Assessment of abnormal liver function tests and associated factors among COVID-19-infected patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022: a facility-based comparative cross-sectional study.

Objective: Liver function test (LFT) abnormalities are higher in patients with severe COVID-19. Most of the studies on this theme were conducted in foreign nations, and the association with LFT abnormalities was not sufficiently addressed in the study areas. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on liver function of patients.

Risk stratification and prognostic value of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time among COVID-19 patients.

Background: COVID-19 is a viral disease caused by a new strain of corona virus. Currently, prognosis and risk stratification of COVID-19 patients is done by the disease's clinical presentation. Therefore, identifying laboratory biomarkers for disease prognosis and risk stratification of COVID-19 patients is critical for prompt treatment.

Baseline Thrombocytopenia and Disease Severity Among COVID-19 Patients, Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Center, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Thrombocytopenia and platelet indices in COVID-19 patients were important for prompt treatment and management of the disease. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of thrombocytopenia, platelet indices, and its association with disease severity among COVID-19 patients at the Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, COVID-19 treatment center, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 117 conveniently recruited COVID-19 patients from March to June 2021.

Alteration of Endocrine Hormones and Antibody Responses in Different Spectrum of Tuberculosis Disease.

Effective control of () infection is mediated by multifaceted factors that involve both the endocrine and immune system. Profiling hormones and antibodies in different stages of TB provides insight in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we profiled endocrine hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, growth hormone and leptins) and strain H37RV lipoarabinomannan (LAM)-specific antibody levels in plasma samples, collected from pulmonary TB (PTB) patients, TB lymphadenitis (TBLN) patients and latently infected (QFT-positive) or uninfected (QFT-negative) apparently healthy individuals using ELISA.

Aetiologies of acute undifferentiated febrile illness at the emergency ward of the University of Gondar Hospital, Ethiopia.

Objective: Causes of acute febrile illness (AFI) often remain undetermined in developing countries, due to overlap of symptoms and limited available diagnostics. We aimed to assess the aetiology of AFI in adults in a referral hospital in northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: While all participants were tested for malaria by rapid diagnostic test (RDT), microscopy was only done on physician's request.

Intestinal Parasitosis and its Association with CD4+ T Cell Count and Viral Load among People Living with HIV in Parasite Endemic Settings of Northwest Ethiopia.

Purpose: To study intestinal parasitosis and its association with viral load and CD4+ T cell count in HIV-infected individuals at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2019. Three hundred and sixteen study participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique.

Association of IL-10 (- 1082 A/G) and IL-6 (- 174 G/C) gene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia population.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 are the most important cytokine with pro and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. Dysregulation of IL-6 and IL-10 are associated with increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Despite this, a fundamental understanding of both cytokine gene polymorphisms with its expression is critical in understanding of cellular mechanism of insulin resistance as well as T2DM intervention.

Bacterial Meningitis Among Adult Patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital.

Background: Bacterial meningitis is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The most frequent causes of bacterial meningitis are , and . This study aimed to determine bacterial meningitis and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns among adult patients.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Hospital-Acquired Infection Prevention and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections can be acquired by a patient or develop among hospital staff, as a more serious problem in low- and middle-income hospital settings. Assessing the level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards hospital-acquired infection prevention among healthcare workers and identifying the associated factors has an unquestionable importance of handling and management of these infections. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practice towards HAIs prevention and associated factors in healthcare workers at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, North West Ethiopia.

Evaluation of C-reactive protein and myxovirus resistance protein A to guide the rational use of antibiotics among acute febrile adult patients in Northwest Ethiopia.

Objectives: In low-resource settings, treatment is often given empirically without knowledge of the aetiology due to a lack of diagnostics. In the search for reliable rapid tests to guide treatment work-up, this study was performed to determine whether two biomarkers could differentiate bacterial from non-bacterial infections in acute febrile patients.

Methods: Adults with acute fever were recruited at a referral hospital in Ethiopia.

Opportunistic Cryptococcal Antigenemia in the HAART Era at HIV Epidemic Settings of Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: is a frequent opportunistic infection in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. While the advent of ART reduces the occurrence of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV patients, cryptococcal disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world especially in sub-Saharan Africa which is the epicenter of HIV. This study aimed to assess the cryptococcal antigenemia, CD4+ Th cell counts, HIV RNA viral load, and clinical presentations among HIV-positive patients in Northwest Ethiopia.

Tuberculosis and its association with CD4 T cell count among adult HIV positive patients in Ethiopian settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and HV have been intertwined and makeup a deadly human syndemic worldwide, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Previous studies have reported different TB incidences and its association with CD4 T cell counts among HIV positive patients in Ethiopia. Thus, the goal of this meta-analysis was, first, to determine pooled incident TB among adult HIV positive patients, and second, to assess the association between incident TB and baseline CD4 T cell count strata's.

