Climate change science: The literacy of Geography teachers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

One of the universal responses to tackling global climate change is teaching climate change concepts at all levels of formal education. This response requires, among other things, teachers who are fully literate about climate change science, so that they can explain the concepts underlying the causes, impacts and solutions of climate change as accurately as possible to learners. The main intention of this study was to understand high school Geography teachers’ levels of knowledge about climate change science. A 15-item, criterion-referenced, multiple-choice Climate Change Literacy Questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.74 using the Guttman’s spit-half test was administered to 194 high school Geography teachers in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Data collected were analysed with the Pearson’s Chi-square test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the majority of the participants demonstrated significantly high literacy levels in climate science, with their literacy levels higher in climate processes and causes of climate change than climate change impacts and solutions. Misconceptions were found in all three categories of climate change science as represented in the survey instrument. These findings suggest that teacher educators and policymakers should improve professional development programmes and support interventions in teacher knowledge and understanding of climate change concepts, so as to enhance climate change education in schools.Keywords: climate change education; climate change misconceptions; climate change science literacy; Geography teachers; survey researc

Glycemic control, micronutrients and some metabolic enzyme activity in type 2 diabetes

Background: Alterations in the metabolism of some essential micronutrients and activities of some metabolic enzymes have been reported in diabetes mellitus. These changes have been attributed to hyperglycemia and increased protein glycosylation associated with diabetes and seems to be more pronounced in poor glycemic states. The influence of glycemic control on serum levels of calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), vitamin C, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and amylase activity in type 2 diabetes were determined in this study.Methods: Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), vitamin C, LDH and amylase activity were determined in fifty type 2 diabetic subjects aged between 40-70 years and fifty age matched apparently healthy non-diabetic subjects in Calabar, Nigeria using colorimetric methods. Socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices (body mass indices (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR)) and blood pressure were determined using standard methods. Data was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis at p = 0.05.Results: The FPG, HbA1c, serum vitamin C, Iron and calcium levels were significantly higher and serum phosphorus lower in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Diabetics with poor glycemic control (HbA1c >8.0%) have higher serum calcium and LDH activity compared to those with good glycemic control (HbA1c <8.0%).Conclusions: Diabetes may alter the metabolism of vitamin C, Iron, calcium and phosphorus while poor glycemic control may be associated with changes in calcium and LDH activity.

Isolation and characterisation of colistin-resistant Enterobacterales from chickens in Southeast Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Objectives Resistance to colistin (CST) mediated by mobile genetic elements has had a broad impact worldwide. There is an intensified call for epidemiological surveillance of mcr in different reservoirs to preserve CST for future generations. In Nigeria, the poultry industry is a key livestock sector. This study was undertaken to screen putative colistin-resistant Enterobacterales (CST-r-E) from poultry birds in Southeast Nigeria and to determine the genetic relatedness of mcr-harbouring isolates. Methods Faecal and cloacal swab samples (n = 785) were collected from chickens in 17 farms located in three contiguous states in Southeast Nigeria between March–November 2018. Following selective culture, CST-r-E were isolated. Confirmation of CST resistance, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular detection of genes mcr-1 to mcr-10, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis were performed on the isolates. A questionnaire was distributed to investigate the knowledge about CST and its use of chicken farm caretakers. Results Of the 785 samples evaluated, 45 (5.7%) were positive for 48 CST-r-E, among which 23 harboured the mcr-1 gene (22 Escherichia coli and 1 Klebsiella pneumoniae). In two E.coli isolates, a new allelic variant (mcr-1.22) was detected. RAPD analysis allowed the identification of 11 different fingerprints. MLST also revealed 11 STs, with 3 of them being novel. Conclusion mcr has significantly spread in poultry birds of Southeast Nigeria, which poses a worrisome risk to veterinary and human health. Strategies to prevent indiscriminate use of CST in farms should be quickly adopted before CST resistance becomes a huge global health issue

