EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF SOLENOSTEMON MONOSTACHYUS ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND LIVER ENZYMES IN STZ INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Diabetes mellitus as a metabolic disorder is known to affect the metabolism of carbohydrate, lipids as well as protein. The myriad devastating symptoms arising from this endocrine disorder is of paramount concern to many scientists who believe that traditional medicine could be the solution to the many years of looking for an antidiabetic drug that is easily accessible, reliable, cost effective with minimal side effect for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hence, this study was designed to unravel the effect of ethanolic leaf extract from a medicinal plant: Solenostemon monostachyus on blood glucose and liver enzymes in STZ-induced diabetic albino wistar rats. A total of 24 rats were used for the experiments and were divided into four groups (i.e. diabetic control (DC), normal control (NC), Insulin treated (INS) and Solenostemon monostachyus (SM) treated groups), with 6 rats each. The extract, 250 mg/kg body weight, was administered twice daily for 21 days. The serum glucose level in mg/dL was 70.00 ± 10.50 for SM treated groups, 256.00 ± 15.00 for DC. There was significant decrease at p < 0.05 in blood glucose level of rats administered with the extract within this period. The results of the ALT and AST levels in U/L were 13.37 ± 2.08 and 12.38 ± 5.10 for DC, and 7.20 ± 0.19 and 6.50 ± 1.46 for SM treated groups respectively, hence, SM significantly reduced at p < 0.05 the level of AST and ALT when compared with the control group. Therefore, it may be concluded that the ethanolic leaf extract of SM may have hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective properties when administered to rats

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

Performance Evaluation of Native-Kankan Padded Evaporative Space Cooler Using Arduino Mega

Performance evaluation of native-kankan padded evaporative space cooler using Arduino Mega is presented. Materials for fabrication were both locally improvised and conventionally sourced for such as the Nigerian Native-Kankan fibre sponge used as the wet and dry filter pads and expanded polystyrene which is used as thermal insulation material. Dry air from the outdoor surrounding is passed through the soaked Kankan fibre pad using a reverse DC fan and cooled by evaporative means where the sensible heat of dry air is converted to latent heat accumulation in the circulating working fluid. 150Watts solar power was supplied to the constructed cooler for a test run and results showed that the peak temperature drop of 27℃ to 24.5℃ was experienced in the indoor space / cooler exit of the test room facility. The average system COP of 1.224, evaporation rate of 0.066GPH and cooling capacity of 95.23W was achieved from the conducted experiment. The native-kankan dry filter pad reduced the humidity level of cooled air entering the indoor test room cubicle by 2%. A comprehensive cooling load analysis of the test room facility was carried out and the results were applied using sensible heat removal method to achieve cooler size rating of 319.02CFM. All experimental results were collected using Arduino Mega, type K thermocouple sensors and DHT11 humidity sensors installed on the constructed evaporative cooling unit. Keywords: Latent heat; Air conditioning; Relative Humidity, Arduino Mega; Evaporative Cooling; Native-Kankan fibre sponge

Seasonality of surface water contamination by heavy metals in the lower Enyong creek, s.e. Nigeria)

Surface water samples from three locations in the Lower Enyong Creek, S.E. Nigeria were sampled over six months i.e June to October (wet season) and November in dry season for heavy metals such as Cd, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr) using Atomic absorption spectroscopic method. Some specific physicochemical characteristics, such as temperature, hardness, alkalinity, salinity, TDS, TSS, pH and conductivity which are known to influence the interactions and dynamics of trace metal loads in water bodies were also determined. The result of the analysis indicated significant monthly variation of these parameters for the six months. Monthly summary statistics revealed a few seasonal patterns that echoed the hydrologic regime. During the short dry season in August–September period, all the sampled stream channels had lower levels of Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu Cr, Pb and Fe. Salinity, for instance, correlated strongly (p<0.05) with Cu (0.70); Cr (0.56); Ni (0.72); nitrate (0.61) and Na (0.49). However, the concentrations of most heavy metals were low, while Zn content was higher than the WHO standard for surface water which indicated significant contamination by Zn in the water body

