DeepLeish: a deep learning based support system for the detection of Leishmaniasis parasite from Giemsa-stained microscope images.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a vector-born neglected parasitic disease belonging to the genus Leishmania. Out of the 30 Leishmania species, 21 species cause human infection that affect the skin and the internal organs. Around, 700,000 to 1,000,000 of the newly infected cases and 26,000 to 65,000 deaths are reported worldwide annually.

Isolation and Phenotypic Characterization of Virulent Bacteriophages Against Multidrug-Resistant and Its Phage-Resistant Variant from Sewage Sources.

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.

ABO and Rh (D) blood group phenotype distribution pattern among blood donors at the Nekemte Blood Bank, Oromia, West Ethiopia: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the distribution of ABO and Rh (D) blood group phenotypes among blood donors.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled blood donors whose socio-demographic and blood group phenotype data were collected from blood bank donor records. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the number and percentage distribution of categorical variables.

Outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination and associated factors among healthcare professionals in Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Vaccines are not free from adverse outcomes. However, the evidence of adverse outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination among health-care professionals (HCPs) in the study setting was scanty. Aimed to assess outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination and associated factors among health-care professionals in Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Hematological Profile Changes Among Oral Contraceptive Users: A Narrative Review.

Hematological profiles are measurable indices of blood that can be used to identify and monitor some pathological and physiological abnormalities. Oral contraceptives are one of the factors which may exert an influence on hematological laboratory test results and have a critical importance. Therefore, the main goal of this review was to evaluate the hematologic profile alterations brought on by the use of oral contraceptives.

Estimation of infant vaccination coverage at national and region level in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: an increasing trend of routine immunization performance has generally been observed over the past decade in Ethiopia. However, inconsistencies were observed over time and among different sources of data. This review analyzed systematically data from various sources and produced regional and national coverage estimates for antigens offered in the infant immunization program in Ethiopia.

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.

Innovative approach for potential scale-up to jump-start simplified management of sick young infants with possible serious bacterial infection when a referral is not feasible: Findings from implementation research.

Background: Neonatal bacterial infections are a common cause of death, which can be managed well with inpatient treatment. Unfortunately, many families in low resource settings do not accept referral to a hospital. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a guideline for management of young infants up to 2 months of age with possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) when referral is not feasible.

Mitigating the mistreatment of childbearing women: evaluation of respectful maternity care intervention in Ethiopian hospitals.

Objectives: There is a lack of evidence on approaches to mitigating mistreatment during facility-based childbirth. This study compares the experiences of mistreatment reported by childbearing women before and after implementation of a respectful maternity care intervention.

Design: A pre-post study design was undertaken to quantify changes in women's experiences of mistreatment during facility-based childbirth before and after the respectful maternity care intervention.

Health system capacity for tuberculosis care in Ethiopia: evidence from national representative survey.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the tuberculosis (TB) health system capacity and its variations by location and types of health facilities in Ethiopia.

Design: We used the Service Provision Assessment plus (SPA+) survey data that were collected in 2014 in all hospitals and randomly selected health centers and private facilities in all regions of Ethiopia. We assessed structural, process and overall health system capacity based on the Donabedian quality of care model.

Quality of Kangaroo Mother Care services in Ethiopia: Implications for policy and practice.

Background: Providing high-quality kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a strategy proven to improve outcomes in premature babies. However, whether KMC is consistently and appropriately provided in Ethiopia is unclear. This study assesses the quality of KMC services in Ethiopia and the factors associated with its appropriate initiation among low birth weight neonates.

Low effective coverage of family planning and antenatal care services in Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess the quality and effective coverage (EC) of family planning (FP) and antenatal care (ANC) services in Ethiopia.

Design: Secondary analyses of the 2014 Ethiopia Service Provision Assessment Plus Survey and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data.

Setting And Participants: Women using FP and ANC.

Capacity of health facilities for diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

Background: There are dearth of literature on the capacity of the health system to diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. In this study we evaluated the capacity of health facilities for HIV/AIDS care, its spatial distribution and variations by regions and zones in Ethiopia.

Methods: We analyzed the Service Provision Assessment plus (SPA+) survey data that were collected in 2014 in all regions of Ethiopia.

Effects of polio eradication activities on routine immunization: lessons from the 2013 outbreak response in Somali region of Ethiopia.

