Effect of fungi–termite interaction on the chlorophyll content of three rice varieties grown on ultisol soil of Ikenne,south-west Nigeria

The effect of fungi–termite interaction on three rice varieties was conducted in a screen house at the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Ibadan, Nigeria. Of the 10 fungi species (Fusarium verticilloides, Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Macrophoma sp., Neurospora sp., Botryodiplodia theobromae, Penicillum sp., Rhizopus sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii) isolated from termites, soil and rice plants, F. verticilloides, Trichoderma sp. and B. theobromae were used for the interaction study. Each fungus was inoculated singly and in combinations with termite into the root of each rice variety in potted soil. Leaf samples were taken to measure the chlorophyll content which is a major parameter to estimate effect of termite–fungi interaction. The chlorophyll content of the inoculated rice plants was significantly reduced when compared with the control. Fungi interaction with termite had significant reduction on the chlorophyll content. The synergistic relationship between the fungi and the termite was discussed.     

Innovative Technological Approach to Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response in Nigeria Using the Open Data Kit and Form Hub Technology

The recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa has ravaged many lives. Effective containment of this outbreak relies on prompt and effective coordination and communication across various interventions; early detection and response being critical to successful control. The use of information and communications technology (ICT) in active surveillance has proved to be effective but its use in Ebola outbreak response has been limited. Due to the need for timeliness in reporting and communication for early discovery of new EVD cases and promptness in response; it became imperative to empower the response team members with technologies and solutions which would enable smooth and rapid data flow. The Open Data Kit and Form Hub technology were used in combination with the Dashboard technology and ArcGIS mapping for follow up of contacts, identification of cases, case investigation and management and also for strategic planning during the response. A remarkable improvement was recorded in the reporting of daily follow-up of contacts after the deployment of the integrated real time technology. The turnaround time between identification of symptomatic contacts and evacuation to the isolation facility and also for receipt of laboratory results was reduced and informed decisions could be taken by all concerned. Accountability in contact tracing was ensured by the use of a GPS enabled device. The use of innovative technologies in the response of the EVD outbreak in Nigeria contributed significantly to the prompt control of the outbreak and containment of the disease by providing a valuable platform for early warning and guiding early actions.     

Caveolin-1 abolishment attenuates the myogenic response in murine cerebral arteries

Intravascular pressure-induced vasoconstriction (the "myogenic response") is intrinsic to smooth muscle cells, but mechanisms that underlie this response are unresolved. Here we investigated the physiological function of arterial smooth muscle cell caveolae in mediating the myogenic response. Since caveolin-1 (cav-1) ablation abolishes caveolae formation in arterial smooth muscle cells, myogenic mechanisms were compared in cerebral arteries from control (cav-1(+/+)) and cav-1-deficient (cav-1(-/-)) mice. At low intravascular pressure (10 mmHg), wall membrane potential, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), and myogenic tone were similar in cav-1(+/+) and cav-1(-/-) arteries. In contrast, pressure elevations to between 30 and 70 mmHg induced a smaller depolarization, [Ca(2+)](i) elevation, and myogenic response in cav-1(-/-) arteries. Depolarization induced by 60 mM K(+) also produced an attenuated [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and constriction in cav-1(-/-) arteries, whereas extracellular Ca(2+) removal and diltiazem, an L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, similarly dilated cav-1(+/+) and cav-1(-/-) arteries. N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine, an nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, did not restore myogenic tone in cav-1(-/-) arteries. Iberiotoxin, a selective Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (K(Ca)) channel blocker, induced a similar depolarization and constriction in pressurized cav-1(+/+) and cav-1(-/-) arteries. Since pressurized cav-1(-/-) arteries are more hyperpolarized and this effect would reduce K(Ca) current, these data suggest that cav-1 ablation leads to functional K(Ca) channel activation, an effect that should contribute to the attenuated myogenic constriction. In summary, data indicate that cav-1 ablation reduces pressure-induced depolarization and depolarization-induced Ca(2+) influx, and these effects combine to produce a diminished arterial wall [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and constriction.     

New covalent capture probes for imaging and therapy, based on a combination of binding affinity and disulfide bond formation

We describe the synthesis and development of new reactive DOTA-metal complexes for covalently targeting engineered receptors in vivo, which have superior tumor uptake and clearance properties for biomedical applications. These probes are found to clear efficiently through the kidneys and minimally through other routes, but bind persistently in the tumor target. We also explore the new technique of Cerenkov luminescence imaging to optically monitor radiolabeled probe distribution and kinetics in vivo. Cerenkov luminescence imaging uniquely enables sensitive noninvasive in vivo imaging of a β(-) emitter such as (90)Y with an optical imager.     

