Search

Background: Malnutrition in childhood has been linked with inappropriate and ineffective complementary feeding practices especially during the first two year of life. Complementary feeding involves the introduction of other forms of foods and or liquids from six months of age when breast milk only can no longer meet the dietary requirements of infants. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of optimal complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children 6-23 months in Jijiga town of Somali Region of Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional design conducted among 227 mothers of children aged 6–23 months using multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire analysed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine factors associated between optimal complementary feeding practices. Results: The prevalence of optimal complementary feeding practice was 49.4%, however 57% of the respondents introduced complementary feeding between 6-8 months. Minimal meal frequency and minimal dietary diversity among the respondents was 52% and 45% respectively. Optimal complementary feeding practice was significantly associated with mother’s level of education [AOR=3.4; 95% CI: 2.26-6.14], being employed [AOR=3.94; 95% CI: 1.08-6.57],parity [AOR=5.60; 95% CI: 2.17-8.67], Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance [AOR=7.23; 95% CI: 2.76-11.91), health facility delivery [AOR=4.20;95% CI: 1.06-7.55] and family size [AOR=3.65; 95% CI: 1.80-7.17) Conclusion: Nutrition education and counselling being provided by health workers to mothers should focus on promoting not only timely initiation of complementary feeding but adequate in quantity, appropriate frequency and consistency using variety of foods combination to accommodate the nutritional needs of the growing child while continuing breastfeeding.

Objective: To determine the frequency and etiology of Early Return Visits within 3 days of discharge to the Emergency Department. Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Emergency Department of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2022. Methodology: All patients visiting the Emergency Department within the defined 6-month period were included in this study, which came to 101’113. To determine overall incidence of Early Return Visits, total number of patients revisiting within 72 hours of Emergency Department discharge was used. To find out the possible factors responsible for ERVs, a sample size of 80 patients revisiting the Emergency Department was calculated through World Health Organization calculator and selected through random sampling technique. Factors responsible for unscheduled Early Return Visits were divided into three broad categories: Doctor-associated, Disease-associated, and Patient-associated. Results: The total number of patients revisiting Emergency Department within 72 hours was 2,880 (2.9%). Out of these 52.5% patients reported back to the Emergency Department due to disease-associated reasons, 27.5% due to doctor-related reasons, and 20% revisited for patient-related reasons. Conclusion: Two-point nine percent patients made ERVs to the Emergency Department within 72 hours. The most common causes of Early Return Visits in this study are disease-related issues followed by doctor-related issues.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a groundbreaking technology that has transformed network management significantly. By integrating data and control, SDN offers unparalleled flexibility and responsiveness, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional network architectures. However, a centralized controller, which is a hallmark of SDN, is a double-edged security sword that offers easy control. This also becomes a dangerous point of failure for the entire network. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study to explore traditional-based, artificial intelligence (AI)-based, and moving target defense (MTD) approaches to securing SDN. The study begins with a survey of traditional security solutions for SDN, encompassing authentication, authorization, encryption, security protocols, firewalls, and flow verification, by addressing security threats and vulnerabilities in both data and control planes. The study then investigates the application of AI-based security solutions in an SDN environment, focusing on how Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques are leveraged to address advanced security threats. Additionally, the survey examines MTD mechanisms within data and control plane security. Several in-depth techniques, including the randomization of Internet Protocol (IP) and Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, port numbers, and flow tables, and delving into the relationship between security threats, MTD strategies, and the specific controllers employed in experimental implementations. We utilized the widely recognized STRIDE cybersecurity framework to systematically identify and evaluate the potential threats to SDN security. Our analysis resulted in a comprehensive list of security challenges, and we propose future research directions aimed at addressing emerging threats in both the data and control planes.

Presents corrections to the paper, Security Control and Data Planes of SDN: A Comprehensive Review of Traditional, AI, and MTD Approaches to Security Solutions.

