Dinajpur Medical College

Background: Otocariasis, the infestation of the external auditory canal (EAC) by ticks, is a common presentation in endemic regions and an emerging clinical consideration in Australia. Conventional agents, including local anaesthetics and oils, often fail to rapidly inactivate hard ticks, potentially prolonging patient discomfort and increasing the risk of infectious complications. Dimethicone, a low-toxicity, low-viscosity organosilicon compound, has demonstrated efficacy against arthropods but has not been formally evaluated for hard tick otocariasis. This study aims to investigate whether dimethicone outperforms conventional agents in inactivating hard ticks. Methods: In a laboratory-based experiment, 48 Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups (n=12 per group): dimethicone, olive oil, coconut oil, and 2% xylocaine. Ticks were submerged in the test agent and observed under magnification, with time to complete inactivity recorded. Inactivity was defined as cessation of all leg movement despite stimulation. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), with between-group comparisons performed to assess differences in time to inactivity. Results: Time to inactivity was significantly shorter in the dimethicone group (75.0±10.4 s) compared with olive oil (753.3±78.3 s), coconut oil (1,056.6±122.8 s), and 2% xylocaine, in which no inactivity was observed within the 1,800-second observation period (all comparisons P<0.001). Conclusions: Dimethicone rapidly and reliably inactivated hard ticks in vitro, outperforming commonly used agents. This effect is likely mediated by its ability to penetrate the tick spiracular system and impair respiration. Given its favourable safety profile and rapid action, dimethicone may represent a practical option for managing otocariasis in outpatient and emergency settings. Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm clinical applicability in the Australian context.

Incretin-based therapies are essential in diabetes management, with semaglutide receiving attention due to its oral formulation and benefits in cardiovascular health, renal function and weight loss. However, rodent studies have shown that long-term Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) exposure can induce proliferative changes, including thyroid C-cell tumors and epithelial cell hyperplasia, through GLP-1R-mediated pathways, raising concerns about potential mitogenic effects in other tissues. This study evaluates the association between semaglutide and bile duct cancer using pharmacovigilance data. A disproportionality analysis was conducted using VigiBase, the WHO's global safety database. Individual Case Safety Reports from January 1, 2009, to July 31, 2023, were analyzed, focusing on neoplasms classified under System Organ Classes. Signal detection was assessed using the lower 95% credibility interval limit for the Information Component (IC025), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR025) and Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR025). Patient demographics, drug dosage, treatment duration and severity of reported cases were reviewed qualitatively. Among 75,497 adverse events from 28,403 patients, 442 (0.58%) were linked to benign and malignant neoplasms. Pancreatic cancer (70 cases) was the most frequent, followed by breast (28 cases), thyroid (14 cases) and medullary thyroid cancer (15 cases). Six cases were identified in VigiBase-four as 'bile duct cancer' and two as 'cholangiocarcinoma'-potentially indicating overlapping diagnoses. Disproportionality analysis for bile duct cancer (n = 4) showed an OR025 of 2.30, IC025 of 0.23, and PRR025 of 2.30, exceeding thresholds for signal detection. While this study identifies a potential safety signal between semaglutide use and bile duct cancer, causality cannot be established. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing pharmacovigilance and the need for long-term observational studies and randomized controlled trials.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a significant public health concern, contributing substantially to morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Effective management of diabetes requires a comprehensive understanding of associated comorbidities, including their type and frequency, as these conditions influence treatment outcomes and self-management practices. This study aimed to assess the pattern of comorbidities among indigenous patients with T2DM attending a secondary-level hospital in Bangladesh and to evaluate their impact on glycemic control. Materials and methods: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among 132 adult T2DM patients attending Rangamati General Hospital between March and August 2023. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a pretested structured case record form. Comorbidities were categorized as either previously diagnosed or newly detected through routine screening during the study. Glycemic status was classified based on HbA1c levels as follows: good control (&lt;7%), inadequate control (7–8%) and poor control (&gt;8%). Results: Only 22 patients (16.7%) achieved good glycemic control, 33 (25%) had inadequate control and 77 (56.3%) had poor glycemic control. Comorbid conditions were identified in 88 patients (66.7%). The most prevalent comorbidity was hypertension (54.5%), followed by dyslipidemia (50.8%) ischemic heart disease (18.9%) liver disease (8.3%) stroke (7.6%) and respiratory disease (6.1%). A total of 45 patients (34.1%) had one comorbid condition, 35 (26.5%) had two and 8 (6.1%) had three or more comorbidities. Multivariatelogistic regression revealed that the likelihood of having comorbidities was significantly associated with age &gt;60 years (OR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.82–9.15) male gender (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03–4.25) current smoking (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.01–5.25) duration of diabetes &gt;10 years (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.12–6.45) and poor glycemic control (OR: 3.01, 95% CI: 1.03–10.14). Conclusion: The study highlights a high burden of comorbidities among indigenous patients with T2DM, with a significant impact on glycemic control. These findings underscore the need for targeted intervention strategies that address both diabetes and its associated comorbidities to improve health outcomes in indigenous populations. JCMCTA 2025 ; 36 (2) : 77-84

