National Clinical Guidance for the Management of Cardiovascular Intervention in the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Bangladesh Society of Cardiovascular Interventions (BSCI)

Since the first recorded case of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh on 8th March 2020, COVID-19 has spread widely through different regions of the country, resulting in a necessity to re-evaluate the delivery of cardiovascular services, particularly procedures pertaining to interventional cardiology in resource-limited settings. Given its robust capacity for human-to-human transmission and potential of being a nosocomial source of infection, the disease has specific implications on healthcare systems and health care professionals faced with performing essential cardiac procedures in patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The limited resources in terms of cardiac catheterization laboratories that can be designated to treat only COVID positive patients are further compounded by the additional challenges of unavailability of widespread rapid testing on-site at tertiary cardiac hospitals in Bangladesh. This document prepared for our nation by the Bangladesh Society of Cardiovascular Interventions (BSCI) is intended to serve as a clinical practice guideline for cardiovascular health care professionals, with a focus on modifying standard practice of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure continuation of adequate and timely treatment of cardiovascular emergencies avoiding hospital-based transmission of SARS-COV-2 among healthcare professionals and the patients. This is an evolving document based on currently available global data and is tailored to healthcare systems in Bangladesh with particular focus on, but not limited to, invasive cardiology facilities (cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology & pacing labs). This guideline is limited to the provision of cardiovascular care, and it is expected that specific targeted pharmaco-therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 be prescribed as stipulated by the National Guidelines on Clinical Management of Corona virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) published by the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh.

Efficient tandem solar cells with solution-processed perovskite on textured crystalline silicon

Stacking solar cells with decreasing band gaps to form tandems presents the possibility of overcoming the single-junction Shockley-Queisser limit in photovoltaics. The rapid development of solution-processed perovskites has brought perovskite single-junction efficiencies >20%. However, this process has yet to enable monolithic integration with industry-relevant textured crystalline silicon solar cells. We report tandems that combine solution-processed micrometer-thick perovskite top cells with fully textured silicon heterojunction bottom cells. To overcome the charge-collection challenges in micrometer-thick perovskites, we enhanced threefold the depletion width at the bases of silicon pyramids. Moreover, by anchoring a self-limiting passivant (1-butanethiol) on the perovskite surfaces, we enhanced the diffusion length and further suppressed phase segregation. These combined enhancements enabled an independently certified power conversion efficiency of 25.7% for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. These devices exhibited negligible performance loss after a 400-hour thermal stability test at 85°C and also after 400 hours under maximum power point tracking at 40°C.

Digital Subtraction Angiography is Superior to Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Diagnosis of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

This study was carried out to compare MRA and DSA in diagnosis of cerebral AVM. It was a retrospective observational study conducted in the Department of Neurology Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka during the period of January 2010 to December 2010. Thirty patients with haemorrhagic stroke age ranging from 13 to 65 years were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria as the study sample. MRA and DSA were done in all the selected patients. The mean age of the patients of haemorrhagic stroke was 30.3 ± 14.3 years and male female ratio was 2.7:1. Regarding the venous drainage of AVM 13 and 12 were superficial and deep respectively, and evaluated 100% by MRA. In the diagnosis of cerebral AVM nidus size S1: <3 and S2: 3-6 cm sensitivity was 100% but accuracy was 100% and 73.3% respectively. DSA was 100% sensitive in the diagnosis of superficial and deep venous drainage AVM. Regarding the eloquence of brain area 15 had no eloquence by both MRA and DSA and identification of eloquence of brain area sensitivity was 73.3% and accuracy was 86.7%. The main feeding vessels was found (22, 73.3%) in both DSA and MRA findings. Distal vessels was seen (8, 26.7%) in DSA but not seen in MRA findings. Intranidal aneurysm and Angiopathic AVM were seen in 3(10.0%) and 4(13.3%) respectively in DSA. This study was carried out to diagnose the patients presented with cerebral AVM by MRA and DSA. MRA could not be evaluated flow status of AVM, distal feeding arteries, intranidal aneurysm and angiopathic AVM which could be detected by DSA. So, DSA is superior to MRA in diagnosis of cerebral AVM.

