Toxicity of Methanolic Extracts of Seeds of Moringa stenopetala, Moringaceae in Rat Embryos and Fetuses

Moringa stenopetala is a medicinal plant that has been used in Ethiopian traditional medicine as a remedy for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and stomach pain. The study is aimed at assessing the toxicity of the methanol extracts of the seeds of Moringa stenopetala on the developing embryo and fetuses of rats. The seeds of Moringa were extracted by maceration using 80% methanol. The extract (250–1000 mg/kg) was orally administered to pregnant Swiss albino rats from days 6 to12 of gestation. Embryos and fetuses were recovered by laparotomy on gestational day 12 and day 20, respectively, and were assessed for developmental anomalies. On day 20, significant prenatal growth retardation such as reduced litter weight and crown-rump length were observed in near term fetuses of 1000 mg/kg treated rats. Litter weight in 1000 mg/kg and pair-fed control groups was 2.41 g±0.108 and 3.08 g±0.093, respectively. Delay in the development of an otic, optic, and olfactory system, as well as a reduction in a number of branchial bars, occurred on day 12 embryos of 1000 mg/kg treated rats. The rate of fetal resorption in 1000 mg/kg and pair-fed control groups was 1.6±0.55 and 0.42±0.52, respectively. There was also a high incidence of fetal death in the 1000 mg/kg treated group but it was not statistically significant. The offspring’s of Moringa-treated rats did not show gross external malformations at all doses. These findings suggest that the methanol seed extract of Moringa stenopetala is not safe to rat embryos and fetuses. Its toxic effects were evidenced by a significant delay in embryonic and fetal development and an increase in fetal resorptions and fetal death

Maternal Anthropometric Measurements Do Not Have Effect on Birth Weight of Term, Single, and Live Births in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia

Low birth weight is a global public health problem for mortality and morbidity in any age group. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of maternal anthropometric measurements on birth weight. A cross-sectional study was conducted from Nov 25, 2012, to Feb 25, 2013, in maternity public hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia. The effect is investigated using correlation, linear regression, independent sample T-test, one-way ANOVA, and finally multivariate linear regression analysis. A total of 605 women and their newborns took part in this study and prevalence of low birth weight is 8.3%. On adjusted multivariate linear regression analysis, maternal anthropometric measurements did not have an effect on birth weight. Since maternal mid-upper arm circumference ≤ 20 cm and body mass index ≤18.5kg/m2 are almost nil in this study, generalization is difficult to general population where undernourished women are common in the rural Ethiopia and similar study is recommended in those areas. Antenatal care visits, gestational age, and female sex of newborn had statistically significant effect in determining the risk of low birth weight. Women who were living with large family members had a heavier newborn than counterparts. This might be due to the fact that pregnant women have better care and social support in Ethiopian context, so advising pregnant women to live with family members should be considered to enhance social support during pregnancy in Ethiopia. Maternal anthropometric measurements have no significant effect in determining birth weight in the city and we recommend similar studies where undernourished women are common

sj-docx-1-smo-10.1177_20503121221125536 – Supplemental material for Birth prevalence of omphalocele and gastroschisis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-smo-10.1177_20503121221125536 for Birth prevalence of omphalocele and gastroschisis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Chalachew Tiruneh, Teshome Gebremeskel, Mogesie Necho, Yossef Teshome, Daniel Teshome and Asmare Belete in SAGE Open Medicine</p

