Differential expression of p53 has been reported in cervical cancer, primarily in tumor tissue biopsies. In this study, we examined the association of TP53 codon 47 and codon 72 polymorphisms and serum level expression of p53 in cervical cancer patients (n = 129) and healthy controls (n = 122). We found elevated levels of serum p53 protein levels in cervical cancer patients (p = 0.0442) compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we found higher levels of serum p53 in patients with grade-III tumor (p = 0.001) compared to healthy controls. Examination of SNPs showed TP53 Arg/Pro heterozygosity (adjusted OR = 2.126, 95% CI = 1.181–3.827, p = 0.012), Pro/Pro mutant homozygosity (adjusted OR = 3.564, 95% CI = 1.647–7.713, p = 0.001), along with the combined genotype (Arg/Pro+Pro/Pro) (adjusted OR 2.542, 95% CI = 1.517–4.260, p<0.001) significantly increases the risk of cervical cancer. Expression quantitative trait analysis revealed no significant association with protein expression. Our results represent for the first time the upregulation of serum p53 in cervical cancer in Bangladeshi women and supports the association of TP53 codon 72 polymorphisms with cervical cancer.

Objective: COVID-19 has emerged as a pandemic and during the first week of May Bangladesh has reported more than 10,000 cases. A lack of awareness and poor understanding of the disease may result in rapid transmission of the disease in Bangladesh. This study aimed to investigate the awareness, perception, and attitude towards COVID-19 among Bangladeshi medical doctors. Method: This cross sectional, web-based study was conducted with the help of an online questionnaire and sent to the doctors which comprised of a series of questions regarding demographics of the participants, symptoms and incubation period of COVID-19, mode of transmission, measures to prevent transmission, availability of training and personal protective equipment in Bangladeshi hospitals, and attitude of doctors towards the treatment of suspected patients with COVID-19. Results: Of 800 medical doctors, a total 545 completed the survey (response 68.13%). Among the participants, 52.3% were females, 72.8% were below 30 years of age, and majority (52.8%) were working outside the cities in the villages and rural areas. A total of 404 (74.1%) doctors reported the correct incubation period of COVID-19. Majority doctors were aware of the symptoms with mode of transmission of COVID-19, measures to prevent hospital transmission, along with ways of identifying suspected patients with COVID-19. However, more than 90% of the doctors reported of inadequate intensive care unit and ventilator facilities along with extreme scarcity of personal protective equipment in the hospitals. 65.7% doctors prefer avoid working with a COVID-19 patient and more than 50% doctors have expressed that they would send the suspected COVID-19 patients to designated hospitals without providing treatment. Conclusion: The health authorities should take appropriate training measures to increase the awareness of the medical doctors along with providing sufficient amount of personal protective equipment for the medical doctors and supporting staff before deploying them in hospitals.

Background and Aims Cervical cancer is characterized by abnormal cell growth in the lining of cervix and it is the second major cause of cancer‐related deaths among females in Bangladesh. Interleukin‐6 ( IL‐6 ) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been heavily linked with cervical cancer. Our aim was to investigate the association of two promoter single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL‐6 (rs1800795 and rs1800797) with the susceptibility of cervical cancer in Bangladeshi women. Methods DNA was extracted from venous blood samples from cervical cancer patients ( n = 126) and healthy controls ( n = 120). Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for genotyping of the selected SNPs. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p values. Results We found a significant association between rs1800795 and rs1800797 polymorphisms and cervical cancer. For, rs1800795 (G > C) the GC heterozygous genotype (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.55–5.07, p = 0.0007) and CC mutant homozygous genotype (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.29–9.51, p = 0.014) conferred an increased risk of cervical cancer. In case of rs1800797 (G > A) polymorphism, the AG heterozygous genotype (OR = 6.94, 95% CI = 3.76–12.81, p < 0.0001) and AA mutant homozygous genotype (OR = 3.88, 95% CI = 1.12–13.51, p = 0.0332) also exhibited an elevated risk of cervical cancer. Use of contraceptives was found as risk factor and patients who smoke were carriers of both the risk alleles and thus had an increased risk of cervical cancer. Conclusion Our findings suggest that polymorphism of rs1800795 and rs1800797 of the IL‐6 gene play a significant role in cervical cancer susceptibility in Bangladeshi women.