Stroke in Bangladeshi patients and risk factor

To evaluate comprehensively the distribution of established risk factors of stroke among Bangladeshi patients. This is an observational study. It involved 8400 stroke patients from different hospitals in Bangladesh over a period of sixteen years. Common established risk factors of stroke e.g. age, sex, family history, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, smoking, obesity, dyslipidaemia, alcoholism, use of oral contraceptive pill, lack of fresh fruit consumption etc. were evaluated in these patients through a preformed questionnaire and data were analyzed. Majority of the stroke events occurred after the age of forty (82.3%) and the ischemic stroke (72%) is the most common. Apart from non modifiable risk factors (advancing age, sex, Family history of stroke) hypertension was the most common modifiable risk factor found in stroke patients (57.6%) followed by smoking (44.6%), tobacco use (24.3%), OCP use in female (40% of female stroke), diabetes (23%), ischemic heart disease (17.1%), obesity (10.6%) and dyslipidaemia (5.3%). Lack of fresh fruit consumption and alcoholism were found in some of the patients. Stroke is common after the age of forty. Ischemic events are commonest type of stroke. Hypertension, smoking, tobacco use, diabetes and ischemic heart disease were five most common risk factors of stroke. Outlining the common stroke risk factors in our settings, may help the physicians and care givers in managing this disabling disease properly.

Proteinuria is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke among diabetic patients

This study was done to assess the relationship between proteinuria and ischemic stroke in subjects with diabetes mellitus, and to determine whether proteinuria is an independent risk factor for stroke. This comparative study was conducted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to June 2010. It was done to establish the relationship between proteinuria (Microalbuminuria) and ischemic stroke among diabetic patients. Other risk factors were also assessed. Patients were divided in Group A - diabetic patients with ischemic stroke (n=50) and Group B diabetic patients without stroke (n=50). Mean age of the Group A & B were 60.16±8.33 and 57.19±7.73 years (p=0.068). Mean Blood sugar (2 hours after Break Fast) was 14.68±4.32mmol/L in Group A and 14.75±4.02mmol/L in Group B (p>0.05). Albumin Creatinine ratio was abnormal in 84.0% in Group A and 22.0% in Group A (p=0.001) [Odds ratio (95%CI) = 18.61 (6.78-51.09)]. Logistic regression analysis has also shown that microalbuminuria (ACR) is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke (p=0.001), [Odds ratio (95%CI) = 19.811(5.915-66.348)]. In diabetic patients increased urinary protein is a risk factor for stroke. Estimation of urinary protein (Microalbuminuria) may be used as a predictor for ischemic stroke in patients with diabetes.

Epidemic plasmids in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from high-risk population in Bangladesh

Gonorrhoea still remains as one of the most common venereal diseases, causing a wide range of morbidity among the sexually active people. Characterization of the circulating strains of gonococcus containing epidemic plasmids is important to formulate control strategy. Keeping in mind the above consideration, a total of 495 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with known minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and antimicrobial susceptibility to penicillin and tetracycline were investigated for plasmid content of either PPNG (penicillinase producing N. gonorrhoeae) or TRNG (tetracycline resistant N. gonorrhoeae) or both. Isolates of N. gonorrhoeae showing resistance to penicillin (penicillin MIC ≥ 2 μg/ml, n=255) and high-level tetracycline resistance (tetracycline MIC ≥ 8 μg/ml, n=396) were tested by polymerase chain reaction. The oligonucleotide primers developed to differentiate between three related, epidemic PPNG plasmids (Asia type, Africa type or Toronto/New Zealand type) were used to identify PPNG plasmids and the primers developed to distinguish between American and Dutch variants of Tet-M gene were used to identify TRNG plasmids. A total 169 (34.1%) of the N. gonorrhoeae isolates were found to carry PPNG plasmids and all of them were Africa type showing the amplified products of 3.1 kb. A total 382(77.2%) of the isolates were found positive for TRNG plasmids and almost all were Dutch type (377, 98.7%) with a few American type (5, 1.3%). Although the rate of plasmid infection of either PPNG or TRNG types were very high, because of the presence of only one variant, they are supposed to be endogenously acquired. Therefore, a control strategy, considering the sexual behaviour of the local high risk populations as well as the susceptibility pattern of the circulating N. gonorrhoeae-derived treatment regimen might suffice to control the disease in Bangladesh.

