Kidney stone disease is a crystal concretion formed usually within the kidneys. It is an increasing urological disorder of human health, affecting about 12% of the world population. It has been associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal failure. The etiology of kidney stone is multifactorial. The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate formed at Randall’s plaque on the renal papillary surfaces. The mechanism of stone formation is a complex process which results from several physicochemical events including supersaturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation, and retention of urinary stone constituents within tubular cells. These steps are modulated by an imbalance between factors that promote or inhibit urinary crystallization. It is also noted that cellular injury promotes retention of particles on renal papillary surfaces. The exposure of renal epithelial cells to oxalate causes a signaling cascade which leads to apoptosis by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Currently, there is no satisfactory drug to cure and/or prevent kidney stone recurrences. Thus, further understanding of the pathophysiology of kidney stone formation is a research area to manage urolithiasis using new drugs. Therefore, this review has intended to provide a compiled up-to-date information on kidney stone etiology, pathogenesis, and prevention approaches.

Kidney transplantation remains the treatment of choice for end-stage renal failure. When the immune system of the recipient recognizes the transplanted kidney as a foreign object, graft rejection occurs. As part of the host immune defense mechanism, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a major challenge for graft rejection in transplantation therapy. The impact of HLA mismatches between the donor and the potential recipient prolongs the time for renal transplantation therapy, tethered to dialysis, latter reduces graft survival, and increases mortality. The formation of pretransplant alloantibodies against HLA class I and II molecules can be sensitized through exposures to blood transfusions, prior transplants, and pregnancy. These preformed HLA antibodies are associated with rejection in kidney transplantation. On the other hand, the development of de novo antibodies may increase the risk for acute and chronic rejections. Allograft rejection results from a complex interplay involving both the innate and the adaptive immune systems. Thus, further insights into the mechanisms of tissue rejection and the risk of HLA sensitization is crucial in developing new therapies that may blunt the immune system against transplanted organs. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to highlight facts about HLA and its sensitization, various mechanisms of allograft rejection, the current immunosuppressive approaches, and the directions for future therapy.

Information about risk factors of undernutrition and anaemia is useful to design appropriate strategies to control the health problems. In this study, the prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition and anaemia were assessed among school children in Abchikeli and Ayalew Mekonnen Elementary Schools, northwest Ethiopia, in February and March 2010. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 school children. Stool samples were examined using single Kato-Katz slide and nutritional status was determined using anthropometry technique. A pre-tested standardized questionnaire was used to gather information on the socio-demographic and the socio-economic status of the school children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the association of intestinal helminth infection and socio-demographic and socio-economic factors with undernutrition and anaemia. Out of 384 children examined, 32.3 % were undernourished (27.1 % underweight and 11.2 % stunted) and 10.7 % were anaemic. The odds of stunting were approximately seven times higher in children of ages 10 to 14 [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 6.93, 95 % CI = 2.60, 18.46] and 2.5 times higher in males [AOR = 2.50, 95 % CI = 1.24, 5.07] than children of ages 5 to 9 and females, respectively. The odds of underweight was three times higher in children who did not wash their hands before eating compared to those who did wash their hands [AOR = 3.13, 95 % CI = 1.19, 8.17]. The chance of anaemia was nine times higher in children who were infected with hookworms compared to those who were not infected with any helminth species [AOR = 8.87, 95 % CI = 2.28, 34.58]. The odds of being undernourished and anemic were similar among children with different socio-economic status. Undernutrition and anaemia are public health problems of school-age children in Durbete Town. Health education and provision of additional food supplements would be important to reduce the problem of undernutrition among school-age children in the town. Deworming of children in the town would also have additional impact on reducing the level of anaemia.

