ORCID Profile
0000-0001-9896-8893
Current Organisations
Macquarie Business School
,
University of Queensland
,
Macquarie University
,
The University of Newcastle
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2018
DOI: 10.1111/IMJ.13667
Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of incidental liver test abnormalities. General practitioners (GP) have a key role in identifying people with NAFLD at risk of significant liver disease. Recent specialist guidelines emphasise the use of fibrosis algorithms or serum biomarkers rather than routine liver tests, to assess advanced fibrosis. To evaluate primary care clinicians' current approach to diagnosis, management and referral of NAFLD. A cross-sectional survey of primary care clinicians was undertaken through a structured questionnaire about NAFLD. A convenience s le of general practice clinics and general practice conferences in Metropolitan Brisbane and regional south east Queensland was selected. A total of 108 primary care clinicians completed the survey (participation rate 100%). Fifty-one percent of respondents considered the prevalence of NAFLD in the general population to be ≤10%. Twenty-four percent of respondents felt that liver enzymes were sufficiently sensitive to detect underlying NAFLD. Most respondents were unsure whether the Fibrosis 4 score (62.7% unsure) or Enhanced Liver Fibrosis score (63.7% unsure) could help to identify advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Although 47% of respondents said they would refer a patient to a Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist if they suspect the patient has NAFLD, 44.1% do not make any referrals. Of concern, 70.6% of clinicians said they were unlikely to refer a patient to Hepatology unless liver function tests are abnormal. Our findings demonstrate that many primary care clinicians underestimate the prevalence of NAFLD and under-recognise the clinical spectrum of NAFLD and how this is assessed.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2014
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 03-07-2023
DOI: 10.1177/19322968231183956
Abstract: There is plenty of evidence supporting the clinical benefits of mHealth interventions for type 2 diabetes, but despite often being promoted as cost-effective or cost-saving, there is still limited research to support such claims. The objective of this review was to summarize and critically analyze the current body of economic evaluation (EE) studies for mHealth interventions for type 2 diabetes. Using a comprehensive search strategy, five databases were searched for full and partial EE studies for mHealth interventions for type 2 diabetes from January 2007 to March 2022. “mHealth” was defined as any intervention that used a mobile device with cellular technology to collect and/or provide data or information for the management of type 2 diabetes. The CHEERS 2022 checklist was used to appraise the reporting of the full EEs. Twelve studies were included in the review nine full and three partial evaluations. Text messages smartphone applications were the most common mHealth features. The majority of interventions also included a Bluetooth-connected medical device, eg, glucose or blood pressure monitors. All studies reported their intervention to be cost-effective or cost-saving, however, most studies’ reporting were of moderate quality with a median CHEERS score of 59%. The current literature indicates that mHealth interventions for type 2 diabetes can be cost-saving or cost-effective, however, the quality of the reporting can be substantially improved. Heterogeneity makes it difficult to compare study outcomes, and the failure to report on key items leaves insufficient information for decision-makers to consider.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.NUT.2022.111628
Abstract: Maternal underweight and childhood malnutrition are life-threatening public health concerns in several South and South-East Asian nations. The aim of this study was to better design interventions and prevent malnutrition of children in the region by exploring the association of maternal underweight with children's anthropometric status. The Demographic and Health Survey's (DHS) most recent nationally representative data from eight South and South-East Asian states, collected between 2014 and 2018, were pooled for the present study. A multivariable logistic regression model was designed to explore the association between maternal underweight and child anthropometric status. Owing to the hierarchical structure of the DHS data, the study also employed the multilevel logistic regression technique. Among the total participants (N = 213 730), 22.66% of women were found to be underweight, whereas 39.03%, 35.88%, and 22.11% of their children had stunting, underweight, and wasting, respectively. The logistic regression model showed that the children from underweight mothers were 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]. 1.24-1.30), 1.69 (95% CI, 1.65-1.73), and 1.48 (95% CI, 1.45-1.52) times more likely to experience stunting, underweight, and wasting, respectively, than those with healthy-weight mothers. The significant association between maternal underweight and stunting, underweight, as well as wasting was additionally established by the multilevel logistic regression analysis. Findings indicate that maternal underweight is positively associated with children's anthropometric status, such as stunting, underweight, and wasting. The information from this research will guide actors and policymakers to scale up interventions with all-inclusive nutritional issues and promote healthier weight status among mothers to ensure higher odds of healthier anthropometric status in their children in the South and South-East Asian countries.
