Purpose: The study aimed to measure the radiation-absorbed dose, effective dose, and associated risks of radiation-induced cancers during chest computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures at Square Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 23 patients were examined using a 64-slice CT scanner and thermolumi nescence dosimeters. The dose-length product was recorded and converted into an equivalent effective dose using age-dependent conversion coefficients for multi-slice CT as provided by the European Guidelines. Organ doses were further converted into lifetime attributable risks (LARs) for cancer incidence and mortality based on data from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII) report. Results: The effective dose ranged from 3.1 millisieverts (mSv) to approximately 35.3 mSv. The mean LAR for cancer incidence was 20.6 cases per 100,000 males and 69.3 cases per 100,000 females. The LAR for cancer mortality was 21.5 cases per 100,000 males and 62.0 cases per 100,000 females. Female patients were found to face significantly higher risks than male patients. Conclusions The results highlight a noticeable increase in LAR for both cancer incidence and mortality due to chest CT examinations, particularly for female patients. These findings underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the risks associated with CT imaging procedures.

Purpose: The study aimed to measure the radiation-absorbed dose, effective dose, and associated risks of radiation-induced cancers during chest computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures at Square Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 23 patients were examined using a 64-slice CT scanner and thermolumi nescence dosimeters. The dose-length product was recorded and converted into an equivalent effective dose using age-dependent conversion coefficients for multi-slice CT as provided by the European Guidelines. Organ doses were further converted into lifetime attributable risks (LARs) for cancer incidence and mortality based on data from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII) report. Results: The effective dose ranged from 3.1 millisieverts (mSv) to approximately 35.3 mSv. The mean LAR for cancer incidence was 20.6 cases per 100,000 males and 69.3 cases per 100,000 females. The LAR for cancer mortality was 21.5 cases per 100,000 males and 62.0 cases per 100,000 females. Female patients were found to face significantly higher risks than male patients. Conclusions The results highlight a noticeable increase in LAR for both cancer incidence and mortality due to chest CT examinations, particularly for female patients. These findings underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the risks associated with CT imaging procedures.

Purpose: The study aimed to measure the radiation-absorbed dose, effective dose, and associated risks of radiation-induced cancers during chest computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures at Square Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 23 patients were examined using a 64-slice CT scanner and thermolumi nescence dosimeters. The dose-length product was recorded and converted into an equivalent effective dose using age-dependent conversion coefficients for multi-slice CT as provided by the European Guidelines. Organ doses were further converted into lifetime attributable risks (LARs) for cancer incidence and mortality based on data from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII) report. Results: The effective dose ranged from 3.1 millisieverts (mSv) to approximately 35.3 mSv. The mean LAR for cancer incidence was 20.6 cases per 100,000 males and 69.3 cases per 100,000 females. The LAR for cancer mortality was 21.5 cases per 100,000 males and 62.0 cases per 100,000 females. Female patients were found to face significantly higher risks than male patients. Conclusions The results highlight a noticeable increase in LAR for both cancer incidence and mortality due to chest CT examinations, particularly for female patients. These findings underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the risks associated with CT imaging procedures.

Purpose: The study aimed to measure the radiation-absorbed dose, effective dose, and associated risks of radiation-induced cancers during chest computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures at Square Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 23 patients were examined using a 64-slice CT scanner and thermolumi nescence dosimeters. The dose-length product was recorded and converted into an equivalent effective dose using age-dependent conversion coefficients for multi-slice CT as provided by the European Guidelines. Organ doses were further converted into lifetime attributable risks (LARs) for cancer incidence and mortality based on data from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII) report. Results: The effective dose ranged from 3.1 millisieverts (mSv) to approximately 35.3 mSv. The mean LAR for cancer incidence was 20.6 cases per 100,000 males and 69.3 cases per 100,000 females. The LAR for cancer mortality was 21.5 cases per 100,000 males and 62.0 cases per 100,000 females. Female patients were found to face significantly higher risks than male patients. Conclusions The results highlight a noticeable increase in LAR for both cancer incidence and mortality due to chest CT examinations, particularly for female patients. These findings underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the risks associated with CT imaging procedures.

