Prevalence and Predictors of Stress among Bankers in Enugu State South-East Nigeria

Background: The work environment is rapidly changing and in recent times, occupational stress poses a threat to the health, morale and productivity of workers and the organization. This study sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of stress among bankers in a south-eastern state of Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 370 bankers in Enugu State, Nigeria using the Health, Safety, Executive (HSE) management standards indicator tool. Multistage sampling method was used to select participants. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 22.0. Level of statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.54±6.3 years while the mean years of work was 6.01±4.7years. One hundred and seventy-four (47%) reported high level of stress due to relationship at work while 318 (85.9%) reported low level of stress due to roles. Being 35 years or less was found to a predictor of high (AOR 0.55, CI 0.30-1.02) level of stress due to control.Work experience of 5 years or less was found to be a predictor of both high (AOR 0.74, CI 0.40--1.37) and low (AOR 0.99, CI 0.40-1.37) levels of stress due to control.Conclusion: This study has shown that the prevalence of stress was high among bankers in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria. There is, therefore, the need for routine stress assessment and interventions in the banking industry especially for those at high risk. Keywords: Bankers; HSE Stress Questionnaire; Stress; Workplace; Southeast Nigeri

The role of the employer in workplace violence: The health care workers' perspective

Background: Workplace violence affects millions of people on a yearly basis. It has important consequences both for the harassed and the employer. The aim of the study was to find out the role employers play in controlling workplace violence in a tertiary healthcare institution as perceived by the health care workers.Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among nurses and doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching HospitalItukuOzalla (UNTH), using a pre-tested, self-administered and semi-structured questionnaire that was adapted from the workplace violence in the health sector country case studies research instruments by ILO/ICN/WHO/PSI. A sample size of 412 was obtained using the sample size determination formula for cross-sectional descriptive studies. Data was analysed using Epi Info version 3.5.4. Chi-square test was used to determine association with a significance level of p-value at 0.05.Results: Four hundred and twelve healthcare workers participated in the study, of which 111(26.9%) were doctors while 301 (73.1%) were nurses. One hundred and thirteen (27.4%) respondents felt there were policies on health and safety, 154 (37.4%) reported that there was no policy while 145 (35.2%) did not know if there was any existing policy. For measures in place to mitigate violence at the workplace, 240(58.3%) mentioned existing security measures, 174 (42.0%) improved surroundings, 96 (23.3%) reduced work alone hours, while only 89 (21.6%) mentioned restriction of public access.Conclusion: Very few healthcare workers had correct information about the existence of policies to protect them from violence at the workplace.Most employees only know about existing security measures with little or no knowledge of other measures that can be helpful in curbing violence in their workplace. Drafting, dissemination and implementation of policies to reduce workplace violence in our healthcare facilities is recommended. Keywords: workplace, violence, role of employers, health-worker

Supplementary Material for: PML-Nuclear Bodies Regulate the Stability of the Fusion Protein Dendra2-Nrf2 in the Nucleus

Background/Aims: Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a basic leucine-zipper transcription factor essential for cellular responses to oxidative stress. Degradation of Nrf2 in the cytoplasm, mediated by Keap1-Cullin3/RING box1 (Cul3-Rbx1) E3 ubiquitin ligase and the proteasome, is considered the primary pathway controlling the cellular abundance of Nrf2. Although the nucleus has been implicated in the degradation of Nrf2, little information is available on how this compartment participates in degrading Nrf2. Methods: Here, we fused the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Dendra2 to Nrf2 and capitalized on the irreversible change in color (green to red) that occurs when Dendra2 undergoes photoconversion to study degradation of Dendra2-Nrf2 in single live cells. Results: Using this approach, we show that the half-life (t1/2) of Dendra2-Nrf2 in the whole cell, under homeostatic conditions, is 35 min. Inhibition of the proteasome with MG-132 or induction of oxidative stress with tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) extended the half-life of Dendra2-Nrf2 by 6- and 28-fold, respectively. By inhibiting nuclear export using Leptomycin B, we provide direct evidence that degradation of Nrf2 also occurs in the nucleus and involves PML-NBs (Promyelocytic Leukemia-nuclear bodies). We further demonstrate that co-expression of Dendra2-Nrf2 and Crimson-PML-I lacking two PML-I sumoylation sites (K65R and K490R) changed the decay rate of Dendra2-Nrf2 in the nucleus and stabilized the nuclear derived Nrf2 levels in whole cells. Conclusion: Altogether, our findings provide direct evidence for degradation of Nrf2 in the nucleus and suggest that modification of Nrf2 in PML nuclear bodies contributes to its degradation in intact cells