A new family of boundary-domain integral equations for the Dirichlet Problem of the diffusion equation in nhomogeneous media with H −1 (Ω) source term on Lipschitz Domains

The interior Dirichlet boundary value problem for the diffusion equation in nonhomogeneous media is reduced to a system of Boundary-Domain Integral Equations (BDIEs) employing the parametrix obtained in 1 different from2. We further extend the results obtained in 1 for the mixed problem in a smooth domain with L²(Ω) hand side to Lipschitz domains and PDE right-hand in the Sobolev space H¯(Ω), where neither the classical nor the canonical co-normal derivatives are well defined. Equivalence between the system of BDIEs and the original BVP is proved along with their solvability and solution uniqueness in appropriate Sobolev spaces

Sero-prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: cross sectional study

Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is associated with high risk of maternal complications and has become a leading cause of fetal death. So the main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C viral infections among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in Bahir Dar health institutions, Ethiopia. This was institutional based cross-sectional study that included 318 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic in Bahir Dar health institutions from January 2013 to June 2013. Appropriate data was gathered from study participants. Sero-prevalence of hepatitis C virus was determined by detecting immunoglobulin of HCV using ELISA kit. Data was entered and analyzed with SPSS version 16 statistical software. The overall prevalence of hepatitis C virus among pregnant women was 0.6%. None of the expected risk factors had significant outcome. In conclusion, prevalence of the Hepatitis C virus among pregnant women attending in Bahir Dar health institutions was low and expected variables were not statistically significant

Khat use in persons with mental illness in Southwest Ethiopia: a cross- sectional study

Yosef Zenebe, Garumma Tolu Feyissa and Wolfgang Krah

Profitability and Economic Feasibility Analysis of Small Scale Irrigation Technologies in northern Ghana

Small-scale irrigation (SSI) technologies can be a useful tool not only to increase crop productivity and income but also to mitigate against climate variability in Ghana given the recent frequent dry spells. Profitability and economic feasibility of investing in the SSI technologies are analysed using a farm simulation model (FARMSIM) and based on farm-plot level data on selected SSI technologies piloted in northern Ghana under the Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation (ILSSI). The aim is to identify profitable and economically feasible sets of ‘crop type–SSI technology’ combinations that would prove viable in “real world” farm conditions. Four dry season irrigated cash crop (corchorus, onion, and amaranths) grown under four SSI technologies (pump-tank-hose, watering can, and rain/roof water harvesting and drip irrigation) were considered. Results showed that rainwater-harvesting using poly tank storage and a drip system is not economically feasible at the current yield level and market prices of irrigated cash crops in northern Ghana. SSI technology options using river water or shallow wells with motorized pumps or watering cans were profitable. The watering can is relatively more profitable than motorized pumps because of fuel and upfront investment costs in pumps. However, affordable credit schemes could mitigate the cost constraint to afford motor pumps and enable smallholders to participate in market-oriented production

Economic and food security effects of small-scale irrigation technologies in Northern Ghana

Small-scale irrigation (SSI) technologies can be useful not only to increase crop productivity and income but also as a viable adaptation practice to climate variability. A farm simulation model (FARMSIM) and data from selected SSI technologies piloted in northern Ghana under the ‘Feed the Future-Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation’ (ILSSI) project were used to assess the economic feasibility of the SSI technologies and their potential to improve income and nutrition of smallholder farm households. Three dry season irrigated crops (onion, corchorus, amaranthus) grown under three agricultural water management regimes were analysed. Results show that adoption of the SSI technologies could increase the net farm profit by 154%–608% against the baseline depending on the ‘crop type - SSI technology’ combination. Nutrition levels also improved significantly as a result of the improvements in crop yields due to irrigation and use of complementary inputs. However, the results further reveal that the options that utilize capital-intensive SSI technologies such as solar-powered water pumps to grow high value cash crops are constrained by the high investment cost. Currently, farmers tend to choose low-cost SSI technologies such as a traditional watering-cans, which generate low economic returns. Improving access to credit or alternative financing schemes could mitigate the capital constraints and enable smallholders to gain more benefits from participating in market-oriented high-value irrigated productio

Alcohol use disorders and its associated factors among psychiatric Outpatients in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Background: Worldwide, alcohol consumption caused 3.8 percent of all deaths and 4.5 percent of the total burden of disease in 2004. Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are also a burden for individuals and society in Ethiopia. It is important to identify problematic alcohol use at an early stage, as this provides professionals with the opportunity to take preventive measures and, hence, reduce the problems caused by this consumption. The high prevalence of substance abuse problems among persons with psychiatric disorders calls for more effective alcohol and drug use assessment in psychiatric settings. Objectives: To assess prevalence of alcohol use disorders and its associated factors among psychiatric outpatients in Jimma University specialized hospital (JUSH) Methods: A university hospital based cross-sectional study of 365 psychiatric outpatients was conducted from 1st to 15th August 2013 in Jimma zone, south-west Ethiopia. The data were collected by interviewing all psychiatric outpatients coming for treatment at JUSH by using structured questionnaire. An alcohol use disorder was assessed using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). All variables associated with AUDs with a p value ≤ 0.25 were included in the final multivariable model. Results: The estimated prevalence rate of AUD was 38.9%, with 23.3% hazardous drinking, 5.8% alcohol abuse and 9.8% alcohol dependence. In the final multiple logistic regression model AUD was significantly associated with Gender, Religion, Frequency of going to worship places and Cigarette smoking. Being female gender was less likely to develop AUD. Those who were orthodox religion followers, those who never went to the worship places and those who smoke cigarettes were more likely to have AUD. Conclusions: The high prevalence of AUDs detected in our facility-based survey of psychiatric outpatients in Ethiopia implies the need to design effective screening tools and feasible interventions for AUDs.Zenebe Y, Negash A, Feyissa GT and Krahl

