Chikungunya virus causes mosquito-transmitted infection that leads to extensive morbidity affecting substantial quality of life. Disease associated morbidity, quality of life, and financial loss are seldom reported in resources limited countries, such as Bangladesh. We reported the acute clinical profile, quality of life and consequent economic burden of the affected individuals in the recent chikungunya outbreak (May to September 2017) in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. We conducted a cross-sectional study during the peak of chikungunya outbreak (July 24 to August 5, 2017) to document the clinical profiles of confirmed cases (laboratory test positive) and probable cases diagnosed by medical practitioners. Data related to clinical symptoms, treatment cost, loss of productivity due to missing work days, and quality of life during their first two-weeks of symptom onset were collected via face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. World Health Organization endorsed questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. A total of 1,326 chikungunya cases were investigated. Multivariate analysis of major clinical variables showed no statistically significant differences between confirmed and probable cases. All the patients reported joint pain and fever. Other more frequently reported symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, rash, myalgia, and itching. Arthralgia was polyarticular in 56.3% of the patients. Notably, more than 70% patients reported joint pain as the first presenting symptom. About 83% of the patients reported low to very low overall quality of life. Nearly 30% of the patients lost more than 10 days of productivity due to severe arthropathy. This study represents one of the largest samples studied so far around the world describing the clinical profile of chikungunya infection. Our findings would contribute to establish an effective syndromic surveillance system for early detection and timely public health intervention of future chikungunya outbreaks in resource-limited settings like Bangladesh. A major outbreak of chikungunya virus occurred for the first time in Dhaka, Bangladesh between May and September 2017. In this study, a face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire was conducted to collect data to investigate the clinical symptoms, quality of life, and economic aspects of 1,326 chikungunya patients during the first two weeks of infection. The severity of the disease was similar to previously reported severe outbreaks elsewhere but joint pain prior to fever emerged as a unique symptom in the Dhaka outbreak. This unique clinical feature was consistent across age and sex of the patients. Some clinical symptoms varied with age. For instance, a higher proportion of skin rash were found among children (under 15) while morning stiffness, severity, and duration of pain were proportionally higher among other age groups. Joint swelling was most commonly noted in elderly patients (60+ years). About 83% of the patients reported low to very low overall quality of life (QoL) during first two weeks of chikungunya infection. Elderly patients reported lower average QoL scores compared to $606 per month) reported the lowest average overall score. Nearly 95% of the patients have mostly confined to sickbed and approximately 30% of them lost more than 10 days of productivity due to severe arthropathy. Our study would contribute to establishing an effective syndromic surveillance system for early detection and timely public health intervention of future chikungunya outbreaks in resource-limited countries like Bangladesh.

Amylolytic bacterial isolates were obtained by starch-agar plate method from municipal solid wastes. Six amylolytic bacteria were isolated and the best two isolates, named as DY and W1, were selected based on clear zone ratio. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis identified DY and W1 isolates as Chryseobacterium sp. and Bacillus sp., respectively. Amylase production was optimized using basal media. The maximum level of amylase production was achieved from Chryseobacterium and Bacillus isolates after 60 h and 48 h of cultivation, respectively. The optimal temperature, initial pH of the media, agitation and inoculum size were determined for the both isolates. Increased amylase production was observed when basal media were substituted with organic carbon and nitrogen sources. The optimum pH and temperature for amylase activity of the crude amylase of Chryseobacterium sp. were 5.0 and 50 °C, respectively and those of amylase from Bacillus sp. were pH 7.0 and 50 °C, correspondingly. The crude amylase from the Chryseobacterium sp. was stable at pH 5.0-6.0 and up to 40 °C but that from Bacillus sp. was stable at pH 7.0 and up to 30 °C. Amylases from both the isolates lost ∼50% activity when stored at room temperature for two days. Under the optimized fermentation conditions both Chryseobacterium and Bacillus isolates produced almost the similar amount of amylase with organic kitchen wastes compared to the basal media. Results reported herein support the notion that Chryseobacterium sp. and Bacillus sp. can be used to produce industrially important amylases by utilizing organic kitchen wastes.

Major intrinsic proteins (MIPs), commonly known as aquaporins, transport not only water in plants but also other substrates of physiological significance and heavy metals. In most of the higher plants, MIPs are divided into five subfamilies (PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, SIPs and XIPs). Herein, we identified 68, 42, 38 and 28 full-length MIPs, respectively in the genomes of four monocot grass plants, specifically Panicum virgatum, Setaria italica, Sorghum bicolor and Brachypodium distachyon. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the grass plants had only four MIP subfamilies including PIPs, TIPs, NIPs and SIPs without XIPs. Based on structural analysis of the homology models and comparing the primary selectivity-related motifs [two NPA regions, aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter and Froger's positions (FPs)] of all plant MIPs that have been experimentally proven to transport non-aqua substrates, we predicted the transport profiles of all MIPs in the four grass plants and also in eight other plants. Groups of MIP subfamilies based on ar/R selectivity filter and FPs were linked to the non-aqua transport profiles. We further deciphered the substrate selectivity profiles of the MIPs in the four grass plants and compared them with their counterparts in rice, maize, soybean, poplar, cotton, Arabidopsis thaliana, Physcomitrella patens and Selaginella moellendorffii. In addition to two NPA regions, ar/R filter and FPs, certain residues, especially in loops B and C, contribute to the functional distinctiveness of MIP groups. Expression analysis of transcripts in different organs indicated that non-aqua transport was related to expression of MIPs since most of the unexpressed MIPs were not predicted to facilitate the transport of non-aqua molecules. Among all MIPs in every plant, TIP (BdTIP1;1, SiTIP1;2, SbTIP2;1 and PvTIP1;2) had the overall highest mean expression. Our study generates significant information for understanding the diversity, evolution, non-aqua transport profiles and insight into comparative transport selectivity of plant MIPs, and provides tools for the development of transgenic plants.

Background: Diabetic individuals must adhere to their medications to control their glucose levels and prevent diabetes-related complications. However, there is limited evidence of medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. Objectives: We assessed the level of adherence and factors associated with low adherence to anti-diabetic medication among patients with type 2 diabetes at different health facilities in southern Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2,070 patients with type 2 diabetes who presented at five health facilities in the Chittagong Division between November 2018 and June 2019. We assessed medication adherence using a self-reported, structured, eight-item questionnaire and performed multiple logistic regression to investigate the factors associated with low medication adherence. Results: The overall prevalence of low medication adherence was 46.3% (95% CI: 41.4–55.8%) of our study population. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that males (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.13–1.67), those with a family income of < 233 USD (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.17–2.03), and those with a diabetic ulcer (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.94) showed low adherence. Diabetic ulcers, retinopathy, and obesity were relatively more elevated among diabetic patients with low medication adherence. Conclusion: Low medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes in southern Bangladesh is a key public health challenge. Factors such as male sex, low annual family income, and diabetic ulcers were associated with low medication adherence. Patient counseling and awareness programs may enhance medication adherence among people with type 2 diabetes. Our findings will help physicians and public health workers to develop targeted strategies to increase awareness of the same among their patients.