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Role of Health Extension Worker in Tuberculosis Prevention and Control in Ethiopia: Systematic Review
Tesfaye Dagne Weldemarium,
Muluneh Getachew
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2019
Pages:
1-4
Received:
11 December 2018
Accepted:
24 January 2019
Published:
21 February 2019
Abstract: Background: Health Extension Program was designed to serve the rural community of Ethiopia and has brought significant change in improving utilization of family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care, birth preparedness, initiating breast feeding immediately after birth and HIV testing. In relation to Tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control, TB patients believe that they learnt about TB from HEWs and some patients stated that they could not have been diagnosed without the work of HEWs. HEWs focus on Education of the community, Identification of suspects, referral of suspects to health Facilities, Support for adherence to treatment, retrieval of absentees and contact tracing. Objective: The objective of this review was to assess the role of Ethiopian health extension workers in prevention and control of TB. Method: Computerized systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science direct databases. After reviewing for relevance of articles based on title, abstract and eliminating for redundancies five articles were included for this review. Studies presented to the original article, studies that examine contribution of HEWs to TB prevention, studies conducted in Ethiopia; studies written in English were included in the review. Results: Large number of people with TB symptom which is the base for TB prevention and elimination strategy was identified by the HEWs. The health extension workers identified not only new patients but also the retreatment (defaulters) which are the major contributors to (multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). From the identified TB suspects by HEWs, majority of them were found to be positive for the disease. Health extension worker remain the health worker who identify TB suspects and refer patient to health facilities. They were also the source of community health educator in relation to TB.
Abstract: Background: Health Extension Program was designed to serve the rural community of Ethiopia and has brought significant change in improving utilization of family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care, birth preparedness, initiating breast feeding immediately after birth and HIV testing. In relation to Tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control, TB ...
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Serum Chymotrypsin-Like Activity on Digestion of Ala-Ala-AMC as a Substrate, Among CML and AML Patients at TASH, Addis Ababa Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Endriyas Kelta Wabalo,
Abdulaziz Abubeker,
Chala Kenenisa Edae,
Belay Zawdie
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2019
Pages:
5-11
Received:
25 December 2018
Accepted:
7 February 2019
Published:
25 February 2019
Abstract: Proteosome, composed of 19S and 20S subunits, is vital for AML and CML cell cycling, proliferation, adhesion and as a means to by-pass apoptosis through three distinguishable proteolytic activities. Chymotrypsin-like (CT-L) activity is rate limiting and a well-established therapeutic strategy for AML and CML cells, by proteosome inhibitors than the other two proteolytic activities: trypsin-like activities and caspase-like activities. As the main objective of the study, the serum levels of Chymotrypsin-like activity was assessed among chronic and acute myeloid leukemia patients, and compared among each other and with those of healthy controls. A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among CML and AML patients from February 2016 up to December 2016. Serum samples were obtained from 24 AML, 60 CML and 35 presumed healthy controls. Fluorogenic assays for serum chymotrypsin-like activity using aminomethylcoumarin (AMC) peptide derivatives were carried out. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, Paired Samples T-test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and Spearman’s rho test were used to investigate any correlation among different parameters. The minimum level of statistical significance was set at p-value 0.05. The mean and median serum levels of Chymotrypsin-like activity were significantly higher in patients with CML and AML than in the healthy controls (P-value < 0.05). CML patients in chronic phase (CP) and secondary AML patients had significantly higher mean and median serum levels of Chymotrypsin-like activity than CML patients in accelerated/blast phase (AP/BP) and de novo AML patients (p-value < 0.05). As a conclusion, the serum Chymotrypsin-like activity level might be a useful diagnostic test, and may be used as prognostic test particularly in a subset of CML patientsin chronic phase (CP) and Secondary AML patients. However, further studies that incorporate other protocols such as chymotrypsin-like activity enzyme-immunoassay with large scaled study population are warranted to decide on prognostic and diagnostic role of the enzyme more accurately.
Abstract: Proteosome, composed of 19S and 20S subunits, is vital for AML and CML cell cycling, proliferation, adhesion and as a means to by-pass apoptosis through three distinguishable proteolytic activities. Chymotrypsin-like (CT-L) activity is rate limiting and a well-established therapeutic strategy for AML and CML cells, by proteosome inhibitors than the...