Comparison of artemether-lumefantrine and chloroquine with and without primaquine for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax infection in Ethiopia: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Recent efforts in malaria control have resulted in great gains in reducing the burden of Plasmodium falciparum, but P. vivax has been more refractory. Its ability to form dormant liver stages confounds control and elimination efforts. To compare the efficacy and safety of primaquine regimens for radical cure, we undertook a randomized controlled trial in Ethiopia. Methods and findings: Patients with normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase status with symptomatic P. vivax mono-infection were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either chloroquine (CQ) or artemether-lumefantrine (AL), alone or in combination with 14 d of semi-supervised primaquine (PQ) (3.5 mg/kg total). A total of 398 patients (n = 104 in the CQ arm, n = 100 in the AL arm, n = 102 in the CQ+PQ arm, and n = 92 in the AL+PQ arm) were followed for 1 y, and recurrent episodes were treated with the same treatment allocated at enrolment. The primary endpoints were the risk of P. vivax recurrence at day 28 and at day 42. The risk of recurrent P. vivax infection at day 28 was 4.0% (95% CI 1.5%–10.4%) after CQ treatment and 0% (95% CI 0%–4.0%) after CQ+PQ. The corresponding risks were 12.0% (95% CI 6.8%–20.6%) following AL alone and 2.3% (95% CI 0.6%–9.0%) following AL+PQ. On day 42, the risk was 18.7% (95% CI 12.2%–28.0%) after CQ, 1.2% (95% CI 0.2%–8.0%) after CQ+PQ, 29.9% (95% CI 21.6%–40.5%) after AL, and 5.9% (95% CI 2.4%–13.5%) after AL+PQ (overall p < 0.001). In those not prescribed PQ, the risk of recurrence by day 42 appeared greater following AL treatment than CQ treatment (HR = 1.8 [95% CI 1.0–3.2]; p = 0.059). At the end of follow-up, the incidence rate of P. vivax was 2.2 episodes/person-year for patients treated with CQ compared to 0.4 for patients treated with CQ+PQ (rate ratio: 5.1 [95% CI 2.9–9.1]; p < 0.001) and 2.3 episodes/person-year for AL compared to 0.5 for AL+PQ (rate ratio: 6.4 [95% CI 3.6–11.3]; p < 0.001). There was no difference in the occurrence of adverse events between treatment arms. The main limitations of the study were the early termination of the trial and the omission of haemoglobin measurement after day 42, resulting in an inability to estimate the cumulative risk of anaemia. Conclusions: Despite evidence of CQ-resistant P. vivax, the risk of recurrence in this study was greater following treatment with AL unless it was combined with a supervised course of PQ. PQ combined with either CQ or AL was well tolerated and reduced recurrence of vivax malaria by 5-fold at 1 y

Effects of cognac on coronary flow reserve and plasma antioxidant status in healthy young men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The cardioprotective effects of certain alcoholic beverages are partly related to their polyphenol content, which may improve the vasodilatory reactivity of arteries. Effect of cognac on coronary circulation, however, remains unknown. The purpose of this randomized controlled cross-over study was to determine whether moderate doses of cognac improve coronary reactivity as assessed with cold pressor testing (CPT) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) measument.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Study group consisted of 23 subjects. Coronary flow velocity and epicardial diameter was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography at rest, during CPT and adenosine infusion-derived CFR measurements before drinking, after a moderate (1.2 ± 0.1 dl) and an escalating high dose (total amount 2.4 ± 0.3 dl) of cognac. To explore the bioavailability of antioxidants, the antioxidant contents of cognac was measured and the absorption from the digestive tract was verified by plasma antioxidant capacity determination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum alcohol levels increased to 1.2 ± 0.2‰ and plasma antioxidant capacity from 301 ± 43.9 μmol/l to 320 ± 25.0 μmol/l by 7.6 ± 11.8%, (p = 0.01) after high doses of cognac. There was no significant change in flow velocity during CPT after cognac ingestion compared to control day. CFR was 4.4 ± 0.8, 4.1 ± 0.9 (p = NS), and 4.5 ± 1.2 (p = NS) before drinking and after moderate and high doses on cognac day, and 4.5 ± 1.4, and 4.0 ± 1.2 (p = NS) on control day.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cognac increased plasma antioxidant capacity, but it had no effect on coronary circulation in healthy young men.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>NCT00330213</p

Mitochondria-dependent signalling pathway are involved in the early process of radiation-induced bystander effects

Bystander effects induced by cytoplasmic irradiation have been reported recently. However, the mechanism(s) underlying, such as the functional role of mitochondria, is not clear. In the present study, we used either mtDNA-depleted (ρ0) AL or normal (ρ+) AL cells as irradiated donor cells and normal human skin fibroblasts as receptor cells in a series of medium transfer experiments to investigate the mitochondria-related signal process. Our results indicated that mtDNA-depleted cells or normal AL cells treated with mitochondrial respiratory chain function inhibitors had an attenuated γ-H2AX induction, which indicates that mitochondria play a functional role in bystander effects. Moreover, it was found that treatment of normal AL donor cells with specific inhibitors of NOS, or inhibitor of mitochondrial calcium uptake (ruthenium red) significantly decreased γ-H2AX induction and that radiation could stimulate cellular NO and O2•− production in irradiated ρ+ AL cells, but not in ρ0 AL cells. These observations, together with the findings that ruthenium red treatment significantly reduced the NO and O2•− levels in irradiated ρ+ AL cells, suggest that radiation-induced NO derived from mitochondria might be an intracellular bystander factor and calcium-dependent mitochondrial NOS might play an essential role in the process