Hosting the 16th AHILA Conference in Ibadan, Nigeria: organization, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt

Attending a scientific conference offers researchers several potential benefits including opportunity to present and receive constructive feedback from professional colleagues. Organizing such conference is also beneficial to the hosts who can acquire skills for coordination, communication and networking. However, the process is fraught with many challenges. One hundred and nine professionals attended the 16th AHILA conference from 22 countries in Africa, Europe and United States of America. The conference agenda was balanced, integrating skills acquisition, information for career development, sources of evidence-based free e-resources, including databases, and e-books for libraries covering health-related topics. This article describes achievement, challenges and lessons learnt in hosting the conference and could serve as a guide for health information professionals planning a similar conference in the future

Perceptions of Effective Behavioral Leadership Qualities, by Gender of Teachers, in the Schools for Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired in Nigeria

This study investigated gender similarities and differences in teachers’ perceptions of essential behavioral leadership qualities (EBLQ) for effective school leadership of principals, in the schools for children who are blind or visually impaired (SCBVI) in Nigeria. We, hence, attempted to answer three questions: 1) What were the perceived essential leadership qualities necessary for effective leadership in SCBVI in Nigeria? 2) How did men and women teachers in the Nigerian SCBVI differ in their perceptions of essential characteristics for effective leadership in their schools? 3) How did men and women teachers in the Nigerian SCBVI differ in their perceptions of effectiveness of their school principals as school leaders?The main catalyst for this study is the neglect of the Nigerian SCBVI in leadership studies, despite the importance of these schools in educating a segment of the Nigerian school children. By studying these schools, knowledge is produced about essential leadership qualities for successful leadership of the schools, as well as the perceived rates of leadership effectiveness of the principals by gender of their teachers.Findings revealed that except for one leadership characteristic (resource procurement skills) there were no significant differences, by gender of the teachers, in leadership qualities deemed essential for principal effectiveness. However, the qualities were differentially ranked based on mean scores, by gender of the teachers in the Nigerian SCBVI. This study concluded with the observation that the canon of knowledge on theories of leadership style preferences by gender did not adequately fit the leadership preference styles of the Nigerian SCBVI teachers by gender. Keywords: Leadership, EBLQ, Educational Leadership, Leadership Effectiveness, Special Education Leadership, Leadership in Schools for the Blin

Stimulation with Peptidoglycan induces interleukin 6 and TLR2 expression and a concomitant downregulation of expression of adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inflammation is a major component of obesity and diabetes, and toll-like receptors (TLRs) play critical roles in the regulation of inflammation and response to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and fatty acids in. Although immune cells such as macrophages are primarily responsible for recognition and clearance of pathogens, adipocytes are also closely involved in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation. Whereas it has been demonstrated that adipocytes respond to TLR4 stimulation with lipopolysacccharide, very little is known about their response to the TLR2 agonist, peptidoglycan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the response to peptidoglycan from <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Real-time PCR analysis was used to quantify the expression of interleukin 6 (IL6), adiponectin receptors (adipoR1 and adipoR2), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR2 4). Media level of IL6 was determined with ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Adipocyte stimulation peptidoglycan induces IL6 expression (P < 0.01). Both siRNA mediated suppression of TLR2 and immunoneutralization of TLR2 with a TLR2 specific antibody inhibited response to peptidoglycan (P < 0.05). We also examined the regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA in peptidoglycan treated cells. Both peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) robustly induce TLR2 mRNA expression, whereas TLR4 mRNA is weakly induced by LPS only (P < 0.05). Additionally, peptidoglycan downregulates the mRNA expression of adiponectin receptors, adipoR1 and adipoR2 (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with increased expression of TLR2, this receptor could play a significant but previously unrecognized role in the establishment of chronic inflammation in adipose tissue in obesity.</p

A Culturally Competent Phenotypic Evaluation / Obesity Assessment in African and African American Populations: Pilot Study

