Activation and proliferation profiles of M.tuberculosis specific dual functional CD4+T cells from smear negative pulmonary TB patients.

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health challenge in the resource-limited endemic setting of sub-Saharan Africa. The diagnostic challenge becomes worse for smear-negative TB cases. Even if efforts for non-sputum-based TB diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, there was limited data on blood-based immunological biomarkers among smear-negative PTB patients.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on non-communicable diseases care and service deliveries in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) care and services play a crucial role in reducing mortality and morbidity associated with NCDs. However, COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the disparities in NCDs care and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To date, there is limited synthesized evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on NCDs care and service delivery in this region.

Relationship Between Thiopurine S-Methyltransferase Genotype and Phenotype in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objective: Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is a cytosolic transmethylase enzyme that catalyzes the S-methylation of thiopurine drugs, the mainstay of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment. TPMT enzyme activity shows interindividual variability, which can partly be explained by genetic variants in the gene. In this study, we aimed to investigate the concordance between genotype and phenotype of gene in a cohort of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia from Ethiopia.

Pretreatment HIV-1 Drug Resistance Among Newly Diagnosed People in Eastern Ethiopia.

Background And Aims: In Ethiopia, HIV-1 pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) data are limited owing to a lack of routine genotyping resistance tests. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV-1 PDR mutations and genetic diversity among newly diagnosed people with HIV in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: HIV RNA was extracted using Abbott m2000sp.

Flow cytometric characterisation of acute leukaemia in adolescent and adult Ethiopians.

Background: Flow cytometric characterisation of acute leukaemia is a key diagnostic approach for clinical management of patients, but is minimally practised in resource-constrained settings like Ethiopia.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the immunophenotypes of acute leukaemia by flow cytometry at Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adolescent and adult inpatients consecutively admitted from April 2019 to June 2021.

Genotypes and drug resistance pattern of complex among clinically diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Background: Clinically diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) (CDPTB) patients account for a huge proportion of TB. However, little is known about the genetic diversity and drug resistance profile of Complex (MTBC) strains in this group of patients.

Method: Unmatched case-control study was conducted among 313 PTB patients to compare the genetic diversity of MTBC and their drug resistance profiles among CDPTB ( = 173) and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB (BCPTB) ( = 140) patients.

Prognostic Role of Human Leukocyte Antigen Alleles and Cytokine Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Drugs.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) drugs have significantly improved chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) outcomes. Neopeptides from CML cells may induce specific immune responses, which are crucial for deep molecular (DMR) and treatment-free remission (TFR). In this study of Ethiopian patients with CML (n = 162), the HLA alleles and single-nucleotide polymorphisms of five cytokines revealed significant associations with clinical outcomes.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Hepatitis B Virus Coinfections among Ethiopians with Acute Leukemia.

SARS-CoV-2 and blood-borne viral coinfections are well reported. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and coinfection with blood-borne viruses in hematologic malignancy patients in Ethiopia. We aimed to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and associated infections with hepatitis B and other viruses among adolescent and adult acute leukemia patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Protein Expression of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 on Monocytes in TB, HIV, and TB/HIV.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a critical role in recognizing pathogenic patterns and initiating immune responses against TB and HIV. Previously, studies described the gene expression of TLRs in patients with TB and HIV. Here, we demonstrated TLRs protein expressions and their association with clinical status and plasma markers in TB, HIV, and TB/HIV coinfection.

High rate of high-risk human papillomavirus among benign and breast cancer patients in Ethiopia.

Introduction: There have been numerous studies that showed the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in breast cancer; nonetheless, there is ongoing debate regarding their association. Given few studies in Ethiopia, we aimed to investigate the magnitude of HPV infection in Ethiopian breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 120 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks were obtained, and basic demographic, clinical, and histological data were collected from medical records.

Clinical and Imaging Characteristics of Smear Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients: A Comparative Study.

Background: Prevalence surveys in Ethiopia indicate smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPTB) taking the major share of the overall TB burden. It has also been a diagnostic dilemma worldwide leading to diagnostic delays and difficulty in monitoring treatment outcomes. This study determines and compares the clinical and imaging findings in SNPTB and smear positive PTB (SPPTB).

Evidence for immune activation in pathogenesis of the HLA class II associated disease, podoconiosis.

