Ibrahim Medical College (IMC) is a private medical school in Bangladesh, established in 2002. It is located in the Shahbag neighborhood of Dhaka. It has another campus in Shegunbagicha. It is affiliated with University of Dhaka as a constituent college.
Background and objectives: The corneal endothelium is essential for maintaining corneal transparency and visual function. Chronic hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can impair endothelial pump activity, resulting in reduced endothelial cell density (ECD) and increased central corneal thickness (CCT). Because endothelial cells do not regenerate, progressive cell loss may lead to irreversible endothelial decompensation. This study evaluates the association of T2DM with ECD and CCT and examines how these parameters relate to diabetes duration, glycaemic control (HbA1c) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at BIRDEM General Hospital, included 86 patients with T2DM and 86 individuals in the non-diabetic group. The T2DM group was subdivided by DR status (no DR, non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR). Following standard ophthalmic examinations, specular microscopy was performed to measure ECD and CCT in the right eye. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multivariate regression (SPSS version 26). Results: Individuals with T2DM demonstrated a significant loss of endothelial cells, with mean ECD 275 cells/mm² lower than the non-diabetic group (2585·18 ± 263·12 vs 2860·06 ± 244·45 cells/mm²; p<0·001). CCT did not differ significantly between groups (527·60 ± 32·93 vs 524·37 ± 40·81 µm; p=0·568). In multivariate regression, age contributed to a loss of 21·25 cells/mm² per year (p<0·001), while T2DM independently accounted for an additional loss of 191·12 cells/mm² (p<0·001). Increasing intraocular pressure (IOP) had no significant effect on ECD (loss of 15·17 cells/mm² per mmHg; p=0·277). Conclusion: T2DM is associated with substantial endothelial cell loss, which is accentuated by longer disease duration, poor glycaemic control and the presence of DR, whereas CCT remains unaffected. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.004 *Correspondence: Umama Islam, Cornea, LASIK & Refractive Surgery, Vision Eye Hospital, 229, Green Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205.Email: dr.umamaislam@gmail.com. © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0
Abstract Background Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway Substrate 8 (EPS8) is believed to function as a tumor driver; however, to understand its molecular characteristics across tumors, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of EPS8 is lacking. Objective This study aimed to investigate the prognostic, molecular, and immunological significance of EPS8 across multiple human cancers. Methods Comprehensive analyses were conducted using GEPIA2, UALCAN, TIMER2.0, cBioPortal, SMART, GSCA, Enrichr, and the TCGAplot R package to evaluate survival prognosis, gene expression, DNA methylation, immune infiltration, proteomic expression, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), genetic alterations, drug sensitivity, and enriched pathways. Results EPS8 overexpression in LGG ( p = 7.2 × 10 −5 ) and PAAD ( p = 9.4 × 10 −6 ) was significantly associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. Amplification was the most common genetic alteration, with alteration frequencies approaching 6% in TGCT and UCEC. In KIRC and PAAD, EPS8 expression correlated with tumor stage. Immune infiltration analysis revealed significant associations between EPS8 expression and immune cells. EPS8 expression also showed significant correlations with both TMB and MSI in STAD and ESCA. Enrichment analysis indicated an association between EPS8 and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and similar pathways. Conclusion These findings suggest that EPS8 has prognostic and immunological significance across multiple cancer types and may serve as a potential biomarker. The observed associations with immune-related features and drug response provide a basis for future experimental studies to evaluate its role in cancer biology and its potential relevance to immunotherapy.
