NRF2 regulates HER1 signaling pathway to modulate the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to lapatinib and erlotinib

NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) regulates the transcription of a battery of metabolic and cytoprotective genes. NRF2 and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs/HERs) are regulators of cellular proliferation and determinants of cancer initiation and progression. NRF2 and HERs confer cancers with resistance to several therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the regulation of HER expression and activation and the link between NRF2 and HER signalling pathways. We show that NRF2 regulates both basal and inducible expression of HER1, as treatment of ovarian cancer cells (PEO1, OVCAR3, and SKOV3) with NRF2 activator tBHQ inducing HER1, while inhibition of NRF2 by siRNA knockdown or with retinoid represses HER1. Furthermore, treatment of cells with tBHQ increased total and phosphorylated NRF2, HER1, and AKT levels and compromised the cytotoxic effect of lapatinib or erlotinib. Treatment with siRNA or retinoid antagonised the effect of tBHQ on NRF2 and HER1 levels and enhanced the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to lapatinib or erlotinib. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of NRF2 and/or treatment with lapatinib or erlotinib elevated cellular ROS and depleted glutathione. This extends the understanding of NRF2 and its regulation of HER family receptors and opens a strategic target for improving cancer therapy

Microorganisms associated with the production of volatile compounds in spoilt tomatoes

The microorganisms associated with the production of volatile compounds in spoilt tomatoes has been isolated and identified. The mean heterotrophic bacterial count recorded range between 8.7 x 106 to 9.1 x 106 cfu/g. The highest value was obtained from Bado and the least from Dundaye market. The organisms isolated and identified  include three species of bacteria and four fungal species. These include Bacillus, Listeria, Morganella, Aspergillus, Absidia, and Fusarium. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of eight  compounds dominated by 9, 12 – octadecadienoic acid (31.08%), 2, 3 – Butandiol (28.79%), and n-Hexadecanoic acid (19.85%). This study  suggests that spoilt tomatoes could be exploited for the biogeneration of some volatile compounds that could provide baseline knowledge for curbing post harvest lost

Growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of growing rabbits fed graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in diets

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Animal Science teaching and research farm, Bayero University Kano, to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) in diets on growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of weaned rabbits. Twenty eight grower rabbits of averagely 975g in weight were allotted into four treatments of seven rabbits each in a completely randomize design. Four isonitrogenous diets (16% CP) were formulated in which MOLM was included at 0, 15, 30 and 45% for treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The diets were fed to the animals for eight weeks. The result showed that daily weight gain (5.95-13.39g/day) and carcass weight (497.70-727.65g) increased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of MOLM in diets, but dressing percentage (42.49-45.96%) was not affected by dietary treatments. Similarly, the weight of liver (40.35-57.05g), lungs (10.22-11.24g), heart (2.95-4.10g), kidney (8.30-10.70g), kidney fat (11.10-12.65g), small intestine (81.25-99.80g), large intestine (102.45-117.95g), caecum (20.50- 30.50g), stomach (90.75-114.65g), spleen (1.00-1.80g) and abdominal fat (7.89-11.25g) characteristics were not different across the treatments. The results indicate that weaned rabbits can utilize Moringa oleifera leaf meal at up to 45% level of inclusion in diets without any deleterious effects on growth performance, carcass yield and organ characteristics.Key words: Carcass yield, growth, Moringa oleifera, organ characteristics, rabbit

Health Effects of Radiation Exposure to Human Sensitive Organs Across Some Selected

The interaction of ionizing radiation with human body, either from external sources (i.e. outside the body) or from internal contamination of the body by radioactive substances, leads to biological effects which may later show up as clinical symptoms. The nature and severity of these symptoms and the time at which they appear depend on the amount of radiation absorbed and the rate at which it is received. This study aimed at assessing the Health Effects of Radiation Exposure to Human Sensitive Organs across Some Selected Mining Sites of Plateau State Nigeria. Finding of this study have revealed that the mean Dorgan values for the lungs, ovaries, bone marrow, testes, kidney, liver and whole body for different mining points of Plateau State are 0.29, 0.26, 0.31, 0.36, 0.28, 0.21 and 0.30 mSv/y respectively. From the findings presented, it can be concluded that the background radiation in Plateau State is not an issue of health concern in regards to sensitive organs and may not course immediate health effect except when accumulated over long period of time which may cause cancer to the indoor members on approximately seventy years of exposure