Abstract Early neonatal mortality occurs when a newborn dies within the first seven days of life. Despite interventions, neonatal mortality remains public health problem over time in Ethiopia (33 per 1000 live births). Determinants varies on level of neonatal mortality. The study's goal was to determine magnitude of early newborn death, as well as its determinants and causes in Newborn Intensive Care Unit of Referral hospital in Ethiopia's Somali region. Health facility based retrospective study review was conducted between May 2019 to May 2021 in Shiek Hassan Yabare Referral Hospital of Jigjiga University of Ethiopia. All neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with complete data and get registered using the new NICU registration book from May 2019 to May 2021 were included. Kobo toolkit was used for data collection and analyzed in SPSS 20. The magnitude of early neonatal mortality rate was defined as death between 0 and 7 days. Logistic regression model was used to estimate maternal and neonatal characteristics as a determinant variables on neonatal mortality. The statistical significance was considered at P-value

Abstract Background Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) is a type of health insurance program that provides financial protection against the cost of illness and improving access to health care services for communities engaged in the informal sector. In Ethiopia, the coverage of CBHI enrolment varies across regions and decision of household enrolment is affected by different factors. There are pocket studies on CBHI scheme with different coverage in Ethiopia and there is no pooled study on CBHI enrolment coverage in Ethiopia for better understanding the scheme and decision making. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the pooled coverage of CBHI enrolment in Ethiopia to understand its policy implications. Methods The systematic review and meta-analysis was done by adhering the PRISMA guideline with exhaustive search in PubMed/Medline, HINARI, SCOPUS and Google scholar complemented by manual search. Two authors independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed quality of studies. The I2 test statistic was used to test heterogeneity among studies. The overall coverage of CBHI scheme was estimated by using random-effects model. Result Among 269 identified, 17 studies were included in this meta-analysis and the overall coverage of CBHI scheme was 45% (95% CI 35%, 55%) in Ethiopia. The sub-group analysis shows higher enrolment rate 55.97 (95%CI: 41.68, 69.77) in earlier (2016–2017) studies than recent 37.33 (95%CI: 24.82, 50.77) studies (2018–2020). Conclusion The pooled coverage of CBHI enrolment is low in Ethiopia compared the national target of 80% set for 2020. It is also concentrated in only major regions of the country. The finding of the study helps national decision making for CBHI scheme service improvement. Due attention to be given to improving geographic expansion of CBHI and to the declining coverages with in the CBHI implementing regions by addressing the main bottlenecks restraining coverages. Trial registration The protocol of this systematic review and meta-analysis was published in PROSPERO with registration number: CRD42021252762 .

Abstract Malnutrition remains prevalent and existing health problem globally. Particularly Undernutrition is a major public health issue in developing countries. Globally the causes of severe acute undernutrition varies across context. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of severe acute malnutrition to uncover contextual factors based on UNICEF conceptual framework, as there was no study done in a similar context in Ethiopia. Health facility based (health post) un-matched case control study with Key informant interview was conducted to identify determinant factors of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children between 6 and 36 months. 246 children (82 cases and 164) with their mothers or care takers participated the study which was conducted between December 20, 2019 to January 20, 2020 in Kalafo district in Shebele River. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated to identify the determinants of SAM among children aged 6–36 months using multivariate logistic regression. The odds of severe acute malnutrition was 2.28 (1.22, 4.26); 4.68 (2.29, 9.58); 2.85 (1.26, 6.45); 2.39 (1.16, 4.96) and 3.262 (1.46, 7.31) and 3.237 (1.45, 7.23); respectively for mothers with three or more under five children, Children with inadequate dietary diversity, experienced diarrhea in past 2 weeks, their mothers had not nutrition counselling during pregnancy and younger (6–11 and 12–17 months) children as compared to controls. The finding of this study reveals the main determinants of severe acute malnutrition in riverine context are multi-level. In addition to this, poor childcare and polygamy identified in qualitative finding. Decisive and multi-sectoral approach is required to addressing SAM in the riverine area.

