Objectives Vaccination rollout against COVID-19 has started in developed countries in early December 2020. Mass immunization for poor or low-income countries is quite challenging before 2023. Being a lower–middle-income country, Bangladesh has begun a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive in early February 2021. Here, we aimed to assess the opinions, experiences, and adverse events of the COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh. Methods We conducted this online cross-sectional study from 10 February 2021, to 10 March 2021, in Bangladesh. A self-reported semi-structured survey questionnaire was used using Google forms. We recorded demographics, disease history, medication records, opinions and experiences of vaccination, and associated adverse events symptoms. Results We observed leading comorbid diseases were hypertension (25.9%), diabetes (21.1%), heart diseases (9.3%), and asthma (8.7%). The most frequently reported adverse events were injection site pain (34.3%), fever (32.6%), headache (20.2%), fatigue (16.6%), and cold feeling (15.4%). The chances of having adverse events were significantly higher in males than females ( p = 0.039). However, 36.4% of respondents reported no adverse events. Adverse events usually appeared after 12 h and went way within 48 h of vaccination. Besides, 85.5% were happy with the overall vaccination management, while 88.0% of the respondents recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for others for early immunization. Conclusion According to the present findings, reported adverse events after the doses of Covishield in Bangladesh were non-serious and temporary. In Bangladesh, the early vaccination against COVID-19 was possible due to its prudent vaccine deal, previous mass vaccination experience, and vaccine diplomacy.
The discovery of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant has sparked alarm globally because of its rapid rate of infection and trespassing acquired immunity due to vaccination or natural infection. This heavily mutated variant is rapidly spreading around the world. Infected individuals with the Omicron variant may suffer from flu-like symptoms, and infected with the Delta variant frequently report low oxygen levels, high pulse rates, and a loss of smell and taste. Also, the Omicron variant causes asymptomatic or mild disease so far, and not any severe illness as like Delta, and this new variant has a 15% to 80% reduced risk of hospitalization than the Delta variant. Scientists are worried about the possibility of escaping the immunity by the Omicron variants and subvariants among fully vaccinated and recovered COVID-19 patients. Two doses of available vaccines are found to be partially ineffective in protecting this new variant, therefore, the third dose as a booster is recommended to enhance antibody level. Moreover, some antiviral drugs significantly reduce hospitalization or death among mild to severe COVID-19 patients. All authorized antiviral drugs are effective against viral replication for most SARS-CoV-2 variants, and particularly some monoclonal antibodies may not now be effective in treating COVID-19 patients. There is an urgent need to update existing vaccines, develop more effective and newer vaccines as well as additional monoclonal antibodies to counter Omicron. Therefore, along with close monitoring of Omicron characteristics, the present study suggests that health safety guidelines, mass immunization, early diagnosis, and search for effective antiviral drugs should be the approaches to fight against newer SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive and persistent low mood which is accompanied by low self-esteem and loss of interest or pleasure in day to day activities that adversely affects a person's family, work, and personal life. There is no sufficient laboratory test for the diagnosis of MDD and it is expected that this investigation may be helpful for better diagnosis and management of MDD. We aimed to measure serum immunoglobulin levels in MDD patients and control subjects to meet the above demand. Methods: For this purpose, we recruited 88 MDD patients from the department of psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka and 89 healthy volunteers from Dhaka city matched with age, sex and socioeconomic status to the patient group. Turbidimetry method was applied to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin A, G, and M where immunoglobulin kit was utilized. Results: The current study revealed that mean serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A, G, and M in patients were found to be 209.07 ± 104.93, 791.50 ± 235.67 and 107.92 ± 47.53 mg/dL while those were 195.34 ± 92.16, 763.81 ± 175.89 and 99.17 ± 48.78 mg/dL in control subjects, respectively. Conclusion: Our result indicates that serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A, G and M were not significant between the groups and further studies are required to establish these findings.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resistant to all antibiotics including vancomycin, has been reported in Japan, USA, Canada and Brazil. Hence, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the possible presence of vancomycin resistant or intermediate Stap. aureus in Dhaka. A total of 122 clinical isolates were collected from different hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers of the city for about 12 months starting from August 2010 to July 2011.They were identified using standard bacteriological methods. Sensitivity to recommended antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion method. In the present study 74% of total isolates were found to be betalactamase producers by iodometric methods, whereas with Nitrocefin ® sticks 80% of the isolates were found to be beta-lactamase producers. All the multiple drug resistant strains were beta-lactamase producers. Out of 122 isolates, although no strains were found vancomycin resistant, 93.44% were found intermediate and only 6.56% showed sensitivity. This study reveals the growing antimicrobial resistance in Bangladesh and refers not to use the antimicrobial drugs that show insufficient sensitivity against Stap. aureus to prevent resistance and associated treatment failure.
The current study aimed to evaluate the in vivo hypoglycemic potential of Myristica fragrans seed extract co-administered with glimepiride in Swiss albino mice. Computational tools were used to further verify the in vivo findings and to help compare this combination to the glimepiride-pioglitazone combination in terms of the binding affinity of the ligands to their respective target protein receptors and the relative stability of the drug-protein complexes. The effect of the combined therapy was observed both in alloxan- and glucose-induced hyperglycemic Swiss albino mice. The mean fasting blood glucose level of the test groups was measured and statistically evaluated using Student’s t test. The combined therapy significantly reduced the blood glucose level in a time-dependent manner compared to glimepiride alone. The binding affinity of glimepiride was found to be −7.6 kcal/mol with sulfonylurea receptor 1 in molecular docking. Conversely, macelignan-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and macelignan-PPAR γ complexes were stabilized with −9.2 and −8.3 kcal/mol, respectively. Molecular dynamic simulation revealed that macelignan-PPAR α and γ complexes were more stable than pioglitazone complexes. The combination shows promise in animal and computer models and requires further trials to provide evidence of its activity in humans.
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