Call | Career Development Fellowship (CDF) |
Programme | EDCTP2 |
Start Date | 2019-09-01 |
End Date | 2023-08-31 |
Project Code | TMA2018CDF-2345 PrazOpt |
Status | Active |
Optimization of praziquantel therapy for Schistosoma mansoni infection in preschool-aged children in Ethiopia: PrazOpt
Primary Objective: The primary objective of this study is to determine curative rate of praziquantel 40 mg/kg single dose in S. mansoni infection in preschool-aged children. Secondary objectives of this clinical research are to: - Determine egg reduction rate - Assess safety outcomes (adverse events) - Estimate pharmacokinetic parameters - Assess polymorphisms of gene for praziquantel metabolizing enzymes - Identify correlates of curative outcome.
Institution | Country |
---|---|
Addis Ababa University | Ethiopia |
Name | Institution | Country |
---|---|---|
Prof Eyasu Makonnen | CDT-Africa | Ethiopia |
Prof Eleni Aklillu | Karolinska Institute | Sweden |
Dr Birkineh Tilahun | Hawassa University | Ethiopia |
This study is a prospective observational study which assesses treatment outcome of S. mansoni infected preschool-aged children who got praziquantel treatment. So, the study doesn’t have any interventions except collection of biological specimen for safety and efficacy evaluations.
The study sites include health centers in districts of Sidama, where there is a high burden of schistosomiasis infection. These include Bushulo Health Center (Loke district), Wosha Health Center (Wosha district) and Chuko Health Center (Chuko district). |
Type | Name | Title | University | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Mahlet Abbay | Prevalence and treatment outcome of schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Addis Ababa University | 2019 | 2020 |
PhD | Tafese Tadele | Burden of schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children and the determinants of treatment outcome | Hawassa University | 2019 | 2022 |
Call | EDCTP Clinical Research & Development Fellowship (R&D F) |
Programme | EDCTP2 |
Start Date | 2016-05-01 |
End Date | 2018-05-01 |
Project Code | TMA2014-434 |
Status | Completed |
Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Switzerland
Institution | Country |
---|---|
Addis Ababa University (AAU) | Ethiopia |
Addis Ababa University
Associate Professor
Type | Name | Title | University | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Lemma Bose | Evaluation of liver toxicity associated with protease inhibitors based anti-retro viral treatment | Addis Ababa University | 2017 | 2018 |
MSc | Yitayal Ababu | Cardiometabolic syndrome associated with protease inhibitors based anti-retro viral treatment | Addis Ababa University | 2017 | 2018 |
MSc | Markos Tadele | Identification of anti-leishmanial lead compounds from open access pathogen box | Addis Ababa University | 2016 | 2018 |
PhD | Tafese Tadele | Schistosomiasis burden and its health outcomes in preschool Children in Hawassa | Hawassa University | 2020 | 2023 |
MSc | Mahlet Abbay | Prevalence and treatment outcome of schistosomiasis in preschool children: meta-analysis | Addis Ababa University | 2019 | 2020 |
MSc | Gabriel Dawit | Azithromycin versus amoxicillin-clavulanate for otitis media in children | Addis Ababa University | 2019 | 2020 |
MSc | Frehiwot Ginbaru | Treatment outcome of dolutegravir based regimen versus efavirenz based first line regimen in HIV patients at Zewditu Memorial Hospital: Comparative Study | Addis Ababa University | 2019 | 2020 |
Role | Committee/board | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|
Member and Secretary | Institutional Review Board | 2017 | |
Member and Secretary | Exit Examination Board | 2015 | 2017 |
Member | Panel of experts for the College of Health Sciences CPD [Continuing Professional Development] accreditation | 2019 | |
Member | National Drug Safety Advisory | 2020 |
Institution | Degree | Year |
---|---|---|
University of Camerino, Italy | PhD | 2014-07-15 |
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia | MSc | 2005-02-01 |
, |
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) Malaria Neglected Infectious Diseases (NID)
Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a collective term used to describe various pathological conditions caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan of the genus Leishmania. It is one of the neglected diseases and has been given minimal attention by drug discovery and development stakeholders to narrow the safety and efficacy gaps of the drugs currently used to treat leishmaniasis. The challenge is further exacerbated by the emergence of drug resistance by the parasites.