Astrocytoma is one of the most common forms of primary brain tumor and glioblastoma is mostly occurred astrocytoma. Due to their invasiveness in the brain parenchyma, they are less amenable to surgical removal and current chemotherapy regimens, with a high mortality rate. Cell adhesion molecule (CAM) E-cadherin (CDH1) downregulation has been implicated in many tumors of higher grade in different systems and organs featuring invasion and metastasis. Cadherins are calcium-binding proteins that promote cell adhesion and tissue homeostasis. The cadherin superfamily includes classical cadherin, protocadherins, desmoglein, desmocollins and others. Classical cadherins include Epithelial (E-cadherin), Neuronal (N-cadherin), placental (P-cadherin) and retinal (R-cadherin), which are the first members of the superfamily to be identified (CDH1, CDH2, CDH3, and CDH4). This study aimed to investigate the level of E-cadherin gene expression in high-grade astrocytoma, that is, glioblastoma multiforme. Therefore, the aim of the study was to find out the level of E-cadherin gene expression in glioblastoma multiforme. In this cross-sectional study, 12 (Twelve) formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were taken as cases. 3 (Three) non tumorous brain tissue and 1(one) fresh brain tissue were taken as control. Histological features were studied under a light microscope with H&amp; E stain. Expression of the CDH1 gene was analyzed by real-time PCR using the comparative Ct method. The change in E-cadherin expression was measured by fold change in comparison with the control brain tissue. The data was tabulated and a statistical analysis was performed. All tumors showed downregulation of the CDH1 gene in comparison with non-tumorous control tissue. It could be concluded that marked downregulation of the E-cadherin gene occurs with tumors of higher grade due to hypermethylation of the gene promoter. Mediscope 2026;13(1): 27-33

Internet addiction (IA) and the Risk of Eating Disorder (RED) are emerging public health concerns, particularly among young adults. This study examined the association between internet addiction and eating disorder risk among Bangladeshi young adults. A cross-sectional survey of 566 participants aged 18–35 years was conducted using validated screening instruments, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT-20) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Multivariable binary logistic regression models were fitted to assess the association between internet addiction and eating disorder risk. The prevalence of eating disorder risk among participants was 23.61%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that participants identified as internet-addicted had more than twice the odds of reporting disordered eating behaviors compared to their counterparts (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.29–3.36, p = 0.003). Living in urban areas, having a clinical history of mental health problems, and obesity were also significantly associated with a higher risk of disordered eating. The findings indicate a significant association between internet addiction and disordered eating risk among Bangladeshi young adults. These results underscore the importance of integrated public health strategies that address problematic internet use, mental health, and healthy lifestyle behaviors in this population. • Internet addiction was significantly associated with eating disorder among Bangladeshi young adults. • Young adults with internet addiction had twice the odds of eating disorder risk. • Urban residence, mental health history, and obesity were significantly associated with eating disorder. • Findings support integrated digital, mental health, and lifestyle interventions.