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Risk Factors of Elderly Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Complicated with Osteoporosis and Effects of Vitamin K1 on Bone Mineral Density and Insulin Resistance
Lei Sun,
Hongjian Yu,
Donghui Tian,
Rui Zhang,
Wenjing Du
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2019
Pages:
12-16
Received:
22 January 2019
Published:
8 March 2019
Abstract: Aim: To analyze the bone mineral density (BMD) changes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after being complicated with osteoporosis (OP) and their correlations with multiple risk factors. Methods: 240 cases of elderly T2DM patients were divided into an OP group and a non-OP group according to the BMD values. The results were subjected to correlation analyses. Thereafter the 120 patients in the OP group were randomly divided into three groups to be treated with alfacalcidol (group A), vitamin K1 (group B) and alfacalcidol plus vitamin K1 (group C) continuously for 12 months. The BMD, FBG levels, fasting insulin (FINS) levels, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB) levels were measured 0, 6 and 12 months after administration. The heights, weights, BMI and HOMA-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) of the patients were measured by designated personnel. Results: The patients in the OP group were of older age, longer disease course, lower BMD, and higher serum phosphorus than those in the non-OP group. The results of the two groups differed significantly (P< 0.05). The BMD of T2DM patients was negatively correlated with age, disease course, ALP and HbA1c and positively correlated with BMI. All the treatment methods elevated the BMD values of the three groups after 12 months (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and those of group C were elevated more significantly than those of group A and group B (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Although the number of lumbar vertebrae L1-L4 and ectotrochanter of group A patients were higher than that of group B patients after being treated for 3 months (P<0.01), the results of the two groups did not differ significantly (P> 0.05) 12 months after treatment. Conclusions: Old age, low BMI, long disease course, poor blood glucose control and high serum ALP are the risk factors leading to T2DM complicated with OP. However, vitamin K1, which increased the BMD of T2DM patients and boosted insulin resistance, could be combined with alfacalcidol and calcium supplement owing to the lack of abnormal blood clotting mechanism after long-term administration.
Abstract: Aim: To analyze the bone mineral density (BMD) changes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after being complicated with osteoporosis (OP) and their correlations with multiple risk factors. Methods: 240 cases of elderly T2DM patients were divided into an OP group and a non-OP group according to the BMD values. The results were subjected to correlatio...
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Soil Fauna as Webmasters, Engineers and Bioindicators in Ecosystems: Implications for Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2019
Pages:
17-26
Received:
24 January 2019
Accepted:
14 March 2019
Published:
9 April 2019
Abstract: Soil biodiversity comprised the organisms that spend all or a portion of their life cycles within the soil or on its immediate surface. Soil Fauna are those organisms that inhabit the soil (include arthropods, nematodes, molluscs, protozoa, rotifera, etc...). Of the total diversity of living organisms that has been described to date, 23% is soil animals. They are the dominant animal group in many terrestrial ecosystems and may have higher biomass on an area basis. According to their body size, soil fauna categorized into microfauna, mesofauna and macrofauna. In both natural and agricultural systems, soil organisms perform vital functions in the soil. Soil fauna are responsible for many ecosystem services like soil formation, nutrient cycling, soil restoration and food webs. These functions range from physical effects to chemical and biological processes. They burrowing and feeding activities result in improved aeration and water infiltration, incorporation of organic matter into the soil, and stabilization of soil aggregates, leading to their designation as ecosystem engineers. They are also play a role in significant indicators of soil health. Human activities leads to loss of soil structure and function through reduction of soil fauna diversity, habitat fragmentation, nutrient cycling and organic matter destruction. A combination of those factors can lead to ecosystem destruction. Soil fauna communities are highly sensitive to environmental variation and destabilization. Moreover, soil fauna are a useful bio-indicators for human disturbance on ecosystem.
Abstract: Soil biodiversity comprised the organisms that spend all or a portion of their life cycles within the soil or on its immediate surface. Soil Fauna are those organisms that inhabit the soil (include arthropods, nematodes, molluscs, protozoa, rotifera, etc...). Of the total diversity of living organisms that has been described to date, 23% is soil an...
