Impact of Vgsc-1014 mutations on the feeding pattern of Phlebotomus argentipes.

Knockdown resistance alleles (kdr alleles) within the para voltage-gated sodium channel gene (Vgsc) are a common mechanism of DDT and pyrethroid resistance in insect vectors. In the primary Asian visceral leishmaniasis vector, Phlebotomus argentipes, two kdr alleles in codon 1014 of the Vgsc are associated with insecticide resistance, potentially presenting challenges to vector control efforts in the Indian subcontinent. Here, we screened Vgsc-1014 alleles and blood meal origin in P.

The Lifecycle of Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) Sand Fly in a Newly Developed Colony in Bangladesh.

Laboratory-established sand fly colonies provide important material for leishmaniasis research; however, the establishment and maintenance of such colonies can be complicated. In this study, a colony of Phlebotomus argentipes (P. argentipes) was established using wild-caught sand flies in Bangladesh by following standard procedures described in the published literature.

Bamboo stumps that are artificially in use put pressure on dengue and chikungunya vector control in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

Background Objectives: Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes breed in natural and artificial containers, and they transmit dengue and chikungunya. A study was conducted to identify the contribution of bamboo stumps to these disease vectors that were used in the flower garden as pillars to hold the bamboo flex fence.

Perceived needs of disease vector control programs: A review and synthesis of (sub)national assessments from South Asia and the Middle East.

Systems for disease vector control should be effective, efficient, and flexible to be able to tackle contemporary challenges and threats in the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases. As a priority activity towards the strengthening of vector control systems, it has been advocated that countries conduct a vector-control needs assessment. A review was carried out of the perceived needs for disease vector control programs among eleven countries and subnational states in South Asia and the Middle East.

Bamboo stumps that are artificially in use put pressure on Dengue and Chikungunya vector control in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Background Objectives: Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes breed in natural and artificial containers, and they transmit dengue and chikungunya. Therefore, a study was conducted to identify the contribution of bamboo stumps to these disease vectors that were used in the flower garden as pillars to hold the bamboo flex fence.

Effect of dual sintering with laser irradiation and thermal treatment on printed copper nanoparticle patterns.

The dual sintering of copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) was introduced to produce conductive patterns suitable for flexible electronics applications. In this method, laser irradiation using a Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm was performed at laser powers of 400, 600 and 800 mJ. The laser irradiation time was 15 and 30 s for each laser power.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Kala-azar in an Endemic District in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

We undertook a study to assess current knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to kala-azar to advise the national kala-azar elimination program in Bangladesh. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two endemic subdistricts (upazilas): Fulbaria and Trishal. Based on upazila health complex surveillance data, one endemic village was selected randomly from each of these subdistricts.

Prevalence of epilepsy in Bangladesh: Results from a national household survey.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and types of epilepsy in Bangladesh.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey among Bangladeshi population of all ages, except children under one month. We surveyed 9839 participants (urban, 4918; rural, 4920) recruited at their households using multistage cluster sampling.

Effect of insecticide-treated bed nets on visceral leishmaniasis incidence in Bangladesh. A retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease, transmitted by the sand fly species Phlebotomus argentipes in the Indian sub-continent. Effective vector control is highly desirable to reduce vector density and human and vector contact in the endemic communities with the aim to curtail disease transmission. We evaluated the effect of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLIN) and bed nets impregnated with slow-release insecticide tablet K-O TAB 1-2-3 (jointly insecticide-treated nets or ITN) on VL incidence in a highly endemic sub-district (upazila) in Bangladesh.

The role of case proximity in transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in a highly endemic village in Bangladesh.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is characterised by a high degree of spatial clustering at all scales, and this feature remains even with successful control measures. VL is targeted for elimination as a public health problem in the Indian subcontinent by 2020, and incidence has been falling rapidly since 2011. Current control is based on early diagnosis and treatment of clinical cases, and blanket indoor residual spraying of insecticide (IRS) in endemic villages to kill the sandfly vectors.

Indoor residual spraying for kala-azar vector control in Bangladesh: A continuing challenge.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian subcontinent is a fatal disease if left untreated. Between 1994 to 2013, the Ministry of Health of Bangladesh reported 1,09,266 cases of VL and 329 VL related deaths in 37 endemic districts. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) using dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was used by the national programme in the 1960s to control malaria.

Susceptibility of field-collected Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) sand flies from Bangladesh and Nepal to different insecticides.

Background: The sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes is the vector for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian sub-continent. In Bangladesh since 2012, indoor residual spraying (IRS) was applied in VL endemic areas using deltamethrin. In Nepal, IRS was initiated in 1992 for VL vector control using lambda-cyhalothrin.

Control of Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) sand fly in Bangladesh: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: A number of studies on visceral leishmaniasis (VL) vector control have been conducted during the past decade, sometimes came to very different conclusion. The present study on a large sample investigated different options which are partially unexplored including: (1) indoor residual spraying (IRS) with alpha cypermethrin 5WP; (2) long lasting insecticide impregnated bed-net (LLIN); (3) impregnation of local bed-nets with slow release insecticide K-O TAB 1-2-3 (KOTAB); (4) insecticide spraying in potential breeding sites outside of house using chlorpyrifos 20EC (OUT) and different combinations of the above.

