The bacterial resistance over antibiotics has gained significant concern worldwide for the last few decades. This study aimed to isolate and characterize antibiotic producing bacteria from different water sediment sources in Bangladesh. A total of 9 samples were collected from three different sediment sources from Gopalganj, Bangladesh. Bacterial isolates grown in nutrient agar with cycloheximide were tested for antagonistic activity following disc-diffusion assay. Based on preliminary careening, three isolates namely LIS01, LIS02 and LIS03 showed antibacterial activity against six clinical isolates: E. coli, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. The isolate LIS01 with the highest (P<0.05) zone of inhibition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. According to phylogenetic analysis, the isolate was identified as Exiguobacterium indicum with more than 99.7% sequence similarity to previously characterized strains. The results of our study are very promising considering the antibiotic resistant bacteria and could be helpful in treating diseases associated with drug failure caused.

Cancer is one of the vital causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and recognized as the second most leading cause of death. Considering the side effects and high cost of synthetic anticancer drugs, plant might act as a source of novel anticancer agents with better host safety. In this investigation, Moringa oleifera leaves methanolic extract (MOLME) was subjected to evaluate its anti-proliferative effect with molecular mechanism in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in Swiss albino mice. MOLME inhibited EAC cell growth approximately 64% at the dose of 200mg/kg body weight. DAPI stained cells had shown nuclear condensation and fragmentation in treated cells. Up-regulation of pro-apoptotic gene, Bax and tumor suppressor gene, p53; and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 confirm the induction of EAC cells followed by MOLME treatment. Moreover, MOLME inhibited NF-??B activity and enhanced ROS generation. Results suggest that the anticancer effect of MOLME is associated with the induction of apoptosis through activation of p53 and reciprocal expression of Bax and Bcl-2. The apoptosis might be triggered by the inactivation of NF-??B and generation of ROS. GC-MS analysis revealed that MOLME contains several bioactive compounds, thus it is assumed that the anticancer properties could be attributed by the active leads and could be potential resource of chemotherapeutics.

The bacterial resistance over antibiotics has gained significant concern worldwide for the last few decades. This study aimed to isolate and characterize antibiotic producing bacteria from different water sediment sources in Bangladesh. A total of 9 samples were collected from three different sediment sources from Gopalganj, Bangladesh. Bacterial isolates grown in nutrient agar with cycloheximide were tested for antagonistic activity following disc-diffusion assay. Based on preliminary careening, three isolates namely LIS01, LIS02 and LIS03 showed antibacterial activity against six clinical isolates: E. coli, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. The isolate LIS01 with the highest (P<0.05) zone of inhibition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. According to phylogenetic analysis, the isolate was identified as Exiguobacterium indicum with more than 99.7% sequence similarity to previously characterized strains. The results of our study are very promising considering the antibiotic resistant bacteria and could be helpful in treating diseases associated with drug failure caused.

This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in viable count of bacteria and physicochemical parameters, and their correlations in the changing pattern during live transportation of Climbing perch, (Anabas testudineus). Investigations were conducted in three live fish supply channels of Bangladesh from Mymensingh to Dhaka (channel 1), Mymensingh to Sylhet (channel 2), and from Mymensingh to Rajshahi (channel 3). It took nearly 6 h in channel 1, 8 h in channel 2, and 8 h in channel 3 for the live fish to reach the unloading points of destination. Viable count of bacteria and physicochemical parameters, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and ammonia were recorded from 0 hr with 2 h interval during transportation. The viable count of bacteria in water increased several folds from the initial values and showed a regrowth within the system. In all the supply channels, water temperature and pH were more or less stable with the headway of the transportation, but remarkable differences were observed in the concentrations of DO and ammonia. Although the initial (0 hr) DO level was varying among the supply channels, a decreasing trend was observed at the end in every channel. On the other hand, ammonia concentration was gradually increased during the transportation process. Thus, a gradual decline in water quality (decreased DO level, increased ammonia concentration, and higher bacterial regrowth) may negatively affect the survival and quality of live fish during transportation.

