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Purpose F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is emerging to be a useful tool in supporting the diagnosis of AIE. In this study, we describe the metabolic patterns on F-18 FDG PET imaging in AIE. Methods Twenty-four antibody-positive patients (anti-NMDA-15, anti-VGKC/LGI1-6, and anti-GAD-3), 14 females and 10 males, with an age range of 2–83 years were included in this study. Each PET study was evaluated visually for the presence of hypometabolism or hypermetabolism and semiquantitatively using Cortex ID (GE) and Scenium (Siemens) by measuring regional Z-scores. These patterns were correlated with corresponding antibody positivity once available. Results Visually, a pattern of hypometabolism, hypermetabolism, or both in various spatial distributions was appreciated in all 24 patients. On quantitative analysis using scenium parietal and occipital lobes showed significant hypometabolism with median Z-score of −3.8 (R) and −3.7 (L) and −2.2 (R) and −2.5 (L) respectively. Two-thirds (16/24) showed significant hypermetabolism involving the basal ganglia with median Z-score of 2.4 (R) and 3.0 (L). Similarly on Cortex ID, the median Z-score for hypometabolism in parietal and occipital lobes was −2.2 (R) and −2.4 (L) and −2.6 (R) and −2.4 (L) respectively, while subcortical regions were not evaluated. MRI showed signal alterations in only 11 of these patients. Conclusion There is heterogeneity in metabolic topography of AIE which is characterized by hypometabolism most commonly involving the parietal and occipital cortices and hypermetabolism most commonly involving the basal ganglia. Scenium analysis using regional Z-scores can complement visual evaluation for demonstration of these metabolic patterns on FDG PET.

This research examines the overall performance achievement of social media marketing (SMM) in Bangladesh by determining whether social media is successful in creating brand consciousness (i.e., brand preference, brand attachment, brand association, and brand loyalty) toward online consumers, which in turn may lead to buying commitment. In total, 564 Bangladeshi consumers were surveyed to monitor their responsiveness toward social media-aided motivations. We selected the online buying environment in Bangladesh, which is an emerging market established less than one decade ago. We specifically choose the entire local fashion industry as our target market, excluding the websites of international fashion brands operated overseas. We used the holistic concept of the five aspects of SMM, namely, interaction, entertainment, customization, electronic word of mouth (eWOM), and trendiness. Moreover, we statistically calculated the performance of social media through the consequences of five measures, namely, brand loyalty, brand preference, brand attachment, brand association, and buying commitment. We used regular linear multiple regression, correlation, and descriptive statistics to obtain statistical results. The study found strong evidence that SMM efforts (SMMEs) of the local Bangladeshi fashion industry are successful in establishing consumer attachment and preference. However, they fail to secure committed buyers when the measurement scale is below 50%. In line with the results of previous studies on consumer loyalty, our results demonstrate that SMMEs fail to create committed buyers. Lack of loyalty and association drive consumers to become uncommitted buyers.

Vanillin (VAN) is an organic compound which not only functions as a flavoring and fragrance enhancer in some foods but also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-depressant effects. However, the excessive use of VAN can be associated with negative side effects on human health. As a result, it is crucial to find a reliable method for the rapid determination of VAN to enhance food safety. Herein, we developed a sensor using Ni and Co bimetallic hydroxide and reduced graphene oxide nanostructure (NiCo(OH)2.rGO). Our prepared material was characterized using various physico-chemical techniques. The electrocatalytic efficiency of the NiCo(OH)2.rGO-modified glassy carbon electrode was investigated using cyclic and square wave voltammetry. The developed sensor showed a limit of detection of 6.1 nM and a linear range of 5–140 nM. The synergistic effect of NiCo(OH)2 and rGO improved the active sites and enhanced its catalytic efficiency. The practical applicability of the prepared sensor was investigated for the determination of VAN in food samples such as biscuits and chocolates, showing promise in practical applications.

Objective PSMA expression is seen in many solid tumours in addition to prostate cancer and several studies and case reports have shown PSMA expression and 68 Ga-PSMA imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our prospective study evaluates the role of 68 Ga-PSMA in HCC patients and compares it to conventional imaging (CE-CT/MRI). Methods Patients with radiologically and/or histopathologically confirmed HCC were included and all had undergone serum alpha-fetoprotein (S.AFP) assessment as well as CE-CT/MRI prior to PSMA PET/CT. Acquired whole-body PET/CTs were analysed both visually and quantitatively by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Results Forty-one (41) patients (36 male; 5 female) with known HCC and a mean age of 53.9 ± 10.9 years underwent 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. All patients had lesions on conventional imaging but only 38/41 patients showed 68 Ga-PSMA uptake. Conventional imaging revealed 18 patients with single lesions, all of which were tracer avid. Twenty-three (23) of 41 patients had multifocal (> 2) hepatic lesions on CE-CT/MRI of which 3 patients showed no 68 Ga-PSMA uptake, 7 showed tracer uptake in a single lesion only and 13 patients had multifocal tracer avid lesions. There was no correlation observed between S. AFP level and tumour SUV max on 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. Conclusion 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging of HCC may complement conventional imaging and identify patients for potential theranostic intervention.

