Majority of the million tons of plastic produced each year is being disposed after single-use. Plastic bottle, bags, food containers, gloves, and cup that end up in landfills and environment could linger for hundreds to thousands of years. Moreover, COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), will also exacerbate the global plastic pollution as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE i.e., gloves, masks) became mandatory to prevent the spread of the virus. Plastic eventually breaking down in micro & nanoscopic bits due to physical or chemical or biological actions in the environment, can enter animal and human food web. So, plastic management programs need to be more robust with a focus on the prevention of the micro and nanoplastics entrance into the environment and food web. In the present pandemic situation, it is even more necessary to know about how much plastic waste is being generated and how different countries are coping up with their plastic waste management. In this review, we have elucidated how global plastic production rise during COVID-19 and how it would contribute to short and long-term impacts on the environment. Plastic pollution during the pandemic will increase the GHS emissions in the incineration facilities. Improper disposal of plastics into the oceans and lands would endanger the marine species and subsequently human lives. We have also assessed how the increased plastic pollution will aggravate the micro and nanoscale plastic problem, which have now become an emerging concern. This review will be helpful for people to understand the plastic usage and its subsequent consequences in the environment in a pandemic like COVID-19.

The stroke patients comprise a large number of hospital admissions and stroke is one of leading cause of significant mortality and morbidity. This prospective observational study was carried out among 100 hospitalized stroke patients admitted into different medicine units of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), with a view to study clinical presentation and epidemiology of stroke. Data, collected in prescribed protocol, were analyzed in simple statistical percentage and cases were selected irrespective of age and sex. Stroke was found most commonly in 51-60 age group (45%in hemorrhagic and 51.75% in ischemic stroke).Most of the patients were male with male, female ratio 3:1 in hemorrhagic stroke and 1.35:1 in ischemic stroke. Most of the patients were from rural area (60% in hemorrhagic stroke and 57.5 in ischemic stroke). Ischemic stroke was found in 80% cases and hemorrhagic stroke was found in 20% cases. The commonest presentation in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke was hemiplegia or hemiparesis. Rightsided hemiparesis was the predominant finding in both types. Headache (60%) and vomiting (75%) were found to be more common accompaniment of hemorrhagic stroke. In case of ischemic stroke the association with these clinical features was less marked where headache was present in 46.25% and vomiting in 40% cases. 50% of patients of hemorrhagic stroke presented with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) level 9-12(grade2) and 5% with GCS level 4 - 8(Grade 3). Whereas, 52.5% of patients of ischemic stroke presents with GCS 9-12 and also 46.25% with GCS13-14 (grade 1). Hypertension was the commonest risk factor associated with both types of stroke. In hemorrhagic stroke it was 80% and in ischemic stroke it was found in 56.25% eases. Smoking was associated with 50% of hemorrhagic and 55% of ischemic stroke. Diabetes mellitus was associated with 26.25% of ischemic stroke   doi: 10.3329/jom.v10i2.2820 J MEDICINE 2009; 10 : 86-89

Abstract:Background: In our country, there are many studies on stroke, its associated conditions and their effect on stroke

DOI: 10.3329/jom.v11i2.5465J MEDICINE 2010; 11 : 167-169

Melanosis Coli is described as black or brown discoloration of the mucosa of the colon. It is a benign condition, whicharises from anthraquinone laxative abuse and usually has no symptoms of its own. Though not a very rare condition,to the best of our knowledge, no case has been reported on melanosis coli in Bangladesh . Here we report a case ofmiddle aged lady presenting with passage of blood mixed stool for one year. Colonoscopy was performed whichrevealed melanosis coli and which was later confirmed by histopathology. Not thought to be a pre malignantcondition, it has been found in some patients with other diseases.Keywords: Melanosis coli; Anthraquinone; Lipofuscin; Laxative; BangladeshDOI: 10.3329/jom.v11i2.5469J MEDICINE 2010; 11 : 183-185

