Antibiotic Prescribing Behavior of Physicians in Outpatient Departments in Hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia: Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

Background: Antibiotic resistance, fueled by irrational prescribing, is a global threat associated with health, social, and economic consequences. Understanding antibiotic prescribing behavior and associated factors is important to promote good prescribing practice.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors affecting antibiotic prescribing behaviors of physicians based on the theory of planned behavior in hospitals in northwest Ethiopia in 2022.

Assessment of challenges and opportunities in antibiotic stewardship program implementation in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance (AMR) and results in mortality, morbidity, and financial burden. Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) with education can resolve a number of barriers recognized in the implementation of successful ASPs. The aim of this study was to assess health professionals' perceptions and status of ASPs in hospitals in 2022.

Spiritual Holy Water Sites in Ethiopia: Unrecognized High-Risk Settings for Transmission of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Ethiopia is a high-tuberculosis (TB) burden country with 157 new cases per 100,000 people, with 23,800 TB-related deaths in 2020. In Ethiopia, TB patients have different healthcare-seeking behaviors. They frequently visit spiritual places, such as holy water sites (HWSs), to seek treatment for their illness spiritually.

Genetic diversity of strains isolated from spiritual holy water site attendees in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study.

Background: The genetic diversity of complex (MTBC) strains was characterized among isolates from individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) symptoms attended holy water sites (HWSs) in the Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from June 2019 to March 2020 to describe the genetic diversity and drug-resistance profiles of MTBC isolates. Sputum specimens were collected and cultured in the Löwenstein-Jensen culture medium.

Relationship between Antibiotic Consumption and Resistance: A Systematic Review.

Background: Unreserved use of antibiotics exerted selective pressure on susceptible bacteria, resulting in the survival of resistant strains. Despite this, the relationship between antibiotic resistance (ABR) and antibiotic consumption (ABC) is rarely studied. This systematic review aims to review the relationship between ABC and ABR from 2016 to 2022.

A six years trend analysis of systemic antibiotic consumption in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Consumption of antibiotics, a major global threat to public health, is perhaps the key driver of antibiotic resistance. Monitoring antibiotic consumption is crucial to tackling antimicrobial resistance. This study assessed antibiotic consumption trends during the last six years in the Bahir Dar branch of the Ethiopian pharmaceutical supply agency (EPSA), Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022.

Geographical disparities and determinants of infant mortality in Ethiopia: mapping and spatial analysis using EDHS data.

Background: Infant mortality remains a public health challenge in Ethiopia. Exploring infant mortality will aid in tracking the progress toward achieving sustainable development goals.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the geographical variations and associated factors of infant mortality in Ethiopia.

Prevalence of Leishmania RNA virus in Leishmania parasites in patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by different protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) was identified as the first Leishmania infecting virus in 1998. Different studies showed the presence and role of the LRV in Leishmania parasites causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

High NEK2 Expression Is a Predictor of Tumor Recurrence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients After Hepatectomy.

Background/aim: Better prognosis of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unsatisfactory due to recurrence and chemoresistance. In this respect it is important to identify molecular targets specific to the disease in order to design effective therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic role of Never-in-mitosis-A-related kinase 2 (NEK2) in HCC.

Branched chain amino acid suppressed insulin-initiated proliferation of human cancer cells through induction of autophagy.

Background: Branched chain amino acid (BCAA) dietary supplementation inhibits activation of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) axis in diabetic animal models. However, the in vitro effect of BCAA on human cancer cell lines under hyper-insulinemic conditions remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: Colon (HCT-116) and hepatic (HepG2) tumor cells were treated with varying concentrations of BCAA with or without fluorouracil (5-FU).

High STAT4 expression is a better prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) mediates the intracellular effects of interleukin-12, leading to the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and natural killer cells cytotoxicity. However, the clinical significance of STAT4 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains virtually unknown.

Methods: A total of 66 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled in this study.