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Objective: The leaf of Withania somnifera has been used for the treatment of diarrhea without evaluation of its efficacy. This study was aimed to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of 80% methanol extract and the solvent fraction of Withania somnifera leaf in mice. Material and Methods: The extraction was done using a cold maceration technique. The antidiarrheal activity was investigated on the castor oil-induced diarrhea, castor oil-induced gastrointestinal transit tests, and castor oil-induced enteropooling models. The mice were randomly grouped into negative control received 10ml/ kg 2% tween-80 in distilled water, positive control received 3mg/kg loperamide, and group III - V received 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400mg/kg of the extract orally. Results: The crude extract, aqueous, and n-butanol fractions significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg doses. All three doses of the crude extract showed significant activity on the three models (castor oil induced diarrhea, castor oil induced gastro-intestinal motility, and castor oil-induced enteropooling test), whereas the aqueous and n-butanol fractions revealed a significant result at 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. The phytochemical screening showed that flavonoids, tannins, alkaloid, phenols, saponin, terpenoids, and steroid were presented in the crude, flavonoid, phenol, tannin, saponin, alkaloid, and steroid were possessed in aquas fraction, while the n-butanol fraction contained flavonoid, tannins, phenols, alkaloid and terpenoids, the chloroform fraction showed the presences of flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids. The acute oral toxicity test revealed that the crude extract was safe at 2000 mg/kg. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the crude and fractions of Withania somnifera leaf has antidiarrheal activity and supports the folklore use of the plan for the treatment of diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many endoparasites are still considered neglected tropical illnesses. The term "endoparasites" refers to infections caused by both helminths and protozoa. In many places in Ethiopia, particularly Debre Tabor, epidemiological data on the prevalence and associated variables of endoparasites among under-five children is unavailable. Thus, the aim of this study was to gather baseline data on the prevalence of endoparasites and their associated variables among under-five children who visited the Debre Tabor comprehensive specialized hospital in Northwest Ethiopia. A hospital-based quantitative cross-sectional study was used. The study was carried out from May 1 to November 30, 2021. Study participants were selected by a systematic sampling technique. The stool specimen was examined for the presence of different stages of intestinal parasites (adult, trophozoite, larvae, cysts, and ova) using direct wet mount, modified formal-ether sedimentation, and modified Ziehl–Neelsen methods. The IBM SPSS statistical package (version 23) was used to enter and analyze the collected data. The data was summarized using frequency tables and a bar chart. The adjusted odds ratio and p value <0.05 were used to declare the final association. In the present study, a total of 258 under-five children and their mothers/guardians were involved in the study, with a response rate of 100%. More than half of the respondents, 137 (53.10%), were females, and 159 (61.63%) were in the age group of 24 to 59 months. The overall prevalence of one or more endoparasites among under-five children was 45 (17.44%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that health supervision, child food freshness, regular trimming of fingernails, and children's playground cleanliness were significantly associated with childhood endoparasites. The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of endoparasites among under-five children. Health supervision, child food freshness, regular trimming of fingernails, and children's playground cleanliness were significantly associated with endoparasites. Thus, strengthening health education about food, personal, and environmental hygiene for both children and their mothers/guardians is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite modern therapeutic armamentaria, DM remains a 21st-century public health menace. Novel phytomedicines are a rapidly expanding focus of research. The juice of Dorstenia barnimiana roots has long been used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional Ethiopian medicine, but its efficacy has not been supported by in vitro or in vivo scientific study. To investigate this, the present work was performed. Methods: In this experimental study, simple random sampling was applied. Healthy male mice were used in normoglycemic and oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) models. Streptozotocin (IP, 150 mg/kg)–administered diabetic male mice were utilized. Animals were randomly divided into five groups of six each. Group I received 10 mL/kg distilled water, groups II–IV received 100 (DB100), 200 (DB200), and 400 (DB400) mg/kg crude extract, respectively, and group V received glibenclamide 5 mg/kg. A sham group (group VI) was added that received 10 mL/kg distilled water. All treatments were given orally. FBG, serum-lipid profiles, and body-weight changes were then measured. In vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity was also evaluated. Results: The doses were atoxic up to 2,000 mg/kg. There was α-amylase inhibition activity of 67.52% at 500 μg/mL with an IC50 of 4.595 μg/mL. The OGTT revealed an antihyperglycemic effect of the crude extract. This was not attributed to a hypoglycemic side effect. In the diabetic mouse model, it shrank FBG levels remarkably. There were also significant reductions in serum TC, TGs, VLDL-C, and LDL-C. Nevertheless, HDL-C and body-weight levels returned. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the safety and promising in vivo antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activity of D. barnimiana, thus corroborating the traditional claim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: By measuring patients' satisfaction, providers can gain insight into several elements of health care services, including the effectiveness of their care and the level of empathy they exhibit. The aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services and associated factors in public hospitals located in Northwestern Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study was used. The study was carried out in an outpatient pharmacy from January 1–June 30, 2021. Participants were selected by a systematic sampling technique. The IBM SPSS statistical package (version 23) was used to enter and analyze the collected data. The findings were presented using descriptive statistical methods. To find factors linked to satisfaction, binary logistic regression was used. Results: The final analysis included a total of 401 samples. More than half of the participants (229, or 55.1%) were female. The overall mean score of satisfaction was 30.6 out of a maximum of 100 scores. By taking this mean score as a cut-off point, 204 (50.9%) of the study participants had satisfaction with the outpatient pharmacists' service. Participants' responses scored on the uncomfortable and inconvenient waiting areas [AOR = 0.31; 95%CI, (0.13, 0.49)] were found to be negatively associated with the level of patients' satisfaction. Also, the unavailability of medications [AOR = 0.12; 95%CI, (0.02, 0.37)] was negatively associated with the respondent satisfaction. Uncomfortable and inconvenient private counseling areas [AOR = 1.37; 95%CI, (0.79, 4.42)] showed a negative association with their satisfaction. Conclusion: Patients' satisfaction levels with pharmacy service were found to be greater than 50%. The socio-demographic characteristics of patients have no association with their level of satisfaction, but their perception of uncomfortable private counseling areas and waiting areas was negatively associated with their satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]