126 research outputs found
SOCIO-DRAMATIC TRANSITION OF LANGUAGE USE IN THE PLAYS OF OLA ROTIMI
No full textAbstractLiterary language in African writing makes for interesting study because of the linguistic nuances and flavour of the indigenous African language of its author that finds creative expression in English. How language is used in dramatic communication is a subject of serious intellectual debate. This study, through the textual analysis of some play-texts, which are constructed on the didactic and eclectic nature of theatre and the society, is a reflection on the socio-dramatic transition of language use in the plays of Ola Rotimi. The discussion will identify, conceptualise and re-think some major forms, styles and patterns of language use in the plays of Ola Rotimi. Given the theatrical, dramatic, literary dividends and effectiveness of Rotimi’s works, this study concludes by calling on budding playwrights and dramatists in Africa to emulate/imitate/learn from re-thought language forms, styles and “linguistic possibilities” in the plays of Ola Rotimi as they experiment with language use in the African theatre.Keywords: African theatre, language use, Ola Rotimi, play directing, socio-dramatic, transitio
Socio-dramatic transition of language use in the plays of Ola Rotimi
No full textLiterary language in African writing makes for interesting study because of the linguistic nuances and flavour of the indigenous African language of its author that finds creative expression in English. How language is used in dramatic communication is a subject of serious intellectual debate. This study, through the textual analysis of some play-texts, which are constructed on the didactic and eclectic nature of theatre and the society, is a reflection on the socio-dramatic transition of language use in the plays of Ola Rotimi. The discussion will identify, conceptualise and re-think some major forms, styles and patterns of language use in the plays of Ola Rotimi. Given the theatrical, dramatic, literary dividends and effectiveness of Rotimi’s works, this study concludes by calling on budding playwrights and dramatists in Africa to emulate/imitate/learn from re-thought language forms, styles and “linguistic possibilities” in the plays of Ola Rotimi as they experiment with language use in the African theatre.Keywords: African theatre, language use, Ola Rotimi, play directing, socio-dramatic, transitio
Acute aflatoxin B1− induced hepatotoxicity alters gene expression and disrupts lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in rats
No full textIn this study, alterations in lipid metabolism associated with acute aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced hepatotoxicity and gene expression changes underlying these effects were investigated. Rats were orally administered three doses (0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg) of AFB1 for seven 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. Acute exposure to AFB1 increased the levels of plasma and liver cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. AFB1 at 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg resulted in a dose-dependent (1.2 and 1.5 fold, respectively) downregulation of hepatic Cpt1a with a concomitant 1.2 and 1.5 fold increase in the level of plasma FFA, respectively. A similar observation of 1.2 and 1.3 fold increase was also observed in plasma triglyceride concentration, at both respective doses. AFB1 also decreased the relative expression of Ahr, Lipc and Lcat whereas, it upregulated Scarb1 in a dose dependent manner. AFB1-induced dysregulation of the expression of lipid and lipoprotein metabolizing genes may be one mechanism linking AFB1 to altered lipid metabolism and ultimately risk for coronary heart disease
Coexistence of Aflatoxicosis with Protein Malnutrition Worsens Hepatic Oxidative Damage in Rats
No full textTo investigate the effects of the coexistence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and protein malnutrition in rat liver, weanling rats were fed either normal protein diet (20% protein), low-protein (PEM) diet (5%), normal protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1, or low-protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1. After 8 weeks, biomarkers of hepatic functions and oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity, and tumor suppressor protein 53 (p53) were determined spectrophotometrically. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) was employed to determine genomic alterations among the groups. Coexistence of aflatoxicosis and PEM significantly decreased glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, while it increased peroxidase and catalase. RAPD-PCR showed genomic alterations that were associated with significant increases in p53 level and caspase-3 activity in rats fed PEM diet + AFB1. In conclusion, the coexistence of aflatoxicosis and protein malnutrition induced oxidative stress with concomitant genomic alterations in the liver of weanling rats
La tragedia greca in Africa: l'Edipo re di Ola Rotimi
No full textLo studio esplora l'impatto della drammaturgia classica in Africa, attraverso un momento paradigmatico: The Gods are not to Blame (Gli dei non vanno maledetti, 1969) di Emmanuel Gladstone Rotimi, riscrittura dell'Edipo re sofocleo. Attraverso la reinterpretazione di un testo canonico della cultura occidentale, l'autore ha cercato di presentare, rappresentare, definire ed esplorare la storia e l'identità del proprio paese, la Nigeria, e della propria etnia, gli Yoruba. Il mito greco viene ridiscusso all'interno di una cornice dualistica, contemporaneamente postcoloniale e indigena, che ne permea gli stratagemmi, lo stile e i contenuti, fondendosi in una sintesi di protesta e imitazione, in una mescolanza di rivolta e conciliazione. D’altronde, la storia del rapporto tra l’Europa e l’Africa è tragicamente segnata da episodi di sofferenza, oppressione e razzismo. L’analisi condotta si dispiega attraversa una serrata comparazione, a tratti filologica, tra i due drammi, nel tentativo di evidenziarne e motivarne analogie e incongruenze. Il risultato di questa meticolosa ricognizione critica ci conduce verso un prodotto ibrido che non mistifica o neglige la sacralità classica, ma ne divelte le porte del tempio in modo tale che al suo interno si crei lo spazio per altre forme di esperienza e nuovi timbri di voce.The study explores the impact of classical dramaturgy in Africa, through a paradigmatic moment: The Gods are not to Blame (1969) by Emmanuel Gladstone Rotimi, a rewriting of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Through the reinterpretation of a canonical text of Western culture, the author sought to present, represent, define and explore the history and identity of his own country, Nigeria, and of his own ethnic group, the Yoruba. The Greek myth is rediscussed within a dualistic framework, simultaneously postcolonial and indigenous, which permeates its stratagems, style and contents, merging in a synthesis of protest and imitation, in a mixture of revolt and conciliation. On the other hand, the history of the relationship between Europe and Africa is tragically marked by episodes of suffering, oppression and racism. The analysis conducted unfolds through a close comparison, at times philological, between the two dramas, in an attempt to highlight and motivate analogies and inconsistencies. The result of this meticulous critical reconnaissance leads us towards a hybrid product that does not mystify or neglect classical sacredness, but demolishes the doors of the temple in such a way that space is created inside for other forms of experience and new timbres of voice
Authorship Patterns in Cancer Genomics Publications Across Africa.
