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Abraham Degaga,1,2 Sisay Sirgu,3 Hasniza Zaman Huri,2 Maw Shin Sim,4 Navin Kumar Loganadan,5 Tedla Kebede,6 Birhanemeskel Tegene,7 Ephrem Engidawork,1 Workineh Shibeshi1 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and endocrinology unit, Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 5Department of Pharmacy, Putrajaya Hospital, Putrajaya, Malaysia; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and endocrinology unit, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 7Department of Microbiology, Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Workineh Shibeshi, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel +251 927361143, Email workineh.shibeshi@aau.edu.etBackground: Despite its widespread use and favored profile, there are extensive variations in the treatment outcome of metformin therapy. Furthermore, studies reported that the inter-individual variability in the occurrence of metformin treatment associated side effects were related to the differences in individual genetic profiles. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate whether the reduced function methionine deletion at codon 420 (Met420del) variant of SLC22A1 (rs72552763) is associated with metformin induced gastrointestinal intolerance in Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Patients and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 47 T2DM patients on metformin treatment for < 3 years to assess the association of SLC22A1 (rs72552763) polymo

Abraham Degaga,1,2 Sisay Sirgu,3 Hasniza Zaman Huri,2 Maw Shin Sim,4 Tedla Kebede,5 Birhanemeskel Tegene,6 Navin Kumar Loganadan,7 Ephrem Engidawork,1 Workineh Shibeshi1 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology Unit, Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology Unit, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 6Department of Microbiology, Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 7Department of Pharmacy, Putrajaya Hospital, Precinct 7, Putrajaya, 62250, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Workineh Shibeshi, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel +251 927361143, Email workineh.shibeshi@aau.edu.etObjective: This study aimed to evaluate whether the M420del variants of SLC22A1 (rs72552763) is associated with metformin treatment response in Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Patients and Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted on 86 patients with T2DM who had been receiving metformin monotherapy for < 1 year. Patients showing ≥ 0.5% reduction in HbA1c levels from baseline within 3 months and remained low for at least another 3 months were defined as responders while those patients with < 0.5% reduction in HbA1c levels and/or those whom started a new class of glucose-lowering drug(s) because of unsatisfactory reduction were defined as non-responders. In addition, good glycemic control was observed

Workineh Shibeshi,1 Yonas Baheretibeb2 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Workineh Shibeshi, Email workineh.shibeshi@aau.edu.etIntroduction: Higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to respond to societal needs which has in turn led to changes in the type of knowledge, competencies, and skills required from learners. Assessment of student learning outcomes is the most powerful educational tool for guiding effective learning. In Ethiopia, studies are scarce on assessment practices of learning outcomes of postgraduate students in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.Objective: This study investigated the assessment practices of learning outcomes of postgraduate students pursuing studies in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences at the College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University.Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using structured questionnaires administered to postgraduate students and teaching faculty members in 13 MSc programs in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences at the College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University. About 300 postgraduate and teaching faculty members were recruited with purposive sampling. The data collected included assessment methods, types of test items, and student preferences on assessment formats. Data were analyzed using quantitative approaches, descriptive statistics, and parametric tests.Results: The study indicated that several assessment strategies and test items were practiced without a significant difference across fields of study. Regular attendance, oral questioning, quiz, group and individual assignments, seminar presentations, mid-term tests, and final written examination were commonly practiced assessment formats, while short question and long question essays were

Temesgen Sidamo,1 Prakruti S Rao,2 Eleni Aklillu,3 Workineh Shibeshi,1 Yumi Park,4,5 Yong-soon Cho,4,5 Jae-Gook Shin,4,5 Scott K Heysell,2 Stellah G Mpagama,6 Ephrem Engidawork1 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; 3Department of Laboratory of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; 4Department of Pharmacology and PharmacoGenomics Research Center, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea; 5Center for Personalized Precision Medicine of Tuberculosis (cPMTb), Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea; 6Kibong’oto Infectious Diseases Hospital, Sanya Juu, TanzaniaCorrespondence: Ephrem Engidawork, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Email ephrem.engidawork@aau.edu.etObjective: This study aimed to explore the population pharmacokinetic modeling (PopPK) of levofloxacin (LFX) and moxifloxacin (MXF), as well as the percent probability of target attainment (PTA) as defined by the ratio of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve over 24 h and the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC0-24/MIC) in Ethiopian multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients.Methods: Steady state-plasma concentration of the drugs in MDR-TB patients were determined using optimized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. PopPK and simulations were run at various doses, and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. The effect of covariates on the PK parameters and PTA for maximum mycobacterial kill and resistance prevention was also investigated.Results: LFX and MXF both fit in a one-compartment model with adjustments. Serum-creatinine (Cr)

Temesgen Sidamo,1 Workineh Shibeshi,1 Getnet Yimer,2 Eleni Aklillu,3 Ephrem Engidawork1 1Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Global One Health Initiative, Office of International Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; 3Department of Laboratory of Medicine Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, C-168 141 86, SwedenCorrespondence: Ephrem EngidaworkDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences¸ Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTel +251911408336Email ephrem.engidawork@aau.edu.etPurpose/Background: Although Ethiopia is among the thirty high multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries in the world, comparative therapeutic efficacy of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin has not been explored, particularly in MDR-TB patients. We therefore aimed to prospectively compare clinical outcomes and determine potential predictors of the outcomes among patients on moxifloxacin or levofloxacin-based MDR-TB drug regimens.Methods: We analyzed clinical parameters and laboratory data of eighty MDR-TB patients on moxifloxacin- or levofloxacin-based regimens. The clinical outcomes were compared using the Kaplan–Meier survival functions and the outcome definitions of the 2013 World Health Organization. Monthly sputum culture conversions and a molecular line probe assay results were also assessed. Observed outcomes and patient-related variables between the two groups were compared using chi-square, Wilcoxon Rank and Fisher exact tests. We also determined the potential predictors influencing treatment outcomes of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin using Cox proportional hazard model.Results: The levofloxacin-based treatment group had a lower failure rate and adverse drug events as well as better treatment success than the moxifloxacin-based group.