Disordered eating attitude and associated factors among high school adolescents aged 12–19 years in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Eating disorders are very complex, frequently developed and have a public health impact on adolescents. Different studies revealed that eating disorders is a pressing public health problem among adolescents. Eating disorders may also lead to mortality due to their physiological sequelae. There is no previous study regarding disordered of eating attitude in Ethiopian adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to assess prevalence of disordered eating attitude and its associated factors among adolescents in Addis Ababa high schools.

Methods

A school-based cross sectional study was conducted. Data were collected among 836 high school adolescents aged 12–19 years from May to June, 2015 in Addis Ababa city. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire containing eating attitudes test-26 items (EAT-26) and socio-demographic factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with disordered eating attitude. Both crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio were calculated to show the strength of association. In multivariable analysis, variables with a P value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of disordered eating attitude among adolescents was 8.6% [95% CI 4.9, 12.3]. Being female [AOR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.03, 3.00], Mother’s educational status (Primary [AOR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.11, 0.78], Certificate/diploma [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.07, 0.58] and first degree and above [AOR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.07, 0.40]) were found to be significantly associated with disordered eating attitude.

Conclusion

The finding of this study revealed that a significant number of adolescents were susceptible to developing disordered eating attitude. Being female and Mothers’ education status were significantly associated with disordered eating attitude among adolescents. Provision of screening test for eating disorders focusing on female adolescents is highly recommended.

     

Visceral Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia: An Evolving Disease

Visceral leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar) is classified as one of the most neglected tropical diseases. It is becoming a growing health problem in Ethiopia, with endemic areas that are continually spreading. The annual burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Ethiopia is estimated to be between 4,500 and 5,000 cases, and the population at risk is more than 3.2 million. There has been a change in the epidemiology of VL in Ethiopia. Over the last decades, almost all cases and outbreaks of VL were reported from arid and semi-arid parts of the country; however, recent reports indicated the introduction of this disease into the highlands. Migration of labourers to and from endemic areas, climatic and environmental changes, and impaired immunity due to HIV/AIDS and malnutrition resulted in the change of VL epidemiology. HIV spurs the spread of VL by increasing the risk of progression from asymptomatic infection towards full VL. Conversely, VL accelerates the onset of AIDS. In Ethiopia, VL epidemiology remains complex because of the diversity of risk factors involved, and its control is becoming an increasing challenge. This paper reviews the changes in epidemiology of VL in Ethiopia and discusses some of the possible explanations for these changes. The prospects for novel approaches to VL control are discussed, as are the current and future challenges facing Ethiopia''s public health development program.     

Doubly linked,A-type proanthocyanidin trimer and other constituents of Ixora coccinea leaves and their antioxidant and antibacterial properties

Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of the leaves of Ixora coccinea led to the isolation and identification of an A-type trimeric proanthocyanidin epicatechin-(2β → O → 7, 4β → 8)–epicatechin-(5 → O → 2β, 6 → 4β)–epicatechin named ixoratannin A-2 along with seven known compounds, epicatechin, procyanidin A2, cinnamtannin B-1, and four flavon-3-ol rhamnosides viz: kaempferol-7-O-α-l-rhamnnoside, kaempferol-3-O-α-l-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, and kaempferol-3,7-O-α-l-dirhamnoside. The structures were elucidated by the application of IR, UV, MS, 1D-, and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with literature data. Antioxidant evaluation of isolated compounds revealed that ixoratannin A-2 and cinnamtannin B-1 were the most active compounds in DPPH, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. Antibacterial activities were assessed by means of agar-diffusion assays using Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. All tested compounds inhibited the growth of B. subtilis, while only epicatechin and quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside inhibited the growth of E. coli.     

Rotenoid derivatives and other constituents of the twigs of Millettia duchesnei

Three prenylated rotenoids, elliptol, 12-deoxo-12alpha-methoxyelliptone and 6-methoxy-6a,12a-dehydrodeguelin were isolated from the twigs of Millettia duchesnei, together with the known compounds, 6a,12a-dehydrodeguelin, 6-hydroxy-6a,12a-dehydrodeguelin, 6-oxo-6a,12a-dehydrodeguelin, elliptone, 12a-hydroxyelliptone and eriodictyol. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and comparison with information reported in the literature and with authentic specimens for some known compounds. The full NMR data of 6-oxo-6a,12a-dehydrodeguelin and 6-hydroxy-6a,12a-dehydrodeguelin are reported here for the first time.     