Publisher: Scientific Research Publishing, Inc.
Date: 2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2020
Publisher: African Journals Online (AJOL)
Date: 2021
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Narcolepsy is a chronic disabling central neurological disorder of daytime hypersomnia. It is categorized into two subtypes-type 1 (N1) and type 2 (N2). Symptoms of N1 commonly include excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and disturbed nighttime sleep. Ethnic differences have been observed, but they have not been reported in an Ethiopian patient to date.CASE DETAIL: We report a 39-year-old Ethiopian patient with type 1 narcolepsy whose diagnosis was delayed for three decades despite severe symptoms. Her quality of life was significantly impaired and included EDS, sleep fragmentation, and depression. The mean sleep latency (MSL) for five naps was 1.3 minutes. Sleep-onset rapid eye movement (REM) periods (SOREMPs) were present in all five nap periods. HLA-typing and a CSF hypocretin level testing were not performed. Modafinil 300mg was prescribed, which improved her quality of life.CONCLUSION: In developing countries where diagnostic studies are not available, practitioners should pay special attention to a detailed history and look for classic symptoms of narcolepsy to establish an early diagnosis and improve quality of life.
Publisher: African Journals Online (AJOL)
Date: 2021
Abstract: Despite the recent surge of COVID-19 infections in Ethiopia, we are observing a profound ignorance of preventive measures by the general public and leaders at different levels. This is presenting considerable challenges in the effort to contain and control the pandemic. We believe that the current health communication approach implemented by the health authorities and media outletsneed to be redesigned to bring a sustainable COVID-19 preventive behavior. The purpose of this perspective paper, therefore, is to stimulate discussions on effective health communication strategy to help the public persistently practice COVID-19 preventive measures over the long term. We undertook a series of discussions amongst the authors in order to synthesize in idual viewpoints into ‘experts’ perspective’ driven by our daily observations and our expertise in the health service research. In light of this, we suggested that an effective health communication strategy need to address context specific situations to avoid temptation to ignore the ramifications of this very serious pandemic. This strategy includes trying to make sense of daily reported COVID-19 cases, being highly selective regarding sources of information, and being sensitive and responsive to religious and cultural factors. The media, health professionals, and leaders need to teach us how to live with the pandemic informed by robust scientific sources.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.2147/HIV.S79122
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 18-06-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-08-2016
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-09-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0257410
Abstract: Misconception related to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been spread out broadly and the the World Health Organization declared these as a major challenge to fight against the pandemic. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 related misconception among rural people in Bangladesh and associated socio-demographic and media related factors. Multistage s ling method was used to collect data (n = 210) from three unions of Satkhira District, Bangladesh. The dependent variable was the presence of COVID-19 related misconception (Yes, No) which was generated based on respondents’ responses to a set of six questions on various types of misconception. Exposure variables were respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, mass media and social media exposure. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the respondents. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 misconception. More than half of the study respondents had one or more COVID-19 related misconception. Over 50% of the total respondents considered this disease as a punishment from God. Besides, many of the respondents reported that they do not think the virus causing COVID-19 is dangerous (59%) and it is a disease (19%). Around 7% reported they believe the virus is the part of a virus war (7.2%). The bivariate analysis found the presence of socio-demographic factors of the respondents, as well as the factors related to social and mass media, were significantly associated with the COVID-19’s misconception. However, once all factors considered together in the multivariate model, misconception were found to be lower among secondary (AOR, 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.84) and tertiary (AOR, 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09–0.92) educated respondents compared to the respondents with primary education. This study obtained a very higher percentage of misconception about the COVID-19 among the respondents of Satkhira district in Bangladesh. This could be a potential challenge to fight against this pandemic which is now ongoing. Prioritizing mass and social media to disseminate evidence-based information as well as educate people about this disease are necessary.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1155/2017/7927685
