Lipidomic Risk Score to Enhance Cardiovascular Risk Stratification for Primary Prevention.

Background: Accurate risk stratification is vital for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, traditional tools such as the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) may underperform within the diverse intermediate-risk group, which includes individuals requiring distinct management strategies.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a lipidomic-enhanced risk score (LRS), specifically targeting risk prediction and reclassification within the intermediate group, benchmarked against the FRS.

A lipidomic based metabolic age score captures cardiometabolic risk independent of chronological age.

Background: Metabolic ageing biomarkers may capture the age-related shifts in metabolism, offering a precise representation of an individual's overall metabolic health.

Methods: Utilising comprehensive lipidomic datasets from two large independent population cohorts in Australia (n = 14,833, including 6630 males, 8203 females), we employed different machine learning models, to predict age, and calculated metabolic age scores (mAge). Furthermore, we defined the difference between mAge and age, termed mAgeΔ, which allow us to identify individuals sharing similar age but differing in their metabolic health status.

Development and validation of a plasmalogen score as an independent modifiable marker of metabolic health: population based observational studies and a placebo-controlled cross-over study.

Background: Decreased levels of circulating ethanolamine plasmalogens [PE(P)], and a concurrent increase in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are consistently reported in various cardiometabolic conditions. Here we devised, a plasmalogen score (Pls Score) that mirrors a metabolic signal that encompasses the levels of PE(P) and PE and captures the natural variation in circulating plasmalogens and perturbations in their metabolism associated with disease, diet, and lifestyle.

Methods: We utilised, plasma lipidomes from the Australian Obesity, Diabetes and Lifestyle study (AusDiab; n = 10,339, 55% women) a nationwide cohort, to devise the Pls Score and validated this in the Busselton Health Study (BHS; n = 4,492, 56% women, serum lipidome) and in a placebo-controlled crossover trial involving Shark Liver Oil (SLO) supplementation (n = 10, 100% men).

Lipidomics Profiling and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in the BioHEART-CT Discovery Cohort.

The current coronary artery disease (CAD) risk scores for predicting future cardiovascular events rely on well-recognized traditional cardiovascular risk factors derived from a population level but often fail individuals, with up to 25% of first-time heart attack patients having no risk factors. Non-invasive imaging technology can directly measure coronary artery plaque burden. With an advanced lipidomic measurement methodology, for the first time, we aim to identify lipidomic biomarkers to enable intervention before cardiovascular events.

Assessing the diagnostic performance of a novel RT-PCR fluorescence method for the detection of human plasmodium species.

Background: Malaria elimination effort is hampered not only by the lack of effective medication but also due to the lack of sensitive diagnostic tools to detect infections with low levels of parasitemia. Therefore, more sensitive and specific high-throughput molecular diagnostic approaches are needed for accurate malaria diagnosis.

Methods: In the present study, the performance of a novel single-tube MC004 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (MRC-Holland, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) was assessed for the detection of infection and discrimination of Plasmodium species.

Lipidomic profiling in the Strong Heart Study identified American Indians at risk of chronic kidney disease.

Dyslipidemia associates with and usually precedes the onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but a comprehensive assessment of molecular lipid species associated with risk of CKD is lacking. Here, we sought to identify fasting plasma lipids associated with risk of CKD among American Indians in the Strong Heart Family Study, a large-scale community-dwelling of individuals, followed by replication in Mexican Americans from the San Antonio Family Heart Study and Caucasians from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. We also performed repeated measurement analysis to examine the temporal relationship between the change in the lipidome and change in kidney function between baseline and follow-up of about five years apart.

Lipidomic Signatures of Changes in Adiposity: A Large Prospective Study of 5849 Adults from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study.

Lipid metabolism is tightly linked to adiposity. Comprehensive lipidomic profiling offers new insights into the dysregulation of lipid metabolism in relation to weight gain. Here, we investigated the relationship of the human plasma lipidome and changes in waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI).

A mixed-methods study exploring adherence to the referral of severely sick children in primary health care in Southern Ethiopia.

Background: We have shown that Ethiopian primary healthcare providers refer only half of the severely sick children who, according to guidelines, should get an urgent referral. Frequently parents of referred ill children don't bring their children to the next level. We aimed to describe the referral of severely ill Ethiopian children based on primary healthcare register reviews and explore health care providers' and parents' perceptions regarding factors that hinder or enhance referral.

Factors associated with the referral of children with severe illnesses at primary care level in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Context And Objective: Ethiopia's primary care has a weak referral system for sick children. We aimed to identify health post and child factors associated with referrals of sick children 0-59 months of age and evaluate the healthcare providers' adherence to referral guidelines.

Design: A cross-sectional facility-based survey.

Correction: High-coverage plasma lipidomics reveals novel sex-specific lipidomic fingerprints of age and BMI: Evidence from two large population cohort studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.

High-coverage plasma lipidomics reveals novel sex-specific lipidomic fingerprints of age and BMI: Evidence from two large population cohort studies.

Obesity and related metabolic diseases show clear sex-related differences. The growing burden of these diseases calls for better understanding of the age- and sex-related metabolic consequences. High-throughput lipidomic analyses of population-based cohorts offer an opportunity to identify disease-risk-associated biomarkers and to improve our understanding of lipid metabolism and biology at a population level.

