Shamima Lasker

A community based cross-sectional study was carried out by a self-structured questionnaire on 168 participants aged between 18 and 60 years at two arsenic prone area of Bangladesh to determine the association between extent of depression and socio-demographic as well as illness characteristics in arsenicosis population. The mean age ± SD was 42 ± 10.15 years. Female respondents were almost twice (63.1%) than the males (36.9%) in this study. Most of the respondents (94.0%) were shallow tube well water user. Among them most (80.0%) of the respondents were detected as arsenic contaminated water consumer over more than six months. Study estimated that almost half (44.3%) of the participants had suffered from mild to moderate depression in the moderate arsenicosis group. Less than quarter (20.8%) participants suffered severe depression in severe arsenicosis group. Quarter (26.7%) had mild arsenicosis with no depression. This difference was not significant. Gender had significant influence on proportion of level of depression. Females significantly suffered more from depressive symptoms than males. More than two third of the female respondents suffered from some kind of depressive symptoms; where less than one third of the males were suffered from depressive symptoms. Age has no significant relation with depression. Respondents who were 48 years and above age group had highest percentages of severe depressive symptoms (35.8%). This age group also suffered from highest percentage of mild to moderate depression (37.1%). Though most of the respondent (85.1) had no diabetes and hypertension. Respondents with physical illness suffered more from some sorts of depression than those without illness, but the result is not statistically significant. We understood that depression has health challenges in adult arsenicosis patients. Therefore, physicians should take account depression in their treatment management when deal with arsenicosis patients.

Microscopic study was done on 50 human umbilical cords in the Department of Anatomy, during January to December 1998 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. The basic structure of the umbilical cord was observed. The covering of umbilical cord varied on two sides. The side overlying the umbilical vein was covered by simple epithelium and that overlying the umbilical arteries was covered by multilayer epithelium. Presence of internal elastic lamina of umbilical arteries was found in 18% and in the veins was in 70% cases. Remnant of allantois was found in 28% cases.

out during January to December 1998 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka to expand the knowledge of gross anatomy of the umbilical cord of Bangladesh. The length of the cords were irrespective of sex ranged from 28 to 93 cm with a mean (±SD) of 55.6 (±10.78). The length of the umbilical cords of males were significantly longer than female (P<0.001). The diameter of the cords irrespective of sex were varied from 1 to 1.9 cm with a mean (±SD) of 1.45±0.31 cm. The mean circumference length percentage ratio index of umbilical cord was 8.31. Thirty-three (66%) cords were inserted eccentrically, all being paracentral in position. The rest were inserted centrally. False knots were more frequent (47; 94%). Only one (2%) showed a true knot in addition of false knot. In 2(4%) cases cord had not any true or false knot. It is concluded that the gross morphological and morphometrical features of the umbilical cord in Bangladesh appear to be similar to those described in western literature.

Coronary arteries were studied on 110 postmortem human hearts during January 2000 to December 2001 in the department of Anatomy and Microbiology, Bangladesh Medical College to observed. The pattern of coronary dominance and its relation with atherosclerosis was observed. Atherosclerosis was found in 49(44.5%) samples, among which 37(56.%) were from male and 12(26.7%) from female hearts. This difference was significant (P<0.01). Right dominance was observed in 72 (65.5%) cases while 17 (15.5%) had left dominance and 21 (19.1%) had balanced type of circulation. Balanced type of circulation was observed more among females (14; 66.7%) while left dominance was more frequent among males (13; 76.5 %). This deference on the basis of sex was significant (P<0.05). Significant (P<0.001) relationship was also observed between atherosclerosis and dominance of coronary artery. It may be concluded that atherosclerosis was present in almost half of the studied subjects and was found more among males. Left dominance was more frequently present among males it was associated with atherosclerosis.

This report describes a questionnaire-based study on 309 adult patients attending the Dental Outpatients Department of Bangladesh Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka during December 2000 to March 2001. The aim of the study was to determine the oral health knowledge of the patients in relation to their age, gender, economic and educational status. Almost two third (63.1%) of the subjects correctly said that pan chewing was bad for teeth. Three fourth (78.3%) of the subjects gave correct answer on question of how to prevent teeth decay. When question was asked about cause of teeth decay, bleeding gum and action of fluoride on teeth, only 38.2%, 41.4% and 32.3% could give correct answer respectively. With a few exceptions, knowledge of oral health was comparatively poor among the older generation, females, less educated and less privileged group.

