Conectar
by Annur Ferdous, Munira Jahan Raisa, Md Hijbullah, Nafiz Imtiaz Siam, Shatabdy Barua Trisha, Sadia Biswas Mumu, Md Aminul Haque, Javed Ibne Hasan, Muhammed Mahfuzur Rahman, Md Shaki Mostaid
Background/ObjectivesObesity is a chronic metabolic disorder, and its prevalence in Bangladesh is increasing at an alarming rate. Previous reports have suggested a significant association between Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and obesity, but with inconsistent results. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (Apal, rs7975232, and Taql, rs731236) of the VDR gene and the risk of obesity in the Bangladeshi population. Moreover, we looked at serum VDR levels and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in people with obesity (n = 124) and healthy controls (n = 126).
MethodsGenotyping was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). General linear model and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P-values.
ResultsSerum VDR level was downregulated in people with obesity compared to healthy controls (P A) polymorphism, the CA Heterozygous genotype carried a 1.93-fold higher risk of developing obesity (OR=1.93, 95% CI = 1.10–3.41, P = 0.023). On the contrary, for TaqI, rs731236 (T > C), no significant association was found for both heterozygous and mutant homozygous genotypes.
ConclusionWe report the downregulation of serum VDR levels and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in people with obesity. Moreover, a polymorphism of Apal (rs7975232 C > A) in the VDR gene increases the risk of developing obesity in the Bangladeshi population.
This study sought to explore decision making among caregivers of children with cancer in Pakistan, one of the largest lower middle-income countries in the world.
Cross-sectional survey study
This study was conducted in Pakistan at Indus Hospital and Health Network in Karachi and Children’s Hospital of Lahore. Children’s Hospital of Lahore is a public sector hospital, and Indus Hospital has a foundation-based funding structure. Both are larger tertiary care centers. Over 2,500 new patients are seen at these centers annually, this accounts for almost 50% of all children with cancer in Pakistan
Eligible participants included bedside caregivers, defined as a parent or family member involved in communication with the medical team, of children with cancer (
Primary outcome measures included caregiver priorities and experiences related to communication including decision-making role, involvement of the paediatric patient and decisional regret.
Participants included 200 caregivers of children
Findings from this study highlight the importance of exploring preferences for decision making and empowering bedside caregivers while respecting cultural norms. In the Pakistani context, it may be specifically important to consider gender roles and the inclusion of extended family members. Future work should investigate paediatric patient involvement in diverse settings.
FreshRSS 