Methods: The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial where 3089 houses from 11 villages were divided into 10 sections, each section with 6 clusters and each cluster having approximately 50 houses.

Heart Failure Induced by Perinatal Ablation of Cardiac Myosin Light Chain Kinase.

Germline knockout mice are invaluable in understanding the function of the targeted genes. Sometimes, however, unexpected phenotypes are encountered, due in part to the activation of compensatory mechanisms. Germline ablation of cardiac myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK) causes mild cardiac dysfunction with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, whereas ablation in adult hearts results in acute heart failure with cardiomyocyte atrophy.

Efficacy, Safety and Cost of Insecticide Treated Wall Lining, Insecticide Treated Bed Nets and Indoor Wall Wash with Lime for Visceral Leishmaniasis Vector Control in the Indian Sub-continent: A Multi-country Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: We investigated the efficacy, safety and cost of lime wash of household walls plus treatment of sand fly breeding places with bleach (i.e. environmental management or EM), insecticide impregnated durable wall lining (DWL), and bed net impregnation with slow release insecticide (ITN) for sand fly control in the Indian sub-continent.

Implication of vector characteristics of Phlebotomus argentipes in the kala-azar elimination programme in the Indian sub-continent.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in the Indian sub-continent (ISC), is a major public health concern in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, where it is caused by Leishmania donovani transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. Various ecological parameters including air temperature, rainfall, wind speed, relative humidity, soil moisture, pH, and organic carbon are known to influence the oviposition of female sand flies, as well as the survival and development of larvae. However, more detailed knowledge on vector behavior, such as biting times, breeding places, and preferred hosts are needed to design optimal evidence-based vector control interventions.

Acute heart failure with cardiomyocyte atrophy induced in adult mice by ablation of cardiac myosin light chain kinase.

Aims: Under pressure overload, initial adaptive hypertrophy of the heart is followed by cardiomyocyte elongation, reduced contractile force, and failure. The mechanisms governing the transition to failure are not fully understood. Pressure overload reduced cardiac myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK) by ∼80% within 1 week and persists.

Quantification of the natural history of visceral leishmaniasis and consequences for control.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis has been targeted for elimination as a public health problem (less than 1 case per 10,000 people per year) in the Indian sub-continent by 2017. However, there is still a high degree of uncertainty about the natural history of the disease, in particular about the duration of asymptomatic infection and the proportion of asymptomatically infected individuals that develop clinical visceral leishmaniasis. Quantifying these aspects of the disease is key for guiding efforts to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis and maintaining elimination once it is reached.

Mouse Model of Human Congenital Heart Disease: Progressive Atrioventricular Block Induced by a Heterozygous Nkx2-5 Homeodomain Missense Mutation.

Background: Heterozygous human NKX2-5 homeodomain (DNA-binding domain) missense mutations are highly penetrant for varied congenital heart defects, including progressive atrioventricular (AV) block requiring pacemaker implantation. We recently replicated this genetic defect in a murine knockin model, in which we demonstrated highly penetrant, pleiotropic cardiac anomalies. In this study, we examined postnatal AV conduction in the knockin mice.

How dengue vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) survive during the dry season in Dhaka City, Bangladesh?

Background & Objectives: In 2000, a dengue outbreak occurred in Bangladesh that included Dhaka City. Both dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are present in Bangladesh.

Visceral leishmaniasis-associated mortality in Bangladesh: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate visceral leishmaniasis (VL) deaths and risk factors in two VL endemic areas of Bangladesh.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional.

Setting: Two geographically and culturally different VL endemic subdistricts, Godagari in the district of Rajshahi and Trishal in the district of Mymensingh in Bangladesh, August 2009-December 2011.

A mouse model of human congenital heart disease: high incidence of diverse cardiac anomalies and ventricular noncompaction produced by heterozygous Nkx2-5 homeodomain missense mutation.

Background: Heterozygous human mutations of NKX2-5 are highly penetrant and associated with varied congenital heart defects. The heterozygous knockout of murine Nkx2-5, in contrast, manifests less profound cardiac malformations, with low disease penetrance. We sought to study this apparent discrepancy between human and mouse genetics.

Pattern of neurological disease seen among patients admitted in tertiary care hospital.

Background: Neurologic disorders are not uncommon at in patient departments of different hospitals. We have conducted the study to see the pattern and burden of neurologic disorders at different inpatient departments of a tertiary care centre.

Methodology: This retrospective observational study was carried out from the records and referral notes of neurology department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from July 2011 to June 2012.

Antiepileptic drug utilization in Bangladesh: experience from Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Background: Epilepsy is a common health problem which carries a huge medical social psychological and economic impact for a developing country. The aim of this hospital-based study was to get an insight into the effectiveness and tolerability of low cost antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in Bangladeshi people with epilepsy.

Methods: This retrospective chart review was done from hospital records in weekly Epilepsy outdoor clinic of Department of Neurology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from October 1998 to February 2013.