Validation of in-house liquid direct agglutination test antigen: the potential diagnostic test in visceral Leishimaniasis endemic areas of Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia is a re-emerging threat to public health, with increased geographical distribution and number of cases. It is a fatal disease without early diagnosis and treatment; thus, the availability of affordable diagnostic tools is crucial. However, due to delays caused by import regulations, procurement and late delivery of imported test kits, accessibility remains a problem in the control program.

T lymphocyte subpopulations and intestinal helminthes profile among tuberculosis patients co-infected with HIV before and after anti tubercular treatment at University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Tuberculosis continues to be a health problem of both developed and developing countries, and its incidence has currently increased due to HIV induced immune suppression. HIV-co-infection decreases the total number of CD4+ T cells since the virus preferentially replicates with in activated CD4+ T cells and macrophages, resulting in the disruption of granuloma to contain M. tuberculosis.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious public health concern worldwide. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the major mode in endemic areas, including Ethiopia, where little is known about pregnant women's knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards HBV infection and MTCT. Therefore, the study is aimed at determining the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards HBV among pregnant women attending antenatal care.

Chronic kidney disease among human immunodeficiency virus positive patients on antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at risk for renal disease as a consequence of complications of antiretroviral treatment. Particularly, the complication of kidney disease is high in patients who switched to Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate. The treatment is associated with nephrotoxicity, decrease in glomerular filtration rate, leading to kidney disease.

TNF-α (-308) Gene Polymorphism and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Ethiopian Diabetes Patients.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder resulting from insulin insufficiency or function. Predisposing factors for T2DM are mainly genetic and environmental. Genetic polymorphism of cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is suggestive of interference with insulin-sensitive glucose uptake and induces insulin resistance that ultimately could lead to T2DM.

Immunological Impacts of Diabetes on the Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The interaction between diabetes and major world infections like TB is a major public health concern because of rapidly rising levels of diabetes. The dual burden of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a major global public health problem. Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for the development of active and latent tuberculosis.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for HIV, Hepatitis B and C among blood Donors in South Gondar District blood Bank, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Despite the undeniable significance of blood transfusion in saving a millions life in emergencies and medical treatment, the quality of blood faced challenges from transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HBV (hepatitis B virus) and HCV (hepatitis C virus). This cross-sectional study was undertaken with the aim of determining the seroprevalence and risk factors of HIV, HBV, and HCV among blood donors.

Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted at Debre Tabor district hospital from January 2017 to February 2018.

The protective effect of isoniazid preventive therapy on tuberculosis incidence among HIV positive patients receiving ART in Ethiopian settings: a meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV makeup a deadly synergy of infectious disease, and the combined effect is apparent in resource limited countries like Ethiopia. Previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent results about the protective effect of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) on active TB incidence among HIV positive patients receiving ART. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was, first, to determine the protective effect of IPT on active tuberculosis incidence, and second, to assess the pooled incidence of active TB among HIV positive patients taking ART with and without IPT intervention in Ethiopia.

Infection and Its Risk Factors: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study in Resource-Limited Settings of Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: implicated for the causation of gastrointestinal tract infections including gastric cancer. Although the infection is prevalent globally, the impact is immense in countries with poor environmental and socioeconomic status including Ethiopia. Epidemiological study on the magnitude of and possible risk factors has priceless implication.

Comparison of RPR and ELISA with TPHA for the Diagnosis of Syphilis: Implication for Updating Syphilis Point-of-Care Tests in Ethiopia.

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the spirochete , and it persists to be a major public health problem in Africa, including Ethiopia. Syphilis diagnosis is made by either nontreponemal or treponemal approaches, though in developing countries the diagnosis relies mostly on nonspecific tests due to several reasons. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and agreement of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with hemagglutination assay (TPHA) as a gold standard for the diagnosis of syphilis.

Evaluation of SD BIOLINE Ag rapid test against double ELISA with SD Ag ELISA and EZ-STEP Ag ELISA tests.

Background: antibody titters fall very slowly even after successful treatment. Therefore, tests detecting antibody lack specificity and sensitivity. On the other hand, stool antigen tests are reported as an alternative assay because of their reliability and simplicity.

Agreement between Direct Fluorescent Microscopy and Ziehl-Neelsen Concentration Techniques in Detection of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: The sensitivity of smear microscopy for diagnosis of tuberculosis might be improved through treatment of sputum with sodium hypochlorite and application of fluorescent microscopy. This study aimed to determine the agreement between direct Fluorescent Microscopy and Ziehl-Neelsen concentration technique by their ability of detecting acid fast bacilli in resource poor settings.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Gondar University Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.