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Anteneh Ayelign Kibret,1 Hailu Aragie,1 Daniel Gashaneh Belay,1,2 Meseret Derbew Molla,3 Ephrem Tafesse Teferi,4 Endalkachew Belayneh Melese,4 Yilkal Belete Worku,4 Haileab Fekadu Wolde,2 Dagnew Getnet Adugna1 1Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Dagnew Getnet Adugna, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P.O.Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia, Tel +2510932223887, Email dagnewgetnet5@gmail.comIntroduction: Hypertension is the most common comorbidities in adult cancer patients. Although hypertension is a leading cause of cancer-related death and disability, there is no evidence about its prevalence and associated factors among cancer patients in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among cancer patients.Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among cancer patients from January to March 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was performed to select 403 study participants. To collect the data, structured interviewer-administered questionnaires were used. Both bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with hypertension. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and P-value of less than 0.05 were used to determine significant factors.Results: The final result was based on 384 cancer patients. In this study, the prevalence of hypertension among adult cancer patients was 36.2% [95% CI: (31.5, 41.2)]. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age greater than 57 years [AOR = 5.0; 95% CI (1.7, 14.9)] and having a family history of hypertension [AOR 10.9; 95% CI (5.5, 21.6)] were found to be significantly associated with hypertension.Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension among cancer patients was considerably high. Age > 57 years and family history of hypertension were found to increase the odds of having hypertension among cancer patients. Therefore, it is important to emphasize cancer patients that are at high risk of hypertension and develop preventive strategies to decrease the burden of this disease. There is a need for routine screening for hypertension for those having a positive family history of hypertension and older age, as they have an increased likelihood of developing high blood pressure among cancer patients.Keywords: hypertension, prevalence, cancer, associated factors, Ethiopia

Background: Hemorrhagic stroke, involving bleeding within the brain or surrounding areas, presents a distinct profile of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Hemorrhagic strokes are more common in older adults. However, younger individuals with certain risk factors can also be affected. This study aimed to find out the socio-economic characteristics of hemorrhagic stroke patients. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Medicine In-patients Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from October 2009 to March 2010. A total of 60 cases of hemorrhagic stroke were enrolled using a purposive sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using MS Office tools. Results: The mean age of participants was 50.33 ± 8.93 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. 13.3% were illiterate, 60% had a monthly family income of over 10,000 BDT. Family history of stroke was reported by 13.3%, 28.3% experienced symptoms during sleep, 20% during work, and 15% during excitement. 58.3% experienced a sudden onset of symptoms. Frequent comorbidities included hypertension (40.0%) and diabetes mellitus (30.0%). Headache was the most common symptom (66.7%). Neurological exams showed normal consciousness in 66.7%, with varying grades in the remainder. Normal speech was noted in 70.0%, normal muscle bulk in 91.7%, and hypertonic muscle tone in 80.0%. Among hemorrhagic stroke patients, 51.7% had right-sided intracerebral hemorrhage on CT. Conclusion: Older adults are particularly susceptible to hemorrhagic stroke. Most patients experience a sudden onset of symptoms, with headaches being the most common. Typically, patients retain normal consciousness, speech, muscle tone, and muscle bulk in the majority of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gashaw Dessie,1 Birhanu Ayelign,2 Yonas Akalu,3 Tewodros Shibabaw,1 Meseret Derbew Molla1 1Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gashaw Dessie Tel +251 975152796Email dessiegashaw@yahoo.comAbstract: In response to obesity-associated chronic inflammatory disorders, adipose tissue releases a biologically active peptide known as leptin. Leptin activates the secretion of chemical mediators, which contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis. Conversely, adiposity and obesity are the major aggravating risk factors in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including type II diabetes mellitus and obesity-associated hypertension. Elevated level of leptin in obesity-associated hypertension causes an increase in the production of aldosterone, which also results in elevation of arterial blood pressure. Hyperleptinemia is associated with the progress of the atherosclerosis through secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-17, and other cytokines to promote inflammation. The release of those cytokines leads to chronic inflammatory disorders and obesity-associated MetS. Thus, the aberrant leptin level in both MetS and chronic inflammatory disorders also leads to the complication of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Therapeutic target of leptin regarding its pro-inflammatory effect and dysregulated sympathetic nervous system activity may prevent further cardiovascular complication. This review mainly assesses the mechanism of leptin on the pathogenesis and further cardiovascular risk complication of chronic inflammatory disorders.Keywords: leptin, chronic inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular

Meseret Derbew Molla,1 Abebe Bekele,2 Daniel Seifu Melka,3,4 Maria Degef Teklemariam,3 Feyissa Challa,2 Birhanu Ayelign,5 Tewodros Shibabaw,1 Yonas Akalu,6 Zeleke Geto7 1Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Biochemistry, Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda; 5Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 6Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 7Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Desse, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Meseret Derbew Molla; Zeleke Geto Tel +251 918331617; Tel +251 912785918Email messidrm19@gmail.com; zegetdm@gmail.comBackground: Hyperuricemia is related not only to an increased risk of gouty arthritis but also to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, resistant hypertension, insulin resistance and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, to the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated factors have rarely been assessed in Ethiopian populations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated factors among adult staff members of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 to October 28, 2018. A total of 402 study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. A blood sample of approximately 5 mL was collected from each study participant after overnight fasting through standardized methods for biochemical tests, and analyses were carried out with an automated COBAS 6000 analyzer. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 20 software. The factors associated with the outcome variable were identified by bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses, and a p value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 37.13± 10.5 (mean ± SD), and 51.5% of the participants were male. The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia (> 5.7 mg/dL for females and > 7 mg/dL for males) was found to be 31.0%. The multivariable logistic analysis revealed that age (AOR=1.59, 95% CI 1.01– 2.78), sex (AOR=1.66, 95% CI 1.02– 2.70), cigarette smoking (AOR=2.05, 95% CI 1.01– 4.19) and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (AOR=1.70, 95% CI 1.01– 2.87) were significantly associated with hyperuricemia.Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was relatively high compared to similar studies. Early screening for hyperuricemia in the general population, especially in those who are smokers, of older age and with high serum LDL levels, is vital to control its adverse effects at an early stage.Keywords: adults, associated factors, uric acid, hyperuricemia