Study of oral itraconazole and terbinafine pulse therapy in onychomycosis

In this open, randomized and comparative study, the safety and efficacy of systemic intermittent itraconazole and terbinafine was examined in 30 patients with onychomycosis. The patient with positive mycological culture and also the patients with positive microscopy and negative culture were investigated. Patients were randomly assigned: 15 patients in each group received either 200mg itraconazole or 250 mg terbinafine twice daily during the first week of a 4 weeks cycle. The treatment duration was 16 weeks and was followed-up for 36 weeks. Both the treatment regimen showed significant reduction in onychomycosis affected areas after 8 weeks and maximum reduction was observed at the end of 36 weeks. At the end point of the follow-up period, the clinical cure rates (no residual deformity or with some deformity) were 86.7% in the itraconazole group and 100% in the terbinafine group. The mycological cure rates were 86.7% and 100% respectively. However, no statistically significant differences between the treatment groups were seen in clinical, mycological (P= 0.864) and severity assessment (P= 0.220). Nausea, abdominal cramp, headache, back pain and flu like syndrome are the adverse effects more frequently reported. At least one adverse effect was reported by 17 patients, of them 12 belonged to itraconazole group and 5 to terbinafine group and the difference was statistically significant (P= 0.027). The overall therapeutic effectiveness, safety and cost affectivity were in favor of Terbinafine pulse therapy.

Apolipoprotein E genetic polymorphism and stroke subtypes in a Bangladeshi hospital-based study

The association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genetic polymorphism and stroke has not been concordant in different racial populations. We investigated the association between apoE genotypes and stroke subtypes by a case-control study in Bangladesh for the first time among south Asian countries. First-ever-stroke patients (n=227; cerebral infarction, n=147, cerebral hemorrhage, n=80) and 190 controls were recruited from a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The diagnosis of stroke was based on CT and clinical findings. Cerebral infarction was classified anatomically into cortical and penetrating region. Infarction in the cortical region was further categorized etiologically into thrombosis and embolism. Cerebral hemorrhage was considered as a whole in all analyses. ApoE genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism. In the multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders both the epsilon3/epsilon4 genotype and epsilon4 carrier conferred an approximately 3-fold increased risk for cerebral thrombosis in the cortical artery region (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 10.4 and OR 3.1, 95% Cl 1.1 to 9.0, respectively) compared with epsilon3/epsilon3 genotype. However, when the analysis was restricted to the elderly (>60 years), epsilon 2 carrier was associated with a risk of hemorrhagic stroke (OR 19.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 295.2). Our study suggested that both apoE epsilon3/epsilon4 genotype and epsilon4 carriers were risk factors for cerebral thrombosis in cortical artery region, whereas epsilon 2 carrier was a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke in the elderly.

Characterization of (111)In(3+) complexes of DTPA amide derivatives: biodistribution and clearance studied by gamma imaging

A large series of structurally related diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid amide derivatives with different structures and lipophilic properties were synthesized and radiolabeled with (111)In(3+). Two of the more hydrophobic compounds studied ([(111)In]L(9) and [(111)In]L(10)) showed high affinity for human serum albumin (HSA). The biodistribution and clearance properties shown by all complexes upon injection in Wistar rats were followed by gamma imaging. The blood retention time of the chelates correlates better with their binding to HSA than with their hydrophilic/lipophilic ratio. Hydrophilic and negatively charged complexes undergo renal retention, while the majority of the lipophilic complexes are retained in the blood for a longer period of time and are cleared through the liver.

Age-dependent association of apolipoprotein E genotypes with stroke subtypes in a Japanese rural population

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphisms and stroke has been controversial. These controversies may be due to inaccurate classification of stroke and differences in age ranges. We investigated the association between apoE genotypes and stroke subtypes (confirmed by CT or MRI findings) by case-control study in a Japanese rural population.

METHODS

First-ever-stroke patients (n=322; cerebral infarction, n=201, intracerebral hemorrhage, n=84, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, n=37) aged 40 to 89 years were recruited from Hokuetsu Hospital, Japan. Healthy controls (n=1126) were selected from the general population in the same area. ApoE genotypes were determined by restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with apoE epsilon3/epsilon3 subjects, epsilon2 carriers had a 2-fold risk of cerebral infarction (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.2). Among cerebral infarction patients, epsilon2 carriers had increased risks of cortical infarction (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.6) (an anatomic subtype) and atherothrombosis (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.0) and cardioembolism (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.6 to 14.4) but not lacunar infarction (clinical subtypes). ApoE epsilon4 carriers had a 2. 5-fold risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.4). ApoE epsilon2/epsilon2 subjects had an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 19.7). ApoE epsilon3/epsilon4 subjects showed approximately 2-fold increased risk of atherothrombosis (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.1) and intracerebral hemorrhage (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.3). The association between epsilon2 and stroke was accentuated in subjects aged 70 years or older but not in those aged 40 to 69 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that apoE epsilon2 is a risk factor for atherothrombosis, cardioembolism, and intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas epsilon4 is a risk factor for atherothrombosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The occurrence of stroke may be affected by interaction between age and apoE gene polymorphisms.