Background: In Ethiopian folk medicine, there is a claim that medicinal plants can treat urolithiasis although there is insufficient scientific evidence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the curative efficacy ofGomphocarpus fruticosusextracts in experimentally induced nephrolithiatic rats.Methods: Urolithiasis was induced in male Wistar rats by feeding ethylene glycol in drinking water for 28 days. The curative effects were evaluated after oral administrations of 200 mg/kg of the extracts from 15 to 28 days. Urine samples were collected 1 day before sacrificing the rats. Blood, liver and kidney samples were gathered under anaesthetic condition at day 28. Crystals in the urine were also analyzed by light microscopy.Results: G. fruticosusEtOAc extract reduced significantly the level of sodium (P < 0.001), whereas it was significantly elevated the levels of magnesium and citrate (P < 0.01) compared to lithiatic control.G. fruticosusBuOH extract lowered the levels of potassium (P < 0.01), calcium and phosphate in urolithiatic rats. It was also observed thatG. fruticosusEtOAc extract decreased the level of oxalate in the urine (P < 0.001), whereas it was increased the levels of magnesium (P < 0.05) and citrate (P < 0.01) in serum analysis after exposure to BuOH extract. In the kidneys, CaOx crystal deposits were reduced significantly byG. fruticosusEtOAc extract (P < 0.01).Conclusion: It has been noted thatG. fruticosusEtOAc extract was potent in treating urolithiasis. However, further study is required to assess the efficacy of the active compounds against urolithiasis.

The Wof‐Washa Natural State Forest (WWNSF) in Ethiopia harbors remarkable biodiversity but faces threats from local communities, climate change, and a lack of awareness regarding its preservation. Although numerous studies exist, the economic value of the forest’s ecosystem services (FESs) has been largely overlooked. Thus, the purposes of this study were to identify FESs, estimate their total economic value, and assess challenges with possible strategies for sustainable forest management. The research employed Google Earth to estimate forest area and socioeconomic surveys with field visits to gather data from 368 participants for analyzing the FESs, monetary values, and challenges with possible strategies. Analyses included descriptive statistics, total economic valuation (TEV), and an ordinary least squares regression model. The study revealed that the WWNSF provides crucial provisioning services (timber, honey, water, and firewood), regulating services (soil erosion control and climate change mitigation), and supporting services (soil formation and nutrient cycling). The forest’s annual contribution to sampled households averaged $1152.30, with regulating and cultural services valued at $14,112 and $622.00, respectively. The study also revealed that male‐headed households, larger families, and those having limited farmland and off‐farm income depended more heavily on the forest. Therefore, farmland scarcity, settlements, and tree harvesting for firewood, timber, and agricultural tools, as well as the lack of employment opportunities, were the main challenges encountered in the study area. This suggests that despite degradation and reduction in size due to human pressures, the WWNSF remains a significant source of socioeconomic and ecological benefits, supporting local livelihoods and biodiversity. To ensure the forest’s restoration, prioritizing community participation, promoting family planning, providing alternative income opportunities especially for youth, and balancing resource use with conservation efforts are possible strategies that should be taken into account.

Background Recent studies have reported an increasing prevalence of stone diseases (urolithiasis and cholelithiasis) worldwide. However, studies that evaluate the occurrence of stone diseases in Ethiopia are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine trends in the incidence of stone diseases, and the associated comorbidities in Ethiopia during the last 13 years. Methods Thirteen years retrospective data were collected from medical records (Log Books and Electronic Databases) at St. Paulos Tertiary Referral Hospital, September 2005/2006 to 2017/2018. A total of 32,370 surgically treated patients were included in the study. Open surgical treatments related to stone diseases were identified via a thorough review of patient medical records. Data were analyzed using Graph Pad Prism 6 Software. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Stone diseases were found in 4044 (12.5%) patients. Of which, the prevalence of urolithiasis was 2.3%, whereas gallstones were 10.2%. In the last 13 years, the trend in stone prevalence has increased by 10.8% from year 2005/6 (6.4%) to 2017/18 (17.2%). The prevalence of stone diseases was found to be higher in females (72.7%) than in males (27.3%). In the case of gallstones, the ratio of females to males was 11.2:1, whereas urinary stones occurred equally in both sexes. The mean age at which the stones occurred was 42 years, and most cases (51.5%) were prevalent between 30 and 49 years of age. The majority of gallstone patients (65.2%) were asymptomatic, and most urolithiatic cases (46.5%) were located in the kidneys. Comorbidities associated with urolithiasis were the reduction in urinary output, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, whereas hernia and diabetes mellitus were associated with gallstones (P<0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of urolithiasis and gallstones has been increasing over the past 13 years in patients reporting to a referral hospital from different parts of Ethiopia. These findings will raise the awareness of attending physicians and policy makers for prompt treatment interventions and to institute possible prevention measures to minimize stone recurrences. Moreover, research on alternative traditional medicinal treatment must be conducted since there are wide claims in Ethiopian folk medicine about curing stone diseases.