Utilization of blackboard among undergraduate medical students: where we are from the reality?

This study aimed to evaluate undergraduate medical students' perceptions to Blackboard [Bb] utilization learning management systems in terms of benefits and difficulties. The study was conducted at the College of Medicine, King Saud University. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the students. The questionnaire consisted of three parts including demographic information, utilization of Bb and difficulties while using Bb. A total of 808 questionnaires were distributed with 42% response rate. Among the participants, 224 [65.7%] were male and 116 [34.3%] were female students. Of them, 78.1% reported "disagreement and strong disagreement" on "Bb usefulness in communicating with the instructor". However, 74.1% students reported "disagreed and strongly disagreed" on "Bb usefulness in communicating with other students", whereas majority of the students [71.8%] did not use multimedia available in Bb system. Also, 61% students agreed that there is a "lack of formal training" on the use of Bb in the college, and 37.2% students agreed that the using "Bb system is a time consuming". However, 39.2% students did not know about the Bb systems add any additional burden on the students. The disagreement trend of male and female students concerned with the Bb utility and difficulties were almost same. The finding of the study showed a poor utilization of Bb learning features. Students faced technical difficulties while using Bb. The findings of this study indicate the need of compulsory students training of any newly introduced learning management systems including Bb in the educational institute

Curcumin protects against testicular damage and genotoxicity induced by acrylamide in male albino mice

Acrylamide is a chemical used in many industries. Although it is found to be harmful, human are exposed to varying amounts of it in the diet, especially fried food. Curcumin is a herbal agent used in medicine and proved to be protective against many harmful agents. This study was undertaken to assess the protective effect of curcumin against the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity induced by acrylamide in male albino mice. Twenty-eight male albino mice were divided into four groups: group 1 [control group], group 2 [curcumin group], group 3 [acrylamide group], and group 4 [curcumin + acrylamide group]. Both curcumin and acrylamide were given through oral intubation for 5 days. Seventy-two hours after the last administration, blood samples were taken for random amplified polymorphism DNA PCR [RAPD PCR] analysis and testes were used for both light and transmission electron microscopic examination. Sperm smears were also performed and their results were statistically analyzed to detect any sperm abnormalities. Acrylamide resulted in atrophy and exfoliation of the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules with thickening of their basement membranes. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal sperms, compared with the control group. Transmission electron microscopic examination confirmed these results. Genotoxicity was also detected as genomic template stability was lower than that of the control group. The use of curcumin produced a significant protection against the all of the above-mentioned changes. Curcumin is effective in protection against reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity induced in male albino mice by the use of acrylamide

Histological and immunohistochemical study of the postulated protective effect of L-arginine on glycerol induced acute renal failure in adult male albino rats

L-arginine, a semi essential amino acid, is the main source for the generation of nitric oxide via nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute renal failure. This study aimed to investigate if L-Arginine has a protective role in glycerol induced renal failure in rats. Forty adult male albino rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups. Group I [Control 1]: The rats were intramuscularly injected with a single dose of saline solution. Group II [Control 2]: L-arginine was once given through nasal gastric tube [125 mg/kg body weight]. Group Ill: Acute renal failure was induced by single intramuscular injection of 50% glycerol [10 ml/kg body weight]. Group IV: L-arginine was given as in group II an hour before glycerol which was injected similarly to group III. Eighteen hours after the end of treatment in each group, blood samples were extracted for estimation of renal functions. Kidneys were removed and used for light and transmission electron microscopical studies. For light microscopic purpose, paraffin sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff and immunohistochemically for tissue inducible nitric oxide. Using image analyzer, quantitative measurements and analysis of the optical densities for Periodic Acid Schiff and inducible nitric oxide positive reactions were done. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test and Chi square test were used to determine the significance between the groups. Glycerol in group III led to deterioration of renal functions; degeneration, necrosis, sloughed brush borders, increased inducible nitric oxide staining density, dense nuclei and small atrophic mitochondria of the proximal convoluted tubules, thickness of foot processes, distorted and thickened glomerular basal lamina, as well as swollen glomerular capillaries endothelial cells with electron dense deposition. These changes were markedly reduced by using L-arginine in group IV. The findings implied that L-arginine plays an important role in protection against glycerol induced acute renal failure

Histological and immunohistochmeical studies on the postulated protective and therapeutic roles of pentoxifylline on thioacetamide induced hepatic injury in adult male albino rats