Humoral immune response in a sample of Bangladeshi children with rheumatic fever

Several researchers have investigated cellular response, and antibody response to different antigens of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci, cardiac tissues and B cell alloantigen in rheumatic fever (RF). However, immunoglobulins (Ig) which may indicate general immune status did not receive attention. This study was done in the outpatient clinic of the National Center for Control of Rheumatic Fever and Heart Diseases, Dhaka, to compare Ig levels in subjects with and without RF who have had recent group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal infections. We have recruited 44 RF cases aged 5 to 20 years, and 44 subjects without RF were randomly matched for age and sex as controls. Convalescent blood samples were used to measure antistreptolysin O and IgG, IgM, and IgA levels. The cases, as compared with the controls, had significantly higher levels of antistreptolysin O (mean 399 versus 321 IU/ml), IgG (mean 2386 versus 1885 mg/dl), IgM (mean 286 versus 222 mg/dl) and IgA (mean 258 versus 184 mg/dl). It is not clearly known why the immune response is higher in the RF cases. We have to elucidate factors responsible for higher immune response in children with RF.

Non-ionic bulky Gd(III) DTPA-bisamide complexes as potential contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

A series of new diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-bisamide chelates containing bulky alkyl and aryl side chains have been prepared and characterized. Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles were measured for the neutral gadolinium [Gd(III)] DTPA-bisamide complexes in water solution, and their chemical exchange times (tau(m)) were found to be in the range of 1.4 to 4.9 micros. Significant enhancements of solvent proton relaxation rates were observed between 10 and 50 MHz for one of the complexes of the series [Gd(III)-DTPA-bis-2-ethylhexylamide] in human serum albumin (HSA) solution, indicating the formation of a paramagnetic macromolecular adduct. The binding association constant K(A) of the complex and the albumin 5.7 x 10(3) M(-1) was obtained, and the relaxivity of the fully bound adduct was determined to be 13.8 mM(-1) s(-1) at 20 MHz and 25 degrees C. The high value of K(A) makes the above derivative a good potential blood pool contrast agent at the physiological HSA concentration.

Association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism with hypertension in a Bangladeshi population

The association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with hypertension has not been confirmed. Inconsistencies may be due to the differences of background population characteristics. Till date, there has been no report in Bangladeshi population. This study was to examine the association of ACE (I/D) polymorphism with hypertension. Fifty-one primary hypertensives and fifty-two normotensives were recruited from a hospital in Dhaka city. Height, weight and blood pressure were measured. ACE (I/D) genotypes was established using polymerase chain reaction protocol. The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the groups. In logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex and body mass index, the genotypes were not associated with hypertension (DD vs II: Adds ratio = 2.6, P = 0.34; ID vs II: 0.4, 0.23; ID + DD vs II: 0.8, 0.69). In this hospital-based sample of Bangladeshi people, significant association of ACE I/D genotype with hypertension was not observed.

Nutritional factors associated with rheumatic fever

The determinants for a child with group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal throat infection (BHS infection) to develop rheumatic fever (RF) remain unclear. In this case-control study, we deal with BHS infected children to examine whether nutritional factors are related to RF. In a RF hospital in Dhaka (Bangladesh) we examined 218 consecutive out-patients who had antecedent BHS infection. Sixty of them met the updated Jones criteria for RF (cases) while 104 did not (controls). Fifty-four possible RF patients were excluded. We used anthropometric measurements and a food frequency questionnaire to assess nutritional factors. Higher risk of RF was observed for low height for age (odds ratio 3.82, 95% confidence interval 1.73-8.42); low weight for age (2.41, 1.12-5.57); low upper arm circumference for age (3.76, 1.87-7.89); and low consumption of eggs (3.81, 1.95-7.63), milk (2.60, 1.36-5.08), chicken (2.62, 1.35-5.21), pulses (1.98, 1.03-3.84), fruits 2.29, 1.20-4.45), and ruti (home-made bread) (3.15, 1.61-6.34). Reduced risk was observed for soybean oil consumption (0.28, 0.12-0.62). The significant association of upper arm circumference and eggs persisted after adjustment for multiple sociodemographic confounders. The association of ruti and soybean oil appeared to be suggestive (0.05 < p < 0.1). Protein-energy malnutrition is likely to be associated with RF. The protective effect of moderate consumption of eggs and soybean oil may support other published work which suggests that the anti-inflammatory substance present in these food items may prevent maturation of the rheumatic process.