Context: The pandemic of diabetes is more explosive in developing countries and Bangladesh is one of the top 10 countries estimated to have the highest numbers of people with diabetes in 2000 and 2030. Aims: The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes among secretariat employees of Bangladesh. Settings and Design: A random sample of 1000 employees of Bangladesh Secretariat was included in this cross sectional study. Methods and Material: Blood glucose levels, both Fasting (FPG) and 2-hours after 75gm load, total cholesterol, triglycerides were measured in each case. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, was measured as well as collection of information regarding risk factors and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis used: Univariate analysis of all variables was done. Cohen’s Kappa was used to find agreement and odds ratios were calculated to assess risk factors. Results: The prevalence of diabetes was 12.3% and 7.5% according to FBG and 2-hours after 75gm glucose, respectively. Age of study population was e”20 years and male, female ratio was 4.75:1. The prevalence was almost similar among men (12.35%) and women (12.05%) considering FBG. While a higher prevalence among women (9.8%) was noticed than men (7%) after 75gm glucose. Pre-diabetic employees were 13.7 %( impaired glucose tolerance) and 31.8% (impaired Fasting glucose). Moderate agreement was observed between FBG and 2-hours after 75gm glucose (kappa 0.6). Increasing age, sedentary lifestyle (OR 1.5), diabetes among first degree relatives (OR 1.7), BMI >30 (OR 1.5), systolic blood pressure >130 (OR 1.2), total cholesterol >200 (OR 1.6), triglycerides >150 (OR 1.4) were found significantly related to diabetes. Conclusion: Increased prevalence of diabetes, IFG and IGT forecasts the upcoming diabetes explosion and calls for urgent steps towards the primary prevention in developing countries. Keyword: Type 2 diabetes, prevalence, risk-factors, BMI, sedentary lifestyle DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v12i2.8419 JOM 2011; 12(2): 125-130

Objective: Invasive deep fungal infections have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality over the pastthree decades. Organ transplantation, the use of aggressive chemotherapy and the availability and widespreaduse of immunosuppressive treatments for many medical ailments have resulted in large populations ofpatients who are at risk of fungal infections. We report our experience to increase awareness of the clinicalspectrum of disseminated fungal infection and its similarity to other infections and malignancy.Materials and Methods: Case reports from different medical institution for last 6 months were searched throughcase registry and recent scientific presentation and publications.Results: Recently a case of Histoplasmosis was reported in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) wherea 57 years old male presented with low grade fever for 3 months, backache followed by progressiveweakness of both lower limbs , there was spastic paraplegia with sensory loss upto the level of D10. An openbiopsy from paravertebral soft tissue showed histopathological features consistent with histoplasmosis. Otherdeep fungal infections e.g. pulmonary blastomycoses, mucormycoses and pulmonary aspergilloma were alsoreported in DMCH and Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and RMCH.Conclusion: As these fungal infections are not commonly encountered in our country and most of the disseminationhas similar clinical features of chronic inflammatory process and malignancy, we need a high index of suspicion todiagnose with different diagnostic approach. Bangladesh may be experiencing increase load of disseminated fungalinfections and awareness is now very important to explore its underlying aetiology.Keywords: Endemic mycoses; histoplasmosis; blastomycosis; mucormycosis; aspergilloma; BangladeshDOI: 10.3329/jom.v11i2.5466J MEDICINE 2010; 11 : 170-175

Use of dentures is not an uncommon practice. Swallowing of such dentures can give rise to variable symptoms ranging from chest pain, dysphagia, oesophageal perforation, and erosion of a vessel leading to haemorrhage or rarely gastric outlet obstruction. Here we present a case of 62 year old man presenting with chest pain, dyspepsia, early satiety leading to occasional self induced vomiting . Upper GI endoscopy was performed which revealed an impacted denture in duodenum. Keyword: Impacted denture; Chest pain; Upper GI Endoscopy; Bangladesh. DOI: 10.3329/jom.v12i1.6933J Medicine 2011; 12 : 58-60