47 research outputs found
Funding, Communication and Marketing as Correlates of Library Service Delivery to Persons With Hearing Impairment, PWHI, in Nigeria
This study investigated the extent to which funding, communication and marketing predict library service delivery to Persons With Hearing Impairment, PWHI, in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. Two states were randomly selected from each of North-Central, North-West, South-South and South-West geo-political zones. They are the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Niger State, Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Edo State, Delta State, Oyo State and Ondo State respectively. FCT was considered a state in the study because, it has a standard facility for the research. One school of the deaf with standard library was randomly selected from each of the eight states. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, being the only higher institution for special students in Nigeria, and also to select one public library from each of the eight states. Moreover, random sampling technique was used to select one academic library from each of the eight states. Finally, purposive sampling technique was used to select one each of central market, church, mosque in the states capital so as to interview the public PWHI. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to select 687 respondents comprising 218 senior class two students, 148 NCE III students of FCE (Special) Oyo, who made use of PWHI resources in the college library, 8 school of the deaf librarians, 13 FCE (Special) librarians, 97 academic librarians, 48 public librarians and 168 pubic PWHI. Three instruments were used: Library Service Delivery to Students with Hearing Impairment Questionnaire (x=0.84) (Students), Library Service Delivery to People with Hearing Impairment Questionnaire (x=0.81) (librarians) and Interview Checklist (x=0.69) (Public PWHI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearsonâs product moment correlation and multiple regression
Disruption of Lipid Profile and Alteration of Hepatic Lipoprotein Metabolism Gene Expression in Anaemiaâinduced Rat
Background and Objective: Iron metabolism in animals is altered by haemolytic anaemia induced by
phenylhydrazine (PHZ), however, its effects on lipid metabolism remains elusive. The aim of this study
was to examine the impact of anaemia on lipid profiles and lipoprotein metabolism gene expression in
rats. Materials and Methods: Fourteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly classified into normal
control and anaemiaâinduced group (n = 7), respectively. Anaemia was induced in rats by daily
administration of PHZ at 10 mg kgâ1 for 8 consecutive days, after which blood was collected and liver
excised. Lipid profiles of plasma and liver were determined spectrophotometrically while the expression
of genes associated with lipid and lipoprotein metabolism was assayed by reverse transcriptase
polymerase chain reaction. Results: The inducedâanaemia resulted in hypotriglyceridemia and
hypophospholipidosis, with concurrent hypercholesteromia compared to control, respectively. Liver
triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol were observed to be upâregulated. Anaemic rats showed a
significant (p<0. 05) upâregulation of the relative expression of hepatic lecithinâcholesterol
acyltransferase (Lcat), paraoxonaseâ1 (Ponâ1), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), 3âhydroxyâ3â
methylglutarylâCoA reductase (Hmgcr) and downâregulation of Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I
(Scarb1). Conclusion: The inducedâanaemia alter the expression of lipoprotein metabolizing genes which
might be the underlying mechanism of anaemia to disrupt lipid metabolism
Biocatalytic Sensors: Potentials, Maxims and Mechanisms for Optimal Performance
Biocatalytic sensors are devices which consist of bioactive functionally grafted
layers of catalysts or analytical pieces which are in contact with transducers
that help to convert biological signals into electrical pulses. They are
essentially distinct materials whose design, application, immobilization, and
transducing capacities induce/infuse distinct properties that offer several
advantages in science, engineering, and medicine. The essentiality of
biocatalytic sensors cannot be overemphasized; however, for successful
application, it is necessary to understand their origins, nature, mechanism of
operation, as well as their behavioral activities in different media within
favorable conditions. Hence, three categories of biosensors, whose
mechanisms of operation would be discussed include the biocatalytic, bioaffinity, and microbial groups. In addition, the synthesis and mechanisms of
immune, DNA, thermal, and piezoelectric biosensors, will be discussed in
relation to their indispensable functionalities in multitudinous facets, such as
the food industry, where quality checks are conducted to detect poisonous
substances and glucose levels, in metabolic engineering, where in vivo
assessments and monitoring of cell responses to metabolism are carried out
and in medicine, where drugs, heart diseases, and the human papilloma virus
can be X-rayed; biosensors also find application in defense/military
technology and marine science, just to mention a few. In todayâs world, a
myriad of biosensors, assume the form of membrane-bound
microorganisms/enzymes, antibodies, receptors, or multilayered (matrixenzyme)
nanocomposites, all geared towards the maximization of the
synergistic effect which these combinations offer in order to advance
humanity. With the advent of newly discovered hyperthermophiles, it would
be an interesting thing to consider their usage in biosensing especially at
temperatures that can sometimes be twice above 50 °C, which may be
