DIURNAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND TIME BUDGET OF GRANT’S GAZELLE (NANGER GRANTI) IN NECHISAR NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA

Information on behavior patterns of animals is important to plan wildlife management programs in conservation areas. The Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti) is one of the major larger mammals in the plains of Nechisar National Park. As behavior patterns of this species were not studied earlier, the present investigation was aimed to study the diurnal activity patterns and time budget of its major activities. Observations on activity patterns were carried out on randomly selected herds during day time and recorded for units of five minutes at intervals of 10 minutes. Major activities such as feeding, movement (walking and running), resting and social behaviors of herds consisting of adult male, adult female, juvenile and young were recorded during 2304 unit observations. The percentage of feeding, movement, resting and social behaviors in which they were engaged during the study period was 43.7, 24.2, 23 and 8.2, respectively. There was variation in the percentage of activities of gazelles during morning, noon and in the afternoon. There was a significant difference in the percentage of different activities among individuals (p<0.05). The overall diurnal activities of gazelles showed a bimodal pattern of intensive foraging in the morning and afternoon hours. There was no marked seasonal variation in their activity levels. This might be related to the drought tolerant behavioral adaptation of the Grant’s gazelle

Magnitude of Cryptococcal Antigenemia among HIV Infected Patients at a Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is one of the common opportunistic fungal infections among HIV infected patients living in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. The magnitude of thedisease at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital (FHRH) in particular and in Ethiopia at large is not well explored.METHODS: A retrospective document review and analysis was done on records of 137 HIV infected patients who visited FHRH ART clinic from 1 Sep to 30 Dec 2016 and had registered data on their sex, age, CD4 count and cryptococcal antigen screening result. The cryptoccocal antigen (CrAg) detection was done by the IMMY CrAg® LFA (Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay) kit from patient serum as per the manufacturer’s instruction. All data were entered, cleared, and analyzed using SPSS v20. Descriptive data analysis and cross tabulation were done to assess factors associated with cryptococcal antigenemia. Statistical significance was set at p-value less than or equal to 0.05.RESULTS: More than half of the participants, 54.7% (75/137), included in the study were females. The median age of the participants was 32.0 years (ranged: 8-52 years). The mean CD4 count was 51.8 with SD of 26.3 (range 3-98). All the patients were HIV stage IV. The proportion of positive cryptococal antigen from serum test was at 11.7% (95% CI: 7.3-18.1%). The IMMYCrAg® LFA result was found statically associated with patient sex (p= 0.045). However, it was not associated with patient age group and the CD4 count (P>0.05)CONCLUSIONS: This study provided baseline data on the magnitude of cryptococcal antigenemia among HIV positive patients that is not touched before in the studied area. The results of the study showed that this opportunistic fungal infection is an important health concern among HIV patients. Further studies with sound design employing adequate sample size should be considered.

Efficacy and safety of a single-dose mebendazole 500 mg chewable, rapidly-disintegrating tablet for Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection treatment in pediatric patients : a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new chewable, rapidly-disintegrating mebendazole (MBZ) 500 mg tablet for Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection treatment. Pediatric patients (1-15 years; N = 295; from Ethiopia and Rwanda) excreting A. lumbricoides and/or T. trichiura eggs were enrolled. The study had a screening phase (3 days), a double-blind treatment phase (DBP, 19 days), and an open-label phase (OLP, 7 days). Patients received MBZ or placebo on day 1 of DBP and open-label MBZ on day 19 +/- 2 after stool sample collection. Cure rates (primary endpoint), defined as species-specific egg count of 0 at the end of DBP, were significantly higher in the MBZ group than placebo for A. lumbricoides (83.7% [72/86; 95% CI: 74.2%; 90.8%] versus 11.1% [9/81; 95% CI: 5.2%; 20.1%], P < 0.001) and for T. trichiura (33.9% [42/124; 95% CI: 25.6%; 42.9%] versus 7.6% [9/119; 95% CI: 3.5%; 13.9%], P < 0.001). Egg reduction rates (secondary endpoint) were significantly higher in the MBZ group than placebo for A. lumbricoides (97.9% [95% CI: 94.4; 99.9] versus 19.2% [95% CI: -5.9; 41.5]; P < 0.001) and T. trichiura (59.7% [95% CI: 33.9; 78.8] versus 10.5% [95% CI: -16.8; 32.9]; P = 0.003). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in MBZ group occurred in 6.3% (9/144) of patients during DBP and 2.5% (7/278) during OLP. No deaths, serious TEAEs, or TEAEs leading to discontinuations were reported. A 500 mg chewable MBZ tablet was more efficacious than placebo for the treatment of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections in pediatric patients, and no safety concerns were identified

A Prospective Study of Causes of Illness and Death in Preterm Infants in Ethiopia: The SIP Study Protocol