BACKGROUND:In Ethiopia, the trend of neonatal mortality showed slow pace of reduction from 2000-2016 compared to the reduction in infant and under-five mortality over the same period. This study aimed at unpacking the trends of admission, specific causes and rate of neonatal mortality as well as predictors of neonatal mortality at a general hospital in Somali region of Ethiopia. METHODS:A hospital based retrospective cohort study was conducted from 25th of May 2017to 10th of June, 2017. All the new-borns admitted in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the hospital were reviewed over three years period (Aug2014-May2017). Data were cleaned and exported to SPSS version 20 and both descriptive and analytical analysis were executed. The level of significance was set at P

Abstract Background Previous studies showed that heparin's anti-allergic activity is molecular weight dependent and resides in oligosaccharide fractions of Objective To investigate the structural sequence of heparin's anti-allergic domain, we used nitrous acid depolymerization of porcine heparin to prepare an oligosaccharide, and then fractionated it into disaccharide, tetrasaccharide, hexasaccharide, and octasaccharide fractions. The anti-allergic activity of each oligosaccharide fraction was tested in allergic sheep. Methods Allergic sheep without (acute responder) and with late airway responses (LAR; dual responder) were challenged with Ascaris suum antigen with and without inhaled oligosaccharide pretreatment and the effects on specific lung resistance and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to carbachol determined. Additional inflammatory cell recruitment studies were performed in immunized ovalbumin-challenged BALB/C mice with and without treatment. Results The inhaled tetrasaccharide fraction was the minimal effective chain length to show anti-allergic activity. This fraction showed activity in both groups of sheep; it was also effective in inhibiting LAR and AHR, when administered after the antigen challenge. Tetrasaccharide failed to modify the bronchoconstrictor responses to airway smooth muscle agonists (histamine, carbachol and LTD4), and had no effect on antigen-induced histamine release in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in sheep. In mice, inhaled tetrasaccharide also attenuated the ovalbumin-induced peribronchial inflammatory response and eosinophil influx in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Chemical analysis identified the active structure to be a pentasulfated tetrasaccharide ([IdoU2S (1→4)GlcNS6S (1→4) IdoU2S (1→4) AMan-6S]) which lacked anti-coagulant activity. Conclusions These results demonstrate that heparin tetrasaccharide possesses potent anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties, and that the domains responsible for anti-allergic and anti-coagulant activity are distinctly different.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) has been ranked as the third most common cause of encephalitis after viral encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The estimated incidence is 5-8 cases per 100,000 population. The objective of this study was to develop a costeffective test for detection of anti NMDA R antibodies by using in house prepared rodent brain tissue sections which could facilitate timely diagnosis and management of anti NMDA R Encephalitis, which if left undiagnosed may prove fatal. Methods: A total of 500 samples sent for autoimmune encephalitis related antibody testing were included in this cross-sectional study from April 2019 to March 2021 at department of Immunology, Shifa International Hospital (SIH), Islamabad. Rodent brain was dissected to prepare tissue sections on which samples were tested by Indirect Immunofluorescence. Simultaneously samples were tested on cell-based assay (CBA) which is gold standard for testing anti NMDA R antibodies. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: Median age of patients who tested positive for anti NMDA encephalitis was 19 years (range: 1 to 57). Out these 76% were female and 24% males. 5% patients tested positive for anti NMDA antibodies out of those suspected to be suffering from autoimmune encephalitis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of rodent brain IF for anti-NMDR antibodies taking CBA as gold standard was 92.6%, 98.5%, 78.1% and 99.6% respectively. The accuracy of the procedure was 98.2%. Conclusion: Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) on rodent brain tissue sections can be useful as a cost-effective alternate for resource constrained laboratories for timely detection of anti NMDA R antibodies facilitating timely diagnosis and management of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this computational study, we have combined molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques to explore interactions of monomeric and aggregated forms of Alzheimer's amyloid beta (A[β.sub.40]) with [...]