Daniel Seifu - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Daniel Seifu

BMC Pediatrics, Aug 2, 2016

Background: Reference intervals are affected by different factors such as lifestyle, ethnicity, a... more Background: Reference intervals are affected by different factors such as lifestyle, ethnicity, age/developmental stage, gender, nutrition and other environmental factors (Clin Biochem Rev: 29,2008). Therefore, it is obvious that it should be established for every population in different regions even within a country. Then the aim of this study is to establish population specific reference intervals of thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triidothyronine levels of cord blood. Results: One hundred twenty three cord blood samples collected from the umbilical cord of newborns were analyzed for thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triidothyronine values. The birth weights ranged between 2500 and 4700 g with mean (SD) value of 3241.46 (459.495) gram. Their gestational age ranged between 37 and 44 weeks with an average of 39.74 weeks. The 2.5 th and 97.5 th percentiles of values were found to be 3.48 mIU/L and 27.57 mIU/L for thyroid stimulating hormone, 0.89 ng/dl and 1.53 ng/dl for free thyroxine and 1.19 pg/ml and 2.51 pg/ml for free triidothyronine respectively. Conclusion: In the present study the reference intervals of thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triidothyronine were established and based on the results obtained, were 3.48-27.56 mIU/L for thyroid stimulating hormone, 0.89-1.53 ng/dl for free thyroxine and 1.19-2.51 pg/ml for free triidothyronine. It has been concluded that the result can provide us with an important baseline to establish population specific reference intervals for our country using large scale studies.

Annals of Hematology

The prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment is b... more The prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment is based on the quantification of BCR::ABL1 fusion gene transcript copy number, harmonized by an international scale (IS) based on TaqMan-based real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). In Ethiopia, as in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), access to standard diagnostic, follow-up, and prognostic tools is very limited, and it has been challenging to strictly follow international guidelines. This seriously compromises clinical outcome, despite the availability of TKIs through the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP). Multiplex PCR (mpx-PCR), conventionally regarded as a “screening tool,” offers a potential solution to this problem. A total of 219 samples from confirmed CML patients were assayed. In reference to qRT-PCR, the AUC of ROC curve for mpx-PCR was 0.983 (95% CI: 0.957 to 0.997). At the optimum cut-off value, equivalent to BCR::ABL1 (IS) transcript copy numbe...

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Advances in Medical Education and Practice

Background: This article presents a qualitative study of African anatomists and anatomy teachers ... more Background: This article presents a qualitative study of African anatomists and anatomy teachers on the Anatomage Table-a modern medical education technology and innovation, as an indicator of African anatomy medical and anatomy educators' acceptance of EdTech. The Anatomage Table is used for digital dissection, prosection, functional anatomy demonstration, virtual simulation of certain functions, and interactive digital teaching aid. Materials and Methods: Anatomy teachers [n=79] from 11 representative African countries,

SAGE Open Medicine

Objective: Folate is an essential vitamin for de novo DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Folat... more Objective: Folate is an essential vitamin for de novo DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Folate insufficiency at the time of conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with unintended pregnancy and birth outcomes, particularly neural tube defects. Hence, this study aimed to assess folate status and associated factors of folate insufficiency among pregnant women attending antenatal care during their first trimester of pregnancy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 8 August 2017 to 3 January 2018 in Addis Ababa. In this study, 160 participants were enrolled via the convenience sampling method. Red blood cell folate was measured by the electrochemiluminescence binding assay method. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics and to determine the magnitude of folate deficiency. Logistic regression ...

Cureus

Background: The Anatomage Table is a modern technology that is used to enhance the teaching of hu... more Background: The Anatomage Table is a modern technology that is used to enhance the teaching of human anatomy and related basic medical sciences to medical and allied health students. Its use is gaining popularity. This study considered anatomy teachers' perception and acceptance of the Anatomage Table technology and digital teaching materials in the training of medical and allied health students in African countries. Materials and methods: Validated questionnaires were used. Altogether, 79 respondents fully participated in the study, with all African regions being represented as follows:

Antibiotics

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the leading cause of sepsis among HIV-infected adults, yet effectiv... more Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the leading cause of sepsis among HIV-infected adults, yet effective treatment remains a challenge. Efficacy of antituberculous drugs is optimized by high Area Under Curve to Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (AUC/MIC) ratios, suggesting that both the drug concentration at the disease site and time above MIC are critical to treatment outcomes. We elaborate on sepsis pathophysiology and show how it adversely affects antituberculous drug kinetics. Expanding distribution volumes secondary to an increased vascular permeability prevents the attainment of target Cmax concentrations for nearly all drugs. Furthermore, sepsis-induced metabolic acidosis promotes protonation, which increases renal clearance of basic drugs such as isoniazid and ethambutol, and hence AUCs are substantially reduced. Compared with the treatment of non-sepsis TB disease, these distorted kinetics underlie the poor treatment outcomes observed with bloodstream infections. In addition to ag...

