Astrocytes are multi-functional cells, now recognized as critical participants in many brain functions. They play a critical physiological role in the clearance of neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and in the regulation of K+ from the space of synaptic clefts. Astrocytes also express the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel, which are involved in both physiological functions and neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Some of the ND are the Alzheimer’s (AD), Huntington’s (HD), Parkinson’s diseases (PD), Cerebral edema, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and epilepsy pathological conditions in specific regions of the CNS. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). These project to the striatum, forming an important pathway within the basal ganglia. Mostly, PD has no clear etiology, and the mechanism of dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss is not well illustrated. The results of various studies suggest that astrocytes are involved in the pathophysiology of PD. Evidence has shown that the down-regulation of EAAT-2/GLT-1 and AQP4 expression is associated with PD pathogenesis. However, controversial results were reported in different experimental studies about the expression and function of EAAT-2/GLT-1 and AQP4, as well as their colocalization in different brain regions, and their involvement in PD development. Therefore, under neurological disorders, Parkinson’s disease is related to the genetic and phenotypic change of astrocytes’ biology. In this review, the authors summarized recent their research findings, which revealed the involvement of EAAT-2/GLT-1 and AQP4 expression, the physical interaction between EAAT-2/GLT-1 and AQP4 in astrocyte function, and their potential role in the development of PD in SNpc and Subthalamic nucleus (STN) of the basal ganglia nuclei.

Polyaniline-modified natural fibers have been recognized as promising candidates for conductive clothes, UV protection, and electromagnetic interference shielding. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of surface deposition of cotton fibers using polyaniline via in situ polymerization, and preceding structural changes were further screened by FT-IR, UV-Vis, TGA, SEM/EDX, and conductivity in comparison with bare cotton fibers used as the control sample. Polyaniline was introduced on the surface of cotton fibers as a conductive form, which was confirmed by electrical conductivity (1.54 × 10−4 Scm−1) equivalent to semiconductor materials. Detection of particular peaks at NKα 0.379 keV and ClKα 2.621 keV from EDX analysis revealed the introduction of nitrogen and chlorine, respectively. Polyaniline deposition on the cotton surface was successful to introduce hydrophobic environment to the system to enhance resistance to water absorption meaningfully.

Background: Ceftazidime is nowadays one of the most commonly used antibiotics due to its high antibacterial potency, wide spectrum of activity, and low potential for toxicity. However, the global trend shows huge misuse of ceftazidime. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the appropriateness of ceftazidime use and to identify areas of intervention to prevent inappropriate use in different wards of Ayder Compressive Specialized Hospital, a tertiary teaching Hospital, Mekelle-Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based prospective cross-sectional study design was steered on 327 patients who received ceftazidime during their hospitalization in the selected wards from February 1 to April 30, 2019. Results: In the assessment of the appropriateness of ceftazidime use, 2,084 (70.8%) were appropriate. Appropriateness of indication was 295 (90.2%), the effectiveness of ceftazidime use was 221 (67.6%), correct dose of ceftazidime use was 264 (80.4%), and the correct frequency of ceftazidime use was 230 (70.3%). Its use was empiric in 275 participants (84.1%) and specific in 52 (15.9%) participants. The most common indication for ceftazidime use was uncomplicated pneumonia, at 112 (34.3%). One hundred and seventy-one (52.3%) participants had intervention to prevent inappropriate use of ceftazidime. Changing the drug combination (96, 29.4%), increasing the dose (13, 4%), decreasing the dose (21, 6.4%), holding the (21, 6.4%), and discontinuation of ceftazidime (20, 6.1%) were among the interventions. Conclusion: This study revealed that more than one-fourth of the ceftazidime use was inappropriate. This may lead to the emergence of resistant pathogens which in turn lead to treatment failure and increased the cost of therapy. Therefore, adherence to current evidencebased guidelines and initiating antimicrobial stewardship are recommended.