The bacterial resistance over antibiotics has gained significant concern worldwide for the last few decades. This study aimed to isolate and characterize antibiotic producing bacteria from different water sediment sources in Bangladesh. A total of 9 samples were collected from three different sediment sources from Gopalganj, Bangladesh. Bacterial isolates grown in nutrient agar with cycloheximide were tested for antagonistic activity following disc-diffusion assay. Based on preliminary careening, three isolates namely LIS01, LIS02 and LIS03 showed antibacterial activity against six clinical isolates: E. coli, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. The isolate LIS01 with the highest (P<0.05) zone of inhibition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. According to phylogenetic analysis, the isolate was identified as Exiguobacterium indicum with more than 99.7% sequence similarity to previously characterized strains. The results of our study are very promising considering the antibiotic resistant bacteria and could be helpful in treating diseases associated with drug failure caused.

Taeniophyllum is one of the smallest orchids in the world. This genus has around 210 species listed in the plant list. One type of this orchid is found in the Juanda Forest Park (THRJ) Bandung. This orchid is difficult to identify at the species level due to its limited morphological character and very small size. The taxonomy and conservation status of this plant are unknown; therefore, it can be used as a model for developing DNA barcodes for this genus. In this study, two DNA barcode markers (matK and ITS) were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Taeniophyllum THRJ. By using matK sequences, Taeniophyllum THRJ was grouped with Taeniophyllum glandulosum and T. aphyllum. However, using the ITS sequence, Taeniophyllum THRJ was positioned together with Microtatorchis sp., T. smithii, and T. complanatum. The results showed that the matK gene can be used for DNA barcoding of Taeniophyllum orchids. The use of the ITS sequence for the Taeniophyllum group still cannot be confirmed yet. Based on matK sequences and possibly ITS sequences, it can be concluded that Taeniophyllum THRJ is not T. glandulosum but is another species of Taeniophyllum.

The use of hematological leukocytes ratio indices (HLRI), which show the interrelations between different blood cells, for evaluation the organism state of laboratory rats is questionable. The aim is to investigate the informativity of HLRI in laboratory rats on the model of acute infectious process. The study performed on white nonlinear (7–8 months) male laboratory rats: control (n = 10) and experimental groups (n = 10), which simulated acute purulent fecal peritonitis. Analyzed the number of leukocytes, blood leukocyte formula, phagocytic activity of neutrophils, HLRI. Acute infectious process is accompanied by leukocytosis, neutrophilia with leukocyte blood formula shift to the left and inhibition of neutrophils absorption capacity. A set of changes of HLRI in experimental group animals reflects the predominance of cellular immunity over the humoral, prevalence of granulocytes and their immature forms, increased activity of the inflammatory process, predominance of the microphage system, intense non-specific immunity, disturbance of immune system functional state with a shift of balance towards monokines, formation of mainly delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, decreased function of affector cells and predominance of effector part of immunological process, the infectious nature of intoxication. Analysis with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves displayed that 8 from 16 applied HLRI, such as blood leukocyte shift index, neutrophil to lymphocyte, segmented neutrophil to lymphocyte, banded neutrophil to lymphocyte, eosinophil to lymphocyte, monocyte to lymphocyte, neutrophil to monocyte and segmented neutrophil to monocyte count ratio indices have very high levels of sensitivity and specificity and can be used as diagnostic markers for acute purulent fecal peritonitis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is supposed to cause Vitamin D deficiency in many people by a direct effect of home quarantine in the affected countries. Generally, vitamin D provides the human body with significant health benefits including bone development, specific gene regulation, and protection against different diseases. However, deficiency of the optimal amount of vitamin D inside the human body may result in susceptibility to multiple infectious diseases. Therefore, with vitamin D levels gravely decreased by reduced movement and activity, a number of possible negative outcomes are expected in COVID-19 patients, pregnant women, and children during this ongoing pandemic. Vitamin D has a direct inhibitory effect on post-infection through a number of mechanisms that promise to make vitamin D a future adjunctive therapy for COVID-19 treatment. Besides, clinical evidence also supports its role in preventing pregnancy complications and improving pregnancy outcomes. Consistent with the manifold role of vitamin D, an increasing number of studies suggest its role in improving the mental health of children who have been adversely affected throughout this pandemic. This review article discusses the potential roles of vitamin D on COVID-19 patients, pregnant women, and children focusing its scope to become a supplementary candidate for these vulnerable groups to combat the ongoing pandemic.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading pathological condition resulting in the degeneration and destruction of articular cartilage. The presence of inherent mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) within the articular cartilage has led to explore the possible reparative mechanisms to regenerate and restore the functional and mechanical properties of hyaline cartilage. The present in vitro study was aimed to identify and characterize the MPCs derived from OA cartilage. MPCs derived from the explant culture of OA cartilage were analyzed in terms of cellular and biological properties, and multilineage differentiation abilities. Upon cell surface marker analysis, MPCs were CD73+, CD90+, CD166+, CD146-, CD34-, CD45-, and HLA-DR-, whose expression defines stemness and chondroprogenitor status. MPCs exhibited a higher proliferative index and limited or no senescence activity till later passages. Trilineage differentiation towards osteogenesis, adipogenesis, and chondrogenesis was observed with cytochemical staining and also by mRNA expression of lineage-specific markers by RT-qPCR. The results showed that OA cartilage harbors a viable pool of MPCs with greater chondrogenic potential. These cell niches could serve as a superior cell source for cartilage regeneration due to their committed progeny and hence could prevent heterotypic cartilage formation.

Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are progressively exercised as an antimicrobial agent among myriad applications. The rapid emergence of microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics by multidrug-resistant pathogens has become a threat to the global health community. Traditionally used herbal plants are good sources of bioactive phytochemicals and Galinsoga formosa is one of them. Thus, Ag-NPs are biologically synthesized, intending to evaluate the antibacterial activity of G. formosa. Disc diffusion assay was used to assess the antibacterial activity of leaf and flower crude extracts distinctly as well as of green synthesized Ag-NPs in vitro. The biosynthesis of Ag-NPs was primarily confirmed by brownish color solution and later by UV-visible spectrophotometer. Ag-NPs synthesized from G. formosa leaf, and flower extract showed antibacterial activity against gram-positive (S. aureus, S. mutans, and S. epidermidis) and gram-negative (K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa) bacteria, where gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive than gram-positive bacteria. The highest zone of inhibition was observed against P. aeruginosa (13.33±0.58 mm) by applying Ag-NPs synthesized from G. formosa flower extract. In contrast, the lowest zone of inhibition was observed against S. epidermidis (6.33±0.58 mm). Antibacterial activity of Ag-NPs from flower and leaf extracts was considerably higher as compared to their respective crude extract. Further, Ag-NPs from the flower extract was exhibited more growth inhibitory response than the leaf extract. Hence, the findings of this research suggested that the synthesized Ag-NPs from G. formosa leaf and flower extract were exhibited antibacterial activity. Such synthesized Ag-NPs might help to develop new drug for combating against various diseases.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been showing a speedy growth in the number of infected patients with a remarkable mortality rate, thus it has become a worldwide public health concern. From March 8, 2020, the virus started spreading in Bangladesh. Since then, people got infected so exponentially that the country positions at the list of top infected countries in the world. Therefore, the objective of this comprehensive review was representing the overall scenario of COVID-19 in different sectors of Bangladesh. Because of insufficient scientific publications, we chose materials published by several agencies, media outlets, newspapers, and policy experts to retrieve details information. Up to 4 March 2021, 547,930 confirmed cases and 8,428 deaths were reported in Bangladesh. An alarming fact is that while the global mutation rate of coronavirus is 7.23 % in average, the rate is 12.6 % in Bangladesh. Although the government ruled preventive strategies such as nationwide lockdown, social distancing, contact monitoring, quarantine, and isolation, it was difficult to implement those due to lack of public awareness, inappropriate attitudes and so on. Moreover, the overburdened healthcare system had a weak response at initial stage because of insufficient healthcare facilities. Consequently, this pandemic affected severely almost all the important sectors of the country, specifically the economy, agriculture, education, and health sector. Hence, focusing on healthcare system, maintaining social distance, and other essential precautions can limit the spread of infection and help to alleviate the severity of this pandemic.