Thioacetamide induces liver injury, with histological alterations similar to those observed in human cirrhosis, through releasing of tumour necrotising factor-alpha. Pentoxifylline is an anti-tumour necrotising factor-alpha which might decrease the hepatic injury. This study investigated the histological and imniunohistochemical basis for the postulated beneficial role of pentoxifylline on the thioacetamide induced liver injury. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into 5 equal groups; group I [Control 1]: Rats were intraperitoneally injected once daily with distilled water for 8 days; group II [Control 2]: Rats were intraperitoneally injected with pentoxifylline [200 mg/kg body wt] once daily for 8 days; group III [Liver injury induced group]: Rats were intraperitoneally injected with thioacetamide [50 mg/kg] once daily for 8 days; group IV [Preventive group]: rats were concomitantly intraperitoncally injected with pentoxifylline and thioacetamide in doses and duration similar to groups II and III, respectively; group V [Therapeutic group]: Rats were injected with thioacetamide for 8 days as in group III and then injected with pentoxifylline from day 9 to day 16 in similar doses as in group II. Blood samples were collected for estimation of liver enzymes. Liver was removed and used for light and transmission electron microscopical studies. For light microscopic study, the paraffin sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff, Azan stain and immunohistochemically for tissue tumour necrotising factor-alpha. Using image analyzer, quantitative measurements and analysis of the optical densities for the Periodic Acid Schiff, Azan and tumour necrotising factor-alpha positive reactions were done. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient [r] were used. Thioacetamide [Group III] led to elevated liver enzymes. Light microscopical study revealed degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, reduced glycogen, increased collagen and increased expression of tumour necrotising factor-alpha in the liver tissue. Electron microscopic study revealed degeneration of the cellular organelles. These changes were attenuated by using the pentoxifylline in preventive and to some extent in therapeutic groups. Thioacetamide induced hepatic injury can be prevented and treated by using pentoxifylline

protective role of alpha-Lipoic acid against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in male albino rats [a light and transmission electron microscopy study]

Doxorubicin [DOX] is an important anti-neoplastic agent. Cardiotoxicity, which mediated by free radicals, is the main side effect of it, leads to induce left ventricular systolic dysfunction and congestive heart failure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the postulated preventive role of alpha-lipoic acid [LA] which is capable of neutralizing a wide variety of free radicals against doxorubicin [DOX]-induced cardiotoxicity. Twenty adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were randomized into four groups [5 rats! group]. Group I [control] received a single intraperitoneal [IP] injection of 3 ml of sterile distilled water. Group II [control LA] received a single IP injection of 3 ml of sterile distilled water and LA [100 mg/kg BW!day] orally for 7 days. Group III [Dox-injected group] received a single IP dose of Dox [1 5mg/kg BW in 3 ml of sterile distilled water]. Group IV received LA as in group II for 5 days before and 2 days after DOX injection. Animals were sacrificed 48 hours after DOX injection. Specimens from the left ventricle of the heart were processed for histological [H and E; Masson's trichrome] and ultra-structural study. Quantitative measurements [cardiomyocyte diameter and color area percentage of collagen] were done using image analyzer [Super eye-Heidi soft]. Group I and II showed no changes. Light microscopic results of group III showed damage and necrosis of cardiomycytes in addition to congestion and mononuclear cellular infiltration. The cardiomyocytic diameter and the surrounding fibrous tissue were significantly increased in this group compared to other studied groups. Ultrastructural results showed loss of cross striation and mitochondrial degeneration. These deleterious changes were significantly improved in group IV. DOX induced cardiotoxicity can be protected by using LA

Narrow-band UVB decreases epidermal thickness, mast cell density and downregulates IL-8 expression in psoriatic lesions histological and immunohistochemical study

The increased epidermal thickness and number of early activated cutaneous mast cells is a typical feature of psoriatic inflammation. Over expression of IL-8 and its receptor CXCR2 is typically observed in psoriasis lesions and is thought to contribute to keratinocyte dysfunction and to influx of T cells, neutrophils and mast cells. This study was conducted to evaluate epidermal thickness, mast cell density and IL-8 expression in psoriatic lesions before and after narrow-band ultraviolet B [NB-UVB] therapy using histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Twenty five psoriatic patients referred from Dermatology Outpatient Clinics for NB-UVB phototherapy were enrolled in this study. Patients received irradiation with NB-UVB [312 nm, Philips TL01] on the whole body. Four groups were included in this study; control group [1]: normal skin from 5 healthy volunteers], control group [2]: non-lesional control group; normal skin from psoriatic patients,Pre-NB-UVB group: twenty five psoriatic patients and Post- NB-UVB group: psoriatic patients after NB-UVB treatment. Skin biopsies were taken, fixed, processed and stained to assess general skin structure: and epidermal thickness, mast cell density and IL-8 expression by using histological and immunohistochemical procedures. After NB-UVB therapy; there was significant improvement in PASI score and significant decrease in epidermal thickness, mast cell density and optical density of IL-8. NB-UVB therapies targeting epidermal thickness, mast cells or IL-8 should be considered in the treatment of psoriasis