NotesNudibranchs are colorful, slow-moving, and shell-less mollusks. Their aposematic coloration and possession of toxic substances are believed to function synergetically for their protection from predators and microorganisms. 1,2) In our survey for the metabolites of nudibranchs collected along the coast of Okinawa, we often isolate exactly the same molecules obtained from their prey sponges. Some examples are isocyanoterpenes, latrunculin A, a spongian diterpene, 3) and reticulidins 4) which have been isolated from both sponges and nudibranchs. However, when we examined the contents of Chromodoris willani, the extract appeared to be different from the metabolites of their prey sponge, which contained two sesterterpenes, manoalide (3) and secomanoalide (4). 5) Manoalide was first discovered as an antimicrobial constituent of the sponge Luffariella variabilis 5) and later shown to have anti-inflammatory activity against phospholipase A2 (PLA2) 6) in addition to cytotoxicity. 7) In this note, we report the structures and biological activities of two manoalide analogs isolated from C. willani. Results and DiscussionFive specimens of C. willani and its prey sponge were collected at the same spot in Okinawa and were separately extracted. The lipophilic extract of C. willani was subjected to conventional chromatography to give two molecules 1 and 2 as major metabolites. The sponge extract was similarly treated to give manoalide (3) and secomanoalide (4) which have been identified by the same spectral data as those reported. 8) The results indicated negative Dd values for H-2 (Ϫ0.07) and H-4 (Ϫ0.09, Ϫ0.04) and positive values for H-5 (ϩ0.03), H-6 (ϩ0.11) and H-24 (ϩ0.09) concluding the 4R configuration. This is the first report on compounds 1 and 2 from a natural source, although 1 has been known as a synthetic entity. 6)Both compounds are believed to be biotransformed by the Two sesterterpenes, deoxymanoalide (1) and deoxysecomanoalide (2), were isolated from the nudibranch Chromodoris willani collected in Okinawa and their structures determined on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical conversions. The mollusk feeds on a sponge containing manoalide (3) and secomanoalide (4) and is likely to biotransform them into 1 and 2. Both 1 and 2 showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and inhibited snake venom phospholipase A2 at 0.2 to 0.5 m mM. Deoxymanoalides from the Nudibranch Chromodoris willani

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Four new polyoxygenated steroids (1-4) together with four known ones (5-8) have been isolated from the gorgonian Isis hippuris. The structures of the new compounds have been elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical conversion. All of the new steroids showed moderate cytotoxicity against cultured NBT-T2 cells.

Halda River (HR), the lone natural carp breeding ground in Bangladesh as well as in Southeast Asia is an economically important river and its water quality is deteriorating due to unplanned industrialization and various anthropogenic activities. The present research work has been conducted to assess the characteristics of HR water. Eighteen water quality parameters were studied including pH, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Dissolved Solids, Electrical Conductivity, Hardness, Turbidity, Total Alkalinity, SO42-, PO43-, NO3-, Cl-, NH4+, Cr (VI), Mn (II) and Arsenic. This study shows that water in HR is regularly alkaline and its pH lies between 7.08-7.65. The DO value varies from 5.9-8.4 mgL-1, BOD ranged from 0.3-2.8 mgL-1 and COD from 24-96 mgL-1. According to the Water Quality Index study, the river is being intensely polluted due to the unscrupulous industrial wastes discharge into the HR through various canals.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Bangladesh. Studies have indicated that HBV is the major cause of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in this country. Recently, HBV-related acute on chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) has emerged as a serious and emergent medical problem in Bangladesh. To develop a strategy to address HBV-related problems and their influence on health care delivery system, proper understandings about extent of problems and nature of economic burden should be explored. Conservative estimates indicate that about 50 million or more of Bangladeshi have been infected by HBV at some point of their life. Out of the total Bangladeshi population, about 2 to 5% is chronically infected with HBV (about 3–8 million) (1–6%) and considerable number of these patients will eventually develop LC, HCC, or ACLF (about 1 million). Although proper statistics is lacking, it is estimated that HBV-related liver diseases account for a majority of hospital admissions and around 20,000 deaths every year in Bangladesh. In addition, complex clinical features of HBV-related liver diseases have been documented in Bangladesh that show similarity and differences from HBV infection in other Asian countries. Although vaccination against HBV and containment of horizontal transmission are in progress in Bangladesh for reduction of new HBV infection, there is a lack of national strategy for treatment of millions of chronic HBV-infected subjects. This paper will provide an insight regarding the economic impact of HBV in Bangladesh that may act as a primary impetus for developing national HBV eradication program, a goal set by World Health Organization (WHO).How to cite this articleAl Mahtab M, Chaudhury M, Uddin MH, Noor-E-Alam SM, Rahim MA, Alam MA, Moben AL, Khondaker FA, Choudhury MFI, Sarkar MJA, Poddar PK, Foez SA, Akbar SMF. Cost Assessment of Hepatitis B Virus-related Hepatitis in Bangladesh. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(2):163-166.

Introduction:The overall health status of workers of tea garden of Bangladesh is below the national standard. Also, almost nothing has been reported about status of hepatitis virus infection among these population and there is also a lack of consensus.Materials and methods:Several health-related facts, especially those of liver diseases, were collected from 130 workers of tea garden via questionnaire. Sera were also collected from these subjects to assess positivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype was also done using genotype-specific primers in HBsAg-positive sera.Results:Out of 130 tea garden workers, 5 were positive for HBsAg; however, none was reactive to anti-HCV. Genotyping of HBV deoxyribonucleic acid of 4 sera samples revealed that 2 belonged to genotype A, 1 to genotype C, and 1 to genotype D. Various risk factors were documented in HBV-infected subjects by analyzing the questionnaire.Conclusion:Hepatitis B virus in considerable high percentage is prevalent among workers of tea garden in Bangladesh, and immediate vaccination against HBV should be employed. Also, health education system should be accentuated in specific population like tea garden workers.How to cite this article: Al Mahtab M, Akhter S, Mollick KU, Uddin MH, Khan SI, Akbar SMF. Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in a Tea Garden of Bangladesh. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(1):107-110.

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