Frontiers in Nutrition

BackgroundNeural tube defects (NTDs) are prevalent congenital defects associated with pre-pregnan... more BackgroundNeural tube defects (NTDs) are prevalent congenital defects associated with pre-pregnancy diet with low levels of maternal folate. They are linked to severe morbidity, disability, and mortality, as well as psychological and economic burdens.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to determine the levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine in the blood of women who had a pregnancy impacted by NTDs.Subjects and MethodsA hospital-based case–control study was undertaken between September 2019 and August 2020. The study comprised a total of 100 cases and 167 controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine in the serum.ResultsOnly 39% of the cases and 54.5% of control mothers reported periconceptional use of folic acid/multivitamin, which indicated a statistically significant difference (p = 0.014). Logistic regression indicated that periconceptional use of folic acid/multivitamin was associated with ...

Toxicology Reports, 2022

Vernonia leopoldi (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) Vatke (Asteraceae) is one of the widely used anti-cancer t... more Vernonia leopoldi (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) Vatke (Asteraceae) is one of the widely used anti-cancer traditional medicinal plants in Ethiopia, despite the lack of data to support its therapeutic efficacy. Here we describe the isolation of compounds from the plant and the investigation of their cytotoxicity and other bioactivities. We identified the novel sesquiterpene lactone (SL) 11ß,13-dihydrovernodalol along with the three other SLs (vernomenin, vernolepin, and 11ß,13-dihydrovernodalin) and three flavonoids (apigenin, eriodyctiol, and luteolin) isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of all the compounds were established based on extensive analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data and confirmed by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We then studied the biological activities of the SLs and found that all were cytotoxic at low μM ranges against MCF-7 and JIMT-1 breast cancer cells as well as against the normal-like MCF-10A breast epithelial cells evaluated in a spectrophotometric assay. All the SLs significantly reduced JIMT-1 cell migration after 72 h of treatment with 2 μM concentrations in a wound healing assay. Treatment with all SLs reduced the aldehyde dehydrogenase expressing cancer stem cell sub-population of the JIMT-1 cells significantly, evaluated by flow cytometry. Only 11ß,13-dihydrovernodalin resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced translocation of nuclear factor κB to the cell nucleus. In addition, we show that the reporter fluorophore nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) can successfully be conjugated with an SL and that this SL-NBD conjugate is taken up efficiently in JIMT-1 cells. Therefore, the overall bioactivities of the SL compounds and specifically their effects against the stemness of breast cancer cells make them prime candidates for further in-depth investigation.

TSH, fT4 and fT3 results of Study participants. (XLSX 15 kb)

PLOS ONE, 2015

Background HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy have shown elevated incidence of dyslipidemia, ... more Background HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy have shown elevated incidence of dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most studies, however, focus on cohorts from developed countries, with less data available for these co-morbidities in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Adult HIV-negative (n = 36), treatment naïve (n = 51), efavirenz (EFV)-treated (n = 91), nevirapine (NVP)-treated (n = 95), or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r)-treated (n=44) subjects were recruited from Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Aortic pressure, augmentation pressure, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured via applanation tonometry and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid arterial stiffness, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured via non-invasive ultrasound. Body mass index, waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), skinfold thickness, and self-reported fat redistribution were used to quantify lipodystrophy. CD4+ cell count, plasma HIV RNA levels, fasting glucose, total-, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hsCRP, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, leptin and complete blood count were measured.

Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery, 2021

BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by the presence of Phila¬delphia chromosome,... more BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by the presence of Phila¬delphia chromosome, which caused by the breakpoint cluster region-Abelson fusion or joined gene. High concentration of BCR-ABL transcripts level can strongly forecast cytogenetic and hematologic reversion in CML patients. However, this molecular test for BCR-ABL is costly and hardly available in developing countries with low and middle-income. Owing to this, it is required to examine other cost effective and best diagnostic (prognostic) biomarker. OBJECTIVE The present study was intended on the estimation of total LDH and uric acid level as compared to BCR-ABL transcript level among treated and treatment naive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients. METHODS A comparative cross- sectional study design was used to include eighty one (81) CML patients and tested for BCR-ABL by GeneXpert RT-PCR transcript level at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. The current study correlates LDH with BCR-ABL and hematologi...