Augmented Adipofascial Flap for Soft Tissue Cover of Open Tibial Fractures : A Case Report

This is the management of a 30-year-old male student, a passenger on anbsp motor cycle who had an open tibial fracture. He was resuscitated by the Accident and Emergency doctors before the Orthopeadic and Plastic surgery units were invited to take over the management. The fracture was reduced and maintained with external fixators by the Orthopeadic surgeons and an augmented fascial flap and a split thickness skin graft were used to cover the fracture by the plastic surgical team. The wounds healednbsp in three weeks and thenbsp fracture united in four months

New ecological risk indices for evaluating heavy metals contamination in aquatic sediment: A case study of the Gulf of Guinea

New indices – modified hazard quotient (m HQ) and ecological contamination index (ECI) – were developed for the evaluation of heavy metals contamination of sediment. Sequential extraction method was employed to determine the levels of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in subtidal sediment samples from tropical ecosystems off the Gulf of Guinea. The results were used to assess the degree of contamination and estimate the extent of anthropogenic inputs from industrial activities. Results indicated that the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb ranged from 4.33 –5.67, 11.12– 28.52, 30.26–43.72, 2.02–2.60 and 162.0–190.37 mg/kg dw, respectively. The mean metal levels did not show significant variations among study sites during the wet and dry seasons. Spatial distribution and severity of sediment-associated contamination by heavy metals based on the newly developed indices (m HQ and ECI) were in good agreement with existing pollution indices and followed the descending sequence: Cd>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni. Contamination severity index, mean hazard quotient and modified risk assessment code were also used to evaluate the sediment-heavy metal contamination, which generally indicated medium risk contamination of the investigated ecosystems. Aquatic pollution indicators (potential contamination index, ECI, hazard quotients, m HQ) revealed significant anthropogenic contamination by Cd and Pb, while Cr, Cu and Ni showed relatively low degree of contamination. Potential contamination index (PCI) generally followed the sequence Cd>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni. A comparison of newly proposed indices with existing pollution indices revealed very good agreement. The contamination trends derived from the new indices were consistent and took into consideration site specificity, toxicity and a three-tier effect levels (threshold, mid-range and extreme effects guideline values) that support their reliability in evaluating contaminated aquatic ecosystems

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

Strengthening Bioinformatics and Genomics Analysis Skills in Africa for Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals: Report of the 2nd Conference of the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network

The second conference of the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network (NBGN21) was held from October 11 to October 13, 2021. The event was organized by the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network. A 1-day genomic analysis workshop on genome-wide association study and polygenic risk score analysis was organized as part of the conference. It was organized primarily as a research capacity building initiative to empower Nigerian researchers to take a leading role in this cutting-edge field of genomic data science. The theme of the conference was “Leveraging Bioinformatics and Genomics for the attainments of the Sustainable Development Goals.” The conference used a hybrid approach—virtual and in-person. It served as a platform to bring together 235 registered participants mainly from Nigeria and virtually, from all over the world. NBGN21 had four keynote speakers and four leading Nigerian scientists received awards for their contributions to genomics and bioinformatics development in Nigeria. A total of 100 travel fellowships were awarded to delegates within Nigeria. A major topic of discussion was the application of bioinformatics and genomics in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG3—Good Health and Well-Being, SDG4—Quality Education, and SDG 15—Life on Land [Biodiversity]). In closing, most of the NBGN21 conference participants were interviewed and interestingly they agreed that bioinformatics and genomic analysis of African genomes are vital in identifying population-specific genetic variants that confer susceptibility to different diseases that are endemic in Africa. The knowledge of this can empower African healthcare systems and governments for timely intervention, thereby enhancing good health and well-being