Ipomea asarifolia (Desr), A Potential Cover Crop for Soil Fertility Improvement in The Sudan Savanna Region, Nigeria

The effect of Ipomea asarifolia on physico - chemical properties of the soils at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto main campus, in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria was investigated. The study determined the effect of the plant on some physical and chemical properties of soils, found out the nutrient retention ability of the plant in the soils and the variation of the effect with distance within the plants’ canopy. A total of 48 samples were collected from four different sites within Usmanu Danfodiyo University main Campus; VC complex area, University stadium area, Behind new library area and opposite IBB centre area and four distances from the plant (control, plant base, 0.5 m and 1 m from the plant base). Samples were collected for use in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment with three replicates. Soil pH, Organic C, CEC, total N, available P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were determined, particle size analysis was also carried out. The results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), where significant F values were obtained, the means were separated by Duncan multiple range tests (DMRT). The difference among the sites and the distances were found to be statistically significant (P VC complex area > New library area > IBB centre area. On the other hand, the effect on all the parameters was found to decrease with distance from the plant with the base of the plant having the highest organic C, CEC, total N, available P and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg; 6.83 g kg-1, 5.00 cmol kg-1, 0.42 g kg-1, 10.82 mg kg-1 and 0.26, 0.50 and 0.97 cmol kg-1 respectively, while the control soils had the least values; 3.46 g kg-1, 4.00 cmol kg-1, 0.12 g kg-1, 7.43 mg kg-1, 0.21, 0.38, and 0.45 cmol kg-1 respectively. The effect was attributed to the accumulation of organic matter around the plant and its ability to prevent erosion by both water and wind thus retaining nutrients making it a suitable cover crop for soil fertility improvement

Prevalence of fasciolosis among cattle slaughtered at Hadejia Abattoir

A study was carried out to find out the prevalence of Fasciolosis in cattle  slaughtered at Hadejia Abattoir. Fasciola gigantica is a parasite of liver and bile duct in cattle, sheep and goat. The liver was examined for Fasciola by making length wise incision on the ventral side of the liver in such a way that the Bile duct was cut open. The forcep was used to pick the exposed worms in the bile duct and the Gall bladder. The Flukes recovered from each cattle were placed in label containers and taken to the Laboratory for identification and preservation. A total of 545cattle were  examined for the presence or absence of Fasciolosis in Hadejia Abattoir. Out of this number 279 (51.2%) were males and 266 (48.8%) were females. The overall  prevalence of Fasciolosis in the study area was 159(28.0%). The prevalence of Fasciolosis in males was found to be 73(26.2%), while the prevalence in females was 79(29.7%). There was no significant relationship (P > 0.05)between sex of the cattle and prevalence of the infection. The Prevalence of Fasciolosis in adult cattle was 36(40.2%), while in young cattle the prevalence was 123(15.0%). There was significant relationship (P < 0.05) between the age of cattle and prevalence of the infection.Fasciolosis is one of the helminths diseases that were found to be prevalent affecting cattle in the study area.Key words: Abattoir, Cattle, Cross-sectional., Fasciolosis, Slaughter

NRF2 regulates HER2 and HER3 signaling pathway to modulate sensitivity to targeted immunotherapies