Methods: Aiming to look for potential anti-leishmanial hits and leads, we screened Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Pathogen Box compounds against clinically isolated Leishmania donovani strain. In this medium-throughput primary screening assay, the compounds were screened against promastigotes, and then against amastigote stages.
Results: From the total 400 compounds screened, 35 compounds showed >50% inhibitory activity on promastigotes in the initial screen (1 μM). Out of these compounds, nine showed >70% inhibition, with median inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 12 to 491 nM using the anti-promastigote assay, and from 53 to 704 nM using the intracellular amastigote assay. Identified compounds demonstrated acceptable safety profiles on THP-1 cell lines and sheep red blood cells, and had appropriate physicochemical properties suitable for further drug development. Two compounds (MMV690102 and MMV688262) were identified as leads. The anti-tubercular agent MMV688262 (delamanid) showed a synergistic effect with amphotericin B, indicating the prospect of using this compound for combination therapy.
Conclusion: The current study indicates the presence of additional hits which may hold promise as starting points for anti-leishmanial drug discovery and in-depth structure-activity relationship studies.
Oxidative stress is a common feature of tuberculosis (TB), and persons with reduced antioxidants are at more risk of TB. TB patients with relatively severe oxidative stress had also more advanced disease as measured by the Karnofsky performance index. Since adverse effects from anti-TB drugs are also mediated by free radicals, TB patients are prone to side effects, such as hearing loss. In previous articles, researchers appealed for clinical trials aiming at evaluating N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in attenuating the dreaded hearing loss during multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) treatment. However, before embarking on such trials, considerations of NAC's overall impact on TB treatment are crucial. Unfortunately, such a comprehensive report on NAC is missing in the literature and this manuscript reviews the broader effect of NAC on TB treatment. This paper discusses NAC's effect on mycobacterial clearance, hearing loss, drug-induced liver injury, and its interaction with anti-TB drugs. Based on the evidence accrued to date, NAC appears to have various beneficial effects on TB treatment. However, despite the favorable interaction between NAC and first-line anti-TB drugs, the interaction between the antioxidant and some of the second-line anti-TB drugs needs further investigations.
Objective: Preschool age children (PSAC) are excluded from community based praziquantel treatment programs mainly due to paucity of evidence on the magnitude of schistosomiasis, efficacy and safety of this treatment in PSAC. The aim of this study is to assess Schistosoma mansoni infection rate and evaluate response to praziquantel in PSAC. A facility based longitudinal study was employed from April to June 2016 at Erer Health Center, Eastern Ethiopia. Stool sample was examined for schistosomiasis in 236 PSAC and repeated after 4 weeks post-treatment in positive individuals. Treatment outcomes were recorded and interpreted.
Results: Out of the 236 study participants, 59 (25%) were infected with S. mansoni. Praziquantel treatment (40 mg/kg) resulted in 96.4% cure rate and 99.4% egg reduction rate. Children of 3-5 year old were significantly affected with S. mansoni infection. Nausea and fatigue were common mild adverse events within 4 h of treatment however moderate and severe adverse events and allergic reactions were not observed. In conclusion, praziquantel at 40 mg/kg, the dose utilized in standard care for school age children, is tolerable and efficacious in the treatment of S. mansoni infection in PSAC, which calls for the healthcare system to provide appropriate service for this population.
Name | Country | Institution |
---|---|---|
Prof Eyasu Makonnen | Ethiopia | Addis Ababa University |
Prof Eleni Aklillu | Sweden | Karolinska Institute |
Dr Birkineh Tilahun | Ethiopia | Hawassa University |