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UNILAG Researchers Collaboration With Global Consortium Unravels Novel Parkinson’s Genetics Risk Factor In Africans and African Admixed Populations

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Photo : ▪︎Prof. Njideka Okubadejo, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.


Akoka, Lagos – Researchers from the University of Lagos are key collaborators in the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) that uncovered a genetic variant that increases the risk of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in Africans and African admixed populations.

The research finding was the result of teamwork by an international team including the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Research (NPDR) network, the International Parkinson’s Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC)-Africa, University College London, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in
the US, and 23andMe.

The study was funded by the Michael J Fix foundation for Parkinson’s research and GP2.

The NPDR network and UNILAG team are led by a Professor of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Njideka Okubadejo who acknowledges the crucial role that the supportive research environment at the
university and the commitment of the national and international partners played in the success of the team.

She said “This GBA1 result is a step toward that future, where the research field is
prioritizing, learning from, and treating all people with Parkinson’s disease.”

Other members of the UNILAG team collaborating with the Global consortium (GP2) include: Dr. Oluwadamilola ‘Lara’ Ojo (Associate Professor and Site Lead Investigator, Faculty of
Clinical Sciences (FCS);
Dr. Osigwe Agabi (FCS);
Prof. Francis Ojini (FCS)
and Dr. Ismail Ishola (Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS). 
Others are Dr. Francisca Nwaokorie (Associate Professor, FBMS); Mr. Roosevelt Anyanwu (Central Research Laboratory CMUL), and Dr. Arinola Sanyaolu (FBMS).

The variant on the GBA1 gene was identified by the GP2 researchers as part of efforts to galvanize international/collaborative research into the genetics of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as well as revolutionize treatment for the African and African admixed population.

While more research is needed to define the exact mechanism of the new variant, initial findings also suggest that like prior mutations in GBA1, this variant results in lowered activity of the glucocerebrosidase (GCase) enzyme.

The Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) is a resource programme of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative, it is funded by the Sergey Brin Family Foundation and implemented by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).

The Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) launched GP2 in 2019 to follow up on previous funding efforts from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) with a view to expanding global genetics study in populations traditionally underrepresented in research.

Till date, the GP2 is partnering with over 140 cohorts from around the world, assembling,
generating and sharing data to uncover novel insights and similarities in Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, on behalf of the University Senate, Management, Staff and Students, congratulates the UNILAG team on the GP2 project for their impact in the latest discovery.

Professor Ogunsola says the UNILAG team’s input and impact on the GP2 further accentuates the university’s fast migration into a Future-Ready institution with imprints in various fields including
Science.

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Overworked RSUTH Resident Doctor Slump, Dies on Duty

What happened is that he was on call in the Emergency Room. Afterward, he went to the call room to rest, and it was there that he died. Unfortunately, he was the only one attending to the patients.

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Dr Oluwafemi Rotifa, a young resident doctor at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) collapsed and died after a gruelling 72-hour call duty.

Ohibaba.com reliably gathered that the deceased doctor, fondly called Femoski by colleagues, was a former President of the Port Harcourt University Medical Students’ Association, PUMSA, and was registered with the United Kingdom’s General Medical Council, awaiting placement abroad.

The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, who confirmed Rotifa’s death, said that the deceased doctor had been on continuous call duty for three days in the Emergency Room before he retreated to the call room to rest.

It was there that he slumped and later died, despite efforts to resuscitate him in the Intensive Care Unit.

“What happened is that he was on call in the Emergency Room. Afterward, he went to the call room to rest, and it was there that he died. Unfortunately, he was the only one attending to the patients.

“The overuse of manpower strained his health and led to this painful death. It was a death on duty,” Osundara lamented.

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Rumours of Trump’s ill health spread online despite denial

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From manipulated images to out-of-context photos, false claims that Donald Trump is seriously ill — or even dead — have swirled online, with the misinformation persisting even after the US president publicly rejected it on Tuesday.

At a White House press conference, Trump dismissed social media rumours about his health as “fake news,” following the 79-year-old’s noticeable absence from public appearances and press events last week.

