Physical Inactivity as a Pandemic: Daily Activities and Dietary Practices.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have linked a decline in physical activity (PA) around the world to an increase in chronic diseases. There were two key goals for this study. The first was to observe how daily activities affected physical health in terms of VO2max. The second aim was to investigate the effect of university students' dietary practices on levels of PA. METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 subjects (41 males and 34 females) with an average age of 27.3 [SD 5.8] years. The respondents' physical activity in the previous seven days was classified as vigorous activity, moderate activity, walking, and sitting using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were reported at the baseline, during Lent (week 7 of the vegan diet), and seven weeks later (week 14). To determine Maximum Oxygen Consumption-the VO2max, the Queen's College Step Test [QCST] was used. RESULTS: There was a major difference in mean VO2max between males and females, with males getting a higher VO2max. There was no connection between VO2max and changes in dietary adherence/transition. Based on physical activity study, there were no major variations between subjects (walking Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) and moderate MET). However, a thorough Vigorous MET showed major gender gaps. The majority of the participants in the current study spent 35 (46.7%) of their time studying and 19 (28%) of their time attending class lectures, with some students using more time than others. CONCLUSION: Researches that may conduct in university and/or college students may provide early information to help the students understand their physical fitness. According to the findings of this limited prospective study, students spend the majority of their time engaging in sitting for various purposes. In turn, regardless of whether they followed a vegan or omnivorous diet, these study participants had low VO2 max.

Adverse drug reactions among major depressive disorders: patterns by age and gender.

BACKGROUND: Although a significant crisis of adverse drug reaction (ADR) among major depressive disorders (MDDs) is not uncommon, research in Ethiopia has been limited. As a result, the goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence rate of ADRs among MDD patients by age and gender at the outpatient department of Amanuel mental specialized hospital (AMSH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHOD: The study was conducted on 129 (61 men and 68 women) volunteers at the outpatient department of AMSH, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 2020-March 2021. A longitudinal cross-sectional study design was employed. All participants were between 35 and 72 years old, with a mean age of 49.5 (SD = 18.8). Patients who had been taking an antidepressant for at least one month and had a follow-up within the first three months after diagnosis and treatment initiation were included in the study. Antidepressant-related ADRs were assessed using the Naranjo ADR probability scale. Antidepressant side-effect checklist (ASEC) as all ADRs have been listed on it was also used to classify a mental state examination (MSE) into mild, moderate, and severe. RESULTS: According to this study, the overall prevalence of antidepressant-related adverse reactions among MDD patients was 69%, with females having a higher prevalence rate. One of the study's unexpected findings was that ADR was significantly (p = 0.039) higher in young study subjects than in the elderly (73.1% versus 66.2%, respectively). ADRs were shown to be substantially more common in patients taking polypharmacy than in mono-pharmacy (72.5% versus 65%, respectively). The bulk of the ADRs reported were likely, moderate, and probably avoidable. The most common adverse effects reported by patients in the current study were weight gain in TCAs, followed by sexual dysfunction with SSRIs, nausea or vomiting in MAOIs, and headache in SNRIs. The prevalence of ADRs was higher in MAOIs (80%), while SSRIs had the lowest (62.5%). The prevalence of ADRs varies depending on comorbidities: 62.7 % in the absence of comorbidities versus 74.3% in the presence of comorbidities (those with one or more comorbidities). CONCLUSION: ADRs that occur in MDD patients are considerable, and gender and age are associated with their occurrence. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring ADRs in mental outpatients frequently to recognize and decrease the risks posed by ADRs earlier. As a result, the quality of care may increase, total health care expenses may decrease, and adherence among patients with depression may improve.

COVID-19 Pandemic: A Compressive Review on Gender, Herd Immunity, and Physiological Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Researchers and scientists experienced the spread and aid recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic with a condition of great uncertainty. With limited understanding of SARS-CoV-2, current attempts at controlling its spread are focused on the suppressing approach (to reduce a sustained endogenous transmission) and the mitigating approach (to reduce the growth rate of the epidemic). On the one hand, while there has been no firm explanation, many governments have considered immunity passport and herd immunity for paths out of restrictive physical distancing measures imposed to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 but were not successful. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Herein, we attempted to systematize the lessons and shreds of evidence related to the spectrum of illness, the physiological mechanisms of host susceptibility, herd immunity, immunity passport, gender disparities, and severe challenges and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that the insights provided in this review will help raise the effectiveness of the treatment policies and preventive measures required to end the pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of immunity passports is suggested to certify an individual at low risk of acquiring or transmitting SARS-CoV-2. But, an individual might nevertheless carry the virus at similar levels and for a similar duration to those previously uninfected, with an unchanged potential for transmission. Vaccine-induced herd immunity is a complex issue inherent to a vaccine and the population receiving the vaccine. The central epidemiological questions about are as follows: what proportion of the population should be vaccinated to meet elimination (in a local program), eradication (in a global program) or a defined level of control? How is this affected by demographic factors (such as gender)? What is the best age at which to immunize? Besides, although age-dependent mortality risk is estimated to be higher for men and older people, such interpretation across gender, age groups, and countries, however, must be accepted with caution at present. SUMMARY: COVID-19 has taught us that health is the basis of global wealth and international solidarity is an essential response and a superior approach to isolationism. Hence, we must be clear about what the alternatives are when evaluating the merits of different ways of tackling this pandemic both in the short term as well as in the long term.