The low percentage of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) is strongly accompanied with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) where female are at higher risk than male and are the most dangerous reason of a disease called type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although the relationship between gender-specific HDL-C / LDL-C level and T2DM is difficult to understand, however, it is suspected to be linked. To determine the HDL-C and LDL-C ratios among males and females with T2DM subjects, a study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry Laboratory of BUHS general hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2018 to November 2018 among 60 T2DM patients consisting of 30 males and 30 females. Study subjects with ages ranging from 35-65 were included in this study. Serum glucose and lipid profile was analyzed by enzymatic colorimetric method. Among the glycemic profile, the fasting serum glucose levels and 2 h after breakfast (ABF) glucose levels in male and female subjects were measured. The total serum cholesterol was significantly higher in the subject of females T2DM patient compared to male T2DM subjects (p=0.043). However, HDL-C and LDL-C did not show any significant difference between male and female T2DM subjects. In conclusion, our results show hypercholesterolemia among female T2DM subjects compared to male counterparts who might have higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The effects of Croton megalocarpus Hutch and Lantana camara Linn plants leave on blood coagulation has not been scientifically tested despite their common use in bleeding control. The current study investigates the effects of the plants’ leaves extracts on mice plasma coagulation time. Leaves of C. megalocarpus (H.) and L. camara (L.) were harvested, washed, air dried, crushed, extracted in absolute methanol and concentrated to dry powders. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screen of both extracts was done. A total of 55 mice plasma samples were mixed with solutions of leaves extracts of both plants, before prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were determined. Data was analyzed using one – way ANOVA. Phytochemical screen on separate extracts of C. megalocarpus (H.) and L. camara (L.) revealed the presence of tannins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, and terpenoids. Moreover, C. megalocarpus (H.) extract contained steroids and flavonoids while that of L. camara (L.) had saponins. Solutions of the various concentrations of methanol leave extracts of C. megalocarpus (H.). L. camara (L.) and leaves blend extracts from both plants reduced aPTT and PT significantly (p<0.05) when mixed with normal mice plasma. Significant reduction of aPTT and PT of normal treated plasma was associated with the activity of tannins, phenols, flavonoids and saponins detected in the plant extracts.

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding multifunctional glycoprotein, act as a natural protective agent. In general, LF is involved in various physiological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticarcinogenic and iron metabolism. The LF is most frequently found in milk as well as many other exocrine secretions such as saliva, bronchial mucus, seminal fluids, and gastro-intestinal fluids, respectively. Increased expression and secretion of LF may play a significant role in the first line of host defense. One of the primary functions of LF is to scavenge free iron in fluids and inflamed areas to avoid free radical-facilitated damage. LF influences the proliferation, maturation, and activity of immune cells at the cellular level. LF plays a significant protective role in inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, autophagy dysfunction, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Also, LF was found protective against various pathologies including anemia, sepsis, and diarrhoea in clinical settings. This article reviews the protective role of LF against different pathophysiological conditions and its therapeutic advances as well as further research prospects.