Scientific Reports

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming the global cause of premature death en... more Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming the global cause of premature death encompassing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus. However, cardiometabolic risk factors in the general population, especially among the high-risk groups have rarely been assessed in Ethiopia. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, its components and associated factors among staff in the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). An institutional-based cross-section study was conducted from March to June 2018 among EPHI staff members. A total of 450 study participants were involved in the study, and the World Health Organization NCD STEPS survey instrument version 3.1 was used for the assessment. The biochemical parameters were analyzed by using COBAS 6000 analyzer. Statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 20 was used for data analysis. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were us...

American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences, 2017

Non-communicable diseases are severe world health problems mainly in sab Saharan-African countrie... more Non-communicable diseases are severe world health problems mainly in sab Saharan-African countries developing countries including Ethiopia. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major non-communicable diseases increase with rises of hypertension. Hypertension is elevation of systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg. A billion people affected globally and millions of them deaths annually. It is significant risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. Some medicinal plants are traditionally used for treatments hypertension. Psidium guava is one popular medicinal plant which is widely used in traditional medicine treatment of different diseases such as diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea and dyslipidemia. The study was designed to identify the effect of P. guava leaf extract on hypertension in guinea pigs. The study was conducted on eight male guinea pigs to measure the effect of ethanol P. guava leaf extract by using invasive methods. The result was analyzed by using independent student t test and one way ANOVA. Ethanol extract of P. guava leaf showed a significant (p=0.05, p=0.001) reduction of blood pressure of in normotensive guinea pigs in dose dependent manner. The effect of P. guava leaf extract in reduction of blood pressure is may be due to a number of phytochemical contents.

Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast ... more Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast cancer contains a subpopulation of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs are believed to be responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance and are also involved in tumor initiation, progression, evolution, and metastasis to distant sites. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-CSC potential of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for breast cancer treatment. Methods The solvent fractions of three medicinal plants (the ethyl acetate fraction of Vernonia leopoldi, the aqueous fraction of Sideroxylon oxyacanthum, and the chloroform fraction of Clematis simensis) resulting from the methanolic crude extracts were selected based on their previously demonstrated cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell lines. The effect of these solvent fractions on the status of the cancer stem cell subpopulation of the JIMT-1 cell line was assessed by flow cytometric evaluat...

Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast ... more Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast cancer contains a subpopulation of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs are believed to be responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance and are also involved in tumor initiation, progression, evolution, and metastasis to distant sites. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-CSC potential of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for breast cancer treatment. Methods The solvent fractions of three medicinal plants (the ethyl acetate fraction of Vernonia leopoldi, the aqueous fraction of Sideroxylon oxyacanthum, and the chloroform fraction of Clematis simensis) resulting from the methanolic crude extracts were selected based on their previously demonstrated cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell lines. The effect of these solvent fractions on the status of the cancer stem cell subpopulation of the JIMT-1 cell line was assessed by flow cytometric evaluat...

Introduction: The key to successful elimination of tuberculosis (TB) is treatment of cases with o... more Introduction: The key to successful elimination of tuberculosis (TB) is treatment of cases with op-timum chemotherapy. Irrational anti-TB drug use over time has led to drug-resistant TB. The treatment of MDR-TB with second line drugs is long, complex and costly, and has a considerable rate of adverse effects. The level of ADR reporting is low in Ethiopia due to different factors. This Study conducted in a selected treated area in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and helped the health care

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal, 2018

Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant used for various thera... more Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant used for various therapeutic applications including cancer. There is a need to validate extracts of this plant in order to provide scientific evidence for its claimed traditional use. Powdered stem of T. brownii was extracted using water and 70% ethanol. Acute toxicity of the two extracts was assessed in male Wistar rats. Nine groups of Wistar rats each with a sample size of five rats were given intraperitoneal (ip) injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) (20 mg/kg) weekly for five consecutive weeks to induce colon preneoplastic lesion while a normal control group received ip injection of normal saline. At the end of the fifth week, each group of rats was treated by oral gavage aqueous or 70% ethanol extract of T. brownii stem , at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg dose daily for four weeks, or oral capecitabine at 30 mg/kg/day for fourteen days. The rats that took normal saline ip injection and one group ...