Bacterial profile and extended spectrum beta lactamase screening of urinary tract infection among asymptomatic and symptomatic pregnant women attending antenatal care in ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction: The occurrence of extended spectrum beta lactamase-producing uropathogens, especially in pregnant women can result in life-threatening condition and morbidity for both the mother and the newborn due to very limited drug options for treatment of these pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial profile, associated factors, and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and to identify extended spectrum beta lactamase-producing bacterial uropathogens. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2018 on a total of 177 pregnant women with and without symptoms of urinary tract infection at ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From these study participants, 72 have symptoms, whereas 105 have no symptoms. All urine samples were inoculated onto cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient medium and MacConkey agar. Colonies were counted to check the presence of significant bacteriuria. Pure isolates of bacterial pathogen were characterized and identified at species level by colony morphology, gram stain, and standard biochemical procedures. All Gram-negative isolates were put into Muller–Hinton agar plates for antibiotic susceptibility test by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Extended spectrum beta lactamase was detected using double-disk synergy methods on Muller–Hinton agar. The data were double entered into epidemiological Information system and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 26. Results: The overall proportion of urinary tract infection among pregnant women was 14.7% ( n  = 26/177). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant bacterial etiologic agent of urinary tract infection 26.9% ( n  = 7/26). The proportion of extended spectrum beta lactamase among Gram-negative isolates was 50% ( n  = 6/12). Among extended spectrum beta lactamase-producing isolates (100%), all are resistance to amikacin and gentamicin while intermediate level resistance rate of 66.7% was observed among trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole. They were susceptible for some limited drugs, and these were Nitrofurantoin (83.3%) and Chloramphenicol (83.3%). Conclusions: Majority of extended spectrum beta lactamase-producing isolates exhibited co-resistance to other commonly prescribed antibiotics. This indicates that the option of treatment for these pathogens rapidly decreased from time to time which results serious life-threatening conditions, especially in mother and newborn unless the appropriate measure is taken

Undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among long-distance bus drivers in Addis Ababa terminals, Ethiopia, 2022: A cross-sectional study.

IntroductionHypertension is a major public health problem that is often unrecognized, and its detection and control should be prioritized. The level of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated factors among long-distance bus drivers in Ethiopia is unknown.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the magnitude of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated factors among long-distance bus drivers in Addis Ababa bus terminals.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 391 long-distance bus drivers from December 15, 2021, to January 15 2022 at five cross-country bus terminals in Addis Ababa. A standardized and structured questionnaire was adapted based on the WHO stepwise approach to a non-communicable disease study and translated into Amharic. Data were coded, cleaned, and entered using Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Variables with a P-value ResultsIn this study, 391 study participants were involved with a response rate of 97.1%. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 22.5% (CI: 18.7%, 26.6%). Poor level of knowledge (AOR: 2.00, CI: 1.08, 3.70), long duration of driving per day (AOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.37-4.56), habit of chewing of chat (AOR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.44, 4.73), regular alcohol consumption (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI: 1.70, 7.05), overweight (AOR:3.14, 95%CI: 1.54,6.42) obesity (AOR: 3.21, 95% CI 1.35, 7.61) and regular physical exercise (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.29) were statistically significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension.ConclusionThis study revealed that the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among long-distance bus drivers was 22.5%, which was associated with modifiable behavioral factors, lack of regular physical exercise, lack of adequate awareness and high body mass index.RecommendationStakeholders must implement the necessary preventive measures. These include increasing the level of awareness of hypertension among long-distance drivers and developing prevention of hypertension strategies and policies focusing on lifestyle and behavioral modifications

Socio-demographic characteristics of long-distance bus drivers, Addis Ababa bus terminals, Ethiopia, 2022 (n = 391).

Socio-demographic characteristics of long-distance bus drivers, Addis Ababa bus terminals, Ethiopia, 2022 (n = 391).</p

Sample size for different independent variables of long-distance bus drivers, Addis Ababa bus terminals, Ethiopia, 2021 (n = 391).

Sample size for different independent variables of long-distance bus drivers, Addis Ababa bus terminals, Ethiopia, 2021 (n = 391).</p

Factors identified on binary logistic regression analysis with undiagnosed HTN among long-distance bus drivers in Addis Ababa terminals, 2021.

Factors identified on binary logistic regression analysis with undiagnosed HTN among long-distance bus drivers in Addis Ababa terminals, 2021.</p

Sample size proportional allocation diagram of long-distance bus drivers in Addis bus terminals, Addis Ababa, 2021.

Sample size proportional allocation diagram of long-distance bus drivers in Addis bus terminals, Addis Ababa, 2021.</p