Traditional medicine and HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia: Herbal medicine and faith healing: A review

Background: Traditional, complimentary and alternative medicines (TCAMS) are increasingly being promoted by various Sub-Saharan African governments as a promising health resource in the control and amelioration of HIV/AIDS. The accessibility and cultural acceptability of both herbal medicines and faith healing and the scarcity of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in many communities have made them a favorite treatment option for people living with HIV (PLHIV).Objectives: This paper reviews the literature on the utilization and potential contribution of plant medicines and faith healing for treatment of HIV and opportunistic infections in Ethiopia.Methods: The published and unpublished literature on TCAM, faith healing and HIV/AIDS was reviewed from online sources and several bibliographies.Results and Discussion: Several studies indicate that both plant medicines and faith healing are widely used in Ethiopia for the treatment of HIV-related illness due to the long history, prevailing illness perceptions and religious beliefs. Primary phytochemical tests have identified several plant species with anti-HIV, anti-mycobacterial and antiprotozoal properties but their development as safe and effective medicines will require extensive toxicological and pharmacological drug interaction studies. Increasing evidence of positive outcomes of faith healing involving holy water and prayer reported by PLHIV, particularly spiritual and mental benefits, has potential application for chronic patient care but needs further study.Conclusion and Recommendations: Prevailing and evolving indigenous practices indicate the need for the implementation of appropriate policies and guidelines for the development of safe and effective herbal medicines and the integration of traditional medicine into the health services. Several areas requiring further study are identified

Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora: The 2006 Update

No Abstract. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 21 (1) 2007: pp. 70-9

Human myiasis in an endemic area of Southwestern Ethiopia: Prevalence, knowledge, perceptions and practices

Background: Human subcutaneous myiasis is an endemic, understudied disease in Ethiopia. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, perceptions and practices in different urban and rural communities of Jimma Zone, southwestern Ethiopia, related to human myiasis. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative study was carried out during March -June 2005 in 5 urban and 3 rural kebeles in Jimma Zone. Kebeles were chosen by random sampling and a total of 1,272 households were selected by systematic random sampling technique for interview. Results: Most subjects (60.0%) mentioned lying on damp soil as the cause of myiasis. More urban than rural communities who wore un-ironed clothes had myiais infestation (p< 0.05). Myiasis was reported to be common in the lower extremities (65.6%), upper extremities (56.7%), abdomen (48.9%) and back (34.9%). A total of 86% dwellers responded that myiasis was more common during the wet season. More than half of the interviewees were knowledgeable about the clinical presentation of the disease. The most common signs and symptoms were itching (94.0%), pus discharge (82.9 %) and papules (79.5%). The majority (87.9%) of the study subjects treated infestations with hot matches. Wearing dry clothes (38.6%) was reported to be effective preventive measure. Nearly 64.8% of the rural and 68.7% of the urban communities knew that human subcutaneous myiasis is preventable. Conclusion: Due to the low levels of knowledge about myiasis, we recommend that community health education programs be developed through the health services to raise the awareness levels about this infestation to the general population.The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 21 (2) 2007: pp. 166-17

Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora: The 2008 Update

This is the sixth update of the bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora, which was originally published in this journal in 2003. That bibliography covered published and unpublished work on HIV/AIDS and related health conditions (e.g., other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis) for the period 1972 to 2002. Five subsequent updates werepublished in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The present update extends the bibliography to cover references not listed in previous updates and those recent publications or presentations that appeared in 2008

Development of a digital toolkit to improve quality of life of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this manuscript is to detail development and initial usability testing of an e-toolkit designed to provide skills and knowledge around self-management behaviors for individuals living with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: Researchers worked with a steering committee of patients and providers to (1) develop a clickable prototype of an e-toolkit and (2) conduct alpha (individuals not affiliated with an academic clinic as patient or provider) and beta (individual patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as well as members of the clinic healthcare team and individuals who work in patient advocacy organizations) usability testing through semistructured interviews. RESULTS: During the review of the e-toolkit, the feedback provided by participants in both alpha and beta groups centered on two overarching themes: (1) improving user interface and materials and (2) integration of information and supports between toolkit and clinical personnel. CONCLUSION: Digital approaches that are tailored to individual symptom variation and integrated with a clinical system have the opportunity to enhance ongoing clinical care. These findings support movement toward integrated, team-based care models, tailored digital resources, and use of expanded virtual interaction options to ensure on-going engagement between healthcare providers and systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora: The 2011 Update

