Assessment of the risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Sudan: a case-control study.

Objectives: The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major challenge for the global control of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with MDR-TB in Sudan.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted from May 2017 to February 2019.

Household, maternal, and child related determinants of hemoglobin levels of Ethiopian children: hierarchical regression analysis.

Background: Anemia remains a major public health problem among children under five years old in Ethiopia, rising unexpectedly from 44% national prevalence in 2011 to 57% in 2016. In this study, we investigated the household, maternal and child-related dietary and non-dietary factors associated with hemoglobin (Hb) level of infants and young children.

Method: We analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 2902 children aged 6-23 months, included in the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey (EDHS).

Association between place of delivery for pregnant mothers and neonatal mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Neonatal mortality is a major health problem mainly in the developing countries and its reduction was remain stagnant during the era of Millennium Development Goal. Current global health policies emphasize institutional deliveries as a pathway to achieving reductions in neonatal mortality in developing countries. There are inconsistent conclusions of evidence about this fact, mainly in developing countries.

Socioeconomic inequality in stunting among under-5 children in Ethiopia: a decomposition analysis.

Objective: Ethiopia bears a high stunting burden. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the socioeconomic inequalities of stunting in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the degree of socioeconomic inequality in stunting and decompose it to the social determinants of stunting.

NF-κB targeting for overcoming tumor resistance and normal tissues toxicity.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are two famous modalities in tumor-targeted therapy that lead to systemic and local toxicities for normal tissues. Moreover, several studies have confirmed that exposure of the tumor to radiation or chemotherapy drugs stimulate some signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis, as well as promoting angiogenesis and tumor growth. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) plays a central role in the regulation of inflammatory responses in both normal tissues and tumors via the release of several cytokines, regulation of prostaglandins, reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions, angiogenesis, and cell death.

Food taboo among pregnant Ethiopian women: magnitude, drivers, and association with anemia.

Background: There are pervasive pregnancy-related food taboos and myths (PRFT) in Ethiopia. The evidence, however, is limited on whether PRFT contributes to the burden of maternal anemia. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the magnitude of PRFT, the reasons for adherence to PRFT, and the association of adherence to PRFT with anemia, among pregnant Ethiopian women.

Mitigation of Radiation-induced Pneumonitis and Lung Fibrosis using Alpha-lipoic Acid and Resveratrol.

Background: Lung is a radiosensitive organ. Studies have shown that exposure of the lung to acute and high doses of radiation following inhalation of radioactive agents or an accidental radiological event may lead to pneumonitis and fibrosis, which are associated with a risk of death. So far, some agents have been studied for mitigation of pneumonitis and fibrosis following exposure of murine lung tissues to ionizing radiation.

Social Isolation Rearing Induces Neuropsychiatric Diseases: Updated Overview.

Neuropsychiatric and neurologic diseases cause a great burden for individuals, families, and societies. Social isolation rearing can trigger a variety of psychiatric diseases. New advances suggest that epigenetic factors along with other neurochemical changes can be an important topic in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Concurrent anemia and stunting in young children: prevalence, dietary and non-dietary associated factors.

Background: The existing evidence is limited and contradicting on the co-occurrence of anemia and stunting (CAS) at individual level, despite a great overlap in their risk factors. We aimed to determine the prevalence of CAS, and the dietary and non-dietary factors associated with it, among infants and young children in Ethiopia.

Method: We used a nationally representative sample of 2902 children aged 6-23 months from the Ethiopian demographic and health survey, conducted in 2016.

Biomedical and public health reviews and meta-analyses in Ethiopia had poor methodological quality: overview of evidence from 1970 to 2018.

Objectives: The aims of this overview are to assess the trend of narrative and systematic reviews in Ethiopia, examine their methodological quality, and suggest future directions for improvement.

Study Design And Setting: All narrative reviews and systematic reviews with or without a meta-analysis on topics associated with Ethiopia irrespective of the place of publication and authors' affiliation were included. The International Narrative Systematic Assessment for narrative reviews and A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews for systematic reviews with or without a meta-analysis were used for quality appraisal.

Utilization and Determinants of Postnatal Care Services in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Postnatal care use is vital in saving mother and newborn lives which is a continuum of care for maternal, neonatal and child health. This review aimed to determine the utilization and determinants of postnatal care use in Ethiopia.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched on June 25, 2017.

Dietary and non-dietary determinants of linear growth status of infants and young children in Ethiopia: Hierarchical regression analysis.

Introduction: Childhood growth faltering remains a major public health problem in developing countries. We aimed to identify the distal, underlying, and proximal dietary and non-dietary factors associated with length-for-age (LFA) of infants and young children in Ethiopia.

Methods: We used a nationally representative sample of 2,932 children aged 6-23 months from the Ethiopian demographic and health survey (EDHS) conducted in 2016.

Metabolic syndrome and its components are related to a higher risk for albuminuria and proteinuria: Evidence from a meta-analysis on 10,603,067 subjects from 57 studies.

