Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent histone deacetylases regulating important metabolic pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and are involved in many biological processes such as cell survival, senescence, proliferation, apoptosis, DNA repair, cell metabolism, and caloric restriction. The seven members of this family of enzymes are considered potential targets for the treatment of human pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Furthermore, recent interest focusing on sirtuin modulators as epigenetic players in the regulation of fundamental biological pathways has prompted increased efforts to discover new small molecules able to modify sirtuin activity. Here, we review the role, mechanism of action, and biological function of the seven sirtuins, as well as their inhibitors and activators.

Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in increased risk of relapse, rehospitalization and suicide, and increased costs to healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia at Ayder Referral Hospital and Mekelle Hospital in Mekelle, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. The study was a cross-sectional survey in which sociodemographic characteristics, drug attitudes, insight and side effects were measured and explored in terms of their relationship with medication adherence. A structured questionnaire as a data collection tool was used. Data were analyzed with the help of SPSS Version 20.0. A total of 393 patients participated, 26.5% were non-adherent to their antipsychotic medication. The factors significantly associated with better adherence were positive treatment attitudes (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.55), fewer side effects (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94, 0.99), awareness of illness (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.85) and the ability to relabel symptoms (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.07). However, khat chewers (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.68), being illiterate (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.47) and older age group (AOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16) were associated with less medication adherence. A high prevalence of medication non-adherence was found among patients with schizophrenia. Intervention strategies focused on educating the patients to better understand the illness, medications and their potential side effects might be useful in improving adherence to antipsychotic medication treatment.

The availability of multisource generic brands of amoxicillin in the market today places health professionals and patients in a difficult situation about the choice of a suitable product among numerous generic brands. The purpose of this study was to estimate the bioequivalence of amoxicillin capsules marketed in Ethiopia using in vitro tests in order to determine their interchangeability. The in vitro dissolution study was carried out on the six brands of amoxicillin capsules according to USP guidelines. To compare the dissolution profiles, a difference factor (f1), similarity factor (f2), dissolution efficiency (DE) and statistical methods were employed. Results have shown significant differences in the dissolution profiles of the brands based on the statistical analysis (p<0.0001). Pair-wise comparisons using Dunnett’s test indicated that the innovator brand has a significantly faster dissolution than the generic brands, except brand D. According to f1, f2 and DE calculations, only brand D was found to have similar dissolution profile with the innovator. Based on the in vitro studies, only brand D may be considered bioequivalent and interchangeable, while the other brands may not be considered bioequivalent and interchangeable with the innovator brand. This research highlights among other things the need for constant monitoring and surveillance on the marketed drugs by regulatory bodies to ascertain bioequivalence and quality medicines, especially for drugs like amoxicillin for which there exists evidence of non-bioequivalence from different firms, resulting in efficacy issues.