Available evidences suggest that podoconiosis is triggered by long term exposure of bare feet to volcanic red clay soil particles. Previous genome-wide studies in Ethiopia showed association between the HLA class II region and disease susceptibility. However, functional relationships between the soil trigger, immunogenetic risk factors and the immunological basis of the disease are uncharted.

Pneumococcal colonization and coinfecting respiratory viruses in children under 5 years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective case-control study.

A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in conjunction with respiratory virus infections is essential for enhancing our knowledge of the pathogenesis and advancing the development of effective preventive strategies. Therefore, a case-control study was carried out in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to investigate the colonization rate of S. pneumoniae and its coinfection dynamics with respiratory viruses among children under the age of 5 years.

High rate of non-vaccine targeted high-risk HPV genotypes circulate among women in Eastern Ethiopia.

The World Health Organization [WHO] recommends a genotype-specific human papillomavirus [HPV] vaccination as a primary prevention strategy to control the burden of cervical cancer globally. In Ethiopia, where the non-vaccine-targeted HPV genotypes have not been adequately studied, a vaccination initiative was launched in 2018 targeting HPV-6,-11, -16, and -18 for girls aged 14-18 years. The co-existence of both vaccine-targeted and non-targeted genotypes is a serious concern, as it can accelerate cancer progression.

Evidence for distinct mechanisms of immune suppression in EBV-positive and EBV-negative Hodgkin lymphoma.

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) has been recognized for its ability to transform B lymphocytes and for its association with different types of cancers including Hodgkin lymphoma. In addition, EBV may also modulate the microenvironment of HL. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of EBV among HL cases in Ethiopia and to assess the tissue cellular composition of EBV-related and EBV-unrelated cases.

Multi-country collaborative citizen science projects to co-design cardiovascular disease prevention strategies and advocacy: findings from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and South Africa.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for 20.5 million annual deaths globally in 2021, with a disproportionally high burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is growing evidence of the use of citizen science and co-design approaches in developing interventions in different fields, but less so in the context of CVD prevention interventions in SSA.

Loss to Follow-up and Death Among Individuals With Newly Diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus Receiving Dolutegravir-Based First-Line Antiretroviral Treatment in Eastern Ethiopia: Implications for 95% United Nations Targets.

Background: Loss to follow-up (LTFU) and death are unfavorable outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment. This study aimed to identify the predictors of LTFU and death among individuals with newly diagnosed HIV receiving dolutegravir (DTG)-based first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A multisite prospective cohort study was carried out between October 2020 and July 2022.

The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2, 9 and 11 in Ethiopian breast cancer patients.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pathophysiological role in cancer initiation and progression. Numerous studies have examined an association between MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-11 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer (BC); however, no research has been done on the MMP expression levels in BC cases from Ethiopia.

Materials And Methods: A total of 58 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples encompassing 16 benign breast tumors and 42 BC were collected.

Virological Non-Suppression among Newly Diagnosed HIV-Positive Individuals on Dolutegravir-Based Antiretroviral Treatment in Eastern Ethiopia: Follow-Up Study.

There have been limited studies linking baseline factors, including the viral load (VL) test, with virological non-suppression since the introduction of dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens as first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Ethiopia. This study aimed to identify baseline factors associated with virological non-suppression between October 2020 and July 2022. A follow-up study was conducted in eastern Ethiopia among newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Evaluating the Frequencies of , and Variant Alleles and Their Association with L-Asparaginase Hypersensitivity in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: L-asparaginase is a vital component for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, hypersensitivity reactions and hepatotoxicity hinder its anti-neoplastic efficacy. Previous reports indicated that genetic variants in , and genes might be associated with hypersensitivity reactions and with liver function.

Objective: In this study, it was investigated whether this association also exists in a pediatric ALL cohort from Ethiopia.

Differential expression of chemokine receptors on monocytes in TB and HIV .

In the present study, we defined multiple chemokine receptors expressed by classical, intermediate and non-classical monocyte subsets in TB, HIV and TB/HIV co-infection and associate it with the perturbation of monocyte subsets due to the diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from TB+ (n = 34), HIV+ (n = 35), TB + HIV+ (n = 12), as well as TB-HIV- healthy controls (n = 39), were tested for monocyte phenotyping by flow cytometry. Frequencies of intermediate and non-classical monocytes were significantly higher in TB and/or HIV disease relative to healthy controls.