156 research outputs found
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
In silico analysis of compounds characterized from ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo with NF-κB-inhibitory potential
No full textNF-κB controls cellular growth properties of cells and its regulation is key to the management of disease like cancer. Although plant-derived bioactives have been reported to inhibit NF-κB, there is limited knowledge on the interactions between the phytochemicals and NF-κB. In this study, we identified the phytochemicals in ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy technique and used in silico approach to understand the interaction between the identified phytochemicals and NF-κB using Molegro Virtual Docker. The docking algorithm showed that nine phytochemicals fit well into the pocket on NF-κB. Our analysis showed that Lys144 is a prominent residue by involving in the binding of 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester and octadecanoic acid, methyl ester with the moldock score of -55.5264, -57.4634 and -61.1258 respectively. Hence, the binding of these phytochemicals to NF-κB could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer property of C. pepo
Persistence of acidosis in alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with the juice of Asystasia gangetica leaves
No full textDiabetes mellitus is gradually becoming a global health burden leading to an increase
in the search for herbal hypoglycemic agents as alternatives to synthetic ones. Asystasia
gangetica is one of the herbs used in folklore system of medicine for managing hypoglycaemia
associated with diabetes. Materials and Methods: The influence of the juice of A. gangetica leaf
on alloxan-induced diabetic rats was assessed by treating diabetic rats with 25%, 50% and 75%
fresh juice and glibenclamide for 5 weeks. Afterwards, the plasma concentrations of glucose,
triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, thiobarbituric acid
reactive substances and bicarbonate were assayed spectrophotometrically. Results: Treatment
of the diabetic rats with the juice significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the elevated plasma levels
of glucose to a level not significantly (P > 0.05) different from that of glibenclamide. The juice
also significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the plasma lipid peroxidation and improved the lipid profile,
as indicated by a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the total cholesterol: HDL cholesterol ratio.
However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) rise in the level of bicarbonate as result of the juice
treatment from 28.15 ± 2.82 mmol/l in normal control to 60.83 ± 17.46 mmol/l in diabetic
control and to 122.20 ± 34.68 mmol/l, 120.95 ± 35.09 mmol/l and 115.85 ± 11.79 mmol/l
in 25%, 50% and 75% juice, respectively. Conclusion: Therefore, this inability of A. gangetica
to prevent acidosis detracts from the potential of its usefulness in managing diabetes
A Review of Cancer Genetics and Genomics Studies in Africa.
No full textCancer is the second leading cause of death globally and is projected to overtake infectious disease as the leading cause of mortality in Africa within the next two decades. Cancer is a group of genomic diseases that presents with intra- and inter-population unique phenotypes, with Black populations having the burden of morbidity and mortality for most types. At large, the prevention and treatment of cancers have been propelled by the understanding of the genetic make-up of the disease of mostly non-African populations. By the same token, there is a wide knowledge gap in understanding the underlying genetic causes of, and genomic alterations associated with, cancer among black Africans. Accordingly, we performed a review of the literature to survey existing studies on cancer genetics/genomics and curated findings pertaining to publications across multiple cancer types conducted on African populations. We used PubMed MeSH terms to retrieve the relevant publications from 1990 to December 2019. The metadata of these publications were extracted using R text mining packages: RISmed and Pubmed.mineR. The data showed that only 0.329% of cancer publications globally were on Africa, and only 0.016% were on cancer genetics/genomics from Africa. Although the most prevalent cancers in Africa are cancers of the breast, cervix, uterus, and prostate, publications representing breast, colorectal, liver, and blood cancers were the most frequent in our review. The most frequently reported cancer genes were , , and . Next, the genes reported in the reviewed publications' abstracts were extracted and annotated into three gene ontology classes. Genes in the class were mostly associated with , while those in and classes were mainly associated with cell process, biological regulation, and binding, and catalytic activity, respectively. Overall, this review highlights the paucity of research on cancer genomics on African populations, identified gaps, and discussed the need for concerted efforts to encourage more research on cancer genomics in Africa
Plasma lipid profile, atherogenic and coronary risk indices in some residents of Abeokuta in south-western Nigeria
No full textThe incidence of chronic degenerative diseases like stroke and
myocardial infarction in African subpopulations is reported to be
increasing. In view of the association between dyslipidemia and these
chronic degenerative diseases, we investigated some well-established
cardiovascular risk factors (plasma cholesterol and its fractions as
high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL),
triglyceride, adiposity and blood pressure) in 92 subjects (43 males
and 49 females) in Abeokuta, Nigeria. LDL cholesterol was significantly
higher in the women compared with men (128.58mg/dl vs 108.73mg/dl; p =
0.028). Total cholesterol, although slightly higher in women, was not
significantly different from that of men (155.71mg/dl vs 147.26mg/dl).
