Publications by authors named "Kassa T"

Background: Anemia is a serious global public health problem, especially in developing nations. Anemia during pregnancy is appropriately recognized, whereas postpartum anemia especially after cesarean delivery in Ethiopia has received very little attention. Due to this it leads to poor quality of life, palpitations, an increase in maternal infections, exhaustion, diminished cognitive function and postpartum depression.

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Introduction: Gross domestic product (GDP) has been shown to affect government spending on various budget heads including healthcare and the purchase and distribution of vaccines. This vulnerable situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted and exposed the fragile nature of equitable access to vaccines for childhood immunisation globally. A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association of country income status and GDP with vaccination coverage of vaccines for childhood immunisation and other major infectious diseases around the globe will inform global and national policy on equity in living standards and vaccine uptake.

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Blood storage lesion induces cytosolic and membrane changes driven in part by hemoglobin (Hb) oxidation reactions within red blood cells (RBCs). A novel gel formulation containing the antioxidant curcuminoids in a biocompatible solvent system was used to deliver curcumin into RBCs. Incubation of peroxide treated RBCs stored in PBS with curcumin gel led to a reduction in prooxidant ferrylHb and recovery in ATP.

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Background: Chikungunya (CHIK) is a viral disease spread by Aedes mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical countries, including Ethiopia. It is important to educate communities and implement behavioral and social interventions to prevent and control the spread of disease. This study assessed the community's knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) about CHIK disease in the Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia.

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Background: Hereditary spherocytosis is a rare genetic disorder of the red blood cell membrane that is characterized by anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly; however, in the absence of family history and with unusual clinical presentation, the diagnosis might not be made until later in life.

Case Presentation: Here, we present a challenging case of genetically proven hereditary spherocytosis that involves the SPTB gene in a 23-year-old female patient from Ethiopia who had repeated medical visits for episodic jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly, with unusual features of conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, pancytopenia, normal reticulocyte count, and lack of family history, where the delay in diagnosis led to several complications. The patient was successfully managed with simultaneous splenectomy and cholecystectomy.

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Background: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious and economically important viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022 in selected districts of Bale zone, Ethiopia to determine the seroprevalence and serotypes of FMD virus circulating in cattle. Blood samples were collected from cattle and tested for antibodies against non-structural proteins (NSP) of FMD virus using a 3ABC enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

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Background: Optimal medication adherence is vital for the successful implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in managing HIV infection. Global efforts aim to minimize the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including HIV-associated drug resistance.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines and searched multiple databases for eligible studies published until July 10, 2023.

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Background: The limitation of carry out everyday activities independently is a common experience for older adults with functional disabilities, which can hurt their overall well-being. Unfortunately, there is still a dearth of evidence about how common it is among older adults, especially in low-and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of functional disability among older adults living in Bahir Dar city, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2023.

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Introduction: The age at first birth refers to the age at which a woman has her first child. It can significantly influence the demographic behavior of women and the general community. Moreover, teenage childbearing is a serious public health and social problem.

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Article Synopsis
  • Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease affecting primarily goats and sheep, with some controversy around its impact on atypical hosts like cattle, warranting investigation into its progression in both species.
  • The study involved 32 animals (16 goats and 16 cattle) inoculated with a specific PPR virus strain, leading to significant clinical differences: goats showed typical symptoms and earlier virus detection than cattle, which displayed milder signs.
  • Findings emphasize the need for further comparative pathology studies to enhance understanding of PPR virus dynamics and potential transmission pathways, which could be crucial for controlling outbreaks.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on the high prevalence of balance impairment among stroke survivors in Ethiopia, with 51.5% exhibiting this issue, potentially affecting their quality of life and mental health.* -
  • An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 participants using the Berg balance scale and questionnaires to analyze associated risk factors.* -
  • Significant risk factors for balance impairment identified included depression, reliance on walking aids, lack of physiotherapy, abnormal mobility speed, and being unmarried; these factors should be prioritized in rehabilitation efforts.*
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Objective: Chikungunya is a disease caused by mosquito-borne chikungunya virus infection. This disease is becoming one of the emerging/re-emerging viral diseases in tropical and subtropical countries but is neglected by public health systems. This study assessed the seroprevalence of chikungunya virus infection among patients with acute febrile illness seeking healthcare in a malaria-endemic area in the Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia.

