Impact of intellectual capital on profitability : conventional versus Islamic banks

Intellectual capital has been found to have a significant association with profitability in the financial sector of various parts of the world. As a result, this study aims to empirically investigate the relationship between intellectual capital and financial performance of twentyseven private commercial banks for the year 2013 in Bangladesh. Annual reports for the relevant year of the selected banks have been used to gather secondary information for the empirical models based on Pulic’s VAIC model. Stepwise regression was performed for the full sample, conventional and Islamic banks separately. The analysis indicates that both VIAC and its components have a significant association with profitability. Results for conventional and Islamic banks established different components of VIAC as a significant predictor of bank’s profitability. A future study including all financial institutions could provide a better estimate of the impact of intellectual capital on profitability for the finance sector.peer-reviewe

Comparison of outcome between suture and suture-less surgery following pterygium excision and conjunctival autograft

Background: A pterygium, known as surfer's eye, is a raised, wedge-shaped growth of the conjunctiva that extends onto the cornea, the outer layer of the eye. Aim was to compare the safety, efficacy and outcome of suture less technique with suture of conjunctival autograft in the management of pterygium. Methods: This study was carried out in the department of ophthalmology, Sir Salimullah medical college and Mitford hospital, Dhaka. Study period was July 2019 to June 2020. Subjects for this study were divided into two groups, forty patients were enrolled in each group of the study population. Group I (control) comprised the subjects in whom suture was used following pterygium excision and conjunctival autograft and group II (experimental) comprised the subjects in whom no suture was used following pterygium excision and conjunctival autograft. Results: In group I, 20% were 20-29 years old, 30% were 30-39, 27.5% were 40-49, and 22.5% were over 50, with 77.5% being male and 22.5% female. In group II, 22.5% were 20-29 years old, 27.5% were 30-39, 30% were 40-49, and 20% were over 50, with 72.5% being male and 27.5% female. The most common symptom was "foreign body sensation" in both groups. In group I, 5% experienced partial graft dehiscence, 2.5% a conjunctival cyst, 10% hyperemia, and 17.5% visual improvement. In group II, 2.5% had partial graft dehiscence, 2.5% hyperemia, and 22.5% visual improvement. Neither group had graft retraction or recurrence. Conclusions: Postoperative presentation like hyperemia was significantly less in experimental group. Incidence of post-operative complications like graft dehiscence and conjunctival cyst were comparatively less frequent in suture less technique. Thus, suture less technique following pterygium excision and conjunctival autograft is a safer and less complicated than sutured technique

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers and Indigenous People in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, for the Treatment of Snakebite

Snakebites are common in tropical countries like Bangladesh where most snakebite victims dwell in rural areas. Among the management options after snakebite in Bangladesh, snake charmers (Ozha in Bengali language) are the first contact following a snakebite for more than 80% of the victims and they are treated mostly with the help of some medicinal plants. Our aim of the study is to compile plants used for the treatment of snakebite occurrence in Bangladesh. The field survey was carried out in a period of almost 3 years. Fieldwork was undertaken in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, including Chittagong, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari. Open-ended and semistructured questionnaire was used to interview a total of 110 people including traditional healers and local people. A total of 116 plant species of 48 families were listed. Leaves were the most cited plant part used against snake venom. Most of the reported species were herb in nature and paste mostly used externally is the mode of preparation. The survey represents the preliminary information of certain medicinal plants having neutralizing effects against snake venoms, though further phytochemical investigation, validation, and clinical trials should be conducted before using these plants as an alternative to popular antivenom

Safety and efficacy of dexpramipexole in eosinophilic asthma: a comparative study in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

Introduction: Eosinophilic asthma is characterized by elevated eosinophil levels and frequent exacerbations, which are difficult to control with standard therapies. Dexpramipexole, an oral small molecule, has shown promise in reducing eosinophil counts, but data on its long-term efficacy and safety are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dexpramipexole in patients with eosinophilic asthma, focusing on changes in blood eosinophil counts, lung function, quality of life, and asthma exacerbation rates. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational comparative study conducted at the department of Reparatory Medicine during January-2021 to December-2021, in Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Bangladesh. A total of 200 confirmed cases with eosinophilic asthma were purposively employed to receive Dexpramipexole (n=100) and placebo (n=100) for 12 months follow up. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version-23.0. Results: The Dexpramipexole group achieved a 75% reduction in eosinophil counts compared to 12% in the placebo group (p<0.001). FEV1 improved by 15% in the Dexpramipexole group versus 2% in the placebo group (p<0.01). Quality of life scores increased by 1.5 points compared to 0.3 points in the placebo group (p<0.001). A 30% reduction in asthma exacerbations was observed (p=0.03). Conclusion: Dexpramipexole demonstrated significant improvements in eosinophil reduction, lung function, quality of life, and exacerbation rates over a 12-months period, with a favorable safety profile. These results suggest Dexpramipexole may be a promising long-term therapeutic option for eosinophilic asthma

Antioxidant Potential and Brine Shrimp Lethality bioassay of Spilanthes acmella Flower Extract