Does a complex intervention targeting communities, health facilities and district health managers increase the utilisation of community-based child health services? A before and after study in intervention and comparison areas of Ethiopia.

Introduction: Ethiopia successfully reduced mortality in children below 5 years of age during the past few decades, but the utilisation of child health services was still low. Optimising the Health Extension Programme was a 2-year intervention in 26 districts, focusing on community engagement, capacity strengthening of primary care workers and reinforcement of district accountability of child health services. We report the intervention's effectiveness on care utilisation for common childhood illnesses.

Mapping the Associations of the Plasma Lipidome With Insulin Resistance and Response to an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.

Context: Insulin resistance (IR) remains a global health challenge. Lipidomics offers an opportunity to identify biomarkers and better understand mechanisms of IR associated with abnormal lipid metabolism.

Objective: The objective of this article is to determine plasma lipid species associated with indices of IR and evaluate the lipidome response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Insufficient referral practices of sick children in Ethiopia shown in a cross-sectional survey.

Aim: This study aimed at assessing the referral of sick young infants and children from the community, health posts and health centres to higher levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four of the largest Ethiopian regions from December 2016 to February 2017. Referral practices were assessed at each level in 46 districts of these regions.

Kangaroo Mother Care implementation research to develop models for accelerating scale-up in India and Ethiopia: study protocol for an adequacy evaluation.

Introduction: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is the practice of early, continuous and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby with exclusive breastfeeding. Despite clear evidence of impact in improving survival and health outcomes among low birth weight infants, KMC coverage has remained low and implementation has been limited. Consequently, only a small fraction of newborns that could benefit from KMC receive it.

Elimination of Guinea Worm Disease in Ethiopia; Current Status of the Disease's, Eradication Strategies and Challenges to the End Game.

Dracunculiasis, also named Guinea Worm Disease (GWD), is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) caused by a parasitic nematode known as Dracunculus medinensis and has been known since antiquity as 'fiery serpent' from Israelites. It is transmitted to humans via drinking contaminated water containing infective copepods. Given, its feasibility for eradication, the Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) was launched in 1980 with the aim of eradicating the disease.

Nasopharyngeal Carriage and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae among Children under Five in Southwest Ethiopia.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of is found to play an important role in the development and transmission of pneumococcal diseases. In this study, we assessed the nasopharyngeal carriage, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and associated risk factors of among children under five. A total of 361 children under five attending the outpatient department of Shanan Gibe Hospital in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia were enrolled from June to September 2014.

Concurrent Plasmodium infection, anemia and their correlates among newly diagnosed people living with HIV/AIDS in Northern Ethiopia.

The magnitude of concurrent malaria infection and the impact it has on hematological abnormalities, such as anemia in people living with HIV/AIDS, is not well studied in Ethiopian set up. In this cross sectional study, therefore, we assessed the prevalence of concurrent malaria infection and anemia among highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) naive people living with HIV/AIDS between October, 2012 to May, 2013 in Northern Ethiopia. After obtaining consent, socio demographic, clinical, immunological and behavioural data was obtained.

Efficacy of Chloroquine for the Treatment of Vivax malaria in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Resistance to anti-malarials is a major challenge for effective malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa. This triggered a need for routine monitoring of the efficacy of the antimalarial drugs every two years in all malaria endemic countries. Chloroquine remained the drug of choice for the treatment of vivax malaria in Ethiopia.

The effects of improved sanitation on diarrheal prevalence, incidence, and duration in children under five in the SNNPR State, Ethiopia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death, killing 1.3 million in 2013 across the globe, of whom, 0.59 million were children under 5 years of age.

Hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection among pregnant women in resource-limited high endemic setting, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: implications for prevention and control measures.

Background: Hepatitis, a highly contagious viral infection, is one of the leading killer diseases globally caused by hepatitis virus. Among the existing viral causes for hepatic failure, hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays a significant role with devastating implications, especially when combined with other viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Co-infection with hepatitis B virus and HIV leads to increased morbidity and mortality as compared to independent HIV and HBV infections.

Predictors of Late HIV Diagnosis among Adult People Living with HIV/AIDS Who Undertake an Initial CD4 T Cell Evaluation, Northern Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Early HIV testing and timely initiation of ART is critical for the improved quality of life of PLWHIV. Having identified a higher rates of Late HIV diagnosis, this study was aimed to determine Determinants of late diagnosis of HIV among adult HIV patients in Bahir Dar, Northern Ethiopia.

Methods: A case control study was conducted between January 2010 to December 2011 at Bahir Dar Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital.

Awareness and knowledge on timing of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among antenatal care attending women in Southern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.

Background: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV infection remains a major public health problem and constitutes the most important cause of HIV infection in children under the age of 15 years old. Awareness on MTCT of HIV and knowledge of its timing usually pose a direct effect on utilization of PMTCT services (mainly HIV testing, infant feeding options and antiretroviral use). The objective of this study is to assess pregnant women's knowledge on timing of MTCT of HIV in Southern Ethiopia.