Changes in biochemical parameters by gender and time: Effect of short-term vegan diet adherence.

BACKGROUND: Vegetarian diets adapted for various reasons that may include religious, ethical, and health considerations have reasonable health benefits including weight loss, and favorable metabolic changes. However, studies that assessed health benefits associated with vegan diet practices during the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian (EOC) Lenten fasting remains limited. This study has, therefore, assessed how short-term vegan diet associated with metabolic traits, including weight, body mass index (BMI), circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), through longitudinal cross-sectional study design. METHODS: Seventy-five subjects (34 females and 41 males) with a mean age of [+SD] 27.3 + 5.8 years (range, 18 and 35) took part in the study. The study followed three assessment sessions: at baseline, during the Lenten (week 7), and 7 weeks after the end of the Lenten (week 14). An automatic chemistry analyzer (Mindray, BE-2000, China) used for lipid profile analysis. We used paired sample t-test in pre and post-performance and repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc adjustment between time points. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The EOC fasting with vegan diet induced significantly lower blood pressure, weight, BMI, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC: HDL-C ratios, during Lenten (that is vegan diet consumption), but a regain noted in these parameters 7-weeks after Lenten (that is omnivore diet). On gender differences, vegan diet associated with significantly lower blood pressure, TC, and LDL-C in females compared with age-matched male counterparts. Some methodological limitations of this study are discussed with particular reference to lack of a randomized control group and self-reported data that limit this study in establishing a causal relationship through observed associations. CONCLUSIONS: Vegan diet consumption even for short period corroborate ideal metabolic traits, with more favorable changes noted in women than age-matched men counterparts. These findings might help to define vegetarian diets as part of religious fasting (beyond its spiritual goals) as a non-pharmacological prescription in different populations, and our findings add to growing evidence in these subjects.

Chronic Kidney Disease And Associated Risk Factors Among Cardiovascular Patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) are known in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cause extra morbidity and mortality. There were few related studies in Africa, and no such studies exist in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the magnitude of chronic kidney disease and associated risk factors among cardiovascular (CV) patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 163 CV patients attending Tikur-Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined using the Simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Body weight, height, and blood pressure were recorded, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Serum urea and creatinine were analyzed using an automatic analyzer (MINDRAY, BE-2000), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was calculated. RESULTS: In this study, CKD, defined as estimated GFR (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73m2 was found in 39 (23.9%) participants using the MDRD equation. Normal serum creatinine (SCr) was observed in 114 (69.9%) participants and proteinuria was found in 41 (25.2%) participants. CKD was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (COR: -0.240, 95% CI: -0.439 to -0.041, p = 0.018), SCr (COR: -0.679; 95% CI: -0.778 to -0.580; p = 0.001) and BUN (COR: -0.422; 95% CI: -0.550 to -0.295; p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only high SCr (AOR = 47.57; 95% CI: 13.72-164.89; p = 0.001) was independently associated with CKD. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that the CKD was significantly associated with SBP and increased BUN, while independently associated with increased SCr. Thus, early detection and recognition of CKD in-patient with CVD helps to avoid extra morbidity and mortality. We recommend using the MDRD formula in health facilities for diagnosing of CKD to reduce duplication of laboratory tests (SCr and BUN), as it is the easiest practice and saves patients and the public sector costs.

The association between ABO blood group distribution and peptic ulcer disease: a cross-sectional study from Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that ABO blood group antigens are associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD). There are limited sources regarding the association of blood groups with PUD patients in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the association between ABO blood group distribution, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), smoking, alcohol, coffee, and PUD at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken, and a total of 63 endoscopically confirmed PUD patients and 63 healthy controls were screened for ABO blood grouping using the standard slide agglutination reaction. Stool antigens were checked to determine Helicobacter pylori status of PUD patients. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The ABO blood group distribution of PUD patients was 19.04% (12/63), 19.04% (12/63), 11.11% (7/63), 50.79% (32/63) for blood group A, B, AB, and O, respectively, while among control groups it was 25.39% (16/63), 23.80% (15/63), 12.69% (8/63), and 38.09% (24/63) for blood group A, B, AB, and O, respectively. 34.1% (22/63) of PUD patients had gastric ulcer and 65.9% (41/63) had duodenal ulcer. There was statistically a significant association between sex (p=0.001), use of NSAIDs (p=0.001), smoking cigarette (p=0.014), alcohol consumption (p=0.028), and PUD. CONCLUSION: Although PUD trended as more prevalent among patients with blood group O than other blood group types their association was not statistically significant.