Identifying Key Binding Interactions Between the Cardiac L-Type Calcium Channel and Calmodulin Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Defects in the binding of the calcium sensing protein calmodulin (CaM) to the L-type calcium channel (Ca1.2) or to the ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias with distinct phenotypes, such as long-QT syndrome (LQTS) and catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Certain CaM mutations lead to LQTS while other mutations lead to CPVT, but the mechanisms by which a specific mutation can lead to each disease phenotype are not well-understood.

A structure-based computational model of IPR1 incorporating Ca and IP3 regulation.

The inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IPR) mediates Ca release in many cell types and is pivotal to a wide range of cellular processes. High-resolution cryoelectron microscopy studies have provided new structural details of IPR type 1 (IPR1), showing that channel function is determined by the movement of various domains within and between each of its four subunits. Channel properties are regulated by ligands, such as Ca and IP3, which bind at specific sites and control the interactions between these domains.

A Hierarchical Bayesian approach to small area estimation of health insurance coverage in Ethiopian administrative zones for better policies and programs.

Sample surveys are extensively used to provide reliable direct estimates for large areas or domains with enough sample sizes at national and regional levels. However, zones are unplanned domains by the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program and need more sample sizes to produce direct survey estimates with adequate precision. Conducting surveys in small areas (like zones) is too expensive and time-consuming, making it unfeasible for developing countries like Ethiopia.

Mapping the spatial disparities of HIV prevalence in Ethiopian zones using the generalized additive model.

HIV is a worldwide social and health pandemic that poses a significant problem. This study contributes to the 2030 global agenda of reducing HIV prevalence. The study analyzed HIV prevalence using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data.

A non-lethal left sided thoracic impalement injury: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Impalement injuries are those injuries that result from the injuring object or weapon being stuck on to the victim's body parts. Such cases occur rarely and when they do they pose a great challenge starting from transportation to anesthesia induction and surgical decision. The extremities are the commonest parts of the body where this occurs.

The prevalence of undernutrition among students attending traditional Ethiopian orthodox Tewahedo church schools in northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Undernutrition is a major public health concern affecting the health, growth, development, and academic performance of adolescents studying in school. During this crucial period, dietary patterns have a vital impact on lifetime nutritional status and health. The problem of undernutrition among particular groups of adolescents attending traditional schools has not previously been studied.

Third delay and associated factors among women who gave birth at public health facilities of Gurage zone, southern Ethiopia.

Background: The third delay is a delay in accessing emergency obstetric care timely and appropriately once a woman reaches a health facility. The third delay plays a crucial role as an indicator to assess the quality of obstetrics services and is often the leading contributing factor to maternal mortality in developing countries. Although considerable research has been conducted on pre-facility delays in healthcare access, there is a lack of focus on delays experienced upon arrival at health facilities, particularly in Ethiopia and the specific study areas of Gurage zone.

Availability of adequate iodized salt at household level in rural communities in Farta district, Northwest, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Iodine is a crucial trace element for thyroid hormone synthesis. All age groups are affected by iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), especially pregnant women, young women, and children. Iodine deficiency disorder has been recognized as a serious public health issue in Ethiopia.

Acceptance, utilization, and factors associated with immediate postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device among mothers delivered at public health facilities in Hawassa city, Ethiopia: Institution-based study.

Background: Immediate postpartum intra-uterine contraceptive device (IPPIUCD) placement within 10 min after the expulsion of the placenta following vaginal delivery is a safe and effective method when provided after comprehensive counseling. Studies on its acceptance and utilization are scarce in the study area. This study aims to assess the acceptance and utilization of IPPIUCD.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor Type 2 (RyR2) Gating Mechanism.

Mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) have been linked to fatal cardiac arrhythmias such as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). While many CPVT mutations are associated with an increase in Ca leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the mechanistic details of RyR2 channel gating are not well understood, and this poses a barrier in the development of new pharmacological treatments. To address this, we explore the gating mechanism of the RyR2 using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

Individual and community level determinants of iron intake among children 6-59 months old in Ethiopia: multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Background: Iron deficiency is one of the most important factors of anemia which is caused by poor iron intake. In addition, children need more iron because of their rapid growth. On the other side, daily intake of iron is also recommended as a standard approach for the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia.

The role of subunit cooperativity on ryanodine receptor 2 calcium signaling.

The ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) is composed of four subunits that control calcium (Ca) release in cardiac cells. RyR2 serves primarily as a Ca sensor and can respond to rapid sub-millisecond pulses of Ca while remaining shut at resting concentrations. However, it is not known how the four subunits interact for the RyR2 to function as an effective Ca sensor.

