28 research outputs found

    Rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in northwest Ethiopia : prospective cohort study

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    Background: Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common clinical disorders occurred worldwide. About 1.1 million neonates develop jaundice per year globally and the vast majority of them found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. There is a paucity of evidence on the incidence rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in the northwest, Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cohort study design was conducted at Debre Markos comprehensive, specialized Hospitals using 334 neonates from October 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Using a systematic random sampling technique, the study subjects were drawn. Data were entered into the Epi-DataTM Version 4.2 and analyzed using STATATM Version 14.0. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival time. A generalized Log rank test was used to compare the survival curves of different categorical variables. Finally, both bi-variable and multivariable Cox-proportional hazards regression models were used to identify the predictors of neonatal jaundice. The Results: The overall incidence rate of jaundice among neonates was 4.5 per 100 person-hours. Long duration of labor [ARR = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), (2.8– 8.7)], being male neonates [ARR= 5.2; 95% CI (3.5–7.3)], “O” blood group mothers [ARR = 4.5; 95% CI (3.4–10.3)], and having neonatal sepsis 3.4 [ARR=3.4; 95% CI: (2.5–6.1)] were predictors. Conclusion: The incidence rate of jaundice was higher in this study than the finding of the previous one. Being male, prolonged duration of labor, “O” blood group mothers and sepsis were the significant predictors. Hence, an effort has to be made to decrease the incidence rate of neonatal jaundice through improving newborn care and timely intervention for neonates with sepsis and delivered at a long duration of time as well as the neonates born from “o” blood type mothers are our recommendation

    Regular Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure among adults in Butajira, Ethiopia: A comparative study

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fresh leaves and buds of the Khat plant (<it>Catha edulis</it>) contain Cathinone, an amphetamine like alkaloid responsible for its pharmacological action. Chewing of Khat has been associated with a transient rise in blood pressure and heart rate in experimental studies. Few studies examined the effect of regular or frequent Khat chewing on blood pressure at the population level. This study was conducted to examine the association of regular Khat chewing with blood pressure among adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared systolic and diastolic blood pressure of adults 35-65 years of age who reported regular chewing of Khat during the preceding five years to those who never chewed Khat during the same period. Study participants were recruited from purposively selected urban and rural villages of Butajira District in Ethiopia. The comparative groups, chewers (334) and non-chewers (330), were identified from among the general population through a house-to-house visit using a screening questionnaire. They were frequency-matched for sex and age within a five-year range. Data were collected through structured interviews and physical measurements including blood pressure, weight and height.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher among Khat chewers (13.4%) than non-chewers (10.7%), odds ratio (OR) = 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05, 3.13). A considerably high proportion of chewers (29.9%) than non-chewers (20.6%) had sub-optimal diastolic blood pressure (> 80 mmHg). The mean (sd) diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher among Khat chewers [75.0 (11.6)] than non-chewers [72.9 (11.7)], P < 0.05. Similarly, Khat chewers had significantly higher mean (sd) heart rate [76.3 (11.5)] than non-chewers [73.9 (12.6)], P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in mean systolic blood pressure between the two groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Regular chewing of Khat is associated with elevated mean diastolic blood pressure, which is consistent with the peripheral vasoconstrictor effect of Cathinone. Regular Khat chewing may have sustained effects on the cardiovascular system that can contribute to elevated blood pressure at the population level.</p