Abstract: Aim . To examine the association between lifetime alcohol consumption and significant liver disease in type 2 diabetic patients with NAFLD. Methods . A cross-sectional study assessing 151 patients with NAFLD at risk of clinically significant liver disease. NAFLD fibrosis severity was classified by transient elastography liver stiffness measurements ≥8.2 kPa defined significant fibrosis. Lifetime drinking history classified patients into nondrinkers, light drinkers (always ≤20 g/day), and moderate drinkers (any period with intake g/day). Result . Compared with lifetime nondrinkers, light and moderate drinkers were more likely to be male ( p = 0.008 ) and to be Caucasian ( p = 0.007 ) and to have a history of cigarette smoking ( p = 0.000 ), obstructive sleep apnea ( p = 0.003 ), and self-reported depression ( p = 0.003 ). Moderate drinkers required ≥3 hypoglycemic agents to maintain diabetic control ( p = 0.041 ) and fibrate medication to lower blood triglyceride levels ( p = 0.044 ). Compared to lifetime nondrinkers, light drinkers had 1.79 (95% CI: 0.67–4.82 p = 0.247 ) and moderate drinkers had 0.91 (95% CI: 0.27–3.10 p = 0.881 ) times the odds of having liver stiffness measurements ≥8.2 kPa (adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index). Conclusions . In diabetic patients with NAFLD, light or moderate lifetime alcohol consumption was not significantly associated with liver fibrosis. The impact of lifetime alcohol intake on fibrosis progression and diabetic comorbidities, in particular obstructive sleep apnea and hypertriglyceridemia, requires further investigation.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-03-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-044606
Abstract: COVID-19 has caused a global public health crisis affecting most countries, including Ethiopia, in various ways. This study maps the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Thirty-eight potential indicators of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection, case severity and likelihood of death, identified based on a literature review and the availability of nationally representative data at a low geographic scale, were assembled from multiple sources for geospatial analysis. Geospatial analysis techniques were applied to produce maps showing the vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death in Ethiopia at a spatial resolution of 1 km×1 km. This study showed that vulnerability to COVID-19 infection is likely to be high across most parts of Ethiopia, particularly in the Somali, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions. The number of severe cases of COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalisation and intensive care unit admission is likely to be high across Amhara, most parts of Oromia and some parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region. The risk of COVID-19-related death is high in the country’s border regions, where public health preparedness for responding to COVID-19 is limited. This study revealed geographical differences in vulnerability to infection, case severity and likelihood of death from COVID-19 in Ethiopia. The study offers maps that can guide the targeted interventions necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 21-05-2020
DOI: 10.1093/JAC/DKAA124
Abstract: To summarize studies on prescribing medicine to general outpatients through the WHO/International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) prescribing indicators with a focus on antibiotic prescription. A systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of studies on the WHO prescribing indicators with a focus on the percentage of encounters with antibiotics prescribed (PEAP) was performed. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Global Index Medicus were searched. Twenty-six studies with a total of over 34 000 prescription encounters were included in the systematic review, showing a mean of two medicines per encounter. In each meta-analysis, a range of 19 to 25 studies was included. The percentages of medicines prescribed with an international non-proprietary name (INN) and from the essential medicines list (EML) were 91% and 96% of the total number of medicines, respectively, while 19% of encounters contained injections. Studies with over 25 000 prescription encounters reported an average PEAP of 58% and PEAP showed an increasing trend over the years included in this review. Multivariable meta-regression showed that PEAP increased with the average number of medicines per encounter (estimate = 0.83, P value = 0.0005). The number of medicines, study design and year of prescription explained over 40% of the variation in PEAP across studies. Patterns of medicine use within and close to the WHO reference values were reported for the number of medicines, INN prescribing, prescription of injections and compliance with the EML, on average. Prescription of antibiotics requires attention as amounts much higher than the reference values were prescribed, which were even higher with polypharmacy and increasing over the years included in this review.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-11-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1002/JPPR.1784