This study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of exercise and oral melatonin on metabolic syndrome (MS), anxiety and depression-like behavior (ADB) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model in rat. Rats were allocated into five groups: non diabetes group, diabetes group, three treated group; diabetes rats disciplined with swimming exercise (40 min, 5 days per week) or oral melatonin (10 mg/kg bwt per day at 19.00 PM) alone or with combination. Exercise and oral melatonin significantly attenuated MS evidenced by improvement of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperleptinemia, and hypoadiponectinemia level in comparison with diabetes group. The ADB also markedly improved in exercise and oral melatonin treated rats as represented by decreased anxiety index, increased open arm entries and time spent in elevated plus maze, and reduced freezing behavior, increased entries and time spent in center in open field test. To know underlying molecular mechanisms, hippocampus tissue was analyzed. Interestingly, exercise combined with oral melatonin synergistically reduced serum corticosterone and hippocampus tissue level inflammatory cytokines and improved ATP level. Furthermore, this combination up-regulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1a (PGC-1a) and mitochondrial biogenesis related proteins, glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in hippocampus tissue. Exercise and oral melatonin synergistically attenuated ADB in T2DM rats by attenuation of MS, neuroinflammation and normalizing corticosterone level via up-regulation of PGC-1a, mitochondrial biogenesis, BDNF, GLUT4, expression and ATP level. Thus, this treatment combination can be a promising tool in the management of MS, anxiety and depression in T2DM patients.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella spp. poses significant global public health concern by causing food-borne infections. This study aimed to detect MDR Salmonella spp. from healthy and diseased broiler chickens in the Mymensingh and Jamalpur districts of Bangladesh. Total 70 samples comprising feces (n=20), chicken meat (n=30), and visceral organs i.e. liver, lung, and kidney (n=20) were collected. Salmonella were isolated and identified by culture, biochemical tests and PCR. The antibiogram study was performed by the disk diffusion method. By PCR, 30% (21/70; 95% CI: 19.32-40.05%) samples were positive for Salmonella spp., of which significantly (p=0.005) higher occurrence were detected in feces (50%; 95% CI: 29.93-70.07%) compared to chicken meat (10%; 95% CI: 3.46-25.62%) and visceral organs (40%; 95% CI: 21.88-61.34%). By antibiogram, all the Salmonella isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, and frequently (90.48-19.05%) resistant to tetracycline, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol, colistin, and ciprofloxacin. The significantly higher resistance of chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and ceftazidime were observed in the internal organs of broilers. Interestingly, 80.95% (17/21; 95% CI: 59.99-92.33%) Salmonella isolates were MDR in nature. The range of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of Salmonella isolates varied from 0.29 to 0.86. The high occurrence of MDR and MAR Salmonella in broilers detected in our present study could reveal a high risk to public health and these organisms could be transmitted to humans through the food supply. We suggest that effective prevention and control measures should be implemented to reduce their potential contamination and to minimize the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella spp. poses significant global public health concern by causing food-borne infections. This study aimed to detect MDR Salmonella spp. from healthy and diseased broiler chickens in the Mymensingh and Jamalpur districts of Bangladesh. Total 70 samples comprising feces (n=20), chicken meat (n=30), and visceral organs i.e. liver, lung, and kidney (n=20) were collected. Salmonella were isolated and identified by culture, biochemical tests and PCR. The antibiogram study was performed by the disk diffusion method. By PCR, 30% (21/70; 95% CI: 19.32-40.05%) samples were positive for Salmonella spp., of which significantly (p=0.005) higher occurrence were detected in feces (50%; 95% CI: 29.93-70.07%) compared to chicken meat (10%; 95% CI: 3.46-25.62%) and visceral organs (40%; 95% CI: 21.88-61.34%). By antibiogram, all the Salmonella isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, and frequently (90.48-19.05%) resistant to tetracycline, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol, colistin, and ciprofloxacin. The significantly higher resistance of chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and ceftazidime were observed in the internal organs of broilers. Interestingly, 80.95% (17/21; 95% CI: 59.99-92.33%) Salmonella isolates were MDR in nature. The range of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of Salmonella isolates varied from 0.29 to 0.86. The high occurrence of MDR and MAR Salmonella in broilers detected in our present study could reveal a high risk to public health and these organisms could be transmitted to humans through the food supply. We suggest that effective prevention and control measures should be implemented to reduce their potential contamination and to minimize the emergence of antibiotic resistance.