Recent studies have shown that hyperuricemia is commonly associated with dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Elevated serum uric acid has been demonstrated to be associated with obesity in the adult population in many countries; however, there is still a lack of evidence for the Bangladeshi population. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of hyperuricemia and determine the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and obesity among the Bangladeshi adults. In this cross-sectional study, blood samples were collected from 260 adults (142 males and 118 females) and analyzed for SUA and lipid profile. All participants were categorized as underweight (n = 11), normal (n = 66), overweight (n = 120) and obese (n = 63) according to the body mass index (BMI) scale for the Asian population. Based on SUA concentration the participants were stratified into four quartiles (Q1: < 232 μmol/L, Q2: 232-291 μmol/L, Q3: 292-345 μmol/L and Q4: > 345 μmol/L). The mean age and BMI of the participants were 32.5 ± 13.3 years and 24.9 ± 3.8 kg/m2, respectively. The average level of SUA was 294 ± 90 μmol/L with a significant difference between males and females (p < 0.001). Overall, the estimated prevalence of hyperuricemia was 9.3% with 8.4% in male and 10.2% in female participants. There were significant increases in the prevalence of obesity (17.4%, 22.2%, 28.6% and 31.8%, respectively, p < 0.01 for trend) across the SUA quartiles. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that SUA quartiles were independently associated with the presence of obesity (p < 0.01). Present study indicates a significant positive relationship between SUA and obesity among the Bangladeshi adults. Therefore, routine measurement of SUA is recommended in obese individuals to prevent hyperuricemia and its related complications.

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are immune-mediated neurological attacks triggered by malignancies. They are commonly associated with lung, breast, thymus, gynaecological and haematological malignancies. We report a case of a male patient in his late 40s with paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis due to a colonic adenocarcinoma emphasising a low threshold for extensive cancer evaluation in all subacutely presenting neurological syndromes. We also emphasise that the absence of a positive onconeural antibody does not preclude the diagnosis of a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a psychosomatic disorder and can negatively affect individuals, especially in terms of psychological well-being, self-esteem, and quality of life (QoL). The current study aimed to investigate the association between AV and psychological health, as well as the influence of acne and psychological distress in predicting patients' self-esteem and QoL. This cross-sectional study included 150 patients clinically diagnosed with AV. The severity of acne was measured using GAGS, and following that, patients were instructed to complete the following forms: DASS-21, RSES, CADI, DLQI, and WHOQoL. Female AV patients had significantly higher depression ( p =  0.003, t = 3.025) and anxiety ( p <  0.001, t = 3.683). Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a strong, positive, and significant correlation between having acne and experiencing depression (r = 0.630), anxiety (r = 0.661), and stress (r = 0.758) ( p <  0.001). Multiple regression analysis suggested acne and associated psychological distress had a significant and negative impact on the patient's self-esteem and quality of life. This study highlights the multifaceted consequences of AV and the need to manage its psychological distress. It emphasizes the need for holistic patient care that addresses acne's physical and emotional aspects, with the ultimate goal of enhancing well-being and QoL.

