An in-silico analysis of OGT gene association with diabetes mellitus

O-GlcNAcylation is a nutrient-sensing post-translational modification process. This cycling process involves two primary proteins: the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) catalysing the addition, and the glycoside hydrolase OGA (O-GlcNAcase) catalysing the removal of the O-GlCNAc moiety on nucleocytoplasmic proteins. This process is necessary for various critical cellular functions. The O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) gene produces the OGT protein. Several studies have shown the overexpression of this protein to have biological implications in metabolic diseases like cancer and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study retrieved 159 SNPs with clinical significance from the SNPs database. We probed the functional effects, stability profile, and evolutionary conservation of these to determine their fit for this research. We then identified 7 SNPs (G103R, N196K, Y228H, R250C, G341V, L367F, and C845S) with predicted deleterious effects across the four tools used (PhD-SNPs, SNPs&Go, PROVEAN, and PolyPhen2). Proceeding with this, we used ROBETTA, a homology modelling tool, to model the proteins with these point mutations and carried out a structural bioinformatics method– molecular docking– using the Glide model of the Schrodinger Maestro suite. We used a previously reported inhibitor of OGT, OSMI-1, as the ligand for these mutated protein models. As a result, very good binding affinities and interactions were observed between this ligand and the active site residues within 4Å of OGT. We conclude that these mutation points may be used for further downstream analysis as drug targets for treating diabetes mellitus

Analysis of the variability of airborne particulate matter with prevailing meteorological conditions across a semi-urban environment using a network of low-cost air quality sensors.

The concentrations of fine and coarse fractions of airborne particulate matter (PM) and meteorological variables (wind speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity) were measured at six selected locations in Ile Ife, a prominent university town in Nigeria using a network of low-cost air quality (AQ) sensor units. The objective of the deployment was to collate baseline air quality data and assess the impact of prevailing meteorological conditions on PM concentrations in selected residential communities downwind of an iron smelting facility. The raw data obtained from OPC-N2 of the AQ sensor units was corrected using the RH correction factor developed based k-Kohler theory. This PM (corrected) fast time resolution data (20 s) from the AQ sensor units were used to create daily averages. The overall mean mass concentrations for PM2.5 and PM10 were 213.3, 44.1, 23.8, 27.7, 20.2 and 41.5 μg/m3 and; 439.9, 107.1, 55.0, 72.4, 45.5 and 112.0 μg/m3 for Fasina (Iron-Steel Smelting Factory, ISSF), Modomo, Eleweran, Fire Service, O.A.U. staff quarters and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm (OAUTRF), respectively. PM concentration and wind speed showed a negative exponential distribution curve with the lowest exponential fit coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.08 for PM2.5 and 0.03 for PM10 during nighttime periods at Eleweran and Fire service sites, respectively. The relationship between PM concentration and temperature gave a decay curve indicating that higher PM concentrations were observed at lower temperatures. The exponential distribution curve for the relationship between PM concentration and relative humidity (RH) showed that PM concentrations do not vary for RH 80 % for both day and nighttime. The performances of the MLR model were slightly poor and as such not too reliable for predicting the concentration but useful for improving predictive model accuracy when other variables contributing to the variability of PM is considered. The study concluded that the anthropogenic and industrial activities at the smelting factory contribute significantly to the elevated PM mass concentration measured at the study locations

The Helicobacter pylori Genome Project : insights into H. pylori population structure from analysis of a worldwide collection of complete genomes

Helicobacter pylori, a dominant member of the gastric microbiota, shares co-evolutionary history with humans. This has led to the development of genetically distinct H. pylori subpopulations associated with the geographic origin of the host and with differential gastric disease risk. Here, we provide insights into H. pylori population structure as a part of the Helicobacter pylori Genome Project (HpGP), a multi-disciplinary initiative aimed at elucidating H. pylori pathogenesis and identifying new therapeutic targets. We collected 1011 well-characterized clinical strains from 50 countries and generated high-quality genome sequences. We analysed core genome diversity and population structure of the HpGP dataset and 255 worldwide reference genomes to outline the ancestral contribution to Eurasian, African, and American populations. We found evidence of substantial contribution of population hpNorthAsia and subpopulation hspUral in Northern European H. pylori. The genomes of H. pylori isolated from northern and southern Indigenous Americans differed in that bacteria isolated in northern Indigenous communities were more similar to North Asian H. pylori while the southern had higher relatedness to hpEastAsia. Notably, we also found a highly clonal yet geographically dispersed North American subpopulation, which is negative for the cag pathogenicity island, and present in 7% of sequenced US genomes. We expect the HpGP dataset and the corresponding strains to become a major asset for H. pylori genomics

