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in 12 kebeles (the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia) of Kombolcha, Southern Wollo Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. The aims of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Kombolcha's community toward rabies and associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study design and multistage sampling procedures were employed to select households for the study. Kebeles were randomly selected using lottery method from list of kebeles in the study area, followed by selection of households from each kebele by systematic random sampling. Data were collected from 384 households through face to face interview using pre-tested and well-structured questionnaires. Socio-demographically, out of the 384 respondents interviewed, 223 (58.1%) were males and 161 (41.9%) were females. From 384 respondents, 345 (89.8%) had heard about rabies before and the majority of the study participants, 329 (85.7%) had good level of KAP. There were statistically significant associations (p<0.05) between KAP scores and age, house hold size, educational status, and occupation. In conclusion, the study revealed that, Kombolcha's community has good knowledge, attitude and practice toward rabies. However, there are some inconsistencies on mode of transmission, symptoms, appropriate prevention and treatment measures. Therefore, continuous and strategic health programs are expected from health professionals, governmental and non-governmental organizations to control and prevent the disease and secure rabies free zone.

Context: Fructus Psoralea, Psoralea corylifolia L. (Leguminosae), has been widely used in traditional medicines for the treatment of dermatitis, leukoderma, asthma and osteoporosis.Objectives: In this study, we sought to study mechanisms underlying the vasoactive properties of Psoralea corylifolia extract (PCE) and its active ingredients.Materials and methods: To study mechanisms underlying the vasoactive properties of PCE prepared by extracting dried seeds of Psoralea corylifolia with 70% ethanol, isometric tension recordings of rat aortic rings and the ionic currents through TRPC3 (transient receptor potential canonical 3) channels were measured with the cumulative concentration (10–600 μg/mL) of PCE or its constituents.Results: Cumulative treatment with PCE caused the relaxation of pre-contracted aortic rings in the presence and absence of endothelium with EC50 values of 61.27 ± 3.11 and 211.13 ± 18.74 μg/mL, respectively. Pretreatment with inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, guanylate cyclase, or cyclooxygenase and pyrazole 3, a selective TRPC3 channel blocker, significantly decreased PCE-induced vasorelaxation (p < 0.01). The PCE constituents, bakuchiol, isobavachalcone, isopsoralen and psoralen, inhibited hTRPC3 currents (inhibited by 40.6 ± 2.7, 27.1 ± 7.9, 35.1 ± 4.8 and 47.4 ± 3.9%, respectively). Furthermore, these constituents significantly relaxed pre-contracted aortic rings (EC50 128.9, 4.5, 32.1 and 114.9 μg/mL, respectively).Discussion and conclusions: Taken together, our data indicate that the vasodilatory actions of PCE are dependent on endothelial NO/cGMP and also involved in prostaglandin production. PCE and its active constituents, bakuchiol, isobavachalcone, isopsoralen and psoralen, caused dose-dependent inhibition of TRPC3 channels, indicating that those ingredients attenuate Phe-induced vasoconstriction.

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This study was conducted in and around Yabello, Southern Ethiopia, with the objective of determining the prevalence of poultry coccidiosis and its associated risk factors. Faecal samples were collected from total of 384 chickens. Floatation technique was used to detect coccidian oocyst. The result revealed that out of 384 chickens, 74 were positive to coccidiosis and overall prevalence was 19.3%. The frequency of detection of oocyst in the faecal samples from exotic and local breed chicken were 18 and 20.4%, respectively. The result of the current study disclosed that the prevalence of coccidiosis was almost similar in female (19.6%) and male (18.2 %) chickens. The prevalence rates of 18.4 and 21.9% were recorded in chicken grouped under the age category of 2-8 weeks (young) and greater than 8 weeks (adult), respectively. The prevalence rates of 21.6 and 18% were also recorded in good and poor body condition, respectively. Furthermore, coccidiosis occurrence in intensive and extensive management system were 22.1 and 16.7%, respectively. In conclusion, even though the difference for all risk factors was statistically insignificant (p>0.05), the study showed that coccidiosis is important disease of poultry in Yabello district, Southern Ethiopia and this is an indication for intervention to tackle the disease without any priority within the risk factors.