Abstract: COVID‐19 is one of the worst pandemics in recent human history, causing huge health, economic, and psychosocial damage. Since the pandemic hit, several unsubstantiated claims regarding exposure, transmission and management have been disseminated. Misinformation and associated public confusion now extend to the COVID‐19 vaccines, spanning from claims based on possible links between some vaccine types and rare blood clots, to baseless claims. As a result, the public’s trust in COVID‐19 vaccines has been eroded, fuelling an already troubling trend of vaccine hesitancy. As medication experts and the most accessible healthcare providers, pharmacists are well equipped with the required skills and knowledge to improve COVID‐19 vaccine uptake by taking roles that range from dispelling myths, to providing reliable evidence‐based information, through to vaccine administration. This paper discusses public hesitancy to COVID‐19 vaccines, major contributing factors, and the role pharmacists can play in reducing hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1155/2017/3729401
Abstract: The study assessed the pattern and appropriateness of medicines prescribed to outpatients at Gondar University Referral Hospital in northwestern Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed, through interviews and prescription reviews, among 346 patients at the outpatient pharmacy, from 2nd to 20th of May 2016. Data on sociodemographic profile of patients and medicines prescribed to them were collected. A mean of 1.72 medicines per encounter was prescribed, over a third of the total being anti-infectives. Patients were able to get about 85% of these medicines. An unskilled government employee would be required to work more than one and a half day to be able to afford the average priced medicine. Among prescriptions with two or more medicines, more than a third had at least one potential drug-drug interaction (PDDI), the commonest pair containing amoxicillin and doxycycline. Being male, being older (50–59 years), and increased number of medicines were associated with higher likelihood of PDDIs. In conclusion, the number of medicines prescribed per encounter was up to accepted standard. However, their availability fell short, together with considerable cost. Regarding appropriateness, a significant proportion of potential drug-drug interactions is identified and associated with patient’s sex, age, and number of medicines prescribed.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 20-06-2022
DOI: 10.1093/JAC/DKAC185
Abstract: Primary care accounts for 80%–90% of antimicrobial prescriptions, making this setting an important focus for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions. To collate the findings and critically appraise the qualities of economic evaluation studies of AMS or related interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing in primary care. A systematic review of economic evaluations of interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing in primary care was performed. Published literature were retrieved through a search of Medline, Embase, EconLit and Web of Science databases for the period 2010 to 2020. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria checklist and Good Practice Guidelines for Decision-Analytic Modelling in Health Technology Assessment. Of the 2722 records identified, 12 studies were included in the review (8 trial-based and 4 modelled evaluations). The most common AMS interventions were communication skills training for health professionals and C-reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP-POCT). Types of economic evaluations included in the review were cost-effectiveness (7 studies), cost-utility (1), cost-benefit (2), cost-effectiveness and cost-utility (1) and cost analysis (1). While six of the studies found AMS interventions to be cost-effective, the other six reported them as not cost-effective or inconclusive. The quality of the studies ranged from good to low. There were significant variations in cost-effectiveness of AMS interventions across studies and depending on the inclusion of cost components such as the cost of antimicrobial resistance. However, communication skills training and CRP-POCT were frequently cost-effective or cost-beneficial for reducing inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 21-02-2022
Abstract: There has been an increased interest in health technology assessment and economic evaluations for health policy in Ethiopia over the last few years. In this systematic review, we examined the scope and quality of healthcare economic evaluation studies in Ethiopia. We searched seven electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, Econlit, York CRD databases and CEA Tufts) from inception to May 2021 to identify published full health economic evaluations of a health-related intervention or programme in Ethiopia. This was supplemented with forward and backward citation searches of included articles, manual search of key government websites, the Disease Control Priorities-Ethiopia project and WHO-CHOICE programme. The quality of reporting of economic evaluations was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. The extracted data were grouped into subcategories based on the subject of the economic evaluation, organized into tables and reported narratively. This review identified 34 full economic evaluations conducted between 2009 and 2021. Around 14 (41%) of studies focussed on health service delivery, 8 (24%) on pharmaceuticals, vaccines and devices, and 4 (12%) on public-health programmes. The interventions were mostly preventive in nature and focussed on communicable diseases (n = 19 56%) and maternal and child health (n = 6 18%). Cost-effectiveness ratios varied widely from cost-saving to more than US $37 313 per life saved depending on the setting, perspectives, types of interventions and disease conditions. While the overall quality of included studies was judged as moderate (meeting 69% of CHEERS checklist), only four out of 27 cost-effectiveness studies characterized heterogeneity. There is a need for building local technical capacity to enhance the design, conduct and reporting of health economic evaluations in Ethiopia.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2014
DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S69702
Publisher: African Journals Online (AJOL)
Date: 25-08-2014
DOI: 10.4314/EPJ.V30I1.6
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group
Date: 2013
Publisher: International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
Date: 12-2012
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-07-2021
Abstract: Diabetes is a major chronic condition with ever-increasing health and economic burden. This study aimed to measure the impact of diabetes on total life expectancy (TLE) and healthy life expectancy (HLE) at ages 70 and 80 and to assess how educational level, obesity, and comorbidity affected the expectancies. The study involved 9849 population-representative women born between 1921 and 1926 from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). Self-rated health was obtained from the ALSWH surveys. Diabetes diagnosis was ascertained using survey and health care administrative data. Total life expectancy and HLE were estimated for women with and without diabetes using multistate modeling. Diabetes was associated with an increased risk of poor health (adjusted risk ratio: 1.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.49–1.79). Diabetes was also associated with a reduction of 0.9 years in HLE and 2.6 years in TLE at age 70 and 0.4 years in HLE and 1.3 years in TLE at age 80. If a woman had low education, obesity, and more than 2 comorbidities in addition to diabetes, these reductions increased to 3.0 years in TLE and 7.9 years in HLE at age 70 and 1.5 years in TLE and 3.8 years in HLE at age 80. Diabetes substantially reduced older women’s quantity and quality of life, with further reductions for those with lower education, obesity, and comorbidities. These findings underscore the importance of optimally managing diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and delaying the onset of comorbidities, to promote healthy aging for older women with diabetes.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1017/S0266462323000454
Abstract: Ethiopia’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires an efficient and equitable health priority-setting practice. The Ministry of Health aims to institutionalize health technology assessment (HTA) to support evidence-based decision making. This commentary highlights key considerations for successful formulation, adoption, and implementation of HTA policies and practices in Ethiopia, based on a review of international evidence and published normative principles and guidelines. Stakeholder engagement, transparent policymaking, sustainable financing, workforce education, and political economy analysis and power dynamics are critical factors that need to be considered when developing a national HTA roadmap and implementation strategy. To ensure ownership and sustainability of HTA, effective stakeholder engagement and transparency are crucial. Regulatory embedding and sustainable financing ensure legitimacy and continuity of HTA production, and workforce education and training are essential for conducting and interpreting HTA. Political economy analysis helps identify opportunities and constraints for effective HTA implementation. By addressing these considerations, Ethiopia can establish a well-designed HTA system to inform evidence-based and equitable resource allocation toward achieving UHC and improving health outcomes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.DIABRES.2019.02.016
Abstract: To assess the impact of diabetes on the survival of older women, adjusted for other all-cause mortality predictors. Data were used from the 1921-26 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, when the women were aged 76-81 years at baseline, with linkage to the National Death Index. Survival curves were plotted to compare the survival of women with no diabetes, incident diabetes and prevalent diabetes over 15 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between diabetes and all-cause mortality risks. A total of 972 (11.7%) of 8296 eligible women reported either incident, 522 (6.3%) or prevalent, 450 (5.4%) diabetes. The median survival times were 10.1, 11.4 and 12.7 years among women with prevalent, incident and no diabetes, respectively. The risks of death were 30% [HR: 1.30 (95% CI: 1.16-1.45)] and 73% [HR: 1.73 (CI: 1.57-1.92)] higher for women with incident and prevalent diabetes compared to women without diabetes. These associations were sustained after controlling for demographics, body mass index, smoking status, comorbidities and health care use. This study revealed that diabetes is associated with reduced survival probabilities for older women with minimal moderation after adjustment for other predictors. Our findings suggest that diabetes management guidelines for older women need to integrate factors such as comorbidities, smoking and being underweight to reduce the risk of mortality.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-06-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-44865-1