Purpose: The study aimed to measure the radiation-absorbed dose, effective dose, and associated risks of radiation-induced cancers during chest computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures at Square Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 23 patients were examined using a 64-slice CT scanner and thermolumi nescence dosimeters. The dose-length product was recorded and converted into an equivalent effective dose using age-dependent conversion coefficients for multi-slice CT as provided by the European Guidelines. Organ doses were further converted into lifetime attributable risks (LARs) for cancer incidence and mortality based on data from the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII) report. Results: The effective dose ranged from 3.1 millisieverts (mSv) to approximately 35.3 mSv. The mean LAR for cancer incidence was 20.6 cases per 100,000 males and 69.3 cases per 100,000 females. The LAR for cancer mortality was 21.5 cases per 100,000 males and 62.0 cases per 100,000 females. Female patients were found to face significantly higher risks than male patients. Conclusions The results highlight a noticeable increase in LAR for both cancer incidence and mortality due to chest CT examinations, particularly for female patients. These findings underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the risks associated with CT imaging procedures.

Background::Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are public health threats globally and recognized impediments to socioeconomic development. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and clustering of NCDs risk factors among Bangladeshi men and women aged 20-59 years using nationally representative data.Methods::This study was conducted in 82 rural, nonslum urban, and slum clusters across all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh using multistage cluster sampling. A total of 4917 men and 4905 women aged 20-59 years were included in the study. Descriptive analyses were performed to report the prevalence and distribution of behavioral and clinical risk factors. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with the coexistence of three or more NCD risk factors.Results::The prevalence of tobacco use (any form), insufficient physical activity, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, overweight and obesity, and central obesity were 38.3%, 13.6%, 87.1%, 42.3%, and 36.0%, respectively. Furthermore, 21.9% and 4.9% participants had hypertension and self-reported diabetes, respectively. Regarding the clustering of risk factors, 37.1% men and 50.8% women had at least three NCD risk factors. Only 3.0% men and 1.8% women reported no NCD risk factors. Age, place of residence, education, and wealth status were associated with the presence of at least three risk factors for both sexes.Conclusion::Since a large proportion of Bangladeshi 20-59 years old population had multiple risk factors, population-based programs with multisectoral approaches are essential to reduce NCDs among Bangladeshi women and men.

Background::Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are public health threats globally and recognized impediments to socioeconomic development. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and clustering of NCDs risk factors among Bangladeshi men and women aged 20-59 years using nationally representative data.Methods::This study was conducted in 82 rural, nonslum urban, and slum clusters across all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh using multistage cluster sampling. A total of 4917 men and 4905 women aged 20-59 years were included in the study. Descriptive analyses were performed to report the prevalence and distribution of behavioral and clinical risk factors. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with the coexistence of three or more NCD risk factors.Results::The prevalence of tobacco use (any form), insufficient physical activity, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, overweight and obesity, and central obesity were 38.3%, 13.6%, 87.1%, 42.3%, and 36.0%, respectively. Furthermore, 21.9% and 4.9% participants had hypertension and self-reported diabetes, respectively. Regarding the clustering of risk factors, 37.1% men and 50.8% women had at least three NCD risk factors. Only 3.0% men and 1.8% women reported no NCD risk factors. Age, place of residence, education, and wealth status were associated with the presence of at least three risk factors for both sexes.Conclusion::Since a large proportion of Bangladeshi 20-59 years old population had multiple risk factors, population-based programs with multisectoral approaches are essential to reduce NCDs among Bangladeshi women and men.