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Modulation of Blood Coagulation and Hematological Parameters by Crassocephalum crepidioides Leaf Methanol Extract and Fractions in STZ-Induced Diabetes in the Rat

Diabetes affects the homeostasis of the circulatory system. Crassocephalum crepidioides Benth S. Moore (Asteraceae) is an edible plant locally used in the treatment of wounds, stomach ulcer, and skin-related conditions in Africa and some other parts of the world. This study investigated the effects of C. crepidioides leaf methanol extract and fractions on blood coagulation profile of diabetic Wistar rats. The effect of 100 mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract and partitioned fractions of C. crepidioides on blood coagulation profile of STZ-induced diabetic rats were initially evaluated, while graded concentrations (50–200 mg/kg body weight) of the aqueous and hexane fractions were further tested in diabetic rats against standard drugs aspirin (anticoagulant) and metformin (antidiabetic). Rats were allocated into groups (n = 6) and administration was done orally, once daily for 2 weeks. The methanol extract and fractions of C. crepidioides at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg significantly prolonged the bleeding (58–200%), clotting (65–133%), prothrombin (176–441%), and activated partial thromboplastin (209–518%) times in diabetic rats compared to the control rats (LD50 ≥ 5000 mg/kg). Highest prolongation effects were recorded in the diabetic group treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of the hexane fraction. Plasma calcium concentration and platelet counts of C. crepidioides treated diabetic rats were significantly (P<0.05) reduced compared to diabetic control rats, while the red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly increased. This study showed that C. crepidioides possess anticoagulant and antianemic activities. The leaves can thus be a potential source of novel anticoagulant and nutraceutical for management of the thrombotic disorder in diabetes and other diseased states

Normative learning and employee cognitive engagement in selected pharmaceutical firms in Nigeria

This study examined the effect of normative learning on employee cognitive engagement. Survey research design was adopted to assess the subject matter. Five hundred and forty-one hundred (541) respondents were surveyed across all the selected pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria with the usage of purposive and stratified sampling technique. Only four hundred and thirty-four (434) copies of questionnaire representing (80.2%) response rate was correctly filled, returned and analysed for this study. Structural Equation Model (AMOS 23) was adopted for the analysis of the effect of normative learning on employee cognitive engagement and efficacy of employee engagement to work and job task. The results from the test of hypotheses showed that normative learning significantly influence employee cognitive engagement (R2= 0.840 p-value = 0.000). The study recommends that management of the selected firms should develop functional systems that ensure transfer of best practices among various areas of work and encourage individual members in teams to have clear understanding of the problem to be addressed. The insights from this study would be of great value to the management of pharmaceutical industry, and other stakeholders to develop and invest in normative learning that will enhance job commitment and engagement of employees

Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance and Virulent Factors in Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Bush Meat Roasted and Sold along Road Sides in Ekiti State