Coronary arteries were studied on 110 postmortem human hearts during January 2000 to December 2001 in the department of Anatomy and Microbiology, Bangladesh Medical College. Hearts were collected from mortuary of Dhaka Medical College. These were the hearts of deceased persons suspected of abnormal deaths. Atherosclerosis was found in 49(44.5%) samples, among which 37 (5.%) were from male and 12(26.7%) from female hearts. This difference was significant (P<0.01). Atherosclerosis was present in 11(10.0%), 22(20.0%) and 16(14.5%) samples on right coronary artery, anterior descending and circumflex branch of left coronary artery irrespective of sex. Grade I lesion was higher among lower age group and grade II lesion was higher among higher age group. It may be concluded that atherosclerosis was present in almost half of the studied subjects and was found more in anterior descending arteries and among in males. Extent and severity of atherosclerosis increased with age.

The peritoneum is the largest serous membrane in the body that covers the inner side of the abdominal wall and reflects over the abdominal viscera. Though the visceral peritoneum accounts for roughly four-fifth of the total surface area of the membrane, but the parietal peritoneum is the more important for peritoneal dialysis. Between the parietal and visceral layer of peritoneum there is potential space called peritoneal cavity, contain small amount of serous fluid. If dialysates remain more or less than normal in the peritoneal cavity that may cause edema or hypovolemic shock. Hence transport across the peritoneal membrane need great attention to the nephrologist during dialysis. Solute and water transport from blood to peritoneal cavity by diffusion and osmic ultra-filtration whereas absorption to the blood via lymphatic has negatively affect between these two process. Another important thing that the peritoneum is lined by mesothelium. Therefore, primary complication of peritoneal dialysis is infection due to the presence of a permanent tube in the abdominal cavity. Mortality is higher in the elderly and if present in prolonged time. Peritoneal sclerosis is a fetal complication due to growth of a thick layer of fibrin within the peritoneum, in where every chance of the bowel obstruction. The fluids contain glucose for dialysis use as a primary osmotic agent but this may lead to peritonitis. The decline of kidney and peritoneal membrane function and negative health outcome. It is important to be aware about the sex difference of peritoneal membrane during dialysis. Retrograded menstruation may occur in any women as there is continuity of peritoneal membrane with the fallopian tube. If goes undetected will cause bloody dialysate and create concern of the patients. Therefore, anatomy of peritoneal membrane and its function has great value during peritoneal dialysis and thereby effecting its therapeutic efficacy.

Surrogacy is a promising treatment for infertility. It can potentially solve many intolerable difficulties that the infertile couples and their families face. Although initially frowned upon, evidence shows that the surrogacy arrangements are more acceptable now than when it was first introduced. Therefore, changes in the attitude in decision making about surrogacy can also be seen in some countries, but there are still indications of the degree of divergence between discourse and the actual practice of different forms of surrogacy around the world. Social, ethical and legal problems are subject to major debates and disagreements in natural or partial surrogacy or genetically unrelated full surrogacy. Genetic gestation surrogacy may largely free from social, legal and moral complications. It is a great choice of infertility treatment if the couple want their own genetic baby, but it still requires more thoughts and discussion. This chapter attempts to discuss the different notions related to surrogacy worldwide.

A new world has probably emerged through the progression of technology which has led to significant debates on social, cultural, legal, and ethical issues, especially in the biomedical field in this century. Application of physician-patient relationship, principles of pluralism, autonomy, democracy, human dignity, and human rights is being challenged within the medicine and health-care system of today. Development of technology-based remedies has fostered greater degrees of medicalization. Hence, the automatic application of such technologies risks distorting the nature of medicine. To be sure, there is a cultural shift that is affecting the society that is increasingly unable to adapt to traditional legal systems. This cultural shift, perhaps, demands new ethics. This entry aims to evaluate the gap between traditional deontological nature of medicine and the emerging new ethics and assess why bioethical reflection is needed.