Cancer Research, 2020

Background: Tumor heterogeneity represents a complex challenge to cancer treatment, disease recur... more Background: Tumor heterogeneity represents a complex challenge to cancer treatment, disease recurrence, and patient survival. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) is an emerging proteomic tool for cancer profiling in tumor tissue samples. IMC enables digital image analysis by multiplexed immunostaining of cells and proteins within tissue and preserves spatial relations within tumor environment. We have applied IMC based approach to study the heterogeneity of invasive breast carcinoma protein expression pattern in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues. Methods: A total of 10 region of interest (ROI) derived from 5 patients with primary invasive breast carcinoma representing three molecular subclasses (HR+/HER2-,HER2+/HR- and TNBC) were stained with a 30-marker IMC metal labeled antibody panel (α-SMA, EGFR, p53, CD33, CD16, CD163, CD11b, PDL1, CD31, CD45, D44,Vimentin, FoxP3, CD4, ECadherin, CD68, CD20, CD8a, Cytokeratin7, PD1, GranzymeB, Ki67, ColTypeI, CD3, CD45RO, HLADR, DARC & CD11c). ...

Medical Science and Technology, 2016

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, progressive disease, which is accompanied by multiple complicatio... more Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, progressive disease, which is accompanied by multiple complications. Hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia are common complications of diabetes mellitus. The current approaches for treatment of diabetes are mostly dependent on insulin and other oral standard drugs, which have their own put falls. Thus, micronutrients supplementation is gaining momentum as the quest for management of diabetes continues. Certain micronutrients increase insulin synthesis secretion and insulin sensitivity thereby improve glycemic control and dyslipidemia. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in normoglycemicand STZ-induced type-2 diabetic rats. Measurements of biochemical parameters such as fasting blood glucose level, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and serum lipid profile (HDL-c, LDL-c, TC, and TG) were carried out. Glucometer was used to analyze the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test an...

BMC Pediatrics, Aug 2, 2016

Background: Reference intervals are affected by different factors such as lifestyle, ethnicity, a... more Background: Reference intervals are affected by different factors such as lifestyle, ethnicity, age/developmental stage, gender, nutrition and other environmental factors (Clin Biochem Rev: 29,2008). Therefore, it is obvious that it should be established for every population in different regions even within a country. Then the aim of this study is to establish population specific reference intervals of thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triidothyronine levels of cord blood. Results: One hundred twenty three cord blood samples collected from the umbilical cord of newborns were analyzed for thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triidothyronine values. The birth weights ranged between 2500 and 4700 g with mean (SD) value of 3241.46 (459.495) gram. Their gestational age ranged between 37 and 44 weeks with an average of 39.74 weeks. The 2.5 th and 97.5 th percentiles of values were found to be 3.48 mIU/L and 27.57 mIU/L for thyroid stimulating hormone, 0.89 ng/dl and 1.53 ng/dl for free thyroxine and 1.19 pg/ml and 2.51 pg/ml for free triidothyronine respectively. Conclusion: In the present study the reference intervals of thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triidothyronine were established and based on the results obtained, were 3.48-27.56 mIU/L for thyroid stimulating hormone, 0.89-1.53 ng/dl for free thyroxine and 1.19-2.51 pg/ml for free triidothyronine. It has been concluded that the result can provide us with an important baseline to establish population specific reference intervals for our country using large scale studies.

Annals of Hematology

The prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment is b... more The prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment is based on the quantification of BCR::ABL1 fusion gene transcript copy number, harmonized by an international scale (IS) based on TaqMan-based real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). In Ethiopia, as in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), access to standard diagnostic, follow-up, and prognostic tools is very limited, and it has been challenging to strictly follow international guidelines. This seriously compromises clinical outcome, despite the availability of TKIs through the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP). Multiplex PCR (mpx-PCR), conventionally regarded as a “screening tool,” offers a potential solution to this problem. A total of 219 samples from confirmed CML patients were assayed. In reference to qRT-PCR, the AUC of ROC curve for mpx-PCR was 0.983 (95% CI: 0.957 to 0.997). At the optimum cut-off value, equivalent to BCR::ABL1 (IS) transcript copy numbe...