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Electrostatic binding of deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) to cytoplasmic domain of band 3 anion transport protein occurs as part of the glycolytic regulation in red blood cells (RBCs). Hb oxidation intermediates not only impact RBC's oxygenation but also RBC's membrane through the interaction with band 3. It is not known however whether these critical pathways undergo changes during the storage of RBCs.

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Objectives: Depression is one of the main causes of disability worldwide and makes a major contribution to the global disease burden, especially in developing countries. It is also one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the older people and a significant risk factor for both disability and death. Despite the fact that little research has been done on it among those who live in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Ethiopia, the aim of this study was to fill the above-mentioned gap among older people.

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Electrospun polymeric nanofibers are essential in various fields for various applications because of their unique properties. Their features are similar to extracellular matrices, which suggests them for applications in healthcare fields, such as antimicrobials, tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, bone regeneration, and biosensors. This review focuses on the synthesis of electrospun polymeric nanofibers, their surface modification, and their biomedical applications.

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Importance: Rabies is a neglected tropical viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.

Objective: This study assessed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Shone Town community toward rabies.

Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shone town, Ethiopia, from November 2022 to April 2023.

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Introduction: Breast milk is the ideal food for the infant and is associated with various public health benefits for both the infant and the mother. The recommended time for early initiation of breastfeeding is within one hour after birth. The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding was lower than the plan of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health Sector Development program.

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Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a major medical and veterinary concern in the world. It is one of the significant diseases in livestock farming communities managed under extensive grazing system like Ethiopia. Domestic intermediate hosts are an important reservoir for the disease spread.

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Blood storage lesion induces cytosolic and membrane changes driven in part by hemoglobin (Hb) oxidation reactions within red blood cells (RBCs). A novel gel formulation containing the antioxidant curcuminoids in a biocompatible solvent system was used to deliver curcumin into RBCs. Incubation of peroxide treated RBCs stored in PBS with curcumin gel led to a reduction in prooxidant ferrylHb and recovery in ATP.

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Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most significant global health threats to the public, animals, and the ecosystem. Inappropriate use of antibiotics in food animals is considered a major driver of AMR in humans. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, and risk perception (KAPP) of dairy farm owners/workers in Addis Ababa about antibiotic use and resistance.

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Introduction: () represents a significant causative agent of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), posing considerable global health challenges. Despite the presence of diagnostic tools and empirically guided therapies, the escalating AMR of continues to pose a threat. This study aims to assess the prevalence of among STI suspected patients in Ethiopia and explore the patterns of AMR to common antimicrobials.

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Background: Caring for a child with cerebral palsy (CP) could negatively affect the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of the mothers who are usually the primary caregivers. To the best of our 'knowledge, there is a dearth of information on the HRQOL of primary caregivers of children with CP in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate caregivers' HRQOL and factors associated with it in Gondar and Bahir Dar Cities, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A systematic review included data from 26 studies involving over 9,000 patients, revealing that about 51% of those with HTN in Ethiopia had uncontrolled blood pressure, with the highest rates occurring in Addis Ababa and according to AHA/ACC guidelines.
  • * Diabetes was identified as a major factor increasing the likelihood of uncontrolled HTN, with a strong odds ratio of 5.19, while other variables like sample size and publication year did not affect the results significantly.
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Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant health issue in Ethiopia, with increasing cases of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) posing a threat to public health.
  • A systematic review identified 19 studies showing a pooled prevalence of 15% for meropenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, with higher rates found in hospital settings (28%) compared to community infections (6%).
  • Geographic analysis revealed the Amhara region had the highest prevalence (23%), while wound samples exhibited the highest resistance rates (25%).
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Purpose: The use of lytic bacteriophages for the control or elimination of pathogenic multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is the promising alternative. However, the emergence of resistant bacterial variants after phage application may challenge its therapeutic benefit. In this study, we aimed to isolate candidate phages from sewage samples against two MDR as well as their phage-resistant variant.

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