Background With nearly 15 million annual preterm births globally, preterm birth is the most common cause of neonatal death. Forty to 60 % of neonatal deaths are directly or indirectly associated with preterm mortality. As countries aim to meet the Sustainable Development Goals to reduce neonatal mortality, significant reductions in preterm mortality are needed. This study aims to identify the common causes of preterm illness and their contribution to preterm mortality in low-resource settings. This article will describe the methods used to undertake the study. Methods This is a prospective, multi-centre, descriptive clinical study. Socio-demographic, obstetric, and maternal factors, and clinical and laboratory findings will be documented. The major causes of preterm mortality will be identified using clinical, laboratory, imaging, and autopsy methods and use the national Ethiopian guidelines on management of preterm infants including required investigations to reach final diagnoses. The study will document the clinical and management protocols followed in these settings. The approach consists of clinical examinations and monitoring, laboratory investigations, and determination of primary and contributory causes of mortality through both clinical means and by post-mortem examinations. An independent panel of experts will validate the primary and contributory causes of mortality. To obtain the estimated sample size of 5000 preterm births, the study will be undertaken in five hospitals in three regions of Ethiopia, which are geographically distributed across the country. All preterm infants who are either born or transferred to these hospitals will be eligible for the study. Three methods (last menstrual period, physical examination using the New Ballard Score, and ultrasound) will be used to determine gestational age. All clinical procedures will be conducted per hospital protocol and informed consent will be taken from parents or caretakers prior to their participation in the study as well as for autopsy if the infant dies. Discussion This study will determine the major causes of death and illness among hospitalized preterm infants in a low-resource setting. The result will inform policy makers and implementers of areas that can be prioritized in order to contribute to a significant reduction in neonatal mortality

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—giving infants only breast-milk for the first 6 months of life—is a component of optimal breastfeeding practices effective in preventing child morbidity and mortality. EBF practices are known to vary by population and comparable subnational estimates of prevalence and progress across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are required for planning policy and interventions. Here we present a geospatial analysis of EBF prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2018 across 94 LMICs mapped to policy-relevant administrative units (for example, districts), quantify subnational inequalities and their changes over time, and estimate probabilities of meeting the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) of ≥70% EBF prevalence by 2030. While six LMICs are projected to meet the WHO GNT of ≥70% EBF prevalence at a national scale, only three are predicted to meet the target in all their district-level units by 2030

Effects of vitamin D on neonatal sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health concern of pregnant women and neonates worldwide, affecting more than half of neonates. Studies report inconsistent and inconclusive effects of vitamin D treatment on neonatal sepsis. This study aimed to provide conclusive evidence regarding the effect of maternal and cord blood vitamin D levels on neonatal sepsis. Data were retrieved from the electronic database (Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL [EBSCOhost], ProQuest, EMBASE [Ovid], PubMed, Emcare, MEDLINE [Ovid], and gray literature sources [World cat, Mednar, Google scholar and Google]). Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool was utilized for quality assessment while analysis was performed using Open Meta-analyst, Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 3.3.070, and Review Manager version 5.3 software. From the 18 studies included in the study, the overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among neonates was 61% (95% CI: 44.3, 77.7); 79.4% (95% CI: 71.6, 87.3) of neonates with sepsis were vitamin D deficient as were 43.7% (23.4, 63.9) of sepsis-free neonates. Neonates born from mothers with low vitamin D levels were at greater risk of developing neonatal sepsis with a weighed mean difference of −8.57 ng/ml (95% CI: −13.09, −4.05). Similarly, neonates with low cord vitamin D levels were at risk for neonatal sepsis with a mean difference of −8.78 ng/ml (95% CI:-11.58, −5.99). The incidence of EONS in full-term newborns was significantly associated with low maternal and cord blood vitamin D levels with weighed mean differences of −11.55ng/ml (95% CI: −17.63, −5.46) &amp; −11.59 ng/ml (95% CI:-16.65, −6.53), respectively. Low levels of vitamin D both in the cord blood and maternal blood were significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. Hence, vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women and newborns could decrease neonatal sepsis

Physicochemical Characterization of Cellulose and Microcrystalline Cellulose from Cordia africana Lam. Seeds

This study aims to explore Cordia africana seeds as an alternative source of cellulose and MCC due to depletion of the major commercial sources such as wood pulp, and cotton. Cellulose was extracted from Cordia africana seeds employing a chlorine-free treatment approach, followed by partial depolymerization using acid hydrolysis to obtain microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The untreated seeds, as-extracted cellulose, and MCC were investigated for yield, chemical composition, functionality, crystallinity, morphology, diameter, and thermal stability. The cellulose content increased from 30% (w/w) in the untreated seeds to 80.2% (w/w) in cellulose and 88.1% (w/w) in the MCC. The removal of non-cellulosic constituents was confirmed by the results obtained from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The crystallinity index of as-obtained cellulose and MCC increased from 32.38% (untreated seeds) to 68.28 (cellulose) and 73.19% (MCC) with chemical treatments. The extracted samples exhibited characteristic peaks of Cellulose I at around 15°, 16°, 22°, and 34°. Th e TGA/DTG results confirmed the cellulose and MCC had higher thermal stability than the untreated seeds. This study shows that cellulose and MCC can be obtained from unexploited source, Cordia africana seeds, for promising applications in various industries