The current research study has been carried out to explore the antioxidant activity and brine shrimp lethality bioassay of different fractions from the flower extract of Spilanthes acmella. Besides, this experiment was also assessed to find out the proximate analysis and phytochemical screening by following the perfect protocol. To fractionate by soxhletion using sequential extraction techniques powdered flower of the plant were treated with different solvents including n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol and water. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, total antioxidant capacity determination, determination of total phenolic content and total Flvonoids contents by aluminium tricholoride method were used. In addition, ascorbic acid and gallic acid was used as a standard antioxidant compound in these studies. Concerning the proximate analysis, moisture content, total ash value, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash value were found 8.6%, 3.76%, 3.30%, 3.20% respectively. To evaluate cytotoxicity, the brine shrimp lethality bioassay was used. For phytochemical screening different extract of those solvents were utilized that disclosed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, Tannins, amino acids on different fractions but the absence of reducing sugar and saponins. The results of all assay showed that all the extracts of Spilanthes acmella flower possess significant antioxidant activity. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, ethanol extract of flower effect to brine shrimp nauplii and exhibiting highest toxicity having LC50 value 1.20 μg/ml as compared to standard dimethyl sulfoxide (LC50 1.31 µg/ml). These evaluations suggest that Spilanthes acmella flowers might be a better source of antioxidants and possess important cytotoxic effect

Comparative Study on Evaluation of Results of DHS/PFN in Management of Intertrochanteric Fracture of Femur

Introduction:  38–50% of all femur fractures and 5–20% of fractures in their entirety are intertrochanteric fractures. The prevalence of these fractures is 180/10000, making them prevalent in the senior population. While intramedullary devices like PFN are thought to be superior implants for unstable intertrochanteric fractures, dynamic hip screws are still the gold standard for managing intertrochanteric fractures. Their function in treating these fractures remains questionable. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 100 patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur attending the outpatient and emergency department of National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka between May 2019 to April 2020. Following a clinical and radiological evaluation, the patients were split into two groups at random, A and B. Patients in group A received treatment by ORIF using a dynamic hip screw, whereas patients in group B received treatment via closed/open reduction and internal fixation with PFN. The working proforma below contains the following information of the patient: personal information, clinical findings, radiological findings, and follow-up findings. The outcomes were assessed and contrasted. Results: The mean age in both the groups was 58.88 ± 15.76 years, In DHS group, there were 8(16%) females and 42(84%) males. In PFN group, there were 15(30%) females and 35(70%) males. There was a male preponderance in both the groups in comparison to the females. In PFN group, there were 24(48%) patients who injured because of fall, while 26(52%) were injured due to RTA. In PFN group, higher number of fall patients were there, while in DHS group, higher number of RTA patients were there. The comparison of mean blood loss in both the groups showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001), with a higher mean blood loss in DHS group in comparison to PFN group. In DHS group, 48(96%) patients had no complications, 2(4%) had DVT and 1(2%) had cut out of screw, 3(6%) had infection. In PFN group, 2(4%) had infection, 48(96%) shows no complication. The difference in mean union time was significant (P < 0.0001) with a higher union time in DHS group in comparison to PFN group. DHS group functional outcome assessment by Harris Hip score, there were 22(44%) patients had Excellent and the PFN group functional outcome assessment by Harris Hip score, there were 26(52%) patients had Excellent. Conclusion: PFN provides stability and aids in biological reduction. Excessive collapse and limb shortening are avoided by PFN. As a result, it aids in obtaining a positive functional outcome overall. PFN is a load-bearing implant that provides stability to the fracture area both proximally and distally. As such, it is a more biomechanically sound implant option for fixing peri-trochanteric femoral fractures. When it comes to bleeding during surgery and the early stages of recovery, PFN is a superior implant option than DHS. Consequently, we support the use of PFN rather than DHS in intertrochanteric fractures, with the exception of fractured trochanteric entry points for the PFN

Morphological assessment and characterization of uterine caruncles in Bengal goats

This study aimed to evaluate and characterize the gross, histologic and ultrasonographic features of uterine caruncles in Bengal goats, an indigenous breed in Bangladesh.  A total of 40 uteri were collected from sexually mature, pregnant and non-pregnant does obtained from local slaughter houses, preserved and processed in for gross morphological and histological characterization of uterine caruncles. Additionally, transabdominal ultrasonographic characterization of uterine caruncles were performed on randomly selected does at a commercial goat farm. Gross examination revealed multiple dome-shaped caruncles distributed along the endometrial surface, primarily arranged in four longitudinal rows. In both cyclic and non-cyclic goats, the average number of uterine caruncles was higher in the left uterine horn (55.85) compared to the right (54.42), with a consistent average of 4.30 rows observed in both horns. Histological examination of the caruncles revealed dense connective tissue, numerous blood vessels, and abundant uterine glands. The surface epithelium ranged from simple cuboidal to columnar. Morphometric analysis showed that the large caruncles were located in the mid-uterine horns.  Transabdominal ultrasonography identified pregnancy in 7 of 20 does (35%) and visualized uterine cotyledons between days 32 and 40 of gestation. Measurement of cotyledons via ultrasound may serve as a reliable indicator of gestational age. These findings provide baseline data that may support reproductive research, enhance breeding management, and contribute to the assessment of reproductive performance and productivity of goats in Bangladesh