Bangladesh Medical College (BMC), established in 1986, is the oldest private medical college as well as the oldest private institute for tertiary education in Bangladesh. The college is located in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. It is affiliated with University of Dhaka as a constituent college.It offers a five-year course of study leading to a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. A one-year internship after graduation is compulsory for all graduates. The degree is recognised by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council.The college is attached to 500-bed Bangladesh Medical College Hospital.
Background The Early Warning Score, including qSOFA, MEWS, and NEWS, has been extensively used for the early diagnosis of sepsis and the prediction of sepsis-related mortality. The utility of these scores in low- and middle-income countries, such as Bangladesh, has not been explored. This study aimed to evaluate and compare these scores for the early diagnosis of sepsis and the prediction of sepsis-related mortality. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of internal medicine and intensive care unit (ICU) at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), currently name as Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) from January 2023 to June 2024. A total of 142 suspected sepsis cases were included in the study based on the selection criteria following consecutive sampling technique. Demographic profile, clinical, and laboratory parameters were recorded and bedside tools-qSOFA, MEWS and NEWS score were calculated at admission. Patients were monitored on day 7 or at the time of release, whichever occurred later, to evaluate outcomes. Results Among the study participants 110 (77.5%) of the participants were suffering from sepsis and 58 (52.7%) patients died of sepsis. Sepsis was more prevalent among older, male and smokers. Mean qSOFA, MEWS and NEWS score significantly higher among those with sepsis and who did not survive. NEWS (≥ 8.0) showed best diagnostic performance with 88.18% sensitivity and 90.62% specificity and MEWS (≥ 8.0) had highest accuracy with 67.24% sensitivity and 80.77% specificity for mortality prediction. Conclusion NEWS was most accurate for sepsis diagnosis, and MEWS was superior for predicting in-hospital mortality in sepsis in Bangladesh.
Context: Structured sessions with interactive components are recommended to replace conventional lectures, using targeted lesson plans to foster a more engaging learning environment. Objectives: To evaluate the change in interactivity of lesson plans for General Embryology lectures, prepared by Bangladeshi Anatomy teachers, before and after attending a training session on interactive teaching methods. Methods: Thirty-one Anatomy teachers prepared lesson plans for the lecture classes on two given topics of General Embryology using Format- A (where no instruction for the use of interaction was given). Then they attended a presentation and received instructions on interactive lecture. After that they prepared lesson plans on the same topics using Format- B (where incorporation of interaction was instructed). Scores obtained by the two sets of lesson plans were compared using a checklist formulated by the researcher, and hypothesis testing was done through paired t-tests. Results: Regarding thirteen (13) out of the fourteen (14) criteria of the evaluation checklist, the mean interactivity scores obtained by the overall lesson plans prepared after attending a presentation and getting instructions on interactive lectures were higher than the means obtained before the exposures. Statistically significant higher score was observed in case of five criteria. Conclusion: The results indicate an increase in the interactivity of General Embryology lecture lesson plans prepared by Bangladeshi Anatomy teachers following training in interactive teaching methods Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy July 2022, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 48-53
BACKGROUND:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective therapy for symptomatic AF. Emerging evidence indicates that early CA may attenuate disease progression and reduce major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). There is a lack of high-quality pooled data comparing clinical outcomes of early versus delayed CA using a standardized diagnosis-to-ablation time. This meta-analysis evaluates whether early CA (<12 months) versus delayed CA (>12 months) after AF diagnosis is linked to differences in clinical outcomes, including AF/atrial arrhythmia recurrence, mortality, AF-related hospitalization, and MACCE. METHODS:A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and observational cohort studies until December 1, 2025, was conducted. The primary outcome was AF recurrence. RESULTS:A total of 10 studies including 22,748 patients were analyzed. For the primary outcome, early CA (<12 months) was associated with a significantly lower risk of AF recurrence compared with delayed ablation (>12 months) (RR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.88; p = 0.007, I2 = 92). Subgroup analyses suggested a consistent benefit in persistent AF populations. For secondary outcomes, early ablation was associated with a reduced risk of AF-related hospitalization (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.39-0.86; p = 0.04; I2 = 0%) and repeat electrical cardioversion (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.48-0.91; p = 0.03; I2 = 34%). No significant differences were observed for all-cause mortality, repeat ablation, MACCE, cardiovascular hospitalization, antiarrhythmic drug use, stroke/transient ischemic attack, or all-cause hospitalization. CONCLUSION:Early CA (<12 months) was associated with significantly lower rates of AF recurrence, electrical cardioversion, and AF-related hospitalizations compared with delayed CA (>12 months). Future randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate potential long-term benefits and to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from early CA.
Background and purpose In stroke survivors, impaired trunk control and standing balance severely restrict mobility, yet standard physiotherapy, which is largely limb-focused, often leaves these core deficits unaddressed. This study aimed to compare the short-term effects of task-specific trunk exercises on plinth and physio ball versus standard physiotherapy on standing balance and trunk function. Materials and methods This assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 stroke patients between October 2022 and March 2023 and compared a task-specific trunk exercise program on plinth and physio-ball surfaces with standard physiotherapy in a three-week intervention period (four sessions per week). Primary outcomes were standing balance, measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and trunk function, including static and dynamic sitting and coordination, assessed with the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS). Results In post-treatment, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements (p < 0.05) in balance and trunk control compared to the control group, including larger gains on the BBS, greater increases across all TIS subscales, and higher overall TIS scores. Within-group effects were large in both groups, and between-group comparisons favored the intervention, indicating a clinically relevant short-term advantage for task-specific trunk training on plinth and physio-ball surfaces (p value < 0.05). Conclusion Task-specific trunk exercises on plinth and physio-ball surfaces produced greater short-term improvements in trunk control and balance than standard physiotherapy among the stroke patients. This therapeutic approach can significantly improve balance and sit-to-stand function in stroke survivors, enhancing rehabilitation outcomes.
