elles prenaient des psychotropes. La consultation était la méthode la plus fréquente de traitement durant la grossesse et durant la période du postpartum, c'était la m...

Background Globally, older population (aged ≥60 years) comprise 11% of the total population, and 23% of them are malnourished. Lack of knowledge and education, adverse dietary habits, depression or psychological disorders, poor oral and dental health, disability, and diseases are the reported factors responsible for malnutrition among them. Geriatric people comprise 7.5% of the total population of Bangladesh, and almost a quarter are malnourished. But there is scarce data on the factors associated with the nutritional status of the older population in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 older individuals (male 59, female 66) living in three villages of Uttarkhan, Dhaka, Bangladesh, to identify the factors associated with their nutritional status. The Mini Nutritional Assessment scale, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index were used for assessing the nutritional status, mental health status, and oral health quality of the respondents, respectively. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities and dietary factors, and food behaviors were gathered by a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results The participants’ mean age was 67.9 ± 7.1 years. Most of them (53.6%) had no formal education. Among the respondents, 22.0% male and 28.8% female were malnourished. The proportion of malnourished and at risk of malnutrition among the respondents living without a partner were 28.6 and 65.3%, respectively. A significantly (p < 0.05) higher odds of having depression (OR 15.6; 95% CI 3.1–78.1), poor oral health (OR 7.3; 95% CI 1.3–41.8), and no formal education (OR 6.5; 95% CI 1.3–32.1) was observed among the malnourished respondents. Though it was not statistically significant, among the malnourished, 31.3, 25.0 and 25.0% avoided highly oily food, beef/mutton, and sugary food, respectively. Conclusions More than two-thirds of the older population were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, where the female respondents were more vulnerable. Depression, inadequate oral health, and lack of education were negatively associated with the nutritional status of the older population.

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Introduction: Dengue is now established as one of the most important Arboviral infection in tropical countries. As the epidemic continues worldwide, this Aedes mosquito-transmitted pathogen is considered a major re-emerging tropical disease and significant public health concern. The study was conducted to determine the sero-epidemiology and clinical picture of dengue virus infection among the clinically suspected patients attended in Dhaka Medical College Hospital during January to December 2016.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 145 clinically suspected Dengue patients attended in Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January to December 2016 who had fever with temperature >39°C. Blood sample was collected during acute febrile phase of patients and separated sera were tested for NS1 dengue antigen and IgM antibodies using commercial test kits (NS1 by OMC Healthcare (Pvt.) Ltd & IgM antibody by Omega Diagnostics Ltd.).Results: Of the total 145 patients 40 (27.6%) were positive for Dengue NS1 antigen and or IgM antibody test. Of the positive 40 patients, 18 (45%) were positive for NS1, 19 (47.5%) were positive for IgM and 3 (7.5%) were positive for both NS1 and IgM antibody. Major clinical manifestations were fever with arthralgia (79.5%) and retro-orbital pain (50%).Conclusion: Outbreak of Dengue fever is continuing every year and typical presentation of Dengue fever has changed. Arthralgia and retro orbital pain was the most common clinical feature in the present study instead of headache and rash with fever. A large number of suspected dengue cases were negative by Dengue tests for antigen NS1 and IgM antibody which suggests other organisms of similar clinical manifestations are becoming prevalent in Dhaka city.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 26, No.2, October, 2017, Page 111-116

Though it is long known that irregular intake of antihypertensive may cause harm, but still there is much lack of awareness among the patients in this matter. This case controlled study was done in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, to determine the relationship between discontinuation of antihypertensive drugs and the risk of stroke among hypertensive patients. Number of cases was 72. Control group was selected via random sampling of stroke free treated hypertensive group, similar in age to stroke cases. Sampling technique was random systematic sampling. The relationship was determined employing statistical methods including Chi-square (?2) test using computer programs, and significant association between discontinuation of antihypertensive and development of stroke in hypertensive adult patients was found ?2(1,N= 103) = 32.637, p<0.001. Odd’s ratio is 15.83. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v22i2.21530 J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 22, No.2, October, 2013, Page 173-178