Background: The Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) was the first to be introduced in Bangladesh to fight the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. As this vaccine had shown some side-effects in its clinical trial, we aimed to conduct a study assessing short-term adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) in Bangladesh. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on social and electronic media platforms by delivering an online questionnaire among people who had taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The collected data were then analysed to evaluate various parameters related to the AEFIs of the respondents. Results: A total of 626 responses were collected. Of these, 623 were selected based on complete answers and used for the analysis. Most of the respondents were between 30–60 years of age, and 40.4% were female. We found that a total of 8.5% of the total respondents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our survey revealed that out of 623 volunteers, 317 reported various side-effects after taking the vaccine, which is about 50.88% of the total participants. The majority of participants (37.07%, 231/623) reported swelling and pain at the injection site and fever (25.84%, 162/623); these were some of the common localized and generalized symptoms after the COVID-19 vaccine administration. Conclusion: The side-effects reported after receiving the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) are similar to those reported in clinical trials, demonstrating that the vaccines have a safe therapeutic window. Moreover, further research is needed to determine the efficacy of existing vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections or after-infection hospitalization.

Introduction: The liver, the most important metabolic organ of the body, performs a wide variety of vital functions. Hepatic cell injury occurs by the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are generated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), xenobiotics, and other toxic substances through cytochrome P450-dependent steps resulting from the covalent bond formation with lipoproteins and nucleic acids. Observing the urgent state of hepatotoxic patients worldwide, different medicinal plants and their properties can be explored to combat such free radical damage to the liver. In vivo and in silico studies were designed and conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of Gynura procumbens in rats. Materials and methods: Gynura procumbens leaves were collected and extracted using 70% ethanol. The required chemicals CCl₄, standard drug (silymarin), and blood serum analysis kits were stocked. The in vivo tests were performed in 140 healthy Wister albino rats of either sex under well-controlled parameters divided into 14 groups, strictly maintaining Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IEAC) protocols. For the histopathology study, 10% buffered neutral formalin was used for organ preservation. Later the specimens were studied under a fluorescence microscope. In silico molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) studies were performed, and the results were analyzed statistically. Results and discussion: Gynura procumbens partially negate the deleterious effect of carbon tetrachloride on normal weight gain in rats. The elevated level of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, LDH, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation ranges, gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) in CCl₄ treated groups were decreased by both standard drug silymarin and G. procumbens leaf extract. We have found significant & highly significant changes statistically for different doses, here p<0.05 & p<0.01, respectively. On the other hand, G. procumbens and silymarin displayed Statistically significant (p<0.05) and high significant(p<0.01) increased levels of HDL, CAT SOD (here p<0.05 & p<0.01 for different doses) when the treatment groups were compared with the disease control group. Because the therapeutic activity imparted by plants and drugs accelerates the movement of the disturbed pathophysiological state toward the healthy state. In the molecular docking analysis, G. procumbens phytoconstituents performed poorly against transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) compared to the control drug silymarin. In contrast, 26 phytoconstituents scored better than the control bezafibrate against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α). The top scoring compounds for both macromolecules were observed to form stable complexes in the molecular dynamics simulations. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds performed better than other constituents in providing hepatoprotective activity. It can, thus, be inferred that the extract of G. procumbens showed good hepatoprotective properties in rats.

Due to the extended lockdown imposed for SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many people have experienced problematic sleep patterns and associated health issues worldwide. This study was conducted to assess the sleep quality and psychological states of the Bangladeshi population during the COVID-19 pandemic, respondent's behavioral traits as well as psychological or sleep-related problems induced self-medication practice among the respondents, along with the probability of development of drug dependency. The survey was conducted among 2941 respondents from 25th November 2020 to 4th December 2020 where the responses were analyzed by SPSS V22. 10–29.5% experienced a significant degree of sleep problems whereas some experienced severe anxiety and depression. The associations between the behavioral traits and parameters concerning sleep quality, anxiety and depression showed 5% level of significance in all cases. Self-medication practice of sleep aids during this pandemic was reported by 7.14% of the respondents, with a greater percentage belonging to the female or senior age group. Tendency to repeatedly self-medication was observed in 18.86% of this self-medicating populace, and a greater number of male (10.26%) respondents displayed such tendency as opposed to their female (8.6%) equivalents. However, 48.10% of the respondents reported perceptions of improved physical and/or psychological health following self-medication, and this trait was predominant in men (52.14%). Results showed a significant number of Bangladeshi populaces were suffering from psychological issues during this COVID-19 which also influenced a certain number of people towards self-medication practice where signs of drug dependency were observed in a significant number of respondents.

COVID-19 has been a public health crisis for quite a long time worldwide. Providing primary health care during this has proven to be quite difficult. Telemedicine played an imperative part in this by minimizing virus spread and utilizing the time of healthcare experts. This survey was designed to know about the prevalence of telemedicine during Covid-19 pandemic as well as its future prospect in Bangladesh. Four stakeholders were categorized for the study: common people, physicians, pharmaceutical professionals and regulatory body. Data was collected both via online and offline. Among the general people, 50.23% took health services through telemedicine service during the pandemic and 24.64% before the pandemic. Both general people (78.88%) and physicians (60%) expressed their satisfaction regarding the service. 93% pharmaceutical professionals also suggested that telemedicine should be implemented in all hospitals. Among the service takers 100% people were prescribed cold medicines. 58% of the respiratory issues were addressed through telemedicine. Physicians as well as regulatory authority considered raising awareness about telemedicine to be an important factor. Therefore, telemedicine should be utilized in several ways in our health sector. The post-Covid-19 era presents a unique opportunity for Bangladesh to harness the potential of telemedicine in addressing healthcare disparities and improving access to quality care. While challenges persist, strategic investments, technological innovation, and policy support can ensure that telemedicine becomes a cornerstone of a more equitable and efficient healthcare system in Bangladesh.

Introduction: Liver being the most important metabolic organ of the body performs a wide variety of vital functions. Hepatic cell injury occurs by the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by CCl ₄ , xenobiotics and other toxic substances generated through cytochrome P450 dependent step resulting from covalent bond formation with lipoproteins and nucleic acids. Observing the alarming state of hepatotoxic patients worldwide, different medicinal plants and their properties can be explored to combat against such free radical degermation of liver. This paper evaluates the antioxidant property of Gynura procumbens in both in silico and in an in vivo assay, and its hepatoprotective activity in CCl ₄ induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Gynura procumbens leaves were collected and extracted using 50% ethanol. Required chemicals (CCl ₄ ), standard drug (Silymarin) and blood serum analyzing kits were stocked. The in vivo tests were performed in 140 healthy Wister albino male rats under well controlled parameters dividing into 14 groups, strictly maintaining IEAC protocols. In silico molecular docking and ADMET studies were performed and the results were analyzed statistically. Results and discussion: The body weight increased significantly in CCl ₄ induced, G. procumbens administered hepatotoxic rats. The increase in SGPT, SGOT, ALP, creatinine, LFH, triglycerides, LDL, SOD, MDA, total cholesterol, DNA fragmentation ranges, γGT levels of CCl ₄ treated group was decreased by both standard drug Silymarin and G. procumbens leaf extract. On the other hand, G. procumbens increased HDL levels and displayed contrasting results in CAT level tests. Some results contradicted with the negative controlled group displaying varying efficacy between leaf extract and Silymarin. In the molecular docking analysis, G. procumbens phytoconstituents performed poorly against TGF-β1 compared to the control drug Galunisertib while 26 phytoconstituents scored better than the control, bezafibrate against PPAR-α. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds performed better than other constituents in providing hepatoprotective activity.