    In vitro anti-HIV activity of some Indian medicinal plant extracts

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    Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) persists to be a significant public health issue worldwide. The current strategy for the treatment of HIV infection, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), has reduced deaths from AIDS related disease, but it can be an expensive regime for the underdeveloped and developing countries where the supply of drugs is scarce and often not well tolerated, especially in persons undergoing long term treatment. The present therapy also has limitations of development of multidrug resistance, thus there is a need for the discovery of novel anti-HIV compounds from plants as a potential alternative in combating HIV disease. Methods Ten Indian medicinal plants were tested for entry and replication inhibition against laboratory adapted strains HIV-1IIIB, HIV-1Ada5 and primary isolates HIV-1UG070, HIV-1VB59 in TZM-bl cell lines and primary isolates HIV-1UG070, HIV-1VB59 in PM1 cell lines. The plant extracts were further evaluated for toxicity in HEC-1A epithelial cell lines by transwell epithelial model. Results The methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera, Rosa centifolia and aqueous extract of Ficus benghalensis inhibited laboratory adapted HIV-1 strains (IC80 3.6–118 μg/ml) and primary isolates (IC80 4.8–156 μg/ml) in TZM-bl cells. Methanolic extract of Strychnos potatorum, aqueous extract of Ficus infectoria and hydroalcoholic extract of Annona squamosa inhibited laboratory adapted HIV-1 strains (IC80 4.24–125 μg/ml) and primary isolates (IC80 18–156 μg/ml) in TZM-bl cells. Methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Rosa centifolia, (IC801-9 μg/ml) further significantly inhibited HIV-1 primary isolates in PM1cells. Methanolic extracts of Tridax procumbens, Mallotus philippinensis, Annona reticulate, aqueous extract of Ficus benghalensis and hydroalcoholic extract of Albizzia lebbeck did not exhibit anti-HIV activity in all the tested strains. Methanolic extract of Rosa centifolia also demonstrated to be non-toxic to HEC-1A epithelial cells and maintained epithelial integrity (at 500 μg/ml) when tested in transwell dual-chamber. Conclusion These active methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Rosa centifolia, could be further subjected to chemical analysis to investigate the active moiety responsible for the anti-HIV activity. Methanolic extract of Rosa centifolia was found to be well tolerated maintaining the epithelial integrity of HEC-1A cells in vitro and thus has potential for investigating it further as candidate microbicide

    Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus among voluntary counseling and testing clients at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

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    Yohannes Sinku,1,2 Takele Gezahegn,1 Yalewayiker Gashaw,1 Meseret Workineh,1 Tekalign Deressa1 1School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, 2Diagnostic Laboratory Case Team, University of Gondar Teaching Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia Background: The epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Ethiopia varies with regions, study population, and time. Thus, timely information on HIV epidemiology is critical for the combat of the epidemic. In this study, we aim to update HIV prevalence and risk factors among voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clients at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.Methods: A total of 2,120 VCT clients&rsquo; records from September 2007 to August 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical significance was set at P-value &lt;0.05.Results: Of 2,120 VCT clients, 363 (17.1%) were seropositive for HIV. A higher rate of HIV positivity was observed among female clients (20.4%) than that in male clients (14.0%) (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.26&ndash;1.98, P=0.00). Widowed (95% CI 10.42&ndash;34.92, P=0.00), married (95% CI 3.42&ndash;5.94, P=0.00), divorced (95% CI 2.79&ndash;5.32, P=0.00), and illiterate (95% CI 2.33&ndash;5.47, P=0.00) clients were associated with HIV infection with the odds ratios of 19.07, 4.51, 3.85, and 3.57, respectively. Clients within the age category of 35&ndash;49&nbsp;years (OR 5.03, 95% CI 3.56&ndash;7.12, P=0.00) and above the age of 50&nbsp;years (OR 4.99, 95% CI 2.67&ndash;9.34, P=0.00) were more likely to be infected with HIV.Conclusion: HIV is still the major concern of public health in the Gondar area as evidenced by our data. Being female, widowed, married, illiterate, and older age were the identified risk factors for HIV infection. Thus, consideration of these factors in future intervention and clinical practice is recommended. Keywords: HIV, AIDS, voluntary counseling and testing, prevalence, Northwest Ethiopi

    Modeling the effects of information-dependent vaccination behavior on meningitis transmission

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    We propose a mathematical model to investigate the effects of information–dependent vaccination behavior on meningitis transmission. The information is represented by means of information index as early proposed by d'Onofrio et al. (Theor. Popul. Biol., 2007). We perform a qualitative analysis based on stability theory, focusing to the global stability of the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) and the related transcritical bifurcation taking place at the threshold for the DFE. Finally, we assess the role of epidemiological and information parameters in the model dynamics through numerical simulations. Our simulations suggests that the impact of the parameters that are related to human behavior critically depend on the average information delay. For example, it can induce recurrent epidemics, provided that transfer rate from the carrier to the infectious state is over a threshold. Otherwise, the endemic equilibrium is (at least) locally stable
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