An overdose of acetaminophen (APAP), the most common cause of acute liver injury, induces oxidative stress that subsequently causes mitochondrial impairment and hepatic necroptosis. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the only recognized drug against APAP hepatotoxicity, is less effective the later it is administered. This study evaluated the protective effect of mitochondria-specific Mito-TEMPO (Mito-T) on APAP-induced acute liver injury in C57BL/6J male mice, and a three dimensional (3D)-cell culture model containing the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2. The administration of Mito-T (20 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h after APAP (400 mg/kg, i.p.) injection markedly attenuated the APAP-induced elevated serum transaminase activity and hepatic necrosis. However, Mito-T treatment did not affect key factors in the development of APAP liver injury including the activation of c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and expression of the transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in the liver. However, Mito-T significantly reduced the APAP-induced increase in the hepatic oxidative stress marker, nitrotyrosine, and DNA fragmentation. Mito-T markedly attenuated cytotoxicity induced by APAP in the HepG2 3D-cell culture model. Moreover, liver regeneration after APAP hepatotoxicity was not affected by Mito-T, demonstrated by no changes in proliferating cell nuclear antigen formation. Therefore, Mito-T was hepatoprotective at the late-stage of APAP overdose in mice.

Massive vaccination is very important to end the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study determined the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the university students of Bangladesh and identified their apprehension about the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Students were invited to complete an online cross-sectional survey (April 3 to June 10, 2021) to explore the intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and other factors regarding the responsiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Among the 191 respondent students, 52.9% willingly agreed to receive a vaccine, where the remaining was either not decided yet (27.7%) or was not intended to get vaccinated (15.7%). The odd of getting a vaccine were only 1.15. About 83.2% of students were conscious about the severity of COVID-19 and many students responded that they are well-versed about vaccine activity (67.5%) and risk factors (66%). Among the approved vaccines, most students preferred the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1 (38.7%) and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 (34%). As some of the students still have lesser intent to accept vaccines, public health officials need to be more proactive to focus on vaccine safety and benefits to enhance vaccine coverage among university students of Bangladesh.

Introduction. Hand disinfection is an essential step to prevent infection, reduce morbidity and minimize health care costs in a community. Aim. In this study, the Lugol 's iodine (2%) solution was evaluated to use as an emergency hand sanitizer and compared with the three commercially available hand sanitizers (Hexisol, Sepnil and Handirub) of Bangladesh. Methods. These hand sanitizers were examined and analyzed by susceptibility test, minimum bactericidal concentration test and efficacy determination test. The agar diffusion test was used to assess the efficacy of the products against pathogenic Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Results. Handirub has inhibited all the test organisms with highest zones of inhibition ranging between 24.38 mm and 28.63 mm while Hexisol zone of inhibition was ranging from 13.3 mm to 15 mm. Unfortunately, Sepnil was inactive against Salmonella typhi, with very poor performance against other test organisms. All the three commercial hand sanitizers were only bacteriostatic at 100% concentration, while both 2% and 1% iodine were 100% bactericidal. The comparative study of the efficacy determination tests revealed that the Hexisol, Sepnil and Handirub are 93.05%, 85.99% and 96.57% effective against microorganism, respectively. Interestingly, both 2% and 1% of iodine solutions gave 100% reduction of viable bacteria during the efficacy determination test. Conclusion. It is concluded that 1% iodine showed better results against infection when compared to the other hand sanitizers used in this study. Recommendation. Lugol's iodine could be an effective alternative to hand washing to achieve asepsis for the health-care professional in emergency outreach program and water scarcity areas.

The global emergence of the recently discovered COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2) has already shown its devastating effects on almost the entire world by causing huge numbers of death cases and rupturing the whole economy as well as social communication. South Asia, a region that comprises mostly of least developed and developing countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) with overpopulation, illiteracy, poverty, lack of awareness, lack of hygiene, inadequate health care facilities, is still struggling to fight against this virus and facing the consequences with over 8.5 million confirmed cases including 130,636 deaths till the 20th October. Prompt and proper protective measures, good health care systems, and conscious people are the keys to reducing the severe impacts of this pandemic situation, and most of the countries in this region lack all of this. Considering this, it will not be a surprise if the pandemic takes its full shape in these countries and recent evidence also suggest that the situation is already on its way to reach the peak. However, the pandemic nature in South Asia also demonstrates that strict measures by the government and co-operation from the people can protect a country from the impacts of the virus, whereas lack of these can lead to the next heat point. This review demonstrates and compares the impact of COVID-19 in the mass population of South Asia which could support the government and scientific community to take proper protective measures against this global pandemic and better prepare the community for future challenges. Moreover, good health care systems, public health infrastructure, and up to date information on COVID-19 outbreaks in this region will help to combat this pandemic and create more sustainable and resilient healthy societies in South Asia. Bioresearch Commu. 7(1): 973-981, 2021 (January)