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Advances in Medical Education and Practice

Background: This article presents a qualitative study of African anatomists and anatomy teachers ... more Background: This article presents a qualitative study of African anatomists and anatomy teachers on the Anatomage Table-a modern medical education technology and innovation, as an indicator of African anatomy medical and anatomy educators' acceptance of EdTech. The Anatomage Table is used for digital dissection, prosection, functional anatomy demonstration, virtual simulation of certain functions, and interactive digital teaching aid. Materials and Methods: Anatomy teachers [n=79] from 11 representative African countries,

SAGE Open Medicine

Objective: Folate is an essential vitamin for de novo DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Folat... more Objective: Folate is an essential vitamin for de novo DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Folate insufficiency at the time of conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with unintended pregnancy and birth outcomes, particularly neural tube defects. Hence, this study aimed to assess folate status and associated factors of folate insufficiency among pregnant women attending antenatal care during their first trimester of pregnancy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 8 August 2017 to 3 January 2018 in Addis Ababa. In this study, 160 participants were enrolled via the convenience sampling method. Red blood cell folate was measured by the electrochemiluminescence binding assay method. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics and to determine the magnitude of folate deficiency. Logistic regression ...

Cureus

Background: The Anatomage Table is a modern technology that is used to enhance the teaching of hu... more Background: The Anatomage Table is a modern technology that is used to enhance the teaching of human anatomy and related basic medical sciences to medical and allied health students. Its use is gaining popularity. This study considered anatomy teachers' perception and acceptance of the Anatomage Table technology and digital teaching materials in the training of medical and allied health students in African countries. Materials and methods: Validated questionnaires were used. Altogether, 79 respondents fully participated in the study, with all African regions being represented as follows:

Antibiotics

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the leading cause of sepsis among HIV-infected adults, yet effectiv... more Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the leading cause of sepsis among HIV-infected adults, yet effective treatment remains a challenge. Efficacy of antituberculous drugs is optimized by high Area Under Curve to Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (AUC/MIC) ratios, suggesting that both the drug concentration at the disease site and time above MIC are critical to treatment outcomes. We elaborate on sepsis pathophysiology and show how it adversely affects antituberculous drug kinetics. Expanding distribution volumes secondary to an increased vascular permeability prevents the attainment of target Cmax concentrations for nearly all drugs. Furthermore, sepsis-induced metabolic acidosis promotes protonation, which increases renal clearance of basic drugs such as isoniazid and ethambutol, and hence AUCs are substantially reduced. Compared with the treatment of non-sepsis TB disease, these distorted kinetics underlie the poor treatment outcomes observed with bloodstream infections. In addition to ag...

Frontiers in Nutrition

BackgroundNeural tube defects (NTDs) are prevalent congenital defects associated with pre-pregnan... more BackgroundNeural tube defects (NTDs) are prevalent congenital defects associated with pre-pregnancy diet with low levels of maternal folate. They are linked to severe morbidity, disability, and mortality, as well as psychological and economic burdens.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to determine the levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine in the blood of women who had a pregnancy impacted by NTDs.Subjects and MethodsA hospital-based case–control study was undertaken between September 2019 and August 2020. The study comprised a total of 100 cases and 167 controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine in the serum.ResultsOnly 39% of the cases and 54.5% of control mothers reported periconceptional use of folic acid/multivitamin, which indicated a statistically significant difference (p = 0.014). Logistic regression indicated that periconceptional use of folic acid/multivitamin was associated with ...

Toxicology Reports, 2022

Vernonia leopoldi (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) Vatke (Asteraceae) is one of the widely used anti-cancer t... more Vernonia leopoldi (Sch. Bip. ex Walp.) Vatke (Asteraceae) is one of the widely used anti-cancer traditional medicinal plants in Ethiopia, despite the lack of data to support its therapeutic efficacy. Here we describe the isolation of compounds from the plant and the investigation of their cytotoxicity and other bioactivities. We identified the novel sesquiterpene lactone (SL) 11ß,13-dihydrovernodalol along with the three other SLs (vernomenin, vernolepin, and 11ß,13-dihydrovernodalin) and three flavonoids (apigenin, eriodyctiol, and luteolin) isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of all the compounds were established based on extensive analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data and confirmed by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We then studied the biological activities of the SLs and found that all were cytotoxic at low μM ranges against MCF-7 and JIMT-1 breast cancer cells as well as against the normal-like MCF-10A breast epithelial cells evaluated in a spectrophotometric assay. All the SLs significantly reduced JIMT-1 cell migration after 72 h of treatment with 2 μM concentrations in a wound healing assay. Treatment with all SLs reduced the aldehyde dehydrogenase expressing cancer stem cell sub-population of the JIMT-1 cells significantly, evaluated by flow cytometry. Only 11ß,13-dihydrovernodalin resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced translocation of nuclear factor κB to the cell nucleus. In addition, we show that the reporter fluorophore nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) can successfully be conjugated with an SL and that this SL-NBD conjugate is taken up efficiently in JIMT-1 cells. Therefore, the overall bioactivities of the SL compounds and specifically their effects against the stemness of breast cancer cells make them prime candidates for further in-depth investigation.

