ABSTRACT
Background: There is lack of knowledge regarding research amongst medical students as it is not included in the present curriculum of MBBS. Hence authors have selected ‘Medical Research’ as a topic to evaluate the efficacy of WhatsApp messenger application as a teaching-learning tool. There is very limited research on impact of technological modalities like WhatsApp on education. Authors undertook this study to evaluate its efficacy as a tool to supplement medical research education and assess the perception of students about e-learning via WhatsApp messenger application.Methods: A prospective analytical interventional study was conducted after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. A self-designed comprehensive questionnaire was used to test the knowledge of medical students. A series of modules were sent and discussed on the WhatsApp study groups followed by assessment in change of the level of knowledge amongst the participants post intervention.Results: Applying the paired t-test, the scores of the study participants showed a statistically significant increase in the post- intervention evaluation (Mean=10.13, Median=10, Range=0-21) as compared to the baseline knowledge regarding medical research as reflected in the pre intervention evaluation (Mean=6.76, Median=7, Range=0-16). Conclusions: Growing availability of economical and user friendly smart phones in every generation has promoted use of WhatsApp by teachers as well as students. WhatsApp has the potential to supplement academic learning and become a natural educational modality. Necessary precautions could be taken to minimize the drawbacks expressed by the students to make it a more enjoyable and acceptable tool for teaching and learning.
ABSTRACT
Background: As of 2018, 2.1 billion people nearly 30% of the world’s population are either obese or overweight. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. It is an emerging health problem with major adverse effects on health. It is a risk factor for many chronic diseases but is best known for its role in metabolic syndrome, which can lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as cardiovascular diseases. Anti-obesity drugs are available but have many side effects. Voglibose, an antidiabetic drug, is an alpha glucosidase inhibitor which shows promising results in the reduction of body weight with minimal side effects.Methods: Voglibose (7 mg/kg) was administered to rats fed with normal laboratory chows and high fat diet to see its effect on body weight, body mass index, abdominal and thoracic circumference, and lipid profile at the end of 12 weeks.Results: Administration of voglibose significantly reduced food consumption, feed efficiency and increase in body weight induced by high fat diet in rats. Rats fed on normal diet also showed reductions in the same parameters, suggesting its weight lowering effect. Reductions in the anthropometric measurements, hypolipidemic effects and glucose lowering effects were also observed.Conclusions: Voglibose prevented high fat diet-induced obesity and improvement in metabolic profile, which ultimately has systemic effects on body weight in rats. Further studies are needed to see its potential therapeutic use in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and related complications.
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Background: Dyslipidaemias are the major cause of increased atherogenesis. Lycopene is a pigment that imparts red colour to fruits and vegetables like tomatoes. Risk of cardiovascular diseases has been shown to decrease with dietary intake of tomatoes. Although the antioxidant and hypolipidaemic properties of tomatoes have been studied extensively, beneficial effect of pure lycopene supplement as hypolipidaemic is still debatable So, we aimed to evaluate the effect of pure lycopene powder on lipid profile, serum antioxidant enzymes and blood sugar level in hyperlipidaemic rabbits.Methods: Adult male New Zealand White rabbits (1.5-2.5kg) were divided into three groups of six each. Group I-High Fat Diet (HFD) (5ml/kg). Group II-HFD (5ml/kg) + lycopene (10mg/kg) orally. Group III-HFD (5ml/kg) + lycopene (20mg/kg) orally. Blood samples were taken from all rabbits for baseline estimations of serum lipids, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood sugar. Same tests were performed after six weeks.Results: There was significant decrease in the levels of serum TC, LDL-C, TG and VLDL and an increase in serum HDL-C and antioxidant SOD with lycopene administration. However, significant increase in HDL was not seen with lycopene 10mg. TG and VLDL levels were significantly less with 20mg lycopene compared to 10mg lycopene. There was however no change in blood sugar level with lycopene.Conclusions: Pure lycopene supplement showed significant hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activity. However, it did not show significant effect on blood glucose levels.
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Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that has the phenotype of hyperglycemia. According to World Health Organization (WHO) there were 65.1 million diabetics in India in 2013, International Diabetes Federation estimates this to increase to 190 million by 2035. Although a number of drugs are available for treatment of DM, their cost and safety profