Sweet taste receptors are transmembrane protein network specialized in the transmission of information from special “sweet” molecules into the intracellular domain. These receptors can sense the taste of a range of molecules and transmit the information downstream to several acceptors, modulate cell specific functions and metabolism, and mediate cell-to-cell coupling through paracrine mechanism. Recent reports indicate that sweet taste receptors are widely distributed in the body and serves specific function relative to their localization. Due to their pleiotropic signaling properties and multisubstrate ligand affinity, sweet taste receptors are able to cooperatively bind multiple substances and mediate signaling by other receptors. Based on increasing evidence about the role of these receptors in the initiation and control of absorption and metabolism, and the pivotal role of metabolic (glucose) regulation in the central nervous system functioning, we propose a possible implication of sweet taste receptor signaling in modulating cognitive functioning.
A country often referred to as the giant of Africa up till now lacks a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC). South Africa and Zimbabwe are the few African countries that have determined their BAC level. On the average in Nigerian roads approximately 50% of accidents are related to alcohol use. This problem is largely due to the inadequate, as well as absence of regulatory guidelines on blood alcohol concentration. For decades, the problem of deciding the limit to which blood alcohol concentration must not be exceeded to avoid legal offence has been a major issue in this country. There is evidence that lowering the permitted limit of which BAC must not be exceeded to avoid legal offences to a great extent reduces the risk of alcohol involvements. The Road Traffic Act, Federal, Highway Act, and the Federal Road Safety, Commission Decree which are legislations that presently apply to Federal highways does not state the specific legal limit of intoxication. Most countries have set their BAC limit at 0.2-.8 mg/ml level. As a result of the high rate alcohol associated accidents in Nigeria, and to prevent human right abuse, it is of urgency to determine a BAC legal limit. Nigerian scientists, the Federal Road Safety Commission must step up research activities, awareness programs/campaign to reduce various incidences of illegal alcohol intoxication.
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