Understanding regulatory factors in the skin during vitiligo

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin characterized by epidermal depigmentation that results from CD8+ T cell-mediated destruction of pigment producing melanocytes. Vitiligo affects up to 1% of the population and current treatments are moderately effective at facilitating repigmentation by suppressing cutaneous autoimmune inflammation to promote melanocyte regeneration. In order to cause disease, CD8+ T cells must overwhelm the mechanisms of peripheral tolerance in the skin and if we understand the suppressive mechanisms that are compromised during vitiligo, we can potentially use this information to improve existing treatments or engineer novel interventions. Therefore, my goal is to characterize the regulatory factors in the skin that suppress depigmentation during vitiligo. Our lab has developed a mouse model of vitiligo that accurately reflects human disease and I used this model to demonstrate that regulatory T cells suppress CD8+ T cell-mediated depigmentation and interact with CD8+ T cells in the skin during vitiligo. In this model of disease, I investigated the molecules involved in regulatory T cell function and observed that the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CCR6 play different roles in regulatory T cell suppression. While CCR6 facilitates regulatory T cell migration to the skin, CCR5 is dispensable for migration but required for optimal regulatory T cell function. Additionally, I used our mouse model to demonstrate that Langerhans cells suppress the incidence of disease during vitiligo. Taken together the results from these studies provide novel insights into the mechanisms of suppression during vitiligo

Performance, Carcass and Organ Weights Characteristics of Finishing Broiler Chickens Fed Pro-Vitamin A ( UMUCASS 36) Cassava Meal

A 4-week study was conducted using 120 unsexed Anak strain broilers to determine the performance, carcass and internal organs characteristics of finishing broilers fed unpeeled and  peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava meal as total replacement for maize. Fresh bio-fortified pro-vitamin A cassava was harvested and divided into two batches. The first batch was peeled and the second batch was unpeeled. Both were soaked separately in a plastic vat containing clean water and allowed to ferment for 72 hours. Thereafter, they were washed with clean water, sundried and milled to produce i. peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava tuber meal (PFPC). ii. Unpeeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava tuber meal (UFPC). The broilers were divided into three groups and fed diets containing 100% maize T1 (control) as the source of energy, while T2 and T3 contained 100% unpeeled and peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava as the source of energy respectively. Each group was replicated four times with 10 birds per replicate in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). Feed and water were provided ad libitum for the period. Result showed that final body weight, daily weight gain and breast weight of the control were significantly (p 0.05) higher than UFPC and PFPC groups. The treatment had no significant (p 0.05) effect on the internal organs of the birds. Abdominal fat of the PFPC group was significantly (p 0.05) higher than the control and UFPC. The results of this study revealed that unpeeled and peeled fermented pro-vitamin A cassava meal can completely replaced maize in the diets of finishing broilers. Keywords: Broiler, performance, pro-vitamin A cassav

Background Ionising Radiation and Estimated Health Risk in Cereal Farmland in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Radionuclides are found in soils, plants, vegetables, fruits and in farmlands. These radionuclides contaminate the farmland, environment, the cereal, food products and could cause deleterious effect on both animals and human beings when ingested or inhaled. The farmland is owned by a government research institute with a mandate to develop improved varieties of some cereal plants. In situ measurement of the background ionising radiation was conducted with a radiation survey meter which measured the exposures in micro Seviert per hour and the expected health indicators risk on the workers evaluated.The mean BIR measured was obtained as 0.097µSv/hr. The annual equivalent dose rate of radiation obtained in the farm was range between 0.1033 to 0.3328 mSv/yr with a mean value of 0.1699 mSv/yr. The mean annual effective dose rate of 0.1190 mSv/yr was obtained while the mean calculated ECLR is 0.416 X 10-3. The AEDR obtained in this study is lower than the international commission on radiation protection recommended safety limit for the public but higher than values from many works in dumpsites. The ECLR value for this work is higher than the recommended safe value, an indication of potential health risk for the workers and inhabitant of the farmland. Therefore regulatory controls are necessary which include workers spending fewer periods in the farmland and decontamination of the farm. Keywords: Gamma radiation, occupational risk, Annual effective dose rate, National Cereal Institute, Uyo

Green Entrepreneurship: An Opportunity for Entrepreneurial Development in Nigeria

The environment is very important to human existence, and entrepreneurship on the other hand is known to be vital in economic development. In as much as entrepreneurship is of great importance, it is necessary for enterprising individuals and firms to consider the effects and impacts of their business operations on the environment; this leads to the concept of Green entrepreneurship, green economy, sustainability and eco-friendly products, services and marketing. The green economy became a UNEP agenda since the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) held in June 2012; countries are encouraged to take advantage of the transition to the green economy which offers huge economic opportunities for entrepreneurship. For this purpose, this study looked at the concept of green entrepreneurship with the view of the opportunities it offers for entrepreneurial development in Nigeria. An exploratory approach was adopted in this study which involves the review and analysis of various research works on green economy and entrepreneurship; and the findings indicate that most developed and even some developing countries have worked hard on their compliance to green requirements according to UNEP. Considering Nigeria‟s compliance, the study recommends that much needs to be done regarding environmental sustainability, green economy and green entrepreneurship