Abstract: During chronic liver injury hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the principal source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic liver, transdifferentiate into pro-fibrotic myofibroblast-like cells - a process potentially regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Recently, we found serum miRNA-25-3p (miR-25) levels were upregulated in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) without liver disease, compared to children with CF-associated liver disease and healthy in iduals. Here we examine the role of miR-25 in HSC biology. MiR-25 was detected in the human HSC cell line LX-2 and in primary murine HSCs, and increased with culture-induced activation. Transient overexpression of miR-25 inhibited TGF-β and its type 1 receptor (TGFBR1) mRNA expression, TGF-β-induced Smad2 phosphorylation and subsequent collagen1α1 induction in LX-2 cells. Pull-down experiments with biotinylated miR-25 revealed Notch signaling (co-)activators ADAM-17 and FKBP14 as miR-25 targets in HSCs. NanoString analysis confirmed miR-25 regulation of Notch- and Wnt-signaling pathways. Expression of Notch signaling pathway components and endogenous Notch1 signaling was downregulated in miR-25 overexpressing LX-2 cells, as were components of Wnt signaling such as Wnt5a. We propose that miR-25 acts as a negative feedback anti-fibrotic control during HSC activation by reducing the reactivity of HSCs to TGF-β-induced collagen expression and modulating the cross-talk between Notch, Wnt and TGF-β signaling.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-044618
Abstract: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. We performed a systematic narrative synthesis to describe the available studies for each outcome. Data were extracted using a standardised Joanna Briggs Institute data extraction form. Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria of which four were exclusively on Africa and the remaining 11 papers had a global focus with some data from Africa. Higher rates of infection in Africa are associated with high population density, urbanisation, transport connectivity, high volume of tourism and international trade, and high level of economic and political openness. Limited or poor access to healthcare are also associated with higher COVID-19 infection rates. Older people and in iduals with chronic conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis and anaemia experience severe forms COVID-19 leading to hospitalisation and death. Similarly, high burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high prevalence of tobacco consumption and low levels of expenditure on health and low levels of global health security score contribute to COVID-19 related deaths. Demographic, institutional, ecological, health system and politico-economic factors influenced the spectrum of COVID-19 infection, severity and death. We recommend multidisciplinary and integrated approaches to mitigate the identified factors and strengthen effective prevention strategies.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 14-04-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.04.12.21254829
Abstract: Misconception about COVID-19 has been spread out broadly that the World Health Organization declared it as a major challenge in the fight against the disease. This study aimed to assess common misconceptions about COVID-19 among the rural people of Bangladesh and its associated socio-demographic and media related factors. Data were collected from 210 respondents selected from three unions of Satkhira District, Bangladesh.The dependent variable was misconception about COVID-19 (Yes, No) which was generated based on the respondents’ responses to six questions on common misconceptions of COVID-19. Explanatory variables were respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, mass media and social media use habits. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the respondents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with misconception about COVID-19. Misconceptions about COVID-19 were found among more than half of the total respondents. More than 50% of the respondents reported they consider COVID-19 as a punishment from God. Besides, most of the respondents reported that they do not think COVID-19 is dangerous (59%), and COVID-19 is a disease (19%). Around 7% of the total respondents reported they consider this virus as a part of a virus war (7.2%). Bivariate analysis found that socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and factors related to social and mass media were significantly associated with misconception. However, when all the factors included together in the multivariate model, the likelihood of misconception was lower among secondary (AOR, 0.33, 95% CI, 0.13-0.84) and tertiary (AOR, 0.29, 95% CI, 0.09-0.92) educated respondents compared to respondents with primary education. This study obtained a very higher percentage of the rural people of Bangladesh having one or more misconceptions related to COVID-19. This could be a potential challenge in the fight against the pandemic. Effective use of mass and social media to communicate evidence based information on COVID-19 as well as to educate the public about COVID-19 is important.
No related grants have been discovered for Befikadu Legesse Wubishet.