Publications by authors named "Biniyam A. Ayele"

Unlabelled: Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias (AD/ADRD), pose significant challenges to health care systems globally, particularly in Africa. With the advances in medical technology and research capabilities, especially in next-generation sequencing and imaging, vast amounts of data have been generated from AD/ADRD research. Given that the greatest increase in AD/ADRD prevalence is expected to occur in Africa, it is critical to establish comprehensive bioinformatics training programs to help African scientists leverage existing data and collect additional information to untangle AD/ADRD heterogeneity in African populations.

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Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the leading causes of young-onset dementia before age 65, typically manifesting as abnormal behavior (in behavioral variant FTD) or language impairment (in primary progressive aphasia). Although FTD affects all populations across the globe, knowledge regarding the pathophysiology and genetics derives primarily from studies conducted in North America and Western Europe. Globally, biomedical research for FTD is hindered by variable access to diagnosis, discussed in this group's earlier article, and by reduced access to expertise, funding, and infrastructure.

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Standard procedures for measuring Alzheimer's disease (AD) plasma biomarkers include storage at -80°C. This is challenging in countries lacking research infrastructure, such -80°C freezer. To investigate stability of AD biomarkers from plasma stored at -20°C, we compared aliquots stored at -80°C and others at -20°C for two, four, six, fifteen, and thirty-five weeks.

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The burden of neurological disease disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, where the lowest number of neurologists are located. Building local training opportunities in resource-limited settings is a foundational step to enhancing the neurological workforce and improving access to neurological care in these regions. In this article, we describe the development and growth of the first neurology residency program in East Africa, which was established in 2006 at Zewditu Memorial Hospital and the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

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Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the most common and most troublesome comorbidities among people with epilepsy (PWE). Adherent use of antiseizure medications (ASM) can control seizure episodes in 70% of the cases. However, the relationship between adherent use of ASMs and cognitive impairment in epilepsy is complex.

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Background: The disability of stroke patients remains an important global health problem; yet information on the extent of restriction from basic and instrumental activities of daily living is limited, particularly in lower-and middle-income (LMIC) countries. Therefore, we examined the issue under the caption, since it is the first step in planning several rehabilitation services.

Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was done to assess the magnitude and predictors of post-stroke limitations in basic activities of daily living (BADL) using the Barthel Index (BI) scale and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) using the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) scale among patients who visited Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Neurology Clinic from April-October, 2022.

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Media plays a crucial role in reshaping societal attitudes and behaviors towards individuals with mental illness. It contributes to improved rights of people living with mental health conditions and access to care services. However, in Ethiopia, mental health advocacy faces obstacles such as deep-rooted misconceptions, fear, and discrimination about mental illness, as well limited engagement of stakeholders and language barriers.

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This perspective paper discusses the concept of authenticity in relation to brain health and neurodegenerative diseases. We define authenticity as being true to oneself and consider it a social value of relevance to neuroscientists, clinicians, and caregivers. From a biological perspective, behaviors that can be interpreted as expressions of authenticity are produced by distributed brain networks.

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Article Synopsis
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious disease causing muscle weakness, with limited research on its impact in low- and middle-income countries like Ethiopia.
  • A study in Ethiopia analyzed clinical records from 2016 to 2021, revealing a younger average age of onset at 51.9 years and a higher prevalence of spinal region involvement at diagnosis.
  • Findings indicated that 31% of patients used the medication Riluzole, while many experienced significant disabilities, highlighting the need for further research to explore the genetic and environmental factors influencing ALS in this region.
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Objective: Emerging variants and sublineages of SARS-CoV-2 have differing disease severity, transmissibility, and immune evasion. The neurological conditions associated with the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 are well established. Our study assessed the neurological presentations specific to hospitalized patients during the B.

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Globally, a rapid demographic transition is occurring with a significant increment in the proportion of older individuals. For the first time in history, individuals aged 65 and above outnumber that of children under 5 years of age. In Ethiopia, the life expectancy has shown dramatic improvements in the past few decades and is expected to reach 74 years by mid-century.

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To evaluate the management of rare movement disorders (RMD) at the international level and identify care needs to be addressed, the Rare Movement Disorders Study Group of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) has conducted an exploratory survey. We sent an online survey to experts in Africa, Asia, Oceania and American continents following the classification of the MDS Regional Sections: Africa, Asia and Oceania (A&O), and Pan-America. We did not include Europe as the European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases recently performed a similar care needs survey across European countries.

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Background: Little is known about the characteristics of electroencephalogram (EEG) findings in epileptic patients in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to characterize the EEG patterns, indications, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and epilepsy risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective observational review of EEG test records of 433 patients referred to our electrophysiology unit between July 01, 2020 and December 31, 2021.

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Background: Providing acute care to critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU) is a global necessity, regardless of health system capacity. The objectives of the present study were to assess the reasons for admission and clinical outcomes of adult patients admitted to general ICU at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH).

Methods: A retrospective study based on a record review of logbook and charts of 310 adult patients admitted to general ICU of HUCSH between April 2012 and April 2017.

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Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an aggressive and life-threatening syndrome associated with cytokine storm. Here, we present a patient with acquired HLH associated with infection.

Case Presentation: We report a 66-year-old hypertensive and diabetic male patient who presented with four days history of fever and abdominal pain.

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Objective: We present a retrospective cross-sectional review of the electrodiagnostic (EDX) referral and diagnostic patterns in patients with suspected neuromuscular conditions at a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, 313 patients were evaluated at the EDX lab in Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In our patients, nerve conduction study and when appropriate needle electromyography was done.

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Background: A plethora of scientific studies has shown diffuse slowing on electroencephalograph (EEG) study is a frequent occurrence in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, compared to the healthy controls. Little is known about EEG slowing and PD in the sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with EEG slowing in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

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Background: Brain and spine magnetic resonance image (MRI) have an invaluable importance in diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) in low prevalence countries such as Ethiopia. The objective of our study was to characterize the neuroimaging features and associated factors in Multiple sclerosis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Method: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 30 multiple sclerosis patients at Yehuleshet Specialty Clinic, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare form of venous stroke with diverse clinical manifestations. Word-finding difficulty (anomia) is rarely reported in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis.

Case Presentation: We report a 30-year-old right-handed Ethiopian female patient, who presented with global headache associated with a new onset word-finding difficulty of 2 weeks duration.

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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Approximately 50% of cases of skeletal TB involve the spine. Failure to identify and treat these areas of involvement at an early stage may lead to serious complications such as vertebral collapse, spinal compression, and spinal deformity.

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Background: Non-motor symptoms (NMSs) of Parkinson's disease (PD) were often overlooked and less studied. Little is known about NMSs in Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of NMSs and associated factors.

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Background: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)/Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is the spectrum of severe, acute, mucocutaneous, T-cell mediated delayed type IV hypersensitivity reaction and universally related to different drugs. Phenobarbitone is known to cause hypersensitivity reactions with benign pattern; ranging from a mild to moderate rashes but not life-threatening reactions such as TEN/SJS.

Case Report: We report a 14-year-old asthmatic male patient admitted to a local hospital for an acute exacerbation of asthma, after he presented with shortness of breath, cough, and fever.

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated disabling neurological disorder. Very little is known about MS in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and associated factors in cohort of MS patients in Ethiopia.

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