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The global biscuit market is shifting towards healthier, gluten-free options, demanding novel and sustainable ingredients. This research introduces Nipa palm kernel flour (NFK) an underutilized, gluten-free resource from the mangrove Nypa fruticans Wurmb as a promising functional ingredient for biscuit production. Mature fruits were collected from the Sundarbans, Bangladesh, to develop nutritious snacks and valorize this sustainable resource from an underutilized plant. Kernels were extracted, blanched, dried, and milled into flour. Biscuits were formulated by substituting refined wheat flour with 0% (control), 10%, 20%, and 30% NFK. The physical, nutritional, sensory, and shelf-life properties of the biscuits were comprehensively analyzed using standard methods. NFK incorporation significantly improved the biscuit's nutritional profile. The 30% NFK biscuit exhibited a 38% reduction in fat, a seven-fold increase in crude fibre (from 0.19% to 1.35%), and a substantial boost in essential minerals, with iron content more than doubling to 53.3 mg/kg. Incorporating NFK significantly altered the biscuits’ color profile, reducing lightness (L : 65.30 to 55.40) and yellowness (b : 25.80 to ~22.50–23.10) while increasing redness (a*: 4.50 to ~5.85–6.10), resulting in a desirable, darker red-brown hue. Crucially, all NFK-enriched biscuits received high sensory acceptability scores (≥7.85 on a 9-point scale), with no significant difference in overall liking compared to the control. Microbiological analysis confirmed product safety and a shelf life of over 12 months. The incorporation of Nypa fruticans kernel (NFK) flour at 15% substitution significantly enhanced the biscuits’ functional profile, increasing total phenolic content by 212% (to 265.8 mg GAE/100g) and flavonoid content by 174% (to 89.1 mg QE/100g). This directly boosted antioxidant capacity, with DPPH IC₅₀ decreasing 3.3-fold (to 3.8 mg/mL) and FRAP value increasing 4.6-fold (to 8.2 mmol Fe 2 ⁺ /100g), transforming the biscuit into a potent bioactive food carrier. NFK is a promising gluten-free biscuit ingredient. Future research should confirm large-scale production, in-vivo bioavailability, and precise compound characterization, supporting sustainable mangrove use and healthy food choices.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major cause of cancer deaths among females in low and middle-income countries. Local survival studies are crucial for assessing overall management effectiveness, as they reflect the level of care provided and awareness among the population about screening and early diagnosis. Objectives: To analyze disease-free survival (DFS) among patients treated for cervical cancer and investigate clinical, management, and outcome-related independent factors associated with survival. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 393 cervical cancer patients from January 2014 to 2020 at the Gynecological Oncology Department of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), analyzing demographic and clinical data, tumor characteristics, treatment options, and outcomes, including recurrence, as predictors of survival. Results: Three hundred ninety-three patients included in this study. The mean average age was 49 years, range 28-85 years. Total follow-up times(months), mean 38; range (6-108) months. Among them 61% were postmenopausal, with a majority of women having a parity of 59% and an average marriage age of 14.93±3.95. The most common presenting symptom was irregular bleeding, with 62.8% of patients being illiterate. Tumor characteristics included FIGO stage I, II, and III, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common histopathological type. Patients received initial surgery (21.6%), radiotherapy (74%), and palliative care (4%). The mean duration of follow-up (DFS) was 2.20 years in <24 months and 3.35 years in >24 months. Residual disease and recurrence were 6.4% and 30.5%, with local recurrence being the most common (22.6%) and liver being the most common site of distal recurrence (38.3%). Survival was independently associated with age, grade II, and FIGO stage III. Conclusion: Age, grade, and FIGO clinical stages adversely affect the overall survival of cervical cancer patients.   J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2025; 43: 25-31

The research examines the approaches employed by the L2 instructors at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia to help undergraduate learners improve their writing skills. The study focuses on why writing tasks are complex for most L2 learners despite providing them with the necessary input and motivation. A survey and focus group interviews were used as the study methodologies, and two campuses were chosen for the data collection. According to the study, many teachers rely on techniques that need to include the steps necessary for helping learners practice writing. It also indicates that learners rarely show creativity in their writing tasks, and their writing proficiency heavily depends on rote memorization from pre-written materials. Viewing writing as solely a product and expecting to see only the finished product, teachers ignore learners’ developmental stages in writing activities, eventually affecting the learners' capacity for creative writing. The study implies that integrating interaction into the product approach is necessary for successful writing classes.

Mpox (Monkeypox) is a zoonotic Orthopox virus of the Poxviridae family. The general public in Bangladesh should be informed about Mpox to reduce the burden of a possible epidemic in the community. The study aimed to determine the level of public awareness and knowledge about Mpox among the general community to provide information regarding future preventive measures. From May to August 2022, this nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in eight administrative divisions in Bangladesh with a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of knowledge-based questions about Mpox. Among the total of 1,711 respondents, almost two-thirds (N = 1139) of the respondents had heard about Mpox prior to the study. But we observed poor knowledge scores about the transmission pathways (0.71 ± 0.73), vaccination (0.09 ± 0.27), and the signs and symptoms of Mpox (1.91 ± 1.50). Most participants were also unaware of the treatment options of Mpox (0.22 ± 0.59). Educational status and occupation were found to affect the knowledge significantly (p value < 0.001). This study showed that the higher the education level, the higher the knowledge level. Overall, our results suggest that the general community has a minimal understanding of the spread of Mpox and its prevention. Thereby to combat and prevent a potential endemic, it is essential to implement either live or virtual awareness programs about this virus in Bangladesh and similar countries.