The pattern of diabetic admissions in UCTH Calabar, South Eastern Nigeria: A five year review

Background: The world's adult population is increasing rapidly. This increase is expected to lead to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Diabetes places a large burden on the society more so when it becomes complicated. Thisstudy is designed to provide information on hospitalisation trends and their outcomes among diabetic patients.Methods: This was a 5 year retrospective analysis of hospitalisation trends and outcomes among diabetics admitted into the medical wards of UCTH Calabar between January 2006 and December 2010. Information was obtained from their case files and data was analysed using SPSS version 18 soft ware.Results: A total of 3490 patients were admitted into the medical wards during the period under review. Diabetes accounted for 360 (9.64%) of admissions. The average age of the subjects was 48.5 ± 14.0 years. The mean duration of Diabetes was 11 ± 7.2 years (range 1-32 years). HHS was the most frequent indication for admission (35.8%) followed by DKA (21.7%) and diabetic foot syndrome (15.8%). The duration of hospitalisation ranged from 1 to 150 days with an average of 18.7 ± 18.8 days. Mean duration of hospitalisation was longest for diabetic foot syndrome (38.5 ± 36.4 days) and least for UTI (7.3 ± 5.0 days). Three hundred and nine patients (85.8%) were treated and discharged while 48 (13.3%) left against medical advice and 3 (0.8%) died while on admission. A majority of patients who left against medical advice were admitted for DFS (50.0%). 53.3% of the patients had blood pressure above 140/90 on admission and 69% of the subjects were non-compliant with their treatment.Conclusion: Diabetes is a major cause of hospitalisation in our hospitals and most of the complications are preventable. With proper patient education and adherence to management, the burden of DM can be reduced in our society

Amino Acid Profile of Biodegraded Brewers Spent Grains (BSG)

The amino acids profiles of biodegraded brewers spent grains (BSG) were determined. The analysis revealed the presence of 17 amino acids including the major amino acids (cysteine, lysine and methionine) required in poultry nutrition. The concentrations of the amino acids however varied with the microbial species used in the degradation process. After 10 days of solid state fermentation at room temperature glusine, alanine and phenyalanine were detected at very high concentration in Aspergillus niger TF-4 degraded BSG. Glusine, alanine and proline were the major amino acid components of BSG degraded by Saccharomyces cerevisiae FP-4, while glusine, alanine and leucine were found to be the major components of BSG degraded by Streptomyces sp UU-2. The concentrations of the required amino acids except lysine were short of the standard requirement for poultry. However their concentrations were positively affected over time by biodegradation

Antecedents of Supplier Selection Decisions in the Public Sector in Nigeria

This paper develops and tests a conceptual model of supplier selection decisions in the public sector. The study seeks to determine the relative importance of a broad range of non-economic variables in explaining supplier selection decisions during strategic organizational purchases. Data were collected from a national sample of 341 senior staff and top management team (TMT) members in 40 public sector organizations in Nigeria using structured questionnaires. Results of structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis shows that government policy requirements, social ties of organizational actors, party politics, decision-makers’ experience, and the perception of instrumental ethical work climates are, respectively, the most important determinants of strategic supplier selection decisions, followed in descending order of importance by: the perception of rules ethical work climates, self-enhancement personal values, CEOs’ structural position, self-transcendent personal values and the perception of time pressure. Findings also indicate that the choice of a supplier per se is not an important determinant of organizational performance

Is there any Relationship between Rh(D) Blood Group and Von Willebrand Factor Antigen Concentration?

Background: Several reports have documented the influence of ABO blood group on plasma von Willebrand Factor Antigen (vWF:Ag) levels. However, a thorough search through the literature has not revealed any study on the relationship between Rh blood group and plasma von Willebrand Factor antigen levels. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma vWF:Ag levels and Rh(D) blood group among apparently healthy Nigerian subjects. Methods: This was a cohort study of 100 Blood Donors attending the Blood Bank Unit at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria. Plasma vWF:Ag levels were determined by ELISA method while the ABO and Rh(D) blood group phenotypes were determined using the standard tube method. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 16.0. Chi square was used for test of significance. Results: The study population consisted of 63 (63%) males and 37 (37%) females with a mean age of 31.7 ± 6.39 years. The frequency of Rh(D) positive and Rh(D) negative blood groups were 95% and 5%, respectively. The mean plasma vWF:Ag concentration of the subjects was 1.38 ± 1.02 IU/ml. Group B Rh(D) positive subjects had the highest mean vWF:Ag level (2.27 ± 1.57 IU/ml), followed by group O Rh (D) negative (2.00 ± 1.04 IU/ml), group AB Rh(D) positive (1.69 ± 1.06 IU/ml), group B Rh(D) negative (1.53 ± 0.57 IU/ml), group O Rh(D) positive (1.24 ± 1.00 IU/ml) and group A Rh(D) positive (1.08 ± 0.40 IU/ml) having the lowest level. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant association between the plasma vWF:Ag levels and Rh(D) blood groups of study subjects (P = 0.1546). However, further research with larger sample size is required to determine the relationship between plasma vWF:Ag levels and Rh blood group in general before reaching definite conclusion about the lack of influence of Rh blood group on the plasma level of vWF:Ag