[Evaluation process in viewpoints of academic staff and students in Shahrekord university of medical sciences]

Evaluation is a routine process for developing teaching and learning methods. This qualitative process is challengeable among faculty members. Validity of student evaluation and managers are controversial. In this study we tried to assess viewpoints of students and faculty members regarding this process and to develop it. This cross sectional descriptive study was performed on 60 faculty members and 370 students using 2 questionnaires containing demographic information and evaluation process. Data were analyzed by t-test. Chi-square and one way ANOVA using SPSS13. Attitude of most faculty members were agree to be evaluated by students and managers, but they believed that the student proportion for evaluation should be higher than the managers. They also mentioned that the best persons for the evaluation are head of the departments, vice chairman and deans of faculties. Our results showed that 63% of faculty members were agreed with the evaluation by their colleagues and 37% were agreed with self evaluation. Despite of accepting the evaluation by 89% of the students, 53% of them believed that these evaluations had positive effect. The results also showed that 62% of the students thought that the faculty authorities had not chosen the best time for evaluation. Evaluation criteria and indices in viewpoint of both students and faculty members were almost the same. Scientific knowledge and teaching methods were selected as main criteria. Using the idea of faculty staff and students about evaluation process can increase quality of it and decrease unsatisfaction thoughts and reform evaluation

Assessment of radiomorphometric and radiomorphologic indices in postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic disease, significantly decreases bone mineral density especially among post menopausal women. Techniques of screening osteoporosis are very expensive and needs the skill of an expert. The aim of this study was to assess the radiomorphometric and radiomorphologic indices in post menopausal women. This cross sectional, descriptive and analytical study was performed on 40 postmenopausal women who were referred to the oral and maxillofacial radiology department of the dental faculty in 2004. Mental index [MI], panoramic mandibular index [PMI], mandibular cortical index [MCI] and gonial index [GI] were assessed on their standard panoramic radiographs. Age, menopausal duration, dental condition, educational level, history of fracture and number of deliveries were also recorded and data was analyzed using T test, Man-whitney test, Pearson and Spearman correlation test and regression analysis. Age and menopausal duration have inverse significant correlation with GI, PMI and MI and direct significant correlation with MCI [p<0.001]. Dental condition and educational level significantly correlate with MI [p=0.03, p=0.04] and PMI [p=0.01, p-0.03] while, had no significant correlation with MCI and GI. Number of deliveries and history of fracture had no significant correlation with any of indices. Age and menopausal duration have more effect on MI, PMI, GI and MCI. MI and PMI correlate with more variables and they might be useful for prognosis and screening those patients with low bone mineral density

Effect of Zhumeria majdae aerial parts extract and fractions on morphinetolerance in mice

In this research, the effects of methanolic extract of aerial parts of Zhumeria majdae and its fraction, on the development of tolerance to the antinociceptive action of morphine were examined in mice. Morphine tolerance in mice was developed by injecting morphine sulfate [20 mg/Kg, S.C.] twice a day for 4 days. Vehicle injected mice was considered as control. To determine the effect of intraperitoneally administered methanolic extract of Z majdae and its fractions on tolerance development, they were injected in the appropriate dose twice a day. The development of tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of morphine sulfate [10 mg/Kg, S.C.] was measured on days 1 and 6 using the tail-flick test. The methanolic extract showed a significant activity and attenuated tolerance development at 0.14, 0.28 and 0.56 g/Kg doses. The methanolic extract of plant was suspended in methanol-water [3:2] and extracted with chloroform. The activity of hydroalcoholic fraction was more than the chloroformic one, and showed significant activity. Further fraction on silica gel column chromatography was obtained. Three fractions [A, B and C, similar Rf in each group] were obtained; fraction A and B were more effective. The methanolic extract of plant and its fractions themselves, at dose employed in the study, did not exert any effect on antinoeiceptive activity. These results indicated that the extracts of Z majdae contain component [s] that can attenuate tolerance development to the antinociceptive action of morphine