Effect of stocking densities on the growth, survival and production of bata, Labeo bata fry and fingerlings were tested in a primary nursery rearing system. The experiment was conducted for a period of 4 weeks in six earthen nursery ponds having an area of 0.032 ha each. Four-day-old fry stocked at 1.0 million/ha was designated as treatment-1 (T1), 1.5 million/ha as treatment-2 (T2) and 2.0 million/ ha as treatment-3 (T3). At stocking, all fry were of same age with a mean length and weight of 1.03±0.03 cm and 0.12±0.01 g, respectively. Fry in all the treatments were fed with Mega commercial fish feed. Physico-chemical parameters such as water temperature, transparency, dissolve oxygen, pH and total alkalinity in all the treatments were suitable ranges for fry and fingerling rearing. Plankton population (both phytoplankton and zooplankton) were found to be at optimum level for fish culture. Highest weight gain was observed in T1 (3.46±0.08) and lowest in T3 (1.98±0.03). Final length, final weight and survival of fingerlings also followed the same trends as weight gain. Fingerlings in T1 produced significantly higher specific growth rate (12.15±0.08) than T2 (11.31±0.03) and T2 (10.22±0.05). Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in T1 (0.26±0.01) than T2 (0.42±0.02) and T3 (0.65±0.01). Significantly higher number of fingerlings was produced in T3 (1177700±4700) than T2 (963300±9900) and T1 (717850±7350), respectively. Despite of this, consistently higher net benefits were found from T1 than T2 and T3. Overall, highest growth (3.60±0.16 g), survival (71.79 ± 1.04%) and net benefits (TK. 127,087.00) of fingerlings were obtained at a density of 1.0 million hatchlings/ha. Therefore, out of three stocking densities, 1.0 million fry/ha appears to be most suitable stocking density for nursing and rearing of L. bata fry and fingerlings in primary nursing.

The global biscuit market is shifting towards healthier, gluten-free options, demanding novel and sustainable ingredients. This research introduces Nipa palm kernel flour (NFK) an underutilized, gluten-free resource from the mangrove Nypa fruticans Wurmb as a promising functional ingredient for biscuit production. Mature fruits were collected from the Sundarbans, Bangladesh, to develop nutritious snacks and valorize this sustainable resource from an underutilized plant. Kernels were extracted, blanched, dried, and milled into flour. Biscuits were formulated by substituting refined wheat flour with 0% (control), 10%, 20%, and 30% NFK. The physical, nutritional, sensory, and shelf-life properties of the biscuits were comprehensively analyzed using standard methods. NFK incorporation significantly improved the biscuit's nutritional profile. The 30% NFK biscuit exhibited a 38% reduction in fat, a seven-fold increase in crude fibre (from 0.19% to 1.35%), and a substantial boost in essential minerals, with iron content more than doubling to 53.3 mg/kg. Incorporating NFK significantly altered the biscuits' color profile, reducing lightness (L: 65.30 to 55.40) and yellowness (b: 25.80 to ~22.50-23.10) while increasing redness (a*: 4.50 to ~5.85-6.10), resulting in a desirable, darker red-brown hue. Crucially, all NFK-enriched biscuits received high sensory acceptability scores ([greater than or equal to]7.85 on a 9-point scale), with no significant difference in overall liking compared to the control. Microbiological analysis confirmed product safety and a shelf life of over 12 months. The incorporation of Nypa fruticans kernel (NFK) flour at 15% substitution significantly enhanced the biscuits' functional profile, increasing total phenolic content by 212% (to 265.8 mg GAE/100g) and flavonoid content by 174% (to 89.1 mg QE/100g). This directly boosted antioxidant capacity, with DPPH ICââ decreasing 3.3-fold (to 3.8 mg/mL) and FRAP value increasing 4.6-fold (to 8.2 mmol Fe.sup.2 ⺠/100g), transforming the biscuit into a potent bioactive food carrier. NFK is a promising gluten-free biscuit ingredient. Future research should confirm large-scale production, in-vivo bioavailability, and precise compound characterization, supporting sustainable mangrove use and healthy food choices.

Background Ocular tuberculosis (TB) can affect nearly every ocular tissue, leading to a variety of vision-threatening clinical manifestations. The goal of this study is to estimate the degree, duration, and causes of visual impairment in eyes affected by ocular TB. Results This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed as ocular TB based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. We applied the World Health Organization definition of visual impairment (VI) to affected eye(s), instead of better-seeing eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <6/18 and ≥6/60 in the affected eye was classified as moderate VI and <6/60 and ≥3/60 as severe VI. Data collected included presenting and final BCVA of affected eyes and the worst BCVA during the study period. Sixty-one eyes of 40 patients were analyzed. Twenty-five patients (52.1%) had bilateral disease. The mean worst BCVA and mean final BCVA (logMAR) were 1.26 ± 0.87 and 0.61 ± 0.85, respectively, and their difference was highly significant ( p  < 0.0001, Friedman test). The median worst and final BCVA results were 1.30 (range 0.0 to 3.0) and 0.20 (range 0.0 to 3.0), respectively. The mean duration of follow-up was 98.34 ± 81.81 weeks. Moderate and severe VIs were seen in 14 (22.9%) and 12 (19.7%) eyes, respectively, during the course of follow up. Twenty eyes (32.8%) had BCVA of <3/60. Moderate VI or worse was most commonly seen in eyes with multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis ( n  = 6; 100%), retinal vasculitis ( n  = 25; 80.6%), and panuveitis ( n  = 12; 80%). The mean duration of visual loss was 25.2 ± 42.37 weeks (median 6.43 weeks, range 0 to 206.42 weeks). Vitreous hemorrhage, complicated cataract, and macular scarring were the common causes of VI. Conclusion Ocular TB can result in prolonged visual impairment, more commonly in patients with posterior uveitis or panuveitis.