Sizes of atmospheric particulate matters determine the outcomes of their interactions with rainfall processes.

Environmental sustainability remains at risk, given the coupled trends of economic development with air pollution. The risk is even greater in the water-stressed world, given the potential suppression effects of air pollutants on rain formation. Here, since these suppression effects remain debated, we tested the hypothesis that air pollutants suppress rainfall in the water-stressed South Africa.

Deworming among preschool age children in sub-Saharan Africa: pooled prevalence and multi-level analysis.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) preschool age children are more vulnerable to soil-transmitted helminths (STH) which caused millions of morbidity because of low socioeconomic status and lack of clean water and sanitation. Despite this problem, there is minimal evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with deworming medication utilization among preschool age children (pre-SAC) in SSA regions. Hence this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of deworming among preschool age children in SSA.

Outcome of diabetic ketoacidosis among paediatric patients managed with modified DKA protocol at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital and Yekatit 12 hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious acute complication of diabetes mellitus that carries a significant risk of mortality with delayed treatment in low-resource countries. This study aimed to determine the outcome of paediatric DKA patients' managed with a modified DKA treatment protocol using intermittent bolus subcutaneous insulin administration.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design with retrospective data collection was conducted among children younger than 14 years of age admitted from January 2013 to February 2017.

Spatial small area estimates of undernutrition for under five children in Ethiopia via combining survey and census data.

A survey is typically designed to produce reliable estimates of target variables of the population at national and regional levels. For unplanned zones with small sample sizes, reliable estimates are needed in many ways. Because of the small sample sizes, direct survey estimates for unplanned zones are unreliable.

Small Area Estimation of Undernutrition under Age Five Children Based on Spatial-Temporal Models.

The mean flow of direct survey estimates is mainly concerning the sample adequacy fulfillment unless it has been produced large variance estimates, and therefore, the small area estimations are developed to manage this flaw of the path. Small area estimation improved the direct survey estimates by borrowing strength from the census data and at the same time by using historical data from consecutive surveys. In this paper, we applied the spatiotemporal Fay-Herriot (STFH) model for producing fairly reliable disaggregate-level estimates of undernutrition indicators across all zones.

Application of acid activated natural clays for improving quality of Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass) oil.

Natural clay has been considered as one of the most appropriate, locally available, effective, and low-cost edible oil adsorptive purifying materials. The removal of impurities and colored substances from edible oil increases the quality of oils. This study reports the application of acid activated different clays for bleaching of Niger oil.

Voltage-mediated mechanism for calcium wave synchronization and arrhythmogenesis in atrial tissue.

A wide range of atrial arrythmias are caused by molecular defects in proteins that regulate calcium (Ca) cycling. In many cases, these defects promote the propagation of subcellular Ca waves in the cell, which can perturb the voltage time course and induce dangerous perturbations of the action potential (AP). However, subcellular Ca waves occur randomly in cells and, therefore, electrical coupling between cells substantially decreases their effect on the AP.

Long-Time Prediction of Arrhythmic Cardiac Action Potentials Using Recurrent Neural Networks and Reservoir Computing.

The electrical signals triggering the heart's contraction are governed by non-linear processes that can produce complex irregular activity, especially during or preceding the onset of cardiac arrhythmias. Forecasts of cardiac voltage time series in such conditions could allow new opportunities for intervention and control but would require efficient computation of highly accurate predictions. Although machine-learning (ML) approaches hold promise for delivering such results, non-linear time-series forecasting poses significant challenges.

Factors Associated with Attitude towards Wife-Beating among Married Women of the Reproductive Ages in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Evidence from demographic and health surveys in various countries and Ethiopia too showed that more women are generally believed to justify intimate partner violence (IPV) than men do. An attitude that justifies IPV is one of the factors affecting victimization and perpetration from IPV. However, women's justification about the violence and factors affecting the justification are not well documented, particularly by addressing household factors such as household food conditions.

Computational Analysis of Binding Interactions between the Ryanodine Receptor Type 2 and Calmodulin.

Mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) have been linked to a variety of cardiac arrhythmias, such as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). RyR2 is regulated by calmodulin (CaM), and mutations that disrupt their interaction can cause aberrant calcium release, leading to an arrhythmia. It was recently shown that increasing the RyR2-CaM binding affinity could rescue a defective CPVT-related RyR2 channel to near wild-type behavior.