Background and Objectives: In Nigeria wild animals are hunted for meat mainly. Meanwhile, meat from wild animals are known to consist of pathogens apart from being contaminated by unhygienic environments (road sides) where they are mainly prepared and sold. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) in samples of roasted bush meat prepared and sold along Ado-Ekiti-Ilesha road. Materials and Methods: A total of 182 roasted bush meat samples were collected in seven selected towns in Ekiti State, Nigeria between January and February, May and June, 2016 representing dry and rainy seasons, respectively. The samples were examined for the presence of enterococci within 2 h of collection. Standard methods were used to identify Enterococcus faecalis, determined its resistance to antibiotics and also determine the virulence factors in the sample. Results: A total of 91 (32.38%) out of 281 samples of roasted bush meat examined were contaminated with E. faecalis. The highest rate of contamination 61.22% was observed in samples collected from Igede-Ekiti while the least 6.70% was observed from samples collected in Ado-Ekiti. Rates of contamination among samples from other selected towns were, 40, 38.71 and 38.1% from Efon-Alaye-Ekiti, Iyin-Ekiti and Erio-Ekiti, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility test results reveal that some of the isolates have acquired resistance to a number of antibiotics. High resistance rate was recorded against ampicillin 35.71%, followed by gentamicin 30.22%, ciprofloxacin 28.02% and ofloxacin 24.73%. The incidence of virulence factors was low in all the isolates with aggregation substance, haemolysin and gelatinase recording 7.69, 8.24 and 27.47%, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of virulence factors in E. faecalis is an evidence of potential pathogenesis. The roasted bush meat screened from road sides in Ekiti State was contaminated with E. faecalis. There is need for strict monitoring and proper hygiene education for the food handlers in the study area

Data on factors influencing the cost, time performance of the Industrialized Building System

The data article provides the factors that influence the cost; time performance of the Industrialized Building System (IBS), its prospects and challenges. A survey technique was used for this research. Structured Questionnaires were administered to occupants of prefabricated buildings and interviews were conducted with the professionals in the building industry. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version20) was used to analyse the data obtained from the questionnaires. The variables were ranked based on Relative Importance Index (RII) calculation. The Data indicated that IBS would be more economical if used for mass production

Exchange Characteristics of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Selected Tropical Soils

Conducting binary-exchange experiments is a common way to identify cationic preferences of exchangeable phases in soil. Cation exchange reactions and thermodynamic studies of Pb 2+ /Ca 2+ , Cd 2+ /Ca 2+ , and Zn 2+ /Ca 2+ were carried out on three surface (0-30 cm) soil samples from Adamawa and Niger States in Nigeria using the batch method. The physicochemical properties studies of the soils showed that the soils have neutral pH values, low organic matter contents, low exchangeable bases, and low effective cation exchange capacity (mean: 3.27 cmolc kg −1 ) but relatively high base saturations (≫50%) with an average of 75.9%. The amount of cations sorbed in all cases did not exceed the soils cation exchange capacity (CEC) values, except for Pb sorption in the entisol-AD2 and alfisol-AD3, where the CEC were exceeded at high Pb loading. Calculated selectivity coefficients were greater than unity across a wide range of exchanger phase composition, indicating a preference for these cations over Ca 2+ . The eq values obtained in this work were all positive, indicating that the exchange reactions were favoured and equally feasible. These values indicated that the Ca/soil systems were readily converted to the cation/soil system. The thermodynamic parameters calculated for the exchange of these cations were generally low, but values suggest spontaneous reactions

Exchange Characteristics of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Selected Tropical Soils

Conducting binary-exchange experiments is a common way to identify cationic preferences of exchangeable phases in soil. Cation exchange reactions and thermodynamic studies of Pb2+/Ca2+, Cd2+/Ca2+, and Zn2+/Ca2+ were carried out on three surface (0–30 cm) soil samples from Adamawa and Niger States in Nigeria using the batch method. The physicochemical properties studies of the soils showed that the soils have neutral pH values, low organic matter contents, low exchangeable bases, and low effective cation exchange capacity (mean: 3.27 cmolc kg−1) but relatively high base saturations (≫50%) with an average of 75.9%. The amount of cations sorbed in all cases did not exceed the soils cation exchange capacity (CEC) values, except for Pb sorption in the entisol-AD2 and alfisol-AD3, where the CEC were exceeded at high Pb loading. Calculated selectivity coefficients were greater than unity across a wide range of exchanger phase composition, indicating a preference for these cations over Ca2+. The Keq values obtained in this work were all positive, indicating that the exchange reactions were favoured and equally feasible. These values indicated that the Ca/soil systems were readily converted to the cation/soil system. The thermodynamic parameters calculated for the exchange of these cations were generally low, but values suggest spontaneous reactions