Learning styles and strategies preferences of Iranian medical students in gross anatomy courses and their correlations with gender / 대한해부학회지

The learning approaches can help anatomy teachers design a suitable curriculum in harmony with their students' learning styles. The research objective is to evaluate gross anatomy learning styles and strategies preferences of Iranian medical students at Kashan University of Medical Sciences (KAUMS). This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out on 237 Iranian medical students. The students answered questions on approaches to learning anatomy and expressed opinions about learning anatomy in medical curriculum. The data were analyzed to disclose statistically significant differences between male and female students. Iranian male and female students were interested in learning anatomy using notes, plastic models, pictures and diagrams, clinical context, dissection and prosection of cadavers; however, they rarely used cross-sectional images and web-based resources. Both groups of medical students used region and system in learning anatomy. However, there existed some striking differences, particularly in having difficulty in studying anatomy using cadaveric specimens, using books alone, and learning it in small groups. Male students were less interested in learning with cadavers than female counterparts. However, female students were more interested in learning anatomy in small groups. This study suggests that instructors should design gross anatomy curriculum based on limitations of using dissection of cadaver in Iranian universities, emphasis on the applied anatomy, and learning of gross anatomy in small groups.

Case report: absence of thyrocervical trunk

The thyrocervical trunk most commonly arises from the upper portion of the first segment of the subclavian artery, close to the medial edge of the scalenus anterior muscle and after short distance is divided to the inferior thyroid, transverse cervical, and suprascapular artery. This study reports important variations in branches of the thyrocervical trunk in a singular female cadaver. On the right side, no thyrocervical trunk was found. The two branches which normally originate from the thyrocervical trunk had a different origin. The superficial cervical, suprascapular and internal thoracic arteries arose from the common trunk artery. An awareness of this rare variation is important because this area is used for diagnostic and surgical procedures

Expression of Galectin-3 as a testis inflammatory marker in vasectomised mice

Vasectomy, though in some cases are being confronted with irreversibility, has been accepted as an effective contraceptive method. It is estimated that near 2-6% of vasectomised men ultimately show a tendency to restore their fertility. In some cases, vasectomy has been considered as an irreversible procedure due to many post-vasectomy complications causing this debate. The aim of present study was to investigate the pattern of expression of galectin-3, an inflammatory factor secreted by macrophages and immune cells, following the vasectomy in mice testis tissue. In this experimental study, twenty mature male Balb/c mice, aged two months, were divided into two equal groups: sham and vasectomised groups [n=10]. They were sacrificed four months after vasectomy, while the pattern of galectin-3 expression was investigated using a standard immunohistochemistry technique on testicular tissues. Stereological analyses of testes parameters in vasectomised and sham-operated groups were compared by mixed model analysis. Based on observations, although galectin-3 was not expressed in sham-operated group, it was expressed in 40% of testicular tissues of vasectomised mice, like: seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissues and tunica albugina. Also, our result showed a significant alteration in number of germ and sertoli cells of testicular tissue in vasectomised group in comparison to sham-operated group. In addition, the result of mixed model method confirmed a significant reduction in germ and sertoli cells of vasectomised group. The expression of galectin-3 at different parts of testicular tissue in vasectomised group is higher than sham group. This express illustrates the increase of degenerative changes and inflammation reactions in testicular tissue, leading to chronic complications and infertility, after the vasovasostomy

Evaluation of porin interaction with adenine nucleotide translocase and cyclophilin-D proteins after brain ischemia and reperfusion

Porin is a mitochondrial outer membrane channel, which usually functions as the pathway for the movement of various substances in and out of the mitochondria and is considered to be a component of the permeability transition [PT] pore complex that plays a role in the PT. We addressed the hypothesis that porin interacts with other mitochondrial proteins after ischemic injury. For this purpose, we used in vivo 4-vessel occlusion model of rat brain and porin purification method by hydroxyapatite column. After SDS gel electrophoresis and silver nitrate staining, Western blotting was done for porin, adenine nucleotide translocase and cyclophilin-D proteins. Porin was purified from mitochondrial mixture in ischemic brain and control groups. Investigation of interaction of adenine nucleotide transposes [ANT] and cyclophilin-D with porin by Western blotting showed no proteins co-purified with porin from injured tissues. The present study implies that there may not be interaction between porin, and ANT or cyclophilin-D, and if there is any, it is not maintained during the purification procedure

Morphological identification of cell death in dorsal root ganglion neurons following peripheral nerve injury and repair in adult rat

Axotomy causes sensory neuronal loss. Reconnection of proximal and distal nerve ends by surgical repair improves neuronal survival. It is important to know the morphology of primary sensory neurons after the surgical repair of their peripheral processes. Animals [male Wistar rats] were exposed to models of sciatic nerve transection, direct epineurial suture repair of sciatic nerve, autograft repair of sciatic nerve, and sham operated. After 1 and 12 weeks of the surgery, the number of L5 dorsal root ganglion [DRG] and ultrastructure of L4-L5 DRG neurons was evaluated by fluorescence and electron microscopy, respectively. Nerve transection caused sensory neuronal loss and direct epineurial suture but no autograft repair method decreased it. Evaluation of morphology of the neurons showed classic features of apoptosis as well as destructive changes of cytoplasmic organelles such as mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in primary sensory neurons. These nuclear and cytoplasmic changes in primary sensory neurons were observed after the surgical nerve repair too. The present study implies that the following peripheral nerve transection apoptosis as well as cytoplasmic cell death contributes to neuronal cell death and reconnection of proximal and distal nerve ends dose not prevent these processes

Morphometeric study of primary sensory neurons following surgical repair of sciatic nerve

Peripheral nerve transection causes neuonal cell death. Effects of surgical nerve repair on survival of primary sensory neurons was to be studied. This is a morphometeric study of dorsal root ganglion neurons of adult rats by Hoechst staining conducted at Neuroscience laboratory and Cellular and Molecular Center, Medical faculty, Iran University of Medical Sciences. Models of direct epineurial suture and using of nerve guidance channel of polyvinilydin flourid [PVDF] were used and neuronal number and volume of dorsal root ganglion of L5 were evaluated by morphometeric method. Direct epineurial suture technique decreased sensory neuronal loss and both direct epineurial suture and using of nerve guidance channel decreased reduction of the ganglion volume. Present study showed distal segment of peripheral nerve is essential for neuronal survival, but surgical nerve repair could not completely prevent from neuronal cell death