Socio-economic deprivation associated with acute rheumatic fever. A hospital-based case-control study in Bangladesh

There are few studies on the relationship between socio-economic factors and rheumatic fever (RF) in the populations where the burden of both socio-economic deprivation and RF is still very high. The aim of this study is to assess the association between some socio-economic factors and RF by examining data available from a RF hospital in Bangladesh. We have reviewed the medical records of patients presenting with manifestations suggestive of RF during a 1-year period. From the patients who showed group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal upper respiratory infection (ABHS infection), 44 RF cases defined by the Jones criteria and 86 control subjects, who did not satisfy the criteria, were identified for analysis. The median age was 12 years and 60% were female. RF was significantly associated with low income (odds ratio [OR] 2.37; P = 0.04); poor living conditions: substandard (kacha) house (OR 2.93, P = 0.02); and poor nutritional status: low height for age (OR 2.68, P = 0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed an increased OR for kacha house (OR 3.18, P = 0.02) but the same estimate for low height for age (OR 2.68; P = 0.04). Our analysis shows that, among the patients presenting to the RF hospital with proven ABHS infection, acute RF is associated with socio-economic deprivation.

A brief review of epidemiological studies on ischemic heart disease in Japan

The age-adjusted death rate from ischemic heart disease in Japan is the lowest among developed countries and the rates have decreased since 1970. The incidences of myocardial infarction in selected populations ranged between 0.12 and 2.56 per 1,000 for middle-aged males, and between 0.00 and 1.52 per 1,000 for females. The incidences of sudden death within 24 hours were from 0.00 to 1.58 per 1,000 for males and from 0.00 to 0.76 per/1,000 for females. The incidences in Japanese populations appeared to be far below those in Western populations. In the Cox proportional hazard regression model, hypertension and smoking were selected as independent risk factors for myocardial infarction in an agricultural district. It was noteworthy that the level of serum cholesterol was not associated with development of myocardial infarction in rural areas. No positive relation between dietary fat and serum cholesterol was observed in school children, suggesting that growth, sexual maturation and others might be confounding variables between them. The levels of serum cholesterol for females were more affected by menopause than those of blood pressures and body mass index. Although some polymorphisms in selected candidate genes appeared to be associated with some serum lipids and apolipoproteins, the effect of individual RFLP on the inter-individual variations in serum traits was relatively subtle in comparison with that of lifestyle factors.

The reference value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate for differential diagnosis of rheumatic fever among Bangladeshi children

The aim of the present study is to determine the reference value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate for differential diagnosis of rheumatic fever in the National Center for Control of Rheumatic Fever and Heart Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh among patients with signs and symptoms which may be related to acute rheumatic fever. All medical records for the patients aged 5 to 20 years who attended the outpatient department of the hospital between July, 1994 and November, 1995 were reviewed. Fifty-three of 337 such patients had acute rheumatic fever defined by the updated Jones criteria. The performance of erythrocyte sedimentation rate test was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and receiver operating characteristic curve. The findings of this study suggest that the lower limit for a positive test should be considered at 30 mm (Westergren 1 h) in this hospital.

Water sources and environmental transmission of multiply resistant enteric bacteria in rural Bangladesh

The role of different water sources in the spread of multiply resistant enteric bacteria was investigated in rural Bangladesh. The prevalence of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents in the faecal flora of village children and the water quality and prevalence of resistance in village water sources were studied. Most of the children studied (81%) had multiply resistant faecal coliform bacteria, i.e. bacteria resistant to at least three antimicrobials. Although tubewells provided water with low faecal coliform counts, 62% of household storage pots contained water with moderate to high counts. Most of the storage pots (76%) and each of the river and pond sites tested contained multiply resistant isolates. Contamination of water within the household, and the widespread distribution of resistant coliforms in the environment, contribute to the high prevalence of multiply resistant enteric flora in the community. These findings are of importance in understanding the spread of multiply resistant enteric pathogens.