Characterization as well as prediction of the secondary and tertiary structure of hypothetical proteins from their amino acid sequences uploaded in databases by in silico approach are the critical issues in computational biology. Severe acute respiratory syndrome–associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which is responsible for pneumonia alike diseases, possesses a wide range of proteins of which many are still uncharacterized. The current study was conducted to reveal the physicochemical characteristics and structures of an uncharacterized protein Q6S8D9_SARS of SARS-CoV. Following the common flowchart of characterizing a hypothetical protein, several sophisticated computerized tools e.g., ExPASy Protparam, CD Search, SOPMA, PSIPRED, HHpred, etc. were employed to discover the functions and structures of Q6S8D9_SARS. After delineating the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein, some quality evaluating tools e.g., PROCHECK, ProSA-web etc. were performed to assess the structures and later the active site was identified also by CASTp v.3.0. The protein contains more negatively charged residues than positively charged residues and a high aliphatic index value which make the protein more stable. The 2D and 3D structures modeled by several bioinformatics tools ensured that the proteins had domain in it which indicated it was functional protein having the ability to trouble host antiviral inflammatory cytokine and interferon production pathways. Moreover, active site was found in the protein where ligand could bind. The study was aimed to unveil the features and structures of an uncharacterized protein of SARS-CoV which can be a therapeutic target for development of vaccines against the virus. Further research are needed to accomplish the task.

Introduction: High-calorie diets, particularly the quality of dietary fats, are regarded as an independent risk factor for developing obesity, hyperlipidaemia, and liver diseases. The present study examined the impact of rice bran oil (RBO) on organ-specific fat deposition, lipid profile, and liver function enzymes in Long Evans rats. Methods: Long Evans rats (n=24) were fed for six weeks with a controlled high-fat diet (HFD) to induce hyperlipidaemia and abnormal liver function. Rats were then divided into two groups: one group continued feeding on HFD, and the other group was fed with a RBO diet, replacing the fat source. After six weeks of feeding, six rats from each group were sacrificed and required analytical tests were performed. The remaining obese rats (n=12) were divided into continued HFD and RBO diet, and after sacrificing, essential analytical tests were done. Results: RBO feeding to hyperlipidaemic rats for six weeks significantly reduced brown adipose tissue, abdominal adipose tissue, epididymal adipose tissue, and liver fat compared to continuing HFD group (p<0.05). Similarly, serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in response to RBO compared to HFD (p<0.05). Additionally, rats fed with RBO showed reduced alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels when compared with continuing HFD-fed rats (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that RBO supports the reduction of fat storage from major fat depots, controls lipid profile, and restores healthy liver functions in rats.

Introduction: The quality of healthcare services can be determined by patient satisfaction as it affects the performance, sustainability, and durability of health services. This study aims to determine patients’ satisfaction with healthcare service providers and its determinants in the urban family physician program in Fars and Mazandaran provinces, Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the populations covered by the urban family physician program in Fars and Mazandaran provinces in 2016. In total, 864 households were selected in each province using random cluster sampling. Socio-demographic variables and underlying factors were gathered. Patient satisfaction levels were evaluated using a validated questionnaire. Results: Of the 1,480 participants with a mean age of 46.9 ± 14.2 years, 53.3% lived in Fars province and 74.2% were female. Furthermore, 67.9% of the patients were satisfied with their healthcare service providers. A higher satisfaction level was observed among the patients who resided in Fars province, lived in cities with <100,000 residents, walked <10 minutes to the family physician’s office, had a family physician they previously knew, accepted the family physician, had a positive attitude towards the importance of having a family physician and a referral system, and had adequate knowledge of the family physician program. Conclusion The results indicated that two-thirds of the patients were satisfied with healthcare service providers. Several socio-demographic variables were associated with the patients’ satisfaction levels. Improving the family physician program by providing adequate medical equipment and monitoring physicians’ performance could increase patient satisfaction and improve the sustainability of the program.
Personal Satisfaction ; Health Services ; Physicians, Family ; Iran