No abstract

Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora: The 2013 Update

No Abstrac

Behavior Of Spandrel Beams Strengthened With Steel Fibers Under Combined Loading

Anggota konkrit mengalami kilasan diiringi juga dengan lenturan dan ricihan. Sehingga kini, kod amalan reka bentuk anggota-anggota konkrit bertetulang menganggap bahawa kesan kilasan dapat dielakkan dengan selamat disebabkan faktor keselamatan yang tinggi digunakan dalam lenturan dan ricihan. Justeru itu, gabungan beban terhadap anggota-anggota tidak diberi perhatian yang serius. Namun demikian, andaian ini sudah tidak boleh diaplikasi lagi kerana isu kilasan kini merupakan perkara biasa dan memainkan peranan yang signifikan dalam struktur, contohnya rasuk spandrel. Rasuk spandrel atau dikenali juga sebagai rasuk-L, amat bergantung pada perimeter bangunan. Sebarang kegagalan pada rasuk spandrel boleh menjadi serius sehingga mencacatkan papak, sumbungan tiang-rasuk dan tebukan plat rata konkrit. Dengan mencampurkan gentian keluli sebagai bahan tambahan, ia boleh meningkatkan kekuatan kilasan rasuk spandrel di bawah beban gabungan dan prestasi struktur konkrit seperti beban maksimum, kemuluran dan rintangan retak. Gentian keluli boleh merintangi gabungan beban seperti rakap dan tetulang membujur, namun penyelidikan di dalam bidang ini masih samar dan terhad. Lebih-lebih lagi kepentingan menggunakan bertetulang gentian dalam struktur konkrit untuk diaplikasi dalam infrastruktur awam telah meningkat. Oleh yang demikian, pengetahuan sedia ada tentang konkrit gentian keluli sepaiknya digabungjalinkan dalam kod amalan reka bentuk. Eksperimen dijalankan untuk menilai perlakuan rasuk spandrel gentian yang diperkukuh dengan gentian keluli tertakluk pada gabungan kilasan, lenturan dan ricihan. Sejumlah 18 rasuk spandrel disediakan dan diuji dengan dua gabungan beban biasa i.e. kilasan tinggi terhadap nisbah lenturan dan kilasan rendah terhadap nisbah lenturan. Sampel rasuk dibahagikan kepada tiga kumpulan, iaitu rasuk konkrit biasa, spesimen dengan tetulang pengukuh memanjang, dan spesimen dengan tertulang dan rakap. Semua kes dikaji dengan pecahan isipadu gentian keluli 0%, 1%, dan 1.5%. Rasuk konkrit bertetulang gentian mempamerkan prestasi keseluruhan yang baik berbanding dengan rasuk kawalan tanpa gentian. Diperhatikan sumbangan utama daripada gentian keluli ke atas tingkah laku kilasan adalah terhadap keretakan konkrit. Penambahan gentian keluli adalah penting untuk rasuk tanpa tetulang keluli konvensional, penambahan ini terbukti mampu meningkatkan kapasiti semasa kilasan. Di samping itu, analisis berangka melalui kaedah elemen terhingga dilakukan terhadap data eksperimen untuk meramalkan tingkah laku struktur rasuk spandrel. Satu teknik baru diutara untuk mengambilkira kesan gentian keluli dalam elemen konkrit dan kesan titik lembut konkrit dalam mampatan dan tegangan. Kelakuan umum model unsur terhingga yang diwakili plot kilas-piuh dan plot bebanlenturan menunjukkan hubungan yang baik dengan data ujian daripada rasuk kawalan dan rasuk spandrel. Walau bagaimanapun, model unsur terhingga menunjukkan kekukuhan yang tinggi berbanding dengan data ujian dalam julat tidak linear untuk rasuk tanpa tetulang keluli. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Important concrete members are subjected to significant torsion accompanied by bending and shear. Until recent years, the design codes of reinforced concrete members assumed that the effects of torsion could be safely neglected due to high safety factors for shear and bending moment. Thus, members under combined loading were not treated with serious attention. However, this assumption cannot be applied anymore as torsion issues become common and play a significant role in structural members, such as spandrel beams. The spandrel beam, or the L-beam, lies on the perimeter of buildings. Any failure in spandrel beams can seriously damage slabs, beam-column connections, and punch concrete flat-plates. By incorporating steel fibers, it can enhance torsional behavior of spandrel beam under combined load in addition to the structural performance such as maximum load, ductility and cracking resistance. Steel fibers may provide resistance to combined loading as stirrups and longitudinal bars, this investigation is still scare and limited. Moreover, a worldwide interest in utilizing fiber reinforced concrete structures for civil infrastructure applications has increased. This study presents the advantage of using steel fiber concrete in strengthening spandrel beams under different reinforcement and loading cases. An experimental investigation was conducted to assess the behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete spandrel beams subjected to combined torsion, bending, and shear. A total of 18 spandrel beams were prepared and tested with two common loading combinations i.e. high torque to bending ratio and low torque to bending ratio. All beams were divided into three groups, namely, plain concrete beams, specimens with longitudinal reinforcing bars and specimens with bars and stirrups. All cases were examined with 0%, 1%, and 1.5% steel fiber volume fractions. Fibrous concrete beams exhibited improved overall torsional performance with respect to the corresponding non-fibrous control beams. The main contribution of steel fibers on the torsional behavior is mainly observed after concrete cracking. The addition of steel fibers was essential to the beams without conventional steel reinforcement since fibers were the only reinforcement and proved capable to provide enhanced torsional moment capacities. Besides, a numerical analysis by finite element method was suggested against the experimental data to predict the structural behavior of spandrel beams. A new technique was presented to incorporate the effects of steel fibers within concrete element and the softening effect of concrete in compression and tension. The general behavior of the finite element model represented by the torque-twist plot and load-deflection plots show good agreement with the test data from the plain and fiber reinforced spandrel beam. However, the finite element models show higher stiffness than the test data in the nonlinear ranges for beams without steel reinforcement

