Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital is a children's hospital in Bangladesh, located in the capital city of Dhaka.
Patients with HbE/β-thalassemia inheriting the same β-globin mutations display varied clinical manifestations, the mechanism of which is only partially known. The study aimed to decipher the heterogenous basis of HbE/β-thalassemia patients in more details by focusing on both hematological and genetic modifiers influencing the disease severity, which included-(i) HbF and HbE levels using Hb electrophoresis, (ii) β-thalassemia mutations, (iii) αααanti3.7triplication using Gap-PCR, (iv) individual and cumulative effects of HbF-inducing SNPs in 4 major modifier genes, namely HBG2, BCL11A, HBSB1L_MYB intergenic-region, and HBBP1 which were genotyped using DNA sequencing and Real-time PCR-HRM methods. Accordingly, 130 diagnosed Bangladeshi patients with HbE/β-thalassemia were enrolled and categorized as mild, moderate, and severe as per Mahidol scoring system. c.79G>A+IVS1_5G>C was the most predominant (73.8% of total) mutation pair across all the 3 severity groups, indicating secondary modifiers might influence the severity. Our study found both HbF and HbE protective to HbE/β-thalassemia, as both were inversely related to the severity score (HbF: p<0.0001/r=-0.55; HbE: p<0.0001/r=-0.56). Four SNPs-XmnI-Gγ, rs2071348 (HBBP1), rs489544 and rs28384513 (HBS1L_MYB) showed significant association with the elevated HbF levels (p=0.005, 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.004 respectively). The multivariate analysis showed that the risk genotypes with single or combination of 2, 3,and 4 SNPs showed gradually increased risk [Odd Ratio (95%CI)= 2.51, 5.47, 19.5, 39.0, respectively] of less severe phenotype, suggesting that these linked SNP variants had a cumulative effect on both HbF level and clinical severity score. However, low HbE level and copresence of αααanti3.7triplication were found to nullify the ameliorating effect of multiple SNPs.
Abstract not available DS (Child) H J 2024; 40(1): 66
Background: Dengue fever remains a major global health concern, particularly in pediatric populations in endemic countries like Bangladesh. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of prolonged and saddleback fever patterns and their association with clinical severity and outcomes among pediatric dengue patients. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute from August 2023 to February 2025. A total of 47 pediatric dengue patients under <18 years with confirmed infection (NS1 or IgM positive) were analyzed. Fever patterns were categorized as prolonged or biphasic (saddleback). Patients without prolonged or saddle-back fever were considered controls. Clinical presentations, laboratory parameters, complications, and outcomes were documented. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between fever pattern and disease severity. Results: Prolonged and saddleback fever groups demonstrated significantly higher complications, including hepatic involvement (OR=2.50, p=0.04) and co-infections (OR=4.21, p=0.03). Both groups exhibited pronounced thrombocytopenia (platelets <50,000/μL), hematocrit elevations (>20%), and severe coagulopathy compared to controls. Mortality was notably higher in prolonged fever (18.2%) and saddleback fever (16.7%) groups versus controls (3.3%). Logistic regression revealed prolonged fever significantly reduced the odds of clinical improvement (OR=0.13, p=0.03), while saddleback fever showed a borderline significant reduction (OR=0.22, p=0.05). Male sex (OR=1.65, p=0.05) and older age (OR=1.22, p=0.002) increased the likelihood of prolonged or saddleback fever. Conclusion: Prolonged and saddleback fever trajectories in pediatric dengue patients are associated with heightened clinical severity, increased complication risks and reduced survival. Recognition of these fever patterns could enhance early clinical risk stratification, guiding management and optimizing outcomes in pediatric dengue, particularly in resourcelimited endemic regions. J Rang Med Col. 2025 Sep;10(2): 128-134
Background: Treatment of tubercular lymphadenitis is a crucial issue for the management of the disease. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to see the treatment outcome of tuberculous lymphadenitis patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done at the Department of Pathology at Banghabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka from January 2009 to March 2011 for a period of nearly two (02) years. All the patients irrespective of age and sex with the clinical features of tuberculous lymphadenitis and later confirmed by histopathological examination were selected for the study purposively. Relevant information was recorded in a prescribed data sheet and histomorphological findings were recorded accordingly. In cases where fresh specimen was available, caseous portion of lymph node was sent for culture. Fite Faraco staining was also done on lymph node sections in all cases. Results: A total number of 50 tuberculous lymphadenitis patients were recruited for this study. Conclusion: In conclusion majority of the tubercular lymphadenitis patients are presented with raised ESR with positivity of Mantoux test (MT) and well defined granuloma. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, January 2025;11(1):47-51
Background: Preterm birth remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where neonatal care resources may be limited. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Tactile Kinetic Stimulation (TKS) are non-pharmacological interventions that have been shown to support neonatal growth and development. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two interventions in promoting growth and physiological stability in preterm low birth weight infants. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 to compare growth parameters and physiological responses in preterm, low birth weight infants receiving Tactile Kinetic Stimulation (TKS) versus Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). A total of 73 eligible neonates were enrolled in two groups: Group A (TKS) consisted of 38 neonates, while Group B (KMC) had 35 neonates. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Result: In this study, both groups exhibited similar outcomes across all measured parameters, including length, occipitofrontal circumference (OFC), temperature, and heart rate. For instance, before the intervention, the mean length was 41.21±0.14 cm in the TKS group and 41.17±0.14 cm in the I-KMC group (p=0.92), and by day 21, both groups had a length of 44.35±0.26 cm and 44.35±0.25 cm, respectively (p=0.42). Similarly, there were no significant differences in OFC, temperature, or heart rate throughout the study period, with p-values all exceeding 0.05. Conclusion: This study, found no significant differences between the two interventions across all assessed parameters, including growth (length and occipito-frontal circumference) and physiological stability (temperature and heart rate). These findings indicate that both Tactile Kinetic Stimulation (TKS) and Intermittent Kangaroo Mother Care (I-KMC) are equally effective in promoting neonatal health outcomes.