NF-E2 related factor-2 (NRF2) is an essential transcription factor for multiple genes encoding antioxidants and detoxification enzymes. NRF2 is implicated in promoting cancer therapeutic resistance by its detoxification function and crosstalk with proproliferative pathways. However, the exact mechanism of this intricate connectivity between NRF2 and growth factor induced proliferative pathway remains elusive. Here, we have demonstrated that pharmacological activation of NRF2 by tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) upregulates the HER family receptors, HER2 and HER3 expression, elevates pAKT levels, and enhances the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Preactivation of NRF2 also attenuates the combined growth inhibitory effects of HER2 targeting monoclonal antibodies, Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab. Further, tBHQ caused transcriptional induction of HER2 and HER3, while SiRNA-mediated knockdown of NRF2 prevented this and further caused transcriptional repression and enhanced cytotoxicity of the HER2 inhibitors. Hence, NRF2 regulates both HER2 and HER3 receptors to influence cellular responses to HER2 targeting monoclonal antibodies. This deciphered crosstalk mechanism reinforces the role of NRF2 in drug resistance and as a relevant anticancer target

Effect of Psychological Empowerment and Transformational Leadership on Organizational Commitment

According to recent literature that relates to organizational leadership, transformational leadership consists of three important elements: idealized influence, individual consideration and intellectual stimulation. Extant studies in this area highlighted that the ability of the leaders in implementing these transformational processes (to execute organizational functions) may have a significant impact on individual outcome especially organizational commitment. Although this relationship has been studied, the mediating role of transformational leadership has taken a less prominent role in organizational leadership model. Recent studies on organizational leadership have emphasized that transformational leadership has three important characteristics: idealized influence, individual consideration and intellectual stimulation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of empowerment in the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment; by using 77 USAble questionnaires gathered from employees who worked at a foreign manufacturing company in Free Trade Zone, Malaysia. Results of SmartPLS path model analysis confirm that empowerment does act as an important mediating variable in the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment in the organizational sample. In the succeeding sections, discussion, implications and conclusion are elaborated

Kinetics and Thermodynamic Studies of Disperse Dyes Derived from 4-Amino-3-Nitrobenzaldehyde on Polyester fabrics.

Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies of disperse dyes derived from 4-Amino-3-Nitrobenzaldehyde on polyester fabrics was carried out at various temperatures, pH, liquor ratios, time and carrier concentrations. The results showed the equilibrium adsorption isotherms of disperse dyes on polyester fabrics. The values of the thermodynamic parameters recorded and the adsorption isotherms deduced from the experiment suggests that the adsorption kinetics of the disperse dyes on polyester fabric is in agreement with a pseudo second-order kinetic model [11]. Van der Wa’als forces are thought to have played significant role in dye – fibre attraction and the adsorption of disperse dyes on polyester was an exothermic process. It was found that on application, the dyes had very good fastness to both wash and light and moderate fastness to perspiration

Development and Evaluation of an Interactive Instructional Package for Teaching Engineering Graphics Skills

Exposure to modern pedagogical approaches and methods with appropriate instructional media can enhance the development of high-level critical thinking and technical skills. This study examined the development of an interactive instructional software package for teaching engineering graphics and evaluated its relative effectiveness on second-year undergraduate engineering students' academic achievement, skill transfer, and retention. In this study, the quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test, control group design was employed. 45 research participants were sampled, employing two-stage stratified sampling technique, which comprises the simple random sampling to assign students into three groups from the study population and systematic sampling with k = 3 to select 15 students from each group to a control group and experimental groups A and B. The control group was exposed to conventional classroom instruction (CI), group A to computer-aided instruction (CAI); and group B to conventional and computer-aided instructions (CCAIs). A computer-aided learning package on engineering graphics was developed using the Camtasia software package, which served as the treatment instrument. The pre-test and post-test data used for analysis stemmed from a validated Engineering Graphics Achievement Test instrument. Analysis of covariance and Sidak post hoc test statistical analysis of the groups' performance provided the results on the comparative effects of the treatment conditions. Findings indicated significant differences between the academic achievement, skill transfer, and retention of students, exposed to CCAIs, and CI or CAI strategies. When used together, a significant improvement in students' academic achievement, transfer, and retention of engineering graphics skills occurred than either the CI or CAI strategy used alone