Background: The co-infection of TB/HIV poses a significant burden in the health care system of developing countries like Ethiopia. There are conflicting results on preference of the time to initiate anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and hence assessing the survival experience and treatment outcomes associated with ART initiation is crucial to settle the controversies. The study compared the treatment outcomes in early versus later ART initiation in TB/HIV co-infected patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Mekelle Referral Hospital on 77 and 105 patients that started ART early and lately, respectively. An assumption for proportional hazard was met. Kaplan-Meier and life-table analyses were used to compare survival curves; and an independent samples t -test was used to compare means of the continuous variables between the two cohorts. Moreover, incidence per 100 persons-years were employed to crudely determine new morality rates and Cox regression analysis was done to find out the effects of independent variables on the outcome variables. Results: The mean survival time was 5.8 months after ART initiation. A 9.9 and 5.5 new incident mortality rates per 10,000 persons–years for the early and late ART initiation were observed, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in mean CD4 + T cells between early (208.20 ± 11.94 cells/mm 3 ) and late (245.94 ± 11.69 cells/mm 3 ) ART initiators (t 180 = -2.213, p < 0.028). Additionally, late initiators had a better survival chance at all levels of time (Log Rank c 2 =5.56, p <0.018) than early initiators. Having normal body mass index [adjusted hazard ratio [AHR=0.263; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.089–0.778] and having a ‘working’ baseline functional status [AHR=0.151; 95% CI: 0.054–0.427] were found to be preventive factors from death. However, patients with < 250 CD4 + T cells/mm 3 were more likely to die earlier [AHR=12.023; 95%: 1.588–91.005] than their counterpart groups. Conclusion: This study highlights that TB/HIV co-infected patients with moderate immunosuppression who started their ART early had worse outcome than those who started their ART lately. Moreover, body mass index, baseline functional status, and CD4 count were found to be independent predictors of mortality. Keywords: Treatment outcome, early ART initiation, late ART initiation, TB/HIV co-infection

Background: The co-infection of TB/HIV poses a significant burden in the health care system of developing countries like Ethiopia. There are conflicting results on the preference of the time to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) and hence assessing the survival experience and treatment outcomes associated with ART initiation is crucial to settle the controversies. The study compared the treatment outcomes in early versus later ART initiation in TB/HIV co-infected patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Mekelle Referral Hospital on 77 and 105 patients that started ART early and lately, respectively. An assumption for proportional hazard was met. Kaplan-Meier and life-table analyses were used to compare survival curves; and an independent samples t-test was used to compare means of the continuous variables between the two cohorts. Moreover, incidence per 100 persons-years was employed to crudely determine new morality rates, and Cox regression analysis was done to find out the effects of independent variables on the outcome variables. Results: The mean survival time was 5.8 months after ART initiation. A 9.9 and 5.5 new incident mortality rates per 10,000 persons–years for the early and late ART initiation were observed, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in mean CD4+ T cells between early (208.20 ± 11.94 cells/mm3) and late (245.94 ± 11.69 cells/mm3) ART initiators (t180 = -2.213, p < 0.028). Additionally, late initiators had a better survival chance at all levels of time (Log Rank c2=5.56, p<0.018) than early initiators. Having normal body mass index [adjusted hazard ratio [AHR=0.263; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.089–0.778] and having a ‘working’ baseline functional status [AHR=0.151; 95% CI: 0.054–0.427] were found to be preventive factors from death. However, patients with < 250 CD4+ T cells/mm3 were more likely to die earlier [AHR=12.023; 95%: 1.588–91.005] than their counterpart groups.Conclusion: TB/HIV co-infected patients who had a CD4 count of below 250 cells/ul started ART regimen within two weeks of TB treatment initiation were found to have better survival outcomes than those who start ART beyond two weeks in the study settings. Moreover, female patients were more likely to die than males and, patients with the functional status of bedridden were more likely to die in contrast to working and ambulatory functional status. Moreover, body mass index, baseline functional status, and CD4 count were found to be independent predictors of mortality.