Background and objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a significant public health concern globally including Bangladesh. Currently, Bangladeshi population is being evaluated for vitamin D status using reference interval derived from western studies. Reference interval derived from western populations may not reflect the actual status of vitamin D status of Bangladeshi population due to differences in sun exposure, ethnicity and dietary habits. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the reference intervals and the lower cutoff value of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency in healthy Bangladeshi adult population. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted involving two population groups. Group-1 comprised of adequately sun exposed healthy coastal fishermen and Group-2 included healthy urban dwellers. Group-1 represented an ideal population for assessing the reference serum vitamin D level while Group-2 population was used to detect the cut-off value of vitamin D deficiency level in adult Bangladeshi population. Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) was used to estimate serum 25(OH) D. Serum iPTH and other biochemical parameters were analysed by standard methods. The reference interval of vitamin D was determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Guidelines C28-A3. The lower cut-off value of vitamin D deficiency level was determined by detecting deflection point of parathyroid hormone (PTH) level compared to serum 25(OH)D level. Results: Total 125 and 371 individuals were enrolled in Group 1 and Group 2 respectively. The mean age of the Group-1 and 2 study populations were 37.98±11.61 and 44.19 ± 11.48 years respectively. The mean serum vitamin D levels of Group-1 and 2 study population were 27.36±7.27 ng/ml (95% CI: 26.08, 28.65) and 21.53±15.98 ng/ml (95% CI: 19.9, 23.16) respectively. Serum reference interval of vitamin D of healthy adults (Group-1) was found as 15.88 to 45.27 ng/ml. The cut-off value for vitamin D deficiency in Group-2 adult population was 12.16 ng/ml (95% CI: 11.04, 13.28) as depicted by first upward deflection of serum iPTH when serum 25(OH)D level fell below 12.16 ng/ml. Conclusion: The findings suggest that current Western-based vitamin D reference intervals may not be appropriate for the Bangladeshi population. The results of our study would help the clinicians and policymakers in developing strategies to address vitamin D deficiency in Bangladesh. January 2026; Vol. 20(1):006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.20.006 *Correspondence: Wasim Md Mohosin Ul Haque, Department of Nephrology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, Dhaka, Bangladesh. E-mail: wmmhaque@live.com. © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).
Background: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a prevalent congenital craniofacial defect associated with considerable oral health issues. Children with CLP face a higher likelihood of dental caries and poor oral hygiene because of anatomical challenges, feeding issues, and inadequate oral hygiene practices. However, there is scarce information concerning the oral health condition of CLP children in Bangladesh. Objectives: To evaluate the oral health condition, dental caries experience, and oral health practices among children with cleft lip and palate at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. To assess the oral health status, dental caries experience and oral Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 400 children aged 5 to 12 years who have CLP at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Sapporo Dental College and Hospital, and Dhaka Dental College and Hospital from January to June 2025. Data was gathered via clinical assessments and structured interviews. Dental caries experience was measured using dmft indices based on WHO standards, while oral hygiene status was evaluated through the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) Results: The decayed component (d = 2.88) predominated in the total mean dmft score of 3.76 ± 2.92, indicating a high degree of untreated caries. The overall oral hygiene status was good (mean OHI-S: 0.60 ± 0.41), with no significant sex-specific differences. The majority of children (83%) said they regularly brushed their teeth, however, only 23% did so after dinner, indicating poor oral hygiene practices. Conclusion: In Bangladesh, children with cleft lip and palate have a significant dental caries even though they generally practice good oral hygiene. The results emphasize the necessity of better carer education and early preventive interventions.
Congenital absence of the pericardium (CAP) is a rare thoracic anomaly that is frequently asymptomatic but may mimic ischemic heart disease clinically and on initial evaluation. Its diagnosis relies heavily on imaging, yet characteristic radiologic findings are often overlooked. We present the case of a young adult male whose condition was accurately identified and successfully managed through clinical expertise and comprehensive multimodality imaging. A 22-year-old male presented with recurrent nonexertional chest pain and sinus bradycardia. Initial investigations, including electrocardiography and laboratory tests, were unremarkable. Chest radiography was initially interpreted as normal. Transthoracic echocardiography suggested abnormal cardiac mobility and axis deviation. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed complete right-sided and partial left-sided pericardial absence. Retrospective review of chest X-ray demonstrated the classic “Snoopy sign.” Cardiac stress testing showed no inducible ischemia. The patient was managed conservatively with complete symptom resolution. This case highlights the critical role of multimodality imaging in diagnosing congenital absence of the pericardium (CAP) and emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle radiographic signs. Early radiologic identification can prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions. Radiologists should maintain a high index of suspicion when encountering unexplained cardiac displacement or abnormal cardiac mobility. A structured diagnostic approach incorporating both clinical reasoning and advanced imaging is essential to help delineate anatomical abnormalities and exclude ischemia, enabling appropriate management decisions.
