The chronology of the authors can be changed like: Khurshid Natasha, Bishwajit Bhowmik, A. K. Azad Khan, Akhtar Hussain.

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic*

Objective: To investigate the comparative effects of Diospyros blancoi (Ebenaceae) leaves (DBL), root bark (DBRB) and stem bark (DBSB) on free radicals and cancer. Methods: The polyphenol contents, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties were determined using standard spectrophotometric methods. Cytotoxicity and anticancer activ-ities were performed on brine shrimp nauplii and Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells, respectively. Results: Among the extracts, DBSB showed the highest total antioxidant capacity and reducing capacity on ferrous ion. Based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, DBSB showed (95.760 ± 0.343)%and (67.460 ± 2.641)%scavenging with IC50 of (3.10 ± 0.17) and (50.00 ± 3.11) mg/mL, respectively. The IC50 values of standard butylated hydroxytoluene and catechin (CA) for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals were (8.50 ± 0.25) and (75.00 ± 0.14) mg/mL, respectively suggesting that DBSB had a significant (P < 0.05) radical scavenging ac-tivity than standards. In lipid peroxidation inhibition assay, the inhibitory activity of the extracts and the standard was in the following order: DBSB > DBRB > CA > DBL. Also, the phenolic [(139.91 ± 3.924) mg gallic acid equivalent/g] and flavonoid contents [(412.00 ± 16.70) mg catechin equivalent/g)] of DBSB were higher than that of other extracts. In addition, the DBSB showed the moderate cytotoxic and anticancer properties. Conclusions: Our results indicate that Diospyros blancoi stem bark had the significant highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties as well as moderate anticancer activity. Hence, we assume that the anticancer activity of this plant can be, at least in part, attributed to its content in phenolic compounds as well as its significant free radical scavenging properties.

No abstract available.
Bangladesh* ; Depression* ; Glucose* ; Prevalence* ; Rural Population*

BACKGROUND: Depression and glucose abnormality are increasing in Bangladesh including its rural area. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of depression in an urbanizing rural population of Bangladesh with or without glucose abnormality (including diabetes mellitus [DM], and pre-diabetes which combines impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance pre-DM). METHODS: A total of 2,293 subjects aged > or =20 years were investigated. Sociodemographic and anthropometric details, blood pressure, fasting (fasting plasma glucose) and 2 hours after 75 g plasma glucose (2-hour plasma glucose), were studied. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to assess depression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DM was 7.9% and pre-DM was 8.6%. Prevalence of depression was 15.31% (n=351; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59 to 1.36) with mean depressive score 17.62+/-3.49. Female were more likely to have depression (17.16%). The 22.35% of male and 29.46% of female with pre-DM and 26.58% male and 36.27% female with DM had depressive symptoms. There was no significant variation in the mean age of different groups (healthy, depressed and with glucose abnormality). Depression was significantly associated with age, marital status, occupation, high physical activity, and low body mass index. The odds ratio (OR) for depression was significantly increased in patients with glucose abnormality compared with those without pre-DM (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.76 to 3.51; P<0.000) and DM (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 2.33 to 4.60; P<0.000). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of depression found alarming in our study area though lesser than previous studies and it is significantly related to glucose abnormality. The study reveals that mental health should get more focused specially along with metabolic diseases.
Bangladesh* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Depression* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Metabolic Diseases ; Motor Activity ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Plasma ; Prediabetic State ; Prevalence* ; Rural Population*

INTRODUCTIONAcute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a distinct clinical and biological subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia. APL is notorious for causing early death during induction therapy, resulting in induction failure. The aim of our study was to report the clinical characteristics, outcome and early induction deaths with regard to patients with APL seen at our hospital.

METHODSThis was a retrospective study carried out at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Patients aged > 15 years diagnosed with APL within the period September 2007-September 2012 were included in the study.

RESULTSWithin the study period, 26 patients were diagnosed with APL based on morphology and the detection of t(15;17)(q24.1;q21.1) and promyelocytic leukaemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARA). The male to female ratio was 1:1. The median age of the patients was 41 (range 16-72) years. In all, there were 13 (50.0%) high-risk patients, and early induction death rate was 61.5%. Causes of early induction deaths (n = 16) included haemorrhage in 7 (43.8%) patients, differentiation (ATRA) syndrome in 7 (43.8%) and infection in 2 (12.5%). The survival rate among patients who survived the early period was 70% at 42 months. The relapse rate was 30%.

CONCLUSIONEarly induction death rate was very high in patients with APL. The most common cause of early induction death in our study was haemorrhage. Outcome among patients with APL was found to be better among those who survived the initial period.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pakistan ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Time Factors ; Translocation, Genetic ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Background: and Purpose There are reports of decline in the rates of acute emergency presentations during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic including stroke. We performed a meta-analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rates of stroke presentations and on rates of reperfusion therapy. Methods: Following the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines, we systematically searched the literature for studies reporting changes in stroke presentations and treatment rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aggregated data were pooled using meta-analysis with random-effect models. Results: We identified 37 observational studies (n=375,657). Pooled analysis showed decline in rates of all strokes (26.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 22.4 to 29.7) and its subtypes; ischemic (25.3%; 95% CI, 21.0 to 30.0), hemorrhagic (27.6%; 95% CI, 20.4 to 35.5), transient ischemic attacks (41.9%; 95% CI, 34.8 to 49.3), and stroke mimics (45.6%; 95% CI, 33.5 to 58.0) during months of pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period. The decline was most evident for mild symptoms (40% mild vs. 25%–29% moderate/severe). Although rates of intravenous thrombolytic (IVT) and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) decreased during pandemic, the likelihood of being treated with IVT and EVT did not differ between the two periods, both in primary and in comprehensive stroke centers (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.24 and OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.09, respectively). Conclusions Rates of all strokes types decreased significantly during pandemic. It is of paramount importance that general population should be educated to seek medical care immediately for stroke-like symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic. Whether delay in initiation of secondary prevention would affect eventual stroke outcomes in the long run needs further study.

Objective: To investigate the comparative effects of Diospyros blancoi (Ebenaceae) leaves (DBL), root bark (DBRB) and stem bark (DBSB) on free radicals and cancer. Methods: The polyphenol contents, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties were determined using standard spectrophotometric methods. Cytotoxicity and anticancer activities were performed on brine shrimp nauplii and Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells, respectively. Results: Among the extracts, DBSB showed the highest total antioxidant capacity and reducing capacity on ferrous ion. Based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, DBSB showed (95.760 ± 0.343)% and (67.460 ± 2.641)% scavenging with IC