BMI, a ratio of weight over height, is a culturally-biased tool imposed upon the scientific, academic and medical communities as an errant measure of obesity across ethnic - ity. Body Mass Index (BMI) relates mass (g) to a relative fat distribution with regards to height. Its genesis is from the actuarially derived and ethnically exclusive height and weight tables that promote the fictional notion of inter-eth - nic ideal weights that would be later adopted by the Na - tional Institutes of Health (NIH) as a competent measure of adiposity. Best practice, movement towards individualized medicine and deployment of effective models that impact the diabetes epidemic and its related precursors like insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome, requires terminal use of BMI, a biologically meaningless and crude indicator of obesity, in favor of effective and culturally competent non-relative body composition evaluation of genetically determined adiposity that untenably compares values among groups. African Americans are among the increasingly affected groups for diabetes and posses unique composition variation requiring proper intra-cultural evaluation independent of inter-ethnic Eurocentric assumptions that over assesses obesity risk. Incorporating use of 4C models to evaluate adiposity and assess risk for diabetic predisposition and onset provides an effective unbiased assessment of the cultural components inherent within body composition variation among ethnicity, age, gender. Obesity and type II diabetes onset and pre-disposition is assessed phenotypically, in creation of a body mass profile among African and African American groups, using 4C model, photography, anthropometry, somatotype and genetic evaluation. Environmental obeseogenic cultural factors are also explored

Food Preferences Survey in African Americans and West Africans: A Cultural Exploration of Agreement and Divergence in Attitudes in Food Environments and Food Responses

African Americans, currently over-represented among low SES groups, have been found to be among the most at risk groups for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Phenotypic expression, such as obesity, result from the combined effect of genetic inheritance and environmental influences. Environmental dynamics interact with individuals on micro, meso and ecto levels (Bronfrenbrenner, 1989), are diverse and cultural (Vygotsky, 1993) and are learned by individuals through modeling and observation (Bandura, 1989). Environmental factors such as parental influence and modeling, availability and accessibility of produce, sweetened drinks and fast foods, can contribute to or minimize the onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Consumption of fruits, vegetables and water has been shown to militate against the onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the study ‘Genetic Bottlenecks Impacting Genes Governing Food Responses in African Americans’ the author considers the genetic and environmental responses to the onset of obesity and Type II diabetes among African Americans. The author uses a culturally competent model for repeated traits *(P=μ+G+Ep+Et) to evaluate the genotype/phenotype of African Americans. This model incorporates the contribution of temporary and permanent cultural environmental factors of historical origin, related to food responses, predisposition, metabolism and ethnic adjusted mean values of physical assessment to examine if the environment/genotype variables are informative towards the type 2 diabetes expression among African Americans, and to assess the validity of BMI as a predictor of adiposity and/or obesity prevalence among non-European populations. The main goal was to evaluate the relationship between BMI, fat distribution/prediction, variation among phenotypes and assess their relationships to the obesity genotype and environmental influences affecting metabolism and food choice

Itaconic Acid Production from Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L) Using Fungi in Solid State Fermentation

This study evaluates the potentials of Phoenix dactylifera L (Date fruits) as possible alternative raw materials for itaconic acid production using naturally occurring fungi. Date fruit (pulp) was used as a substrate in solid state fermentation for the production of itaconic acid using naturally occurring fungus.The date fruit (pulp) was de-capped from its seed manually with the aid of a knife and dried in an oven at 60 0C and was grounded using an Excella Mixer grinder. The fungus used was naturally isolated by fermentation of substrate (date pulp) and was identified as Aspergillus niger. Proximate analysis was carried out on the substrate using standard methods. Parameters such as substrate concentration, inoculum size and fermentation period were varied using standard methods to determine its effect on itaconic acid production. Assay for itaconic acid production was carried out using standard methods at a wavelength of 385nm. Amount of itaconic acid produced was derived by translation of absorbance values on the itaconic acid curve. The substrate had a high carbohydrate content of 72.29%. The fermentation results showed maximum production of itaconic acid of 20.75±0.25mg/ml using 40g substrate, 15.13±1.13mg/ml using 2 ml inoculums size of spore suspension (2×105 spores/ml) and a maximum yield of 16.88±0.13mg/ml at day 1 of fermentation period. On optimization with 40g substrate and 2 ml inoculums for 3 days a maximum yield was observed at day 2 of fermentation with a maximum yield of 25.00±1.00mg/ml. The highest acidic level throughout the fermentation period was observed to be at pH 4.2. From the study it was concluded that date pulp is a promising substrate and could be utilized by Aspergillus niger for the production of itaconic acid