Evaluation of n-alkanes and their carbon isotope enrichments (δ(13)C) as diet composition markers

Plant cuticular n-alkanes have been successfully used as markers to estimate diet composition and intake of grazing herbivores. However, additional markers may be required under grazing conditions in botanically diverse vegetation. This study was conducted to describe the n-alkane profiles and the carbon isotope enrichment of n-alkanes of common plant species from the Mid Rift Valley rangelands of Ethiopia, and evaluate their potential use as nutritional markers. A total of 23 plant species were collected and analysed for long-chain n-alkanes ranging from heptacosane to hexatriacontane (C(27) to C(36)), as well as their carbon isotopic ratio ((13)C/(12)C). The analysis was conducted by gas chromatography/combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry following saponification, extraction and purification. The isotopic composition of the n-alkanes is reported in the delta notation (δ(13)C) relative to the Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite standard. The dominant n-alkanes in the species were C(31) (mean ± s.d., 283 ± 246 mg/kg dry matter) and C(33) (149 ± 98 mg/kg dry matter). The carbon isotopic enrichment of the n-alkanes ranged from -19.37‰ to -37.40‰. Principal component analysis was used to examine interspecies differences based on n-alkane profiles and the carbon isotopic enrichments of individual n-alkanes. Large variability among the pasture species was observed. The first three principal components explained most of the interspecies variances. Comparison of the principal component scores using orthogonal procrustes rotation indicated that about 0.84 of the interspecies variances explained by the two types of data sets were independent of each other, suggesting that the use of a combination of the two markers can improve diet composition estimations. It was concluded that, while the n-alkane profile of the pasture species remains a useful marker for use in the study region, the δ(13)C values of n-alkanes can provide additional information in discriminating diet components of grazing animals.     

Chalcones and other constituents of Dorstenia prorepens and Dorstenia zenkeri

The twigs of Dorstenia prorepens furnished the digeranylated chalcone, 5,3'-(3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)-3,4, 2',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone while Dorstenia zenkeri yielded the 3',4'-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyldihydropyrano)-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone and a bichalcone. 4-Hydroxylonchocarpin was found in both plants. D. prorepens also yielded the known compounds: psoralen, bergapten, beta-sitosterol and its D-glucopyranosyl derivative. D. zenkeri yielded p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, dorsmanin A, 4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone and 4,2',4'-trihydroxy-3'-prenylchalcone. Structures of the new compounds were established by UV, IR, MS and 2-D NMR analysis.     

Prenylated flavonoids, monoterpenoid furanocoumarins and other constituents from the twigs of Dorstenia elliptica (Moraceae)

A monoprenylated flavan and two monoterpenoid substituted furanocoumarins were isolated from the twigs of Dorstenia elliptica along with 3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-4,2',4'-trihydroxylchalcone, psoralen, bergapten, O-[3-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-2H-furan-5-yl)butyl]bergaptol, beta-sitosterol and its beta-D-glucopyranoside. The structure of the flavan was determined as 6(1,1-dimethylallyl)-7,4'-dihydroxylflavan and the monoterpenoid substituted furanocoumarins were assigned as O-[3-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-2H-furan-5-yl)-3-hydroxybutyl]-bergaptol and O-[2-(5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-3-oxo-2H-pyran-2-yl)ethyl]bergaptol, respectively, using spectroscopic analysis, especially, 2D NMR spectra.     

Cytological diagnosis of soft tissue tumours

Cytological diagnosis of soft tissue tumours The aims of this study were to determine the patterns of soft tissue tumours and also to try to assess the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosing soft tissue tumours. Of 15 361 patients who visited the cytology diagnostic service of the Pathology Department, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, 623 (4.1%) cases with a diagnosis of soft tissue tumours were retrieved from the department's records for the years 1991-96. Fifty-three soft tissue tumours (25 benign and 28 malignant tumours) with combined FNAC and surgical biopsy results were traced for cyto-histological correlations. Twenty-two out of 25 benign soft tissue tumours were correctly diagnosed, with three false cytologic diagnoses where one mesenchmal neoplasm, one haemangioma, and one haemorragic lesion were identified; and out of 28 malignant soft tissue, 23 were correctly diagnosed however, the five false cytological diagnoses were one soft tissue sarcoma, one dermatofibrosarcoma, one malignant mesenchymal neoplasm, one spindle cell neoplasm and one menechymal neoplasm. Thus, in this study a sensitivity and specificity of 88.5% and 81.5% respectively for the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours were reported. In conclusion, FNAC of soft tissue tumours is a fast, effective and reliable diagnostic tool that may help in categorizing soft tissue tumours into benign and malignant groups for clinical management.