Background & Aim: Previous studies have explored the relation of metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components and the risk of albuminuria/proteinuria but their results are inconsistent. Then, we aimed to conduct a meta-analysis in order to resolve these controversies.

Method: PubMed and Scopus were systematically searched from their inception to 1 march 2018.

Metformin Protects Against Radiation-Induced Pneumonitis and Fibrosis and Attenuates Upregulation of Dual Oxidase Genes Expression.

Lung tissue is one of the most sensitive organs to ionizing radiation (IR). Early and late side effects of exposure to IR can limit the radiation doses delivered to tumors that are within or adjacent to this organ. Pneumonitis and fibrosis are the main side effects of radiotherapy for this organ.

Protective Effect of Selenium-L-methionine on Radiation-induced Acute Pneumonitis and Lung Fibrosis in Rat.

Background: In this study, we aimed to detect the changes in the level of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 cytokines and their downstream genes including interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 (IL13Ra2), interleukin-4 receptor subunit alpha-1 (IL4Ra1), dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) and dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2). The protective effects of Selenium-L-methionine on radiation-induced histopathological damages and changes in the level of these cytokines and genes were detected.

Methods: Four groups of 20 rats (5 rats in each) namely, control; Selenium-L-methionine, radiation and radiation plus Selenium-L-methionine were used in this study.

Nanofibers for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications.

Unique features of nanofibers provide enormous potential in the field of biomedical and healthcare applications. Many studies have proven the extreme potential of nanofibers in front of current challenges in the medical and healthcare field. This review highlights the nanofiber technologies, unique properties, fabrication techniques (i.

Association of dietary inflammatory index with metabolic profile in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese people.

Aim: Obesity is an emerging public health problem, with its incidence on the rise. An abnormal metabolic profile is a risk factor for developing obesity. Dietary factors play a central role in the regulation of inflammation and obesity.

Metformin as a Radiation Modifier; Implications to Normal Tissue Protection and Tumor Sensitization.

Background: Nowadays, ionizing radiation is used for several applications in medicine, industry, agriculture, and nuclear power generation. Besides the beneficial roles of ionizing radiation, there are some concerns about accidental exposure to radioactive sources. The threat posed by its use in terrorism is of global concern.

Comparison of diagnostic effects of infrared imaging and bitewing radiography in proximal caries of permanent teeth.

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of VistaCam iX intraoral camera system using infrared light and bitewing radiography for detection of proximal caries in permanent teeth. This in vitro study was performed on 108 teeth. The proximal surfaces of the teeth were examined for caries using ICDAS II criteria, bitewing radiography, and the Proxi head of VistaCam iX.

NADPH Oxidase as a Target for Modulation of Radiation Response; Implications to Carcinogenesis and Radiotherapy.

Background: Radiotherapy is a treatment modality for cancer. For better therapeutic efficiency, it could be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In addition to its beneficial therapeutic effects, exposure to radiation leads to several toxic effects on normal tissues.

Breast and complementary feeding in Ethiopia: new national evidence from systematic review and meta-analyses of studies in the past 10 years.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide a national estimate of breast and complementary feeding practices and its predictors in Ethiopia.

Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science and WHO Global Health Library electronic databases were searched for all available literature published until April 2018. Observational studies including cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies were included.

Evaluating the Radioprotective Effect of Curcumin on Rat's Heart Tissues.

Background: Heart injury is one of the most important concerns after exposure to a high dose of radiation in chest cancer radiotherapy or whole body exposure to a radiation disaster. Studies have proposed that increased level of inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines following radiotherapy or radiation events play a key role in the development of several side effects such as cardiovascular disorders. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines as well as signaling pathways such as IL4Ra1, IL13Ra2, Duox1 and Duox2.

Overview of the Recent Advances in Pathophysiology and Treatment for Autism.

Background & Objective: Autism is a developmental disorder that manifests itself in early childhood. Autism is characterized by inability to acquire social skills, repetitive behaviors and failure of speech and nonverbal communication development. Recent studies have shown that genetic mutations occur in majority of individuals with autism.

Priority-setting in health research in Iran: a qualitative study on barriers and facilitators.

Background: Priority-setting is a complicated and time-consuming process; however, if appropriately conducted, it could efficiently divert resources to the most important studies. A considerable body of evidence indicates that priority-setting measures in health research taken so far in Iran have not satisfied decision-makers, policy-makers, funders, communities, or even researchers. This study was designed to explore the flaws of these measures and their deciding factors.

Metformin Protects Against Radiation-Induced Heart Injury and Attenuates the Upregulation of Dual Oxidase Genes Following Rat's Chest Irradiation.

Radiation-induced heart toxicity is one of the serious side effects after a radiation disaster or radiotherapy for patients with chest cancers, leading to a reduction in the quality of life of the patients. Evidence has shown that infiltration of inflammatory cells plays a key role in the development of functional damages to the heart via chronic upregulation of some pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These changes are associated with continuous free radical production and increased stiffness of heart muscle.