The Mediating Effect of Work Engagement in the Link between Affective Commitment and Employee Competence in Nigeria Universal Basic Education system

Competency is seen as the fundamental feature of individuals which described their job skill, attitude and knowledge. The main aim of this paper is to explore the mediating effect of work engagement (WE) in the link between affective commitment and employee competence (EC) in Nigerian Universal Basic Education system Administration (UBESA). In spite of the importance of affective commitment as an essential practice impelling EC in organisations, prior studies mainly consider other internal factors such as leadership, management practices, and job satisfaction among others. Studies that attempt to examine the influence of affective commitment on EC as well as the mechanism through which it influences EC seem to be scarce in the literature. The current study used WE as a mediating variable in explaining the relationship between affective commitment and EC as well as establishing the link between the given variables. The paper employed the Ability Motivation Opportunity (AMO) theory and Social Exchange theory (SET) in emphasizing the impact of practices that are capable of enhancing EC, as well as understanding employee’s behaviour and their relationship with their organisation in the quest for achieving success. A quantitative survey method was used, while data were collected within six states UBESA (Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states) in North Western region of Nigeria. Data was analysed with a total number of 387 questionnaires using SPSS-AMOS software-24. The findings indicated that WE mediate the relationship between affective commitment and EC. In conclusion, the study made some vital suggestions for future studies.  

ErbB receptorok szerepe emlőtumorok terápiájában és prognózisában = Role of erbB receptors in the therapy and prognosis of breast tumors

Eredményeink: Emlő és gyomorrák sejtek felszínén az overexpresszált ErbB2 lipid raftokban helyezkedik el, melyek szabályozzák internalizációját, és kölcsönhatásait más ErbB fehérjékkel. Emellett a β1 integrin is megjelenik a lipid raftokban, mennyisége trastuzumab (TR, anti-ErbB2 terápiás antitest) rezisztens sejtvonalakban magasabb. Az ErbB receptorok lokális stimulációja magas receptor expresszió esetén is lokalizált aktivációhoz vezet, a más ErbB molekulák transzaktiválhatósága a receptorok sűrűségétől függ, és TR rezisztens sejteken az ErbB2 szialomucinok okozta sztérikus gátlás miatt nem köti a TR-t. Optimalizáltuk a FRET mérések fluorofor választását, FRET segítségével megmértük az ErbB2 molekula egyes epitópjainak egymástól és a sejtmembrántól való távolságát, kidolgoztuk a majdnem teljes ErbB2 molekuláris modelljét: feltételezhető, hogy az ErbB2 dimer teljes aktiválásához további ErbB molekulák szükségesek. Kimutatuk, hogy a Hsp90 dajkafehérje stabilizálja az ErbB2-t, megakadályozva aktiválódását és internalizálódását, a Hsp90 gátló 17-AAG hatékony a TR rezisztens tumorok proliferációjának gátlásában is. Rámutatunk, hogy az ErbB1 internalizációjához elegendő egyetlen monoubikvitin c-Cbl általi kapcsolása. Funkcionális ErbB1-eGFP kimérát állítottunk elő, mellyel egyedi ErbB1 molekulák diffúzióját jellemeztük élő sejtek membránjában és szubcelluláris kompartmentjeiben. Módosított membránmodellt dolgoztunk ki, melynek kulcseleme a dinamizmus és a szervezettség. | Results: ErbB2 overexpressed on breast and gastric cancer cells is preferentially localized in lipid rafts that regulate its internalization and interactions with other ErbB proteins. β1 integrins also colocalize in lipid rafts, their quantity is higher in cell lines resistant to trastuzumab (TR, an anti-ErbB2 therapic antibody). Local stimulation of ErbB receptors causes local activation even at high expression levels, transactivation of other ErbBs is a function of receptor density. On TR resistant cells TR binding by ErbB2 is sterically hindered by sialomucins. We have developed a method to optimally choose fluorophor pairs for FRET measurements, determined the distance of various epitopes of ErbB2 from each other and the cell membrane using FRET and used the data to create the nearly full length molecular model of ErbB2, which suggests that further ErbB molecules are needed to fully activate the ErbB2 dimer. Hsp90 appears to stabilize ErbB2 preventing its activation and internalization. Its inhibitor 17-AAG effectively inhibited the proliferation even of TR resistant cancer cells. We showed that a single monoubiquitin ligated by c-Cbl is sufficient for the internalization of ErbB1. We produced a functional ErbB1-eGFP chimera and used it in correlation spectroscopy to characterize diffusion of single ErbB1 molecules in the membrane and subcellular compartments of living cells. We have elaborated a modified membrane model termed dynamically structured mosaic model

ErbB receptorok szerepe epitél eredetű tumorokban: receptor tirozinkinázok, mint a tumor ellenes terápiák lehetséges target molekulái. = Role of ErbB receptors in epithelial tumors: receptor tyrosine kinases as targets for anticancer therapy.

Az erbB2-erbB2 és erbB2-erbB1 molekulák homo- és heteroasszociációja - akárcsak más erbB hetero-oligomereké - fontos szerepet játszhatnak a jelátvitelben így az immunoterápiában is. Kísérleteket végeztünk annak felderítésére, hogyan modulálja ezt a folyamatot más kölcsönható molekulák, pl. integrinek, CD44 (hialuronsav receptor) sejtfelszíni jelenléte. Az ErbB2 ellenes immunterápia (trastuzumab kezelés) során kialakuló trastuzumab rezisztencia lehetséges okait is vizsgáltuk. FRET eredményeink alapján elkészítettük ErbB2 dimer molekuláris modelljét. A trastuzumab rezisztens JIMT-1 ill. MKN-7 valamint a szenzitív SKBR-3 és N87 tumor sejtvonalakon végzett összehasonlító kísérleteink alapján megállapítottuk, hogy a trastuzumab kezelés korai elkezdésével még a rezisztens sejtek esetén is részleges válasz érhető el. A xenograft kísérletek rámutattak arra, hogy az antitest által közvetített citotoxicitás (ADCC) a trastuzumab kezelés kedvező hatásának elsődleges oka. A geldanamycin ill. 17AAG sejtosztódást gátló hatása hatékonyabbnak bizonyult trastuzumab rezisztens sejtekben. Ugyanakkor a CD44 leszabályozása, valamint a hialuronsav szintézis gátlása növelte a trastuzumab kezelés hatékonyságát. Mindezek az eredmények arra utalnak, hogy célzott adjuváns kezelés nagymértékben fokozhatják a trastuzumab terápia hatékonyságát. | Homo- and heteroassociations of erbB2-erbB2 and erbB2-erbB1 molecules ? similarly to that of other ErbB hetero-oligomers ? play an important role in signal transduction and immunotherapy. Our experiments aimed to reveal whether the cell surface presence of interacting molecules such as integrin and CD44 (receptor for hyaluronic acid) molecules can modulate these processes. We have also studied the possible causes of trastuzumab resistance developing during the ErbB2 targeted immunotherapy. We have prepared a useful molecular model of ErbB2 dimer on he basis or our FRET results. By comparing the behavior of trastuzumab resistant (JIMT-1 and MKN-7) and sensitive (SKBR-3 and N87) tumor cell lines we found that early trastuzumab treatment can be partially beneficial even in resistant cell lines. It was also revealed that the primary reason of the efficacy of trastuzumab treatment in xenograft models is the antibody dependent cell citotoxicity (ADCC). The treatment using geldanamycin or its derivative 17AAG was more efficient in trastuzumab resistant cells than in sensitive cells. Downregulation of CD44 and inhibition of synthesis of hyaluronic acid increased the efficiency of the trastuzumab treatment. These results suggest that targeted adjuvant therapy can significantly enhance the efficacy of the trastuzumab therapy

Subjective reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and sociodemographic predictors of vaccination in Nigeria: an online survey

The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective reasons for hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccination and the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccination uptake. An online social media survey was conducted among the general Nigerian population using a self-developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p value of less than 0.05. A total of 576 participants with a mean age of 31.86 years participated in the study. 28% (n = 158) received one or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Teachers were significantly less likely than health professionals to be vaccinated (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.16–0.69). In addition, unemployed people (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.89) were less likely to be vaccinated than government employees, and those of intermediate socioeconomic status (AOR = 0.47 95% CI 0.26–0.88) were less likely to be vaccinated than were those of high socioeconomic status. Five main themes emerged regarding participants’ subjective reasons for hesitating to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: fear related to vaccine content (e.g., efficacy), negative effects on the body (e.g., blood clots), distrust of the system/government (e.g., politics), psychological concerns (e.g., anxiety), and misconceptions. Sociodemographic variables and vaccine misconceptions were found to play an important role in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Nigeria

Characteristics of COVID-19 cases and factors associated with their mortality in Katsina State, Nigeria, April-July 2020

