Gender disparity in health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key outcome indicator in antiretroviral therapy program. In Ethiopia, primary studies on gender disparity in HRQoL among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are conflicting, with no pooled estimation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender disparity in HRQoL among PLHA in Ethiopia.

Utilization and determinants of maternity waiting homes among pastoralist mothers in Dire district, southern Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Maternity waiting homes are cost-effective, World Health Organization-approved components of comprehensive prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care strategies. However, few community-based studies within Ethiopia's pastoralist communities, and none in the study area, have been conducted to determine actual usage or to gain a thorough understanding of the factors influencing utilization.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, supplemented by qualitative methods, was conducted from June 25 to July 25, 2023.

Hygienic practice during complementary feeding and associated factors among mothers of children aged 6-24 months in Borecha Woreda, southwestern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Complementary feeding is a critical transitional phase in the life of an infant, and complementary foods should be prepared, stored, and fed hygienically, with clean hands, dishes, and utensils to prevent diseases. However, the prevalence and risk factors associated with hygienic complementary feeding practice have not been well addressed in Ethiopia, especially in the study area.

Objective: This study aimed to assess hygienic practices and associated factors during complementary feeding among mothers with children aged 6-24 months in Borecha Woreda, Buno Bedele Zone, southwestern Ethiopia, in 2022.

Engineering of PVA/PVP Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications.

Hydrogels have gained significant popularity in agricultural applications in terms of minimizing waste and mitigating the negative environmental impact of agrochemicals. This review specifically examines the utilization of environmentally friendly, shapable hydrogels composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in various casings for crop protection against different pests, fertilizing, and watering. To activate their effectiveness, PVA/PVP hydrogels were loaded with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic environmentally friendly pesticides, namely hydrogen peroxide (HP), the essential oil thymol, and urea as a fertilizer, either separately or in combination.

Synthesis and Characterization of Durable Antibiofilm and Antiviral Silane-Phosphonium Thin Coatings for Medical and Agricultural Applications.

Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses cause disease in a range of hosts, from humans to plants. Bacterial biofilms, communities of bacteria, e.g.

Engineered Cross-Linked Silane with Urea Polymer Thin Durable Coatings onto Polymeric Films for Controlled Antiviral Release of Activated Chlorine and Essential Oils.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization announced a pandemic attributed to SARS-CoV-2, a novel beta-coronavirus, which spread widely from China. As a result, the need for antiviral surfaces has increased significantly. Here, the preparation and characterization of new antiviral coatings on polycarbonate (PC) for controlled release of activated chlorine (Cl) and thymol separately and combined are described.

Metabolic syndrome among people living with HIV in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) can cause metabolic disorders such as lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, all of which are symptoms of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In Ethiopia, despite the existence of the primary studies, there was no pooled study conducted to summarize the country-level MetS among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Therefore, this study aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of MetS among PLHIV in Ethiopia.

Fabrication and Characterization of Hydrogen Peroxide and Thymol-Loaded PVA/PVP Hydrogel Coatings as a Novel Anti-Mold Surface for Hay Protection.

Animal food source production is increasing due to the growing world population. Many sources (e.g.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Ethiopia in 2021: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Worldwide, hesitancy to be immunized against SARS-CoV-2 is the most common barrier to reducing COVID-19 incidence. Our study investigated determinants for hesitancy and will be helpful to community mobilizers, health professionals and policymakers.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and determinants of hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccination among patients attending public hospitals in South Gondar zone, Ethiopia.

Demonstration of Scale-Invariant Rayleigh-Taylor Instability Growth in Laser-Driven Cylindrical Implosion Experiments.

Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth is shown to be hydrodynamically scale invariant in convergent cylindrical implosions for targets that varied in radial dimension and implosion timescale by a factor of 3. The targets were driven directly by laser irradiation providing a short impulse, and instability growth at an embedded aluminum interface occurs as it converges radially inward by a factor of 2.25 and decelerates on a central foam core.

Management of accidental exposure to HCV, HBV and HIV in healthcare workers in Romania.

Introduction: Accidental blood exposure in healthcare workers is an important issue worldwide. We present a study which analyzed the route of exposure, the source of infection and the post-exposure prophylaxis treatment administered.

Method: We performed retrospective study of occupational exposure to HBV, HCV and HIV and the subsequent post-exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof.

Comparative mortality risks of antipsychotic medications in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: All antipsychotic medications carry warnings of increased mortality for older adults, but little is known about comparative mortality risks between individual agents.

Aims: To estimate the comparative mortality risks of commonly prescribed antipsychotic agents in older people living in the community.

Method: A retrospective, claims-based cohort study was conducted of people over 65 years old living in the community who had been newly prescribed risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, haloperidol, aripiprazole or ziprasidone (n = 136 393).

Eradication of multi-drug resistant bacteria by a novel Zn-doped CuO nanocomposite.