Education on authorship was delivered and evaluated by pre test and post test questionnairen on 30 post graduate medical students at the Department of Anestheology, Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh between January and June 2019 to understand the knowledge, skill and attitude of post graduate medical students on authorship. Result: Before intervention, majority (60%) of the students felt that who perform the research work should be the author of the article. But 40% students were divided and felt that who advised the design of the research (20%), who provided the grants (10%) and Chief/Head of the division (10%) should be the author of the article respectively. Maximum (70%) respondents did not know the order of authorship. Of 40% respondent felt that the PI should be always the first author and 40% don’t know the answer. Half of the students (50%) felt that keeping honorary author increased the opportunity of acceptance of publication. Of 36.7% and 13.3% of students felt that keeping honorary author increased the article’s value and made good relation to them to get some extra facility from them respectively. Of 20% participants were pressurized by lab head/head of department for inclusion of their name as an author. Half of the (56.7 %) respondents felt that the author’s contribution should be stated in the article. Only few 4 (13.3%) respondents said that their institute had guideline for authorship. However, after education 100% of students felt that who perform the research work should be only the author of the article. All (100%) respondents understood the order of authorship. Most of the students (86%) felt that PI should be always the first author. Of 100% respondent felt supervisor of the research should be the last author. All students (100%) felt author’s contribution should be mentioned in the article. All (100%) students did not want to include as author those who help in research design and secured grant; and they did not like to keep honorary author in their article. All (100%) students expressed that their institute had no guideline for authorship. After intervention, three groups of students were asked to write one page of article on Anesthesiology. Interestingly, they did not include any name in the author by line who were not participate or had any contribution in the writing. Conclusion: The comparative data between pre- and post-text have highlighted a general lack of understanding of the basic concept of authorship ethics which significantly improved after the intervention. The results also indicate that the education on authorship improved the awareness of postgraduate medical students in a particular centre.

Bangladesh Bioethics Society in cooperation with National Institute of Neuro Science (NINS), Agargoan, Dhaka is going to organized 60 hours (Two weeks) Training Course on Applied Research Methodology and SPSS on February, 2021 for the Post graduate Medical Students of NINS. The course is designed to familiarize the participants with modern tools, techniques and methodologies of research to develop professional knowledge and skills in the field of Health care system. After completion of the course, participants will be expected to undertake research projects independently and to be able to evaluate the research progress at each stage of the process. This programme is funded by SSRC, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Good care is the reflection of care ethical. To improve the ethical quality of care, moral behavior is needed in addition to law and regulation. Personal involvement and motivation of care providers are considered an important element of good care. Thus, health care provider must change their perspective. Their education on medical ethics needs to be more practical oriented rather than theory. In addition, ethical reflection is contextual and experiential learning process. Bioethics training must be needed to foster inter alia and moral power of imagination of care providers.

Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC20) was held on 22-25 Nov. 2019 at DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services) auditorium, Mohakhali and NEC (National Election Commission) Auditorium, Agargoan, Dhaka. Conference was organized by Bangladesh Bioethics Society (BBS) in cooperation of DGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Social Science Research Council Bangladesh, Ministry of Planning; Bangladesh Medical Research Council, Mohakhali Dhaka; Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) and Eubios Ethics Institute, Thailand, New Zealand’s and Japan. Mr MA Mannan MP, Honorable Planning Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was the Chief Guest. Dr. Md. Murad Hassan MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was present as Special Guest. Md. Nurul Amin, Secretary, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Dr Iqbal Kabir, Director, Planning, Monitoring, & Research and Coordinator, DGHS were also present as Special Guests. Bioethics promotes strong ethical values, practice of ethics and morality in Science, Social Science, Commerce and Arts. The conference brought together scholars and policy makers from different disciplines from all around the world to discuss and deliberate the latest issues of bioethics in biomedicine, biotechnology, science, social science, education and research. Around 300 participants from different universities and government officials including 40 foreign delegates from Asia & Pacific and beyond were present at the conference.

Bangladesh Bioethics Society (BBS) is inviting all National and International individuals and institutions from any discipline those who are interessted in bioethicsto to become a member of BBS. Bioethics is interdisciplinary study of philosophical, ethical, social, legal, medical, ethnological, environmental, economic, therapeutic, religious, and other related issues arising from biological sciences and technologies, and their applications in human society and the biosphere. Membership Benefits: Leadership Opportunities: Hold elective committee / Subcommittee of BBS Voting right: Right to vote in BBS election. Networking: Be listed in and access online BBS member directory. Free Journal Subscription Access to attend bioethical meetings/ conferences/ seminars/ workshops on bioethics in county and abroad. Access to attend in research / training on bioethics. Access to attend Annual General Meeting Receiving the Societies Newsletters and other mailings concerning Society activities. Get priority for registration waiver, free accommodation and meals during conferences/ Seminars of BBS, in some cases travel grants. Reviews articles for the Journal and would be invited for lecture, book writing etc Please contact to Bangladesh Bioethics Society.