Background The article presents the first estimates of biomass and productivity for mangrove forests along the Oligohaline zone of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF), Bangladesh. This study was conducted overone year from March 2016 to April 2017. Stand structure, above and below-ground biomass changes, and litterfall production were measured within a 2100 m 2 sample plot. Methods All trees in the study plots were numbered and height ( H ) and diameter at breast height ( DBH ) were measured. Tree height ( H ) and DBH for each tree were measured in March 2016 and 2017. We apply the above and belowground biomass equation for estimating the biomass of the mangrove tree species (Chave et al. Oecologia 145:87−99, 2005; Komiyama et al. J Trop Ecol 21:471–477, 2005). Litterfall was collected using 1-mm mesh litter traps with collection area of 0.42 m 2 . Net Primary Production (NPP) was estimated by the summation method of Ogawa Primary productivity of Japanese forests: productivity of terrestrial communities, JIBP synthesis (1977) and Matsuura and Kajimoto Carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystem: Systems approach to global environment (2013). Results Heritiera fomes has maintained its dominance of the stand and also suffered the highest tree mortality (2.4%) in the suppressed crown class. The total above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) of the studied stand was 154.8 and 84.2 Mg∙ha −1 , respectively. Among the total biomass of the trees, 64.8% was allocated to AGB and 35.2% to BGB. In case of species-wise contribution of biomass allocation, Avicennia officinalis showed the highest score and Aglaia cucullata the lowest. Mean annual total litterfall was 10.1 Mg∙ha −1 ∙yr −1 , with the maximum litterfall in winter or dry season and late summer or rainy season. The mean AGB increment and above-ground net primary productivity (AGNPP) were 7.1 and 17.2 Mg∙ha −1 ∙yr −1 , respectively. Total net primary productivity (NPP) was estimated to be 21.0 Mg∙ha −1 ∙yr −1 over the observed period. The results in the Sundarbans mangrove forests exhibited that mangrove communities with similar height and diameter produced different biomass production with the different basal area. The present analysis revealed that the root biomass was large enough and the mean ratio of above−/below-ground biomass was estimated to be 1.84. Conclusions Mangrove communities growing at the oligohaline zone of the Sundarbans, Bangladesh showed high biomass and net primary production indicating their ecological and conservation significance that may be considered in future decision making process for the area as well as in understanding the role of Sundarbans mangrove forest on mitigating the effect of global warming.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergism against antibiotics on the growth performance and hematology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The study was designed by using five treatments over 75 days in which TCon (control), TAnt (antibiotics: Cotrim vet), TPro (commercial probiotics: pond care), TPre (prebiotics: spirulina), and TSyn (synbiotic: probiotic and prebiotic) were used. All the treatments showed significant (P < 0.05) improvements in growth and feed utilization parameters. The highest mean final growth was found in TSyn (13.79 ± 0.11) and then in TPre (13.61 ± 0.02), TPro (13.22 ± 0.12), TAnt (10.04 ± 0.7), and TCon (8.89 ± 0.19). Weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly (P < 0.05) different between treatments. The food conversion ratio varied significantly (P < 0.05) across treatments and the lowest value was observed in TPro (1.13 ± 0.021). The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was significantly (P < 0.05) different between treatments and the highest value was in TPro (3.1 ± 0.05). The survival rate was not significantly (P < 0.05) different between treatments. The highest white blood cell (WBC) counts were found in TSyn (12.63 ± 0.11) followed by TPre (12.6 ± 0.2), TPro (12.32 ± 0.12), TCon (12.16 ± 0.105), and TAnt (11.03 ± 0.46). The values of red blood cells and platelets were not statistically significant (P < 0.05) among the different treatments. However, all treatments showed normal hepatocyte structure in liver tissue histology, and intense hepatic lipid vacuoles in TSyn indicated improved growth. The higher growth performance and feed utilization values were observed in probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergism units compared to antibiotic treatment. Therefore, probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergism can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in tilapia aquaculture.

Obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension, type 2 diabetes and other morbidities. On the other hand, hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. The presence of obesity in hypertensive persons increases cardiovascular risk and related mortality. Data on the prevalence of obesity and hypertension in academic staff in Bangladesh are scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with obesity and hypertension among university academic staff in Bangladesh. In total, 352 academic staff were enrolled in this study from two universities in Bangladesh. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on anthropometric, demographic and lifestyle-related factors. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with obesity and hypertension. Overall, the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and hypertension was 26.7%, 46.9% and 33.7%, respectively. Female staff had a significantly higher prevalence of both general and abdominal obesity (41% and 64.1%, respectively) than male staff (21.5% and 34.9%, respectively) ( p  < 0.001). In contrast, male staff had a higher prevalence of hypertension (36.9%) than female staff (25.6%)( p  < 0.001). An increased prevalence of hypertension was found in the higher BMI and WC groups of the participants. The prevalence of general obesity, abdominal obesity and hypertension was higher in the 30–40 years, > 50 years and 41–50 years age groups, respectively. According to the regression analysis, female gender and inadequate physical activity were independently associated with general and abdominal obesity. On the other hand, increased age, BMI, WC, presence of diabetes and smoking showed a significant association with hypertension. In conclusion, the prevalence of obesity and hypertension was higher among university academic staff members in Bangladesh. Our findings suggest that comprehensive screening programs are needed to facilitate the diagnosis, control, and prevention of obesity and hypertension in high-risk population groups.