HDL cholesterol and triglyceride were not significantly different
between the two sexes, although women tended to have lower HDL
cholesterol when compared with men. LDL/HDL cholesterol and total
cholesterol/HDL cholesterol were significantly higher in women compared
with men (4.20 vs 2.97; p = 0.004; 5.03 vs 4.06; p = 0.024,
respectively). Systolic blood pressure was higher in men compared with
women (117.58 vs 104.84; p = 0.002). Results indicate that the
association between cholesterol and chronic degenerative diseases is
continuous with no single cholesterol level separating those who are at
high risk from those who are not. Rather in defining cardiovascular
risks in African populations, the ratios LDL/HDL cholesterol and total
cholesterol/HDL cholesterol should be considered. It might be
appropriate at this time in Nigeria to consider physical activity and
pharmacological interventions in lowering blood lipids
Author's personal copy Effects of fibre-enriched diets on tissue lipid profiles of MSG obese rats
No full textThis article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In order to investigate the influence of some fibre-enriched diets on tissue lipids in an animal model of obesity induced by the administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG), obese rats were fed diets containing 30% of Acha, Cassava, Maize and Plantain for five weeks and weight gain, feed intake and lee index were recorded. The lipid profiles of plasma, erythrocytes, kidney, heart and liver as well as hepatic 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity were measured. The diets significantly (p < 0.05) reduced weight gain and lee index in the obese rats. Obesity-induced increase in plasma and erythrocytes lipid levels was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by these diets. MSG-induced obesity also resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in hepatic cholesterol level which was reduced by the diets. MSG-obesity was characterised by a significant (p < 0.05) increase in cholesterol, triacylglycerol and phospholipids in kidney and this was reversed by the diets except Maize which did not reverse the increased cholesterol level. Only Acha reversed the obesity-induced increase in heart cholesterol and phospholipids. The increased activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase associated with obesity was also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by the diets. In conclusion, dyslipidemia associated with MSG-induced obesity could be attenuated by consumption of fibre-enriched diets
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
Stevioside modulates oxidative damage in the liver and kidney of high fat/low streptozocin diabetic rats.
No full textThis study investigated the potential of stevioside to prevent oxidative DNA damage in the liver and kidney of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using high fat-low streptozocin rat model. Rats were treated daily with 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg stevioside orally for 21 days. Levels of biomarkers of T2DM, lipid profile and oxidative stress were assayed spectrophotometrically. The DNA ladder assay method was used to assess DNA fragmentation in the liver and kidney while computational analysis was used to predict the mechanisms of antidiabetic properties of stevioside. Stevioside significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of plasma glucose, insulin, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and activities of kidney angiotensin converting enzyme. Stevioside significantly reduced oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide in the liver and kidney; thereby, reducing the extent of DNA fragmentation in the liver and kidney of the diabetic rats. The o analysis showed that the ability of stevioside to exert these effects is linked to its inhibition of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase and G-protein-coupled receptor kinase. The results of this study suggest that the prevention of DNA fragmentation may be an additional benefit of the use of stevioside in the management of T2DM
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