Since last Friday, there were around 104,000 mentions of the hashtag “Trump dead” on the Elon Musk-owned platform X, generating a cumulative 35.3 million views, according to an analysis from the misinformation watchdog NewsGuard.

Some social media users cited online maps purportedly showing road closures near Maryland’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as evidence that Trump was being treated for a serious ailment at the facility.

But there were no credible reports of road closures around the medical facility.

Other social media users shared an image of an ambulance parked outside the White House, claiming it was taken last month and citing it as evidence of a health crisis involving Trump.

It was actually an old photo posted by a journalist on X in April 2023 — while Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, was still in office, according to NewsGuard.

Some users claiming that Trump was dead shared an out-of-context image of the White House flag flying at half-staff, a traditional gesture used to honour the death of a prominent official.

In reality, Trump had issued a proclamation last week ordering flags at the White House, military posts, and naval stations across the country to be lowered in honour of the victims of a school shooting in Minneapolis.

Some users also posted a zoomed-in image of Trump’s face, claiming it showed a deep line above his eye that indicated a recent stroke.

But NewsGuard found that the original image was out of focus and showed no signs of a line over Trump’s eye. The image used in the false posts was digitally enhanced using an AI tool.

The misinformation — which appeared to originate from liberal anti-Trump accounts on X, Bluesky, and Instagram — persisted even after Trump stated on Truth Social over the weekend: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.”

The falsehoods continued to circulate following Trump’s press conference on Tuesday, where he publicly dismissed the health rumours.

Shortly after the conference, one Bluesky account falsely claimed that the “White House just announced” the president was dead.

The falsehoods highlight how facts are increasingly under assault on a misinformation-filled internet landscape, an issue exacerbated by public distrust of institutions and traditional media.

The health of US presidents has always been closely watched, but with the White House seeing its two oldest ever occupants since 2017, the scrutiny is now heavier than ever.

Trump — the oldest man ever to be elected US president — has alleged that Democrats covered up the mental and physical decline of Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January.

Biden’s health was a key issue in the 2024 election, and the then-president was forced to drop his campaign for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against Trump.

AFP

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Why Do People Collapse And Die?

Checks by Ohibaba.com, show that there are various reasons why people may collapse and die suddenly.

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Last week, one of the twin sons of my deceased brother, collapsed at work and died.

The incident happened in Abuja. Immediately, I was contacted with the sad news, I inquired if he was sick.

Her sister replied “No”

Did he go to work on an empty tummy or take medication on an empty tummy?

Again, the response was, “No “Did he have high blood pressure? “No,” was the answer.

Hmmm…

Similarly, the FCT Head of Service, Mrs Grace Adayilo, died in the same manner.

Media reports said that Mrs Adayilo slumped and passed out early this morning, September 1.

The report said that Mrs Adayilo, an indigene of Abuja and incidentally, the first female ever to occupy the position in the FCT Administration, attended a church service on Sunday and even donated to the congregation.

These cases among millions got me wondering: Why do people collapse and die?

Checks by Ohibaba.com, show that there are various reasons why people may collapse and die suddenly.

According to Meta AI, some common causes include:

Medical Conditions

1. Heart conditions: Heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, or other cardiovascular conditions can cause sudden collapse and death.

2. Stroke or brain aneurysm: A stroke or brain aneurysm can cause sudden loss of consciousness and death.

3. Seizures or epilepsy: Severe seizures or epilepsy can lead to loss of consciousness and, in rare cases, death.

External Factors

1. Trauma or injury: Severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, or other serious injuries can cause collapse and death.

2. Heatstroke or dehydration: Extreme heat or dehydration can lead to collapse and, if untreated, death.

3. Electrocution: Electrical shock can cause cardiac arrest and death.

Other Causes

1. Sudden cardiac arrest: Unexpected cardiac arrest can occur without warning, often due to underlying heart conditions.

2. Anaphylaxis: Severe allergic reactions can cause rapid collapse and, if untreated, death.

3. Poisoning or overdose: Ingestion of toxic substances or overdose of medications can lead to collapse and death.

It’s essential to seek immediate medical attention if someone collapses suddenly. Prompt medical care can help identify the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment.

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