Use of the Internet for health information by physicians for patient care in a teaching hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: The Internet is the world's largest network of information, communication and services. Although the Internet is widely used in medicine and has made significant impact in research, training and patient care, few studies had explored the extent to which Nigerian physicians use Internet resources for patient care. The objective of this study was to assess physicians' use of the Internet for health information for patient care. METHOD: 172 physicians at the University College hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria; completed a 31-item, anonymous, standardized questionnaire. The Epi-Info software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 31.95 years (SD 4.94). Virtually all (98%) the respondents had used the Internet; 76% accessed it from cyber cafes. E-mail was the most commonly used Internet service (64%). Ninety percent of the respondents reported they had obtained information from the Internet for patient care; of this number, 76.2% had searched a database. The database most recently searched was MEDLINE/PubMed in 99% of cases. Only 7% of the respondents had ever searched the Cochrane Library. More than half (58.1%) perceived they had no confidence to download full-text articles from online sources such as the Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI). Multiple barriers to increased use of the Internet were identified including poor availability of broadband (fast connection speed) Internet access, lack of information searching skills, cost of access and information overload. CONCLUSION: Physicians' use of the Internet for health information for patient care was widespread but use of evidenced-based medicine resources such as Cochrane Library, Up-to-date and Clinical Evidence was minimal. Awareness and training in the use of EBM resources for patient care is needed. Introduction of EBM in the teaching curriculum will enhance the use of EBM resources by physicians for patient care

Effect of phytase on intestinal phytate breakdown, plasma inositol concentrations and glucose transporter type 4 abundance in muscle membranes of weanling pigs

The objective of this current study was to determine the effects of phytase dosing on growth performance, mineral digestibility, phytate breakdown and the level of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in muscle plasma membranes of weanling pigs. A total of 160 barrows were used in a randomized completely block design and assigned to four treatments for a 7-week study. Depending on the feeding phase, diets differed in dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels (PC:8 to 6.8g/kg Ca; 7.3 to 6.3 g/kg P; negative control (NC):5.5 to 5.2 g/kg Ca; 5.4 to 4.7 g/kg P). NC diets were supplemented with phytase at 0 (NC); 500 (NC+500 FTU) or 2000 FTU/kg (NC+2000 FTU) phytase units/kg. Blood was collected after fasting (d 48) or feeding (d 49) for measurement of plasma inositol concentrations. On d 49, two pigs per pen were euthanized, duodenal and ileal digesta samples were collected to determine inositol phosphates (InsP6-2) concentrations. High phytase supplementation increased body weight (BW) on d 21, 35 and 49 (P <0.05). Over the entire feeding period, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed efficiency were increased by NC+2000 FTU compared to the other treatments (P <0.05). Postprandial plasma inositol concentration was increased in NC+2000 (P < 0.01), but there was only a tendency (P = 0.06) of a higher fasting plasma inositol concentration in this group. Inositol concentrations in the portal vein plasma (d 49) were not different among treatments. Duodenal digesta InsP5 and InsP6 concentrations were similar in PC and NC, but higher in these two treatments (P < 0.05) than those supplemented with phytase. Phytase supplementation decreased InsP6-4, resulting in increased InsP3-2 and myo-inositol concentrations. Similar effects were found in ileal contents. Compared to NC, phytase supplementation resulted in greater cumulative InsP6-2 disappearance (93.6% vs. 72.8% vs. 25.0%, for NC+2000 FTU, NC +500 FTU and NC, respectively, P < 0.01) till the the distal ileum. Longissimus dorsi muscle plasma membrane GLUT4 concentration was increased by NC+2000 FTU (P < 0.01) compared to NC. In summary, high phytase supplementation increased growth performance of nursery pigs. The higher myo-inositol release from phytate could contribute to the increased expression of GLUT4 in muscle plasma membranes. Further investigation is needed to determine if this is associated with enhanced cellular glucose uptake and utilization

Sexual and Reproductive Health Research and Research Capacity Strengthening in Africa: Perspectives from the region.

Developing the capacity to effectively carry out public health research is an integral part of health systems at both the national and global levels and strengthening research capacity is recognized as an approach to better health and development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Especially fields such as sexual and reproductive health (SRH) would require inter-disciplinary teams of researchers equipped with a range of methodologies to achieve this. In November 2013, as part of the International Family Planning Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a group of African researchers came together to discuss the gaps and strategies to improve sexual and reproductive health research and research capacity strengthening in Africa. This commentary summarizes the three broad areas where the issues and proposed solutions have concentrated around: 1) Addressing research gaps that are most relevant to policies and programmes in SRH, 2) Carrying out high quality and collaborative research, and 3) Translating research findings into SRH policies and programmes. Even though the focus of the discussions was Africa, the issues and proposed solutions can also be applied to other regions facing a high burden of disease with limited resources. The time is now and these can be achieved through synergistic commitment of African and global researchers, funders and organization