Adiponectin and cardiovascular risk factors in relation with glycemic control in type 2 diabetics

Background: Adiponectin has been associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in Type 2 diabetes, though the mechanism of association is still uncertain. The adiponectin levels and lipid profile in relation to glycemic control were investigated in type 2 diabetics.Methods: Forty two diabetic subjects (35-64 years) and 33 age-matched non-diabetic subjects were recruited into this case control study. Socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices and blood pressure were obtained. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein, (HDL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were estimated using colorimetric methods, atherogenic index (AI) was calculated, while serum adiponectin was determined by ELISA method. Results: Adiponectin levels of type 2 diabetics were not significantly different from the non-diabetics studied (p>0.05).  Higher TG levels were observed in diabetics with poor glycemic control compared with those with good glycemic control (p0.05). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetics do not have lower adiponectin levels. Gender, duration of diabetes and glycemic control does not seem to exert any influence on adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis through its effects on HDL cholesterol metabolism.

Simple tandem repeat (TTTA)(n )polymorphism in CYP19 (aromatase) gene and breast cancer risk in Nigerian women

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer related deaths in women worldwide. The incidence of the disease is increasing globally and this increase is occurring at a faster rate in population groups that hirtherto enjoyed low incidence. This study was designed to evaluate the role of a simple tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) in the aromatase (CYP19) gene in breast cancer susceptibility in Nigerian women, a population of indigenous sub-Saharan African ancestry. METHODS: A case-control study recruiting 250 women with breast cancer and 250 women without the disease from four University Teaching Hospitals in Southern Nigeria was carried out between September 2002 and April 2004. Participants were recruited from the surgical outpatient clinics and surgical wards of the Nigerian institutions. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was employed for genotyping and product sizes were detected with an ABI 3730 DNA Analyzer. RESULTS: Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that harboring the putative high risk genotypes conferred a 29% increased risk of breast cancer when all women in the study were considered (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83–2.00), although this association was not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis based on menopausal status showed similar results among premenopausal women (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 0.76–2.41 and postmenopausal women (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 0.64–2.49). The data also demonstrated marked differences in the distribution of (TTTA)(n )repeats in Nigerian women compared with other populations. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that harboring 10 or more repeats of the microsatellite (TTTA)(n )repeats of the CYY19 gene is associated with a modest increased risk of breast cancer in Nigerian women

Association of Altered Collagen Content and Lysyl Oxidase Expression in Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

Background—Collagen cross-linking is mediated by lysyl oxidase (LOX) enzyme in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of mitral valve leaflets. Alterations in collagen content and LOX protein expression in the ECM of degenerative mitral valve may enhance leaflet expansion and disease severity. Methods—Twenty posterior degenerative mitral valve leaflets from patients with severe mitral regurgitation were obtained at surgery. Five normal posterior mitral valve leaflets procured during autopsy served as controls. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) density was quantified by immunohistochemistry, collagen types I and III by picro-sirius red staining and immunohistochemistry, and proteoglycans by alcian blue staining. Protein expression of LOX and its mediator TGFβ1 were quantified by immunofluorescence and gene expression by PCR. Results—VICs density was increased, structural type I collagen density was reduced, while reparative type III collagen and proteoglycan densities were increased (p \u3c 0.0001) with an increase in spongiosa layer thickness in myxomatous valves. These changes were associated with a reduction in LOX (p \u3c 0.0001) and increase in TGFβ1 protein expression (p \u3c 0.0001). However, no significant change was seen in gene expression. Linear regression analysis identified a correlation between type I collagen density and LOX grade (R2 = 0.855; p \u3c 0.0001). Conclusions—Reduced type I collagen density with a simultaneous increase in type III collagen and proteoglycan densities possibly contributes to spongiosa layer expansion resulting in incompetent mitral valve leaflets. Observed changes in type I and III collagen densities in DMVD may be secondary to alterations in LOX protein expression, contributing to disorganization of ECM and disease severity