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Analysis of the Levels of Endothelin, Homocysteine and Blood Lipid in Patients with Clinical and Subclinical Hyperthyroidism
Xu Qian,
Zhang Jing-yu,
Li Hong-yan,
Hou Jian-zhang
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2019
Pages:
27-30
Received:
26 February 2019
Published:
28 April 2019
Abstract: [Objective] To discuss the changes of endothelin (ET), homocysteine (Hcy) and blood lipids levels in patients with hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism, and to explore their clinical significance. [Methods] The authors choose 251 cases of hyperthyroidism, 242 cases of subclinical hyperthyroidism and 130 cases of the control group to test ET, Hcy, TC, TG, HDL, LDL and LPa. [Results] The level of ET of Hyperthyroidism group is higher than subclinical hyperthyroidism group and the control group. The level of ET of subclinical Hyperthyroidism group is higher than the control group(P<0.05). The level of Hcy of Hyperthyroidism group and subclinical Hyperthyroidism group was lower than the control group(P<0.05). The level of TG, TC, LDL, LPa of subclinical Hyperthyroidism group are lower than the control group(P<0.05). The level of TG, TC, HDL, LDL, LPa of Hyperthyroidism group are lower than the control group and subclinical hyperthyroidism group (P<0.05). [Conclusions] All of ET, Hcy and lipids participate in the occurrence and development process of hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism. Monitoring the change of related indexes is helpful to predict the transformation of subclinical hyperthyroidism to hyperthyroidism and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease.
Abstract: [Objective] To discuss the changes of endothelin (ET), homocysteine (Hcy) and blood lipids levels in patients with hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism, and to explore their clinical significance. [Methods] The authors choose 251 cases of hyperthyroidism, 242 cases of subclinical hyperthyroidism and 130 cases of the control group to test...
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ANXA5 Enhances Malignancy of Murine Hepatocarcinoma Hca-P Cells via ERK Activation and E-cadherin Suppression
Shuqing Liu,
Chen Chen,
Mingzhong Sun
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2019
Pages:
31-37
Received:
2 April 2019
Published:
23 May 2019
Abstract: The invasion and metastasis are linked to the rapid progression and poor prognosis of hepatocarcinoma patients. Lymphatic metastasis is potentially involved in above pathogenesis with unclear mechanism. Previously, we found the deregulation of annexin A5 (ANXA5), a member of Ca2+-regulated phospholipid- and membrane-binding annexin family protein, mediated the in vivo malignancy, lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate and level of mice transplanted with Hca-P, a murine hepatocarcinoma cell line with the LNM potential rate of ~25%. Current work aimed to investigate the influence with action mechanism of ANXA5 overexpression on the in vitro malignant behaviours of Hca-P cells. For overexpressing ANXA5, the Anxa5 gene was ligated into pCDNA3.1 (+) vector and transfected into Hca-P named as Hca-P-ANXA5up. Hca-P transfected with empty pCDNA3.1 (+) vector was named as Hca-P-mock and used as the control. The monoclonal Hca-P-mock and Hca-P-ANXA5up cell lines were obtained against G418 screening using limiting dilution method. Compared with the Hca-P-mock cells, Western blotting assay indicated ANXA5 expression level was increased by 50.1% (p=0.025) in the Hca-P-ANXA5up cells. Transwell chamber assays indicated that the migration and invasion capacities of Hca-P-ANXA5up cells were increased by 150.2% (p=0.001) and 94.8% (p=0.003) than Hca-P-mock cells. ANXA5 overexpression enhanced the levels of p-MEK (Ser217/221), ERK1, ERK2, p-ERK1 (Thr202/Tyr204) and p-ERK2 (Thr185/Tyr187), and suppressed the levels of E-Cadherin, Snail and Slug in Hca-P cells. Current work shows ANXA5 overexpression enhances the malignant behaviours of hepatocarcinoma Hca-P cells through activating p-MEK-ERK pathway and suppressing E-Cadherin, Snail and Slug. It is of potential value in tumor malignancy and lymphatic metastasis of hepatocarcinoma.
Abstract: The invasion and metastasis are linked to the rapid progression and poor prognosis of hepatocarcinoma patients. Lymphatic metastasis is potentially involved in above pathogenesis with unclear mechanism. Previously, we found the deregulation of annexin A5 (ANXA5), a member of Ca2+-regulated phospholipid- and membrane-binding annexin family protein, ...
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