Identification, replication, and fine-mapping of Loci associated with adult height in individuals of african ancestry

Adult height is a classic polygenic trait of high heritability (h ² ∼0.8). More than 180 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), identified mostly in populations of European descent, are associated with height. These variants convey modest effects and explain ∼10% of the variance in height. Discovery efforts in other populations, while limited, have revealed loci for height not previously implicated in individuals of European ancestry. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association (GWA) results for adult height in 20,427 individuals of African ancestry with replication in up to 16,436 African Americans. We found two novel height loci (Xp22-rs12393627, P = 3.4×10⁻¹² and 2p14-rs4315565, P = 1.2×10⁻⁸). As a group, height associations discovered in European-ancestry samples replicate in individuals of African ancestry (P = 1.7×10⁻⁴ for overall replication). Fine-mapping of the European height loci in African-ancestry individuals showed an enrichment of SNPs that are associated with expression of nearby genes when compared to the index European height SNPs (P<0.01). Our results highlight the utility of genetic studies in non-European populations to understand the etiology of complex human diseases and traits.     

Genetic susceptibility to acute rheumatic fever: a systematic review and meta-analysis of twin studies

Background

Acute rheumatic fever is considered to be a heritable condition, but the magnitude of the genetic effect is unknown. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of twin studies of concordance of acute rheumatic fever in order to derive quantitative estimates of the size of the genetic effect.

Methods

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar from their inception to 31 January 2011, and bibliographies of retrieved articles, for twin studies of the concordance for acute rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease in monozygotic versus dizygotic twins that used accepted diagnostic criteria for acute rheumatic fever and zygosity without age, gender or language restrictions. Twin similarity was measured by probandwise concordance rate and odds ratio (OR), and aggregate probandwise concordance risk was calculated by combining raw data from each study. ORs from separate studies were combined by random-effects meta-analysis to evaluate association between zygosity status and concordance. Heritability was estimated by fitting a variance components model to the data.

Results

435 twin pairs from six independent studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled probandwise concordance risk for acute rheumatic fever was 44% in monozygotic twins and 12% in dizygotic twins, and the association between zygosity and concordance was strong (OR 6.39; 95% confidence interval, 3.39 to 12.06; P<0.001), with no significant study heterogeneity (P = 0.768). The estimated heritability across all the studies was 60%.

Conclusions

Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disorder with a high heritability. The discovery of all genetic susceptibility loci through whole genome scanning may provide a clinically useful genetic risk prediction tool for acute rheumatic fever and its sequel, rheumatic heart disease.     

Computational disease gene identification: a concert of methods prioritizes type 2 diabetes and obesity candidate genes

Genome-wide experimental methods to identify disease genes, such as linkage analysis and association studies, generate increasingly large candidate gene sets for which comprehensive empirical analysis is impractical. Computational methods employ data from a variety of sources to identify the most likely candidate disease genes from these gene sets. Here, we review seven independent computational disease gene prioritization methods, and then apply them in concert to the analysis of 9556 positional candidate genes for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the related trait obesity. We generate and analyse a list of nine primary candidate genes for T2D genes and five for obesity. Two genes, LPL and BCKDHA, are common to these two sets. We also present a set of secondary candidates for T2D (94 genes) and for obesity (116 genes) with 58 genes in common to both diseases.     

Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Awareness and Utilization of Pap Smear Test among Federal Civil Servants in North Central Nigeria

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women in developing countries. A key factor linked to the relatively high levels of cervical cancer in these populations is the lack of awareness and access to preventive methods. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of cervical cancer and Papanicolaou test (Pap smear test) and factors associated with the utilization of Pap test among female civil servants in Jos. Data was obtained from female workers (n = 388) aged 18–65 years in a Nigerian Federal establishment. Participants were randomly approached and instructed to complete validated questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Chi-square, t-tests and logistic regression analysis to determine if there was an association between variables and identify any predictors of awareness and utilization of the Pap test. Cervical cancer and Pap smear test awareness was 50.9% and 38.6% respectively, with the media as the major source of information. Pap smear test utilization rate was 10.2%, with routine antenatal care (ANC) as the major reason for getting screened. Personal barriers to screening include the lack of awareness, and belief that cervical cancer is not preventable. Opportunistic screening, mass media campaigns and ANC education were suggested as ways of improving awareness and utilization of cervical cancer screening services.