ABC20 will be held at Dhaka, Bangladesh, in cooperation with Social Science Research Council, Bangladesh, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning; Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC); Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) and Eubios Ethics Institute, Thailand, New Zeeland and Japan. It provides opportunity for all scholars around the world to gather feedback on their research, maximize networking opportunities, and learn the latest information and methodologies on bioethics. The previous conferences have been held in China, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Iran, the Philippines and Taiwan. The conference will bring together scholars and policy makers from many disciplines all around the world (beyond the Asia and the Pacific) to discuss and deliberate the latest ethical issues in biomedicine, biotechnology, science, social science and education for dilammas facing today for humanity.

20th Asian Bioethics conference has been organized by Bangladesh Bioethics Society incooperation with SSRC, Planing Division, Ministry of Planning; PMR, DGHS, Ministry of Health &Family Welfare, Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) and Eubios Ethics Institute on Friday, 22 Nov, 2019 at NEC Auditorium, Planning Ministry, Agargoan, Dhaka. M. A. Mannan MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has kindly consented to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr. Md. Murad Hassan MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Information, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Md. Nurul Amin, Secretary, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning; Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, DG, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family welfare (MOH&FW) will present as Special Guests. Drlegates from 40 couuntries will attend the ABC 20 at Dhaka.

Having scandalous unethical research practices in the mid and late 20th century, study protocols of biomedical research reviewed by the Ethics Committee (EC) has become the accepted international standard. The Declaration of Helsinki uniformly requires that all biomedical research involving human participants, including research on identifiable human material or data, should be approved by the EC. Today, concerns over the quality of the EC functions worldwide. There are research globally in this regard but no data are available from Bangladesh. Hence, we conducted a questionnaire based pilot study on knowledge and attitude of EC members on bioethics and structure & function of EC in Bangladesh.

Surrogacy is an encouraging management for many childless couples and can hypothetically resolve many unbearable pain that they are confronted. Initially surrogacy treatment was frowned upon, however, surrogacy is more popularly accepted now a day. But different country has different regulations on surrogacy. However, there are some degree of divergence between official discourse and actual practice of surrogacy throughout world. There are positive changes in attitude toward surrogacy has been seen for some countries as well. This editorial brief about surrogacy around the world.

Peer review process helps in evaluating and validating of research that is published in the journals. U.S. Office of Research Integrity reported that data fraudulence was found to be involved in 94% cases of misconduct from 228 identified articles between 1994–2012. If fraud in published article are significantly as high as reported, the question arise in mind, were these articles peer reviewed? Another report said that the reviewers failed to detect 16 cases of fabricated article of Jan Hendrick Schon. Superficial peer reviewing process does not reveals suspicion of misconduct. Lack of knowledge of systemic review process not only demolish the academic integrity in publication but also loss the trust of the people of the institution, the nation, and the world. The aim of this review article is to aware stakeholders specially novice reviewers about the peer review system. Beginners will understand how to review an article and they can justify better action choices in dealing with reviewing an article.

To provide basic health care services in rural areas is one of the major challenges for developing countries like Bangladesh because of lack of infrastructures and unavailability of qualified medical doctors in the villages. Telemedicine viewed as a new way of offering health care services that has the potential to overcome this problem. Author is a member of extended group at Dhaka University (DU) which has been developing telemedicine equipment and data acquisition software to promote telemedicine practice in Bangladesh. PC based ECG equipment, Digital stethoscope, Digital microscope, Digital X-ray view box and some other essential medical equipment was developed for telemedicine services. The data acquisition software establishes an easy and appropriate patients to doctor interaction through a trained operator in a remote center that involve management and arrangement of consultation of a chosen and agreeing doctor by a patient. Upon establishing audio-visual connection between patient and doctor relevant physiological data from different diagnostic instruments will be uploaded securely in a dedicated web server which can be viewed real time using unique patient/doctor ID and password. Recently the Telemedicine group of DU and a local NGO named SAMAMA with support from Service innovation fund (SIF) of Prime Minister Office (PMO) of Bangladesh took the initiative to establish eight rural telemedicine centers and one expert center for the field trial of telemedicine in Bangladesh. The aim of this paper is to examine the ethical challenges of such health care system and our effort to overcome those problem before starting the field trial.