Depression, anxietyand stress occur at disproportionately higher rates among people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to the general population. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has extended survival, these psychological morbidities remain a critical public health concern. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among PLWH in Western Rajasthan, India, and to identify key sociodemographic and clinical predictors influencing their mental health status. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 551 PLWH attending two government ART centres between March 2024 and March 2025, using consecutive sampling. Mental health status was assessed through face-to-face administration of the validated Hindi version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) by trained interviewers. Binary logistic regression was applied to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), followed by multivariable adjusted analyses. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 11.6%, 19.6%, and 9.6%, respectively. Depression was significantly associated with rural residence (AOR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.02-5.96, p=0.04), absence of spouse (AOR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.03-5.06, p=0.04), and malnutrition (BMI ≤18.5 kg/m²; AOR=3.63, 95% CI: 1.26-10.46, p=0.02). Anxiety was linked to malnutrition (AOR=1.80, p=0.04) and low CD4 count (≤200 cells/mm³; AOR=0.20, p=0.02). Stress was strongly associated with ART nonadherence (≤95%) (AOR=3.77, 95% CI: 1.46-9.72, p<0.01). These findings underscore the substantial burden of psychological morbidities among PLWH in Western Rajasthan and highlight the need for integrated mental health screening, counselling, and referral mechanisms within HIV care programmes to improve overall health outcomes.

Background: Marital dissatisfaction is prevailing in the family and is negatively affecting the couples as well as the society. Women are more vulnerable to develop depression when they are martially dissatisfied. Materials &amp; Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted into the outpatient department (OPD) of psychiatry, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), Dhaka from July’18 to December’18 to identify the proportion of marital dissatisfaction among married depressed women and to determine the association of socio demographic variables with marital dissatisfaction. Total 150 adult ( 18 years or more ) married depressed women were taken for this study. Results: In this study, 74% married depressed women were dissatisfied in their marital life, the age group 20-30 years having the highest dissatisfaction rate (52.25%), education has a significant and positive association with satisfaction, house wives were mostly dissatisfied (88.29%), marital duration had the strongest association with marital quality. Dissatisfaction rate was higher in settle than affair marriage, the respondents in nuclear family having the higher dissatisfaction rate than those in extended and joined family, women who had problem solving skill experiences more satisfaction than those who were not capable of problem solving. Conclusion: This can be concluded that the marital dissatisfaction is common among married depressed women. Faridpur Med. Coll. J. 2026;21(1):38-44

This study aimed to adapt and validate the Glasgow Antipsychotic Side-Effect Scale (GASS) in Bangla. Patients aged ≥18 years with a psychiatric disorder who were currently taking antipsychotics were recruited from a tertiary care psychiatric hospital using convenience sampling. Additionally, patients aged ≥18 years with a psychiatric disorder who had not received any antipsychotic medications in the past 6 months were recruited as controls. Participants were assessed using the newly adapted GASS Bangla. Internal consistency was assessed using McDonald's omega. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine the factor structure. Discriminant validity was examined. In total, 153 male and 67 female patients (mean age, 27.8 years) who were receiving antipsychotic medications were included. The most common diagnoses were schizophrenia spectrum disorders (49.1%) and bipolar disorders (46.8%). The median duration of illness was 36 months, and the median duration of antipsychotic medication was 4 months. Additionally, 29 male and 21 female controls (mean age, 30.2 years) were included. The mean GASS Bangla score of the patients was 13.3 ± 8.4. Among the 220 patients, 181 (82.3%) reported absent or mild adverse effects, 34 (15.5%) reported moderate adverse effects, and five (2.3%) reported severe adverse effects. In contrast, all controls reported either absent or mild adverse effects. Patients taking antipsychotic medication had higher median GASS Bangla scores than controls (12 vs 2, p < 0.001), supporting the scale's discriminant validity. Internal consistency of the GASS Bangla was moderate (McDonald's omega = 0.604). Factor loadings ranged from 0.040 to 0.573, with most items loading above the conventional threshold of 0.30. Principal component analysis revealed a seven-factor structure that explained 58.9% of the total variance. The GASS Bangla is a user-friendly instrument for use as a screening tool. Despite moderate internal consistency, its clinical relevance and strong discriminant validity support its application in clinical practice.