Inhibition of -Amylase and -Glucosidase by Extracts from and .

Background: This research assessed the antidiabetic activity and phytochemical constituents of the traditionally used medicinal plants, .

Method: The leaves of both plants were subjected to cold extraction method using 70% ethanol and hot Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and distilled water. The extracts were studied for their effect on glucose transport across yeast cells and inhibition of -amylase and -glucosidase enzyme activities.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast Cancer among nurses in hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea.

Background: Breast cancer accounted for 1.03% of all deaths in 2014 in Eritrea. Yet the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the population in general or the health personnel in the country in relation to the disease, remains unknown.

Seroprevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors at National Blood Transfusion Service, Eritrea: a seven-year retrospective study.

Background: Blood transfusion is associated with several risks particularly exposure to blood transfusion-transmissible infections (TTI), including: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Syphilis, among others. The threat posed by these blood-borne pathogens is disproportionately high in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This fact underscores the need for continuous surveillance of TTIs in the region.

Predictors of Women's Satisfaction with Hospital-Based Intrapartum Care in Asmara Public Hospitals, Eritrea.

Background: Exploring patient satisfaction contributes to provide quality maternity care, but there is paucity of epidemiologic data in Eritrea.

Objectives: To determine the predictors of women's satisfaction with intrapartum care in Asmara public maternity hospitals in Eritrea.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among 771 mothers who gave birth in three public Hospitals.

Establishment of hematological reference intervals for healthy adults in Asmara.

Objectives: Clinical laboratory reference intervals used in a specific area should be derived from the local population as they are influenced by many factors. The purpose of this quantitative cross sectional study was to establish hematological reference intervals for healthy adults in Asmara and to determine whether the currently used reference interval do represent the adult population in the city. In addition, the established reference intervals were compared to findings from similar studies conducted in selected countries in Africa.

Factors influencing adherence to tuberculosis treatment in Asmara, Eritrea: a qualitative study.

Background: Non-adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment is an important barrier for TB prevention and control. Poor adherence may result in prolonged disease infectiousness, drug resistance, relapse and death. The aim of this study was to assess factors influencing adherence to tuberculosis treatment in selected health facilities in Asmara, Eritrea.

Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among 12 years old students in Eritrea.

Background: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent diseases of childhood in developing countries. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data on the prevalence and associated factors of dental caries in Eritrea. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dental caries among 12 years old school children in Eritrea.

Biochemistry reference intervals for healthy elderly population in Asmara, Eritrea.

Objective: There is a scarcity of reference interval studies on the elderly in Africa. This study establishes reference interval for the elderly for some commonly used biochemical parameters. In this study, 255 conveniently sampled, healthy elderly, participants meeting Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI C28-A3) guidelines were enrolled.

Retrospective data on causes of childhood vision impairment in Eritrea.

Background: Proper information on causes of childhood vision loss is essential in developing appropriate strategies and programs to address such causes. This study aimed at identifying the causes of vision loss in children attending the national referral eye hospital with the only pediatric ophthalmology service in Eritrea.

Methods: A retrospective data review was conducted for all the children (< 16 years of age) who attended Berhan Aiyni National Referral Eye Hospital in five years period from January 2011 to December 2015.

Causes of Childhood Vision Impairment in the School for the Blind in Eritrea.

Significance: Our study provides the much-needed evidence on causes of childhood blindness in Eritrea. This will assist authorities to plan appropriate strategies and implement preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services to address these causes of vision loss in children in this resource-limited country.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the causes of severe vision impairment and blindness in children attending the only school for the blind in Eritrea.

Therapeutic efficacy of artesunate - amiodaquine for treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria at Ghindae Zonal Referral Hospital, Eritrea.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of artesunate-amodiaquine (AS+AQ) which is the first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Eritrea.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted from December 2014 to March 2015 in Ghindae Zonal Referral Hospital in Northern Red Sea Zone. Out of 481 patients screened, 103 were enrolled in the study.

Need for optical intervention in children attending a school for the blind in Eritrea.

Purpose: To identify the need for optical intervention including spectacles and low vision devices (LVDs) in children attending the only school for the blind in Eritrea.

Methods: A total of 92 children were examined using the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness program form for the recording of children with blindness and vision impairment. Examination included distance and near visual acuity (VA), refraction, trial of LVDs and evaluation of anterior and posterior segments.