Introduction: COVID-19 was first detected in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria on 4 April 2020. We characterized the cases and outlined factors associated with mortality. Methods: We analysed the COVID-19 data downloaded from Surveillance Outbreak Response, Management and Analysis System between 4 April and 31 July 2020. We defined a case as any person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test within that period. We described the cases in time, person, and place; calculated the crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with mortality. Results: We analysed 744 confirmed cases (median age 35, range 1-90), 73% males and 24 deaths (Case fatality rate 3.2%, Attack rate 8.5/100,000). The outbreak affected 31 districts, started in week 14, peaked in week 26, and is ongoing. Highest proportion of cases in the age groups were 26.7% (184) in 30-39, 21.7% (153) in 20-29 years, and 18.3% (129) in 40-49 years. While the highest case fatality rates in the age groups were 35.7% in 70-79, 33.3% in 80-89 years, and 19.4% in 60-69 years. Factors associated with death were cough (AOR: 9.88, 95% CI: 1.29-75.79), age ≥60 years (AOR: 18.42, 95% CI: 7.48-45.38), and male sex (AOR: 4.4, 95% CI: 0.98-20.12). Conclusion: Male contacts below 40 years carried the burden of COVID-19. Also, persons 60 years and above, with cough have an increased risk of dying from COVID-19. Risk communication should advocate for use of preventive measures, protection of persons 60 years and above, and consideration of cough as a red-flag sign

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

Extraction and Estimation of Protein from Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and its Interaction with Glucose Molecule

Aim: To evaluate the protein composition in the ginger rhizome and its interaction with glucose molecule. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria, between April 2021 and May 2021. Methodology: Protein was extracted from the rhizome of ginger using 0.1 M phosphate buffer. The protein concentration of the sample was estimated using Biuret method while using xanthoproteic test, the presence of aromatic amino acids was ascertained. The crude protein sample was interacted with glucose using UV interaction study. Results: The protein concentration of the sample (2 g) was found to be 1.702 mg/ml, it was identified that ginger rhizome contains aromatic amino acids. UV interaction study between the crude protein sample and glucose molecule showed an increase in absorbance at the range of 280 nm. Conclusion: The interaction of ginger with glucose shows that it possesses a hypoglycemic effect

Burden, socio-demographic and other risk factors associated with haemodialysis in North-west Nigeria: A retrospective multicentre analysis

Background: Kidney diseases requiring haemodialysis are becoming an emerging public health problem. This study aimed to determine the burden, socio-demographic and other risk factors associated with haemodialysis in Northwest Nigeria. Methodology: The study was a retrospective multicentre review of secondary data from the dialysis centres of public hospitals in northwestern Nigeria. Risk factors for renal failure were examined in 1329 patients who were enrolled for haemodialysis between 2019 and 2022 in the four public dialysis centres in Kano and Jigawa state. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0, with statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The minimum age of the patients was 2 years and the maximum was 100 years with a median of 48 (interquartile range = 31, 60) years. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was found amongst more than two-thirds 998 (75.1%) of the patients. Up to 51 (3.8%), 62 (4.7%) and 10 (0.8%) were seropositive for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, respectively. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was significantly higher (67.9%, P < 0.001) amongst patients with post-partum haemorrhage (PPH), and were 24 times more likely to develop AKI when compared with those with no PPH (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] =24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [13.5–44.5]). CKD was significantly higher amongst patients with hypertension (HTN) (84.9%, P < 0.001), and were 3.2 times more likely to develop CKD compared with non-hypertensives (aOR = 3.2, 95% CI = [2.4–4.1]). Acute on CKD (AOCCKD) was significantly higher amongst patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) (28.1%, P < 0.001), and were three times more likely to develop AOCCKD than those without CGN (aOR = 3, 95% CI = [2.1–4.2]). Conclusion: PPH was the major reason for AKI related haemodialysis while diabetes and HTN were the major causes of CKD-requiring haemodialysis. CGN was more amongst patients who had dialysis due to acute exacerbation of CKD. The government and relevant stakeholders should ensure a favourable policy for the screening and management of patients

Nutrigenomic Effects of White Rice and Brown Rice on the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Disorders in a Fruit Fly Model

Consumption of white rice (WR) has been shown to predispose individuals to metabolic disorders. However, brown rice (BR), which is relatively richer in bioactive compounds, possesses anti-glycaemic and antioxidant effects. In this study, fifteen cultivars of paddy rice that are predominantly consumed in North West Nigeria were analysed for their nutritional composition, bioactive contents and effects on metabolic outcomes in a fruit fly model. Gene expression analyses were conducted on the whole fly, targeting dPEPCK, dIRS, and dACC. The protein, carbohydrate, and fibre contents and bioactives of all BR cultivars were significantly different (p p p dACC and dPEPCK was upregulated, while that of dIRS was downregulated in the WR groups compared to the BR groups. Sex differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the WR groups in relation to the nutrigenomic effects. Our findings confirm metabolic perturbations in fruit flies following consumption of WR via distortion of insulin signalling and activation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. BR prevented these metabolic changes possibly due to its richer nutritional composition