Zinc-doped copper oxide nanoparticles are synthesized and simultaneously deposited on cotton fabric using ultrasound irradiation. The optimization of the processing conditions, the specific reagent ratio, and the precursor concentration results in the formation of uniform nanoparticles with an average size of ≈30 nm. The antibacterial activity of the Zn-doped CuO Cu₀.

Feasibility and effectiveness of an electronic hand hygiene feedback device targeted to improve rates of hand hygiene.

Various electronic tools have been developed to monitor hand hygiene compliance (HHC). A prospective, investigator-blinded, pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an electronic hand hygiene feedback device to improve rates of hand hygiene. The first month of participation provided baseline rates of HHC (37%).

Measurement of retention in care among adults infected with HIV in an urban clinic.

Adults infected with HIV live longer when they receive regular medical care, yet many adults are not retained in care. Providers measure retention in order to evaluate interventions to improve retention and quality of HIV care. However, multiple measures for retention exist.

Acute coronary syndrome: factors affecting time to arrival in a diverse urban setting.

This study seeks to better understand how individuals of different cultural/ethnic backgrounds in an urban setting assess the signs and symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and the ensuing decision to take urgent action. Few studies exist which examine these differences and enhance understanding of how to address these differences and, ultimately, reduce morbidity and mortality from ACS. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of urban patients of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds regarding their actions upon recognition of ACS signs and symptoms.

A pilot study assessing the role of 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels in patients with vitiligo vulgaris.

Background: Very low vitamin D levels have been noted in patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To determine whether low vitamin D levels are associated with autoimmunity in the setting of vitiligo vulgaris.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 45 consecutive patients with vitiligo vulgaris.

A randomized controlled trial for reducing risks for sexually transmitted infections through enhanced patient-based partner notification.

Objectives: We sought to assess the effectiveness of approaches targeting improved sexually transmitted infection (STI) sexual partner notification through patient referral.

Methods: From January 2002 through December 2004, 600 patients with Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis were recruited from STI clinics and randomly assigned to either a standard-of-care group or a group that was counseled at the time of diagnosis and given additional follow-up contact. Participants completed an interview at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months and were checked at 6 months for gonorrhea or chlamydial infection via nucleic acid amplification testing of urine.

KCNE1 constrains the voltage sensor of Kv7.1 K+ channels.

Kv7 potassium channels whose mutations cause cardiovascular and neurological disorders are members of the superfamily of voltage-gated K(+) channels, comprising a central pore enclosed by four voltage-sensing domains (VSDs) and sharing a homologous S4 sensor sequence. The Kv7.1 pore-forming subunit can interact with various KCNE auxiliary subunits to form K(+) channels with very different gating behaviors.

S1 constrains S4 in the voltage sensor domain of Kv7.1 K+ channels.

Voltage-gated K(+) channels comprise a central pore enclosed by four voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). While movement of the S4 helix is known to couple to channel gate opening and closing, the nature of S4 motion is unclear. Here, we substituted S4 residues of Kv7.

A tale of switched functions: from cyclooxygenase inhibition to M-channel modulation in new diphenylamine derivatives.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes are molecular targets of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the most used medication worldwide. However, the COX enzymes are not the sole molecular targets of NSAIDs. Recently, we showed that two NSAIDs, diclofenac and meclofenamate, also act as openers of Kv7.

Predictors of partner notification for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae: an examination of social cognitive and psychological factors.

Efforts to control chlamydial and gonococcal infections include notifying eligible sexual partners of possible infection, primarily by asking the diagnosed patient to notify their partners. This approach, known as patient referral, is widely used but poorly understood. The current study examined psychosocial and cognitive factors associated with patient referral among an urban, minority sample of 168 participants recently diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Long-term results of maximally aggressive trimodality therapy in a high-risk subset of early-stage cervical cancer patients.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term survival and treatment-related morbidity associated with treating patients who have early-stage cervical carcinoma metastatic to the paraaortic lymph nodes with radical hysterectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant, extended field chemoradiation with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Study Design: From 1988 to 1997, 14 consecutive patients referred to Radiological Associates of Sacramento following radical hysterectomy and pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy with findings of clinical stage IB or IIA cervical cancer and histologically confirmed lymph node metastasis to the common iliac or paraaortic distributions were treated with adjuvant, extended field chemoradiation utilizing prolonged infusion 5-FU and bolus cisplatin. Retrospective chart review was performed, and survival and morbidity information were analyzed.

Haymaker gene expression in malignant and normal gynecologic tissues.

We previously reported that cell lines established from human carcinomas and leukemias/lymphomas expressed high levels of an intracellular membrane-bound protein, Haymaker, whereas cell lines derived from non-malignant connective tissue cells and lymphoid cells expressed low levels of this gene product. To determine whether these findings reflect neoplastic transformation or, alternatively, tissue specificity, we examined by immunohistochemical and molecular methods the expression of Haymaker in gynecologic organs with and without tumor. A highly specific, affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibody against a 25-mer Haymaker peptide was used for immunohistochemical staining and morphometric analysis of 85 tissue specimens.