TSH, fT4 and fT3 results of Study participants. (XLSX 15 kb)

PLOS ONE, 2015

Background HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy have shown elevated incidence of dyslipidemia, ... more Background HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy have shown elevated incidence of dyslipidemia, lipodystrophy, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most studies, however, focus on cohorts from developed countries, with less data available for these co-morbidities in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Adult HIV-negative (n = 36), treatment naïve (n = 51), efavirenz (EFV)-treated (n = 91), nevirapine (NVP)-treated (n = 95), or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r)-treated (n=44) subjects were recruited from Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Aortic pressure, augmentation pressure, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured via applanation tonometry and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid arterial stiffness, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured via non-invasive ultrasound. Body mass index, waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), skinfold thickness, and self-reported fat redistribution were used to quantify lipodystrophy. CD4+ cell count, plasma HIV RNA levels, fasting glucose, total-, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hsCRP, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, leptin and complete blood count were measured.

Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery, 2021

BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by the presence of Phila¬delphia chromosome,... more BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by the presence of Phila¬delphia chromosome, which caused by the breakpoint cluster region-Abelson fusion or joined gene. High concentration of BCR-ABL transcripts level can strongly forecast cytogenetic and hematologic reversion in CML patients. However, this molecular test for BCR-ABL is costly and hardly available in developing countries with low and middle-income. Owing to this, it is required to examine other cost effective and best diagnostic (prognostic) biomarker. OBJECTIVE The present study was intended on the estimation of total LDH and uric acid level as compared to BCR-ABL transcript level among treated and treatment naive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients. METHODS A comparative cross- sectional study design was used to include eighty one (81) CML patients and tested for BCR-ABL by GeneXpert RT-PCR transcript level at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. The current study correlates LDH with BCR-ABL and hematologi...

Scientific Reports

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming the global cause of premature death en... more Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming the global cause of premature death encompassing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus. However, cardiometabolic risk factors in the general population, especially among the high-risk groups have rarely been assessed in Ethiopia. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, its components and associated factors among staff in the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). An institutional-based cross-section study was conducted from March to June 2018 among EPHI staff members. A total of 450 study participants were involved in the study, and the World Health Organization NCD STEPS survey instrument version 3.1 was used for the assessment. The biochemical parameters were analyzed by using COBAS 6000 analyzer. Statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 20 was used for data analysis. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were us...

American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences, 2017

Non-communicable diseases are severe world health problems mainly in sab Saharan-African countrie... more Non-communicable diseases are severe world health problems mainly in sab Saharan-African countries developing countries including Ethiopia. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major non-communicable diseases increase with rises of hypertension. Hypertension is elevation of systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg. A billion people affected globally and millions of them deaths annually. It is significant risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. Some medicinal plants are traditionally used for treatments hypertension. Psidium guava is one popular medicinal plant which is widely used in traditional medicine treatment of different diseases such as diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea and dyslipidemia. The study was designed to identify the effect of P. guava leaf extract on hypertension in guinea pigs. The study was conducted on eight male guinea pigs to measure the effect of ethanol P. guava leaf extract by using invasive methods. The result was analyzed by using independent student t test and one way ANOVA. Ethanol extract of P. guava leaf showed a significant (p=0.05, p=0.001) reduction of blood pressure of in normotensive guinea pigs in dose dependent manner. The effect of P. guava leaf extract in reduction of blood pressure is may be due to a number of phytochemical contents.

Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast ... more Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast cancer contains a subpopulation of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs are believed to be responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance and are also involved in tumor initiation, progression, evolution, and metastasis to distant sites. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-CSC potential of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for breast cancer treatment. Methods The solvent fractions of three medicinal plants (the ethyl acetate fraction of Vernonia leopoldi, the aqueous fraction of Sideroxylon oxyacanthum, and the chloroform fraction of Clematis simensis) resulting from the methanolic crude extracts were selected based on their previously demonstrated cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell lines. The effect of these solvent fractions on the status of the cancer stem cell subpopulation of the JIMT-1 cell line was assessed by flow cytometric evaluat...

Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast ... more Background The incidence and mortality of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide. Breast cancer contains a subpopulation of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). The CSCs are believed to be responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance and are also involved in tumor initiation, progression, evolution, and metastasis to distant sites. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-CSC potential of selected Ethiopian medicinal plants traditionally used for breast cancer treatment. Methods The solvent fractions of three medicinal plants (the ethyl acetate fraction of Vernonia leopoldi, the aqueous fraction of Sideroxylon oxyacanthum, and the chloroform fraction of Clematis simensis) resulting from the methanolic crude extracts were selected based on their previously demonstrated cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell lines. The effect of these solvent fractions on the status of the cancer stem cell subpopulation of the JIMT-1 cell line was assessed by flow cytometric evaluat...

Introduction: The key to successful elimination of tuberculosis (TB) is treatment of cases with o... more Introduction: The key to successful elimination of tuberculosis (TB) is treatment of cases with op-timum chemotherapy. Irrational anti-TB drug use over time has led to drug-resistant TB. The treatment of MDR-TB with second line drugs is long, complex and costly, and has a considerable rate of adverse effects. The level of ADR reporting is low in Ethiopia due to different factors. This Study conducted in a selected treated area in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and helped the health care

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal, 2018

Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant used for various thera... more Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant used for various therapeutic applications including cancer. There is a need to validate extracts of this plant in order to provide scientific evidence for its claimed traditional use. Powdered stem of T. brownii was extracted using water and 70% ethanol. Acute toxicity of the two extracts was assessed in male Wistar rats. Nine groups of Wistar rats each with a sample size of five rats were given intraperitoneal (ip) injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) (20 mg/kg) weekly for five consecutive weeks to induce colon preneoplastic lesion while a normal control group received ip injection of normal saline. At the end of the fifth week, each group of rats was treated by oral gavage aqueous or 70% ethanol extract of T. brownii stem , at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg dose daily for four weeks, or oral capecitabine at 30 mg/kg/day for fourteen days. The rats that took normal saline ip injection and one group ...

Cancer Research, 2020

Background: Tumor heterogeneity represents a complex challenge to cancer treatment, disease recur... more Background: Tumor heterogeneity represents a complex challenge to cancer treatment, disease recurrence, and patient survival. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) is an emerging proteomic tool for cancer profiling in tumor tissue samples. IMC enables digital image analysis by multiplexed immunostaining of cells and proteins within tissue and preserves spatial relations within tumor environment. We have applied IMC based approach to study the heterogeneity of invasive breast carcinoma protein expression pattern in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues. Methods: A total of 10 region of interest (ROI) derived from 5 patients with primary invasive breast carcinoma representing three molecular subclasses (HR+/HER2-,HER2+/HR- and TNBC) were stained with a 30-marker IMC metal labeled antibody panel (α-SMA, EGFR, p53, CD33, CD16, CD163, CD11b, PDL1, CD31, CD45, D44,Vimentin, FoxP3, CD4, ECadherin, CD68, CD20, CD8a, Cytokeratin7, PD1, GranzymeB, Ki67, ColTypeI, CD3, CD45RO, HLADR, DARC & CD11c). ...

Medical Science and Technology, 2016

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, progressive disease, which is accompanied by multiple complicatio... more Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, progressive disease, which is accompanied by multiple complications. Hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia are common complications of diabetes mellitus. The current approaches for treatment of diabetes are mostly dependent on insulin and other oral standard drugs, which have their own put falls. Thus, micronutrients supplementation is gaining momentum as the quest for management of diabetes continues. Certain micronutrients increase insulin synthesis secretion and insulin sensitivity thereby improve glycemic control and dyslipidemia. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in normoglycemicand STZ-induced type-2 diabetic rats. Measurements of biochemical parameters such as fasting blood glucose level, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and serum lipid profile (HDL-c, LDL-c, TC, and TG) were carried out. Glucometer was used to analyze the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test an...