Exploring facilitators and barriers to using a person centered care intervention in a nursing home setting

Person-centered care (PCC) interventions have the potential to improve resident well-being in nursing homes, but can be difficult to implement. This study investigates perceived facilitators and barriers reported by nursing staff to using a PCC intervention consisting of three components: assessment of resident well-being, planning of well-being support, and behavioral changes in care to support resident well-being. Our explorative mixed method study combined interviews (n = 11) with a longitudinal survey (n = 132) to examine which determinants were most prevalent and predictive for intention to use the intervention and actual implementation 3 months later (n = 63). Results showed that perceived barriers and facilitators were dependent on the components of the intervention. Assessment of resident well-being required a stable nursing home context and a detailed implementation plan, while planning of well-being support was impeded by knowledge. Behavioral changes in nursing care required easy integration in daily caring tasks and social support

Native valve endocarditis due to Micrococcus luteus: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p><it>Micrococcus luteus </it>endocarditis is a rare case of infective endocarditis. A total of 17 cases of infective endocarditis due to <it>M luteus </it>have been reported in the literature to date, all involving prosthetic valves. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the first case of native aortic valve <it>M luteus </it>endocarditis in an immunosuppressed patient in this report.</p> <p>Case report</p> <p>A 74-year-old Greek-Cypriot woman was admitted to our Internal Medicine Clinic due to fever and malaise and the diagnosis of aortic valve <it>M luteus </it>endocarditis was made. She was immunosuppressed due to methotrexate and steroid treatment. Our patient was unsuccessfully treated with vancomycin, gentamicin and rifampicin for four weeks. The aortic valve was replaced and she was discharged in good condition.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Prosthetic infective endocarditis due to <it>M luteus </it>is rare. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case in the literature involving a native valve.</p