Introduction: Ethiopia experienced several WPV importations with a total of 10 WPV1 cases confirmed during the 2013 outbreak alone before it is closed in 2015. We evaluated supplemental immunization activities (SIAs), including lessons learned for their effect on the routine immunization program during the 2013 polio outbreak in Somali regional state.

Methods: We used descriptive study to review documents and analyse routine health information system reports from the polio outbreak affected Somali regional state.

Acquiring snapshots of the orientation of trans-membrane protein domains using a hybrid FRET pair.

One challenge in studying the function of membrane-embedded proteins is determining the orientation of key domains in the context of the changing and dynamic membrane environment. We describe a confocal microscopy setup that utilizes external electric field pulses to direct dipicrylamine (DPA) to a membrane leaflet. The detection of FRET between DPA and a fluorescent probe attributes it to the inner or outer leaflet of a membrane.

PINK1 drives Parkin self-association and HECT-like E3 activity upstream of mitochondrial binding.

Genetic studies indicate that the mitochondrial kinase PINK1 and the RING-between-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin function in the same pathway. In concurrence, mechanistic studies show that PINK1 can recruit Parkin from the cytosol to the mitochondria, increase the ubiquitination activity of Parkin, and induce Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Here, we used a cell-free assay to recapitulate PINK1-dependent activation of Parkin ubiquitination of a validated mitochondrial substrate, mitofusin 1.

Demonstration of ignition radiation temperatures in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion hohlraums.

We demonstrate the hohlraum radiation temperature and symmetry required for ignition-scale inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions. Cryogenic gas-filled hohlraums with 2.2 mm-diameter capsules are heated with unprecedented laser energies of 1.

FAT10 modifies p53 and upregulates its transcriptional activity.

FAT10, also known as diubiquitin, has been implicated in the regulation of diverse cellular processes, including mitosis, immune response, and apoptosis. We seek to identify FAT10-targeted proteins, an essential step in elucidating the physiological function of FAT10. To this end, human FAT10 or its non-conjugatable derivative, FAT10ΔGG, was overexpressed in HEK293 cells.

Phagocytic clearance of electric field induced 'apoptosis-mimetic' cells.

Cells undergoing apoptosis lose lipid asymmetry that is often manifested by the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the outer surface of the cell membrane. Macrophages and other cell types recognize externalized PS to signal phagocytosis, thereby eliciting a non-inflammatory response. PS exposure is obligatory in the recognition and clearance of apoptotic cells.

Expression of SUMO-2/3 induced senescence through p53- and pRB-mediated pathways.

Three highly homologous small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) proteins have been identified in mammals. Modifications of proteins by SUMO-1 have been shown to regulate transcription, nucleocytoplasmic transport, protein stability, and protein-protein interactions. Relative to SUMO-1, little is known about the functions of SUMO-2 or SUMO-3 (referred to as SUMO-2/3).

A general approach for investigating enzymatic pathways and substrates for ubiquitin-like modifiers.

Ubiquitin-like modifiers (UBLs) contain ubiquitin homology domains and can covalently modify target proteins in a manner similar to ubiquitylation. In this study, we revealed a general proteomic approach to elucidate the enzymatic pathways and identify target proteins for three UBLs: SUMO-2, SUMO-3, and NEDD8. Expression plasmids containing the cDNAs of Myc/6xHis doubly-tagged processed or non-conjugatable forms of these UBLs were constructed.

Selective field effects on intracellular vacuoles and vesicle membranes with nanosecond electric pulses.

Electric pulses across intact vesicles and cells can lead to transient increase in permeability of their membranes. We studied the integrity of these membranes in response to external electric pulses of high amplitude and submicrosecond duration with a primary aim of achieving selective permeabilization. These effects were examined in two separate model systems comprising of 1), a mixed population of 1,2-di-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine phospholipid vesicles and in 2), single COS-7 cells, in which large endosomal membrane vacuoles were induced by stimulated endocytosis.

Axillary sentinel node and tumour-related factors associated with non-sentinel node involvement in breast cancer.

Background: After completion of axillary dissection, many breast cancer patients with axillary sentinel nodal involvement are found to have regional disease limited to the sentinel nodes. These patients are exposed to the morbidity of axillary clearance without any expected therapeutic benefit.

Methods: Sentinel node biopsy was performed either with Patent blue dye or with a combined dye, radiocolloid and gamma-probe-guided method involving peritumoral tracer administration.