Abstract: The assessment of the degree of liver stiffness is important in the treatment of liver diseases. The various types of ultrasound elastography are relatively well studied. Transient elastography (TE) is a proven method of assessment of liver stiffness and possesses the properties of a prognostic indicator. In contrast to this method, the significance of strain elastography used to assess the degree of liver stiffness remains insufficiently established.

Methods. RTE elastography was conducted in 246 patients. 34 of them were with chronic viral Hepatitis C, 80 with chronic viral Hepatitis B, 30 with nonalcoholic liver disease, 30 with alcoholic liver disease, 42 with hepatic cirrhosis and there was a control group of 30 healthy individuals. The biomarkers APRI, Fibroindex, Forn’s index, FIB-4, Fibrotest were examined. In all patients without the control group a liver biopsy was performed for histological evaluation of fibrosis. The RT-generated elastographic imaging was subjected to qualitative analysis by a specially developed program and the derived Liver Fibrosis Index (LFI) was compared to histological and laboratory data.

Results. The value of LFI increases as fibrosis progresses. LFI is significantly different in the cases of moderate fibrosis (F0-2) and advanced fibrosis (F3, 4). LFI shows a good correlation in determining advanced fibrosis and good reproducibility of the results. LFI was found to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with chronic liver disease.

Abstract: Reproductive health is a universal concern, but is of special importance for women particularly of reproductive years. The study has focused on knowledge, attitude and practices on reproductive health rights and services of Bangladeshi women in a rural context. This was a descriptive type of cross sectional study performed among rural women in Keranigonj Upazilla. A total of 300 women (reproductive age group) were selected purposively. Pre-tested questionnaire had been used for data collection. The aim of the study was to assess the reproductive health status of rural women in reproductive age group (15-49 years). The mean age of the respondents was 26.45 years. Out of 300 respondents 281 (93.67%) were married. Among them 86% were housewives. The mean age of marriage was 17.38 years. Among 300 respondents 54% had primary level of education. The mean monthly income was Tk. 16, 183. The mean age of menarche was 12.46 years. Out of 281 married respondents, 261 had history of child birth. The mean age of first child birth was 19.56 years. Out of 261 respondents, 81.99% had received antenatal care and 47.5% of the respondents were delivered by doctors. But majority of them (54.41%) did not receive postnatal checkup. Majority (59.39%) had no complications during pregnancy and 40.61% had complications. Majority (60.79%) had used contraceptive methods.