No full textPURPOSE
Authorship is a proxy indicator of research capacity. Understanding the research capacity is imperative for developing population-specific cancer control strategies. This is particularly apropos for African nations, where mortality from cancer is projected to surpass that from infectious disease and the populations are critically under-represented in cancer and genomics studies. Here, we present an analysis and discussion of the patterns of authorship in Africa as they pertain to cancer genomics research across African countries.
METHODS
PubMed metadata of relevant cancer genomics peer-reviewed publications on African populations, published between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2019, were retrieved and analyzed for patterns of authorship affiliation using R packages, RISmed, and Pubmed.mineR.
RESULTS
The data showed that only 0.016% (n = 375) of cancer publications globally were on cancer genomics of African people. More than 50% of the first and last authors of these publications originated from the North African countries of Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria. South Africa (13.6% and 12.7%) and Nigeria (2.2% and 1.9%) were the Sub-Saharan African countries most represented by first and last authorship positions, respectively. The United States contributed 12.6% of first and last authored papers, and nearly 50% of all African countries had no contributing author for the publications we reviewed.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights and brings awareness to the paucity of cancer genomics research on African populations and by African authors and identifies a need for concerted efforts to encourage and enable more research in Africa, needed for achieving global equity in cancer outcomes
In silico analysis of the functional non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human CYP27B1 gene
No full textBackground: CYP27B1 gene codes for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-a-hydroxylase, an enzyme that catalyses the activation of vitamin D to the 1-a, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. The activity of this enzyme is altered by non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) located within its gene. Such alterations consequently affect the synthesis of the active form of the hormone, 1-a, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, resulting in vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of nsSNPs in the CYP27B1 gene on the structure and/or function of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-a-hydroxylase.Methods: The pathogenic nsSNPs in the human CYP27B1 obtained from National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were analysed for their structural and functional consequence using mutation analysis algorithms like Consurf, I-Mutant, and MutPred. The effects of the mutation on tertiary structure of the human CYP27B1 protein was predicted using SWISS-MODEL while STRING was used to investigate its protein–protein interaction.Results: Out of 938 SNPs in the human CYP27B1 gene, 455 that are responsible for missense mutations in the protein were subjected to various prediction algorithms to identify the pathogenic variants. Out of 24 consensus pathogenic nsSNPs, our Consurf analysis showed that mutations at conserved positions T321, R389 and G125 will significantly alter the structure of human CYP27B1 protein. These mutations also alter the metal binding and result in intrinsic structural disorder. These consequently, alter the 3D structure of the protein and could impact its ability to interact with other proteins like Cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily R, polypeptide 1; Cytochrome P450, family 24, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 and Vitamin D receptor, that are involved in vitamin D pathway, as revealed by STRING.Conclusion: These nsSNPs could contribute to vitamin D deficiency and its associated pathological conditions.Keywords: Polymorphisms, CYP27B1, Vitamin D, Mutation, Cancer, Diabete
Alterations of Genes Involved in Apoptosis and Epigenetic Modulation Associated with Gatifloxacin-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Liver
No full textGatifloxacin is a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone that induces oxidative stress in the liver. Hence, this study investigated the alterations in the expression of genes involved in epigenetics and apoptosis associated with gatifloxacin-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. To achieve this, adult rats were exposed to oral doses (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) of gatifloxacin for five days. Thereafter, biomarkers of oxidative stress were assessed spectrophotometrically while the levels of expression of Bcl2l1, caspases 3, 8 and 9 as well as Dnmt1, Hdac5, Prdm2, Eid3, Suv39h1 and Ehmt2 were assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique. The results showed that the hepatic oxidative stress was associated with increase in the expression of proapoptotic genes. Also, gatifloxacin resulted in significant (p < 0.05) upregulation of genes involved in DNA and histone methylation. These alterations observed at the lowest dose of 10 mg/kg showed that gatifloxacin exposure could induce hepatic apoptosis and epigenetic changes
Epigenetic modifications associated with in utero exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals BPA, DDT and Pb
No full textEndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are xenobiotics which adversely modify the hormone system. The
endocrine system is most vulnerable to assaults by endocrine disruptors during the prenatal and early
development window, and effects may persist into adulthood and across generations. The prenatal stage
is a period of vulnerability to environmental chemicals because the epigenome is usually reprogrammed
during this period. Bisphenol A (BPA), lead (Pb), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were chosen
for critical review because they have become serious public health concerns globally, especially in Africa
where they are widely used without any regulation. In this review, we introduce EDCs and describe the
various modes of action of EDCs and the importance of the prenatal and developmental windows to EDC exposure. We give a brief overview of epigenetics and describe the various epigenetic mechanisms: DNA
methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, and how each of them affects gene expression.
We then summarize findings from previous studies on the effects of prenatal exposure to the endocrine
disruptors BPA, Pb and DDT on each of the previously described epigenetic mechanisms. We also
discuss how the epigenetic alterations caused by these EDCs may be related to disease processes
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