Barriers to and facilitators of hypertension management in Asmara, Eritrea: patients' perspectives.

Background: Personal hypertension management is a cornerstone in the prevention of hypertension complications. In Eritrea, the increase in the national life expectancy rate has been accompanied by an increase in hypertension complications such as stroke. Hence, this study was designed to identify barriers and facilitates to hypertension management from the perspective of the patients.

Extent and pattern of burden of care and its associated factors among Eritrean families of persons living with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To assess the caregiving burden and its associated factors among Eritrean families of persons living with schizophrenia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 146 caregivers with their respective known patients with schizophrenia of Saint Mary's Neuropsychiatric National Referral Hospital (SMNNRH). Data were collected using Pai and Kapur's Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and self-prepared sociodemographic sheet.

Niclosamide inhibits colon cancer progression through downregulation of the Notch pathway and upregulation of the tumor suppressor miR-200 family.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most frequent causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Thus, there is a need for the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of CRC. Accumulating evidence has revealed that niclosamide, an anthelminthic drug, exerts antitumor activity in several types of cancer, including colon cancer.

Artesunate/Amodiaquine-Induced Acute Extrapyramidal Reactions in Children and Younger Adults: Case Series Assessment.

Introduction: Several studies conducted in African countries reported the artesunate and amodiaquine (AS/AQ) tablet as a safe and well-tolerated anti-malarial drug in children and younger adults. The aim of this case series assessment was to assess the causal relationship between the AS/AQ tablet and extrapyramidal reactions in children and younger adults and to investigate the factor(s) predisposing to the adverse drug reactions.

Methods: The causal relationship of all the cases was first assessed individually using the Naranjo Probability Scale and then subjected to a case series assessment using Austin Bradford-Hill criteria.

Vision Impairment and Ocular Morbidity in a Refugee Population in Malawi.

Purpose: To provide screening services and obtain information on the eye health status and distribution of visual impairments in a refugee population of the sole refugee camp in Malawi.

Methods: A general eye screening at Dzaleka refugee settlement camp was organized in November 2012. Final-year optometry students conducted detailed optometry examinations, including visual acuity (VA) assessment for near and distance, retinoscopy, and subjective refraction in cases with distance VA less than 6/12 or near VA less than N8, anterior and posterior segment evaluation.

Eritrean pharmacists' job satisfaction and their attitude to re-professionalize pharmacy in to pharmaceutical care.

Objective: Job satisfaction is a very important contributing factor for a person's productivity and motivation. Naturally, if people are not satisfied with what they practice, they will probably need to change or reshape their way of practice at a certain period in time. Pharmacists are not exception to this principle and have been observed to re-professionalize pharmacy in to clinical and/or pharmaceutical care in many parts of the world.

Design, synthesis and ex-vivo release studies of colon-specific polyphosphazene-anticancer drug conjugates.

Colon-specific azo based polyphosphazene-anticancer drug conjugates (11-18) have been synthesized and evaluated by ex-vivo release studies. The prepared polyphosphazene drug conjugates (11-18) are stable in acidic (pH=1.2) buffer which showed that these polymer drug conjugates are protected from acidic environment which is the primary requirement of colon specific targeted drug delivery.

RNA interference: A futuristic tool and its therapeutic applications.

RNA interference is a post transcriptional gene silencing mechanism that is triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Various attributes of the 3' end structure, including overhang length and sequence composition, plays a primary role in determining the position of the Dicer cleavage in both dsRNA and unimolecular, short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The specificity and robustness of RNAi have triggered an immense interest in using RNAi as a tool in various settings.

Physicians' views on the professional roles of pharmacists in patient care in Eritrea.

Objective: A collaborative relationship between physicians and pharmacists is crucial in the patient oriented role of pharmacists. In order to get an optimal patient outcome, strong cooperation between pharmacists and physicians is necessary. It is evident that in patient-oriented activities of pharmacists, their roles should be appropriately perceived and welcomed by physicians.

Transfusion transmitted infections - a retrospective analysis from the National Blood Transfusion Service in Eritrea.

Background: The emergence of transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) especially HIV/AIDS has created a huge obstacle in ensuring blood safety. To assess the situation in Eritrea, we carried out a retrospective study of 29,501 blood donors for the prevalence of TTI's i.e.