unfavorable for most enzymes. However, the potentials of these biosensors
are yet to be exploited maximally owing to the dearth in the understanding of
the basic principles underlying the conditions within which they work best. To
effectively optimize the potentials/performances of biosensors, a good
understanding of the nature/characteristics of such systems, the principle on which they operate alongside the systemâs pH, temperature, and type of
medium, which either favor or mare their activities are required. Hence, this
chapterâs discourse will essentially focus on the mechanisms and modes of
operation of existing biosensors as well as recent/futuristic applications of
potential bioactive materials, anchored on graphene and other potential
substrates
EFFECT OF FRACTIONATED EXTRACTS AND ISOLATED PURE COMPOUNDS OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN (L. ANACARDIACEAE) LEAVES ON NOVELTY-INDUCED REARING AND GROOMING BEHAVIOURS IN MICE
This study attempted to elucidate the neurotransmitter systems involved in the neurophysiological properties of ethanolic extract, fractions and pure isolates of Spondias mombin leaves in mice (n = 6) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) route of administration.
The crude ethanolic extract of spondian mombin leaves was fractionated using the partitioning method to obtain the ethylacetate, butanolic and aqueous fractions. Open column chromatographic fractionation of the ethylacetate fraction yielded seven sub-fractions, out of which the pure coumaroyl, quercetine and gallic acid derivatives were obtained after purification on Sephadex LH 20. The ethanolic extract, butanolic fractions, ethylacetate subfractions and pure isolates of the spondian mombin leaves were tested on novelty-induced rearing and grooming behaviours in mice with standard pharmacological tools using the open field method.
The extract and its fractions decreased novelty-induced rearing in a dose-dependent manner. While the Coumaroyl derivative had no effect on novelty-induced rearing, it significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of yohimbine, propranolol and haloperidol on novelty-induced rearing. Quercetin significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of yohimbine on novelty-induced rearing. Naloxone significantly potentiated the quercetine-induced suppression of novelty-induced rearing. Gallic acid derivative significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of yohimbine on novelty-induced rearing. Naloxone, atropine and haloperidol pretreatments significantly potentiated gallic acid derivative-induced suppression of novelty-induced rearing . The extract and its fractions had biphasic effect on novelty-induced grooming in mice. Coumaroyl derivative significantly increased novelty-induced grooming, while quercetine and gallic acid derivative decreased novelty-induced grooming significantly. The three pure isolates significantly reversed the effects of yohimbine and atropine on the novelty-induced grooming in mice. Propranolol-induced increase in novelty-induced grooming was significantly reversed by coumaroyl and gallic acid derivatives. Pre-treatment with naloxone significantly increased the gallic acid derivative-induced suppression of novelty-induced grooming. Pre-treatment with haloperidol reversed the effect of coumaroyl derivative and potentiated the inhibitory effect of quercetine derivative and gallic acid derivative significantly.
This study suggested that adrenergic and dopaminergic neuro-transmissions are strongly involved in the neural mechanisms of the effect of the three pure isolates derivative, while opioid neuro-transmission is strongly linked with the neural mechanism of behavioural effect of coumaroyl derivative
Evaluation of Efflux-Mediated Resistance and Biofilm Formation in Virulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Healthcare Infections
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant pathogen identified with healthcare-associated
infections. The present study evaluates the role of biofilm and efflux pump activities in influencing
high-level resistance in virulent P. aeruginosa strains in clinical infection. Phenotypic resistance
in biotyped Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 147) from diagnosed disease conditions was classified
based on multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices and analysed with logistic regression
for risk factors. Efflux pump activity, biofilm formation, and virulence factors were analysed for
optimal association in Pseudomonas infection using receiver operation characteristics (ROC). Agespecificity
(OR [CI] = 0.986 [0.946â1.027]), gender (OR [CI] = 1.44 [0.211â9.827]) and infection sources
(OR [CI] = 0.860 [0.438â1.688]) were risk variables for multidrug resistance (MDR)-P. aeruginosa infection
(p < 0.05). Biofilm formers caused 48.2% and 18.5% otorrhea and wound infections (95%
CI = 0.820â1.032; p = 0.001) respectively and more than 30% multidrug resistance (MDR) strains
demonstrated high-level efflux pump activity (95% CI = 0.762â1.016; p = 0.001), protease (95% CI =
0.112â0.480; p = 0.003), lipase (95% CI = 0.143â0.523; p = 0.001), and hemolysin (95% CI = 1.109â1.780;
p = 0.001). Resistance relatedness of more than 80% and 60% to cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors
(ceftazidime, ceffproxil, augumentin, ampicillin) and, DNA translational and transcriptional inhibitors
(gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, nitrofurantoin) were observed (p < 0.05). Strong efflux
correlation (r = 0.85, p = 0.034) with MDR strains, with high predictive performances in efflux pump
activity (ROC-AUC 0.78), biofilm formation (ROC-AUC 0.520), and virulence hierarchical-clustering.
Combine activities of the expressed efflux pump and biofilm formation in MDR-P. aeruginosa pose
risk to clinical management and infection control
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ZRANB3 is an African-specific type 2 diabetes locus associated with beta-cell mass and insulin response.
Genome analysis of diverse human populations has contributed to the identification of novel genomic loci for diseases of major clinical and public health impact. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, an understudied ancestral group. We analyze ~18 million autosomal SNPs in 5,231 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. We identify a previously-unreported genome-wide significant locus: ZRANB3 (Zinc Finger RANBP2-Type Containing 3, lead SNP pâ=â2.831âĂâ10-9). Knockdown or genomic knockout of the zebrafish ortholog results in reduction in pancreatic β-cell number which we demonstrate to be due to increased apoptosis in islets. siRNA transfection of murine Zranb3 in MIN6 β-cells results in impaired insulin secretion in response to high glucose, implicating Zranb3 in β-cell functional response to high glucose conditions. We also show transferability in our study of 32 established T2D loci. Our findings advance understanding of the genetics of T2D in non-European ancestry populations
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ZRANB3 is an African-specific type 2 diabetes locus associated with beta-cell mass and insulin response
Abstract: Genome analysis of diverse human populations has contributed to the identification of novel genomic loci for diseases of major clinical and public health impact. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, an understudied ancestral group. We analyze ~18 million autosomal SNPs in 5,231 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. We identify a previously-unreported genome-wide significant locus: ZRANB3 (Zinc Finger RANBP2-Type Containing 3, lead SNP p = 2.831 Ă 10â9). Knockdown or genomic knockout of the zebrafish ortholog results in reduction in pancreatic β-cell number which we demonstrate to be due to increased apoptosis in islets. siRNA transfection of murine Zranb3 in MIN6 β-cells results in impaired insulin secretion in response to high glucose, implicating Zranb3 in β-cell functional response to high glucose conditions. We also show transferability in our study of 32 established T2D loci. Our findings advance understanding of the genetics of T2D in non-European ancestry populations
Recruitment of Yoruba families from Nigeria for genetic research: experience from a multisite keloid study
High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health
The African continent is regarded as the cradle of modern humans and African genomes contain more genetic variation than those from any other continent, yet only a fraction of the genetic diversity among African individuals has been surveyed1. Here we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses of 426 individualsâcomprising 50 ethnolinguistic groups, including previously unsampled populationsâto explore the breadth of genomic diversity across Africa. We uncovered more than 3 million previously undescribed variants, most of which were found among individuals from newly sampled ethnolinguistic groups, as well as 62 previously unreported loci that are under strong selection, which were predominantly found in genes that are involved in viral immunity, DNA repair and metabolism. We observed complex patterns of ancestral admixture and putative-damaging and novel variation, both within and between populations, alongside evidence that Zambia was a likely intermediate site along the routes of expansion of Bantu-speaking populations. Pathogenic variants in genes that are currently characterized as medically relevant were uncommonâbut in other genes, variants denoted as âlikely pathogenicâ in the ClinVar database were commonly observed. Collectively, these findings refine our current understanding of continental migration, identify gene flow and the response to human disease as strong drivers of genome-level population variation, and underscore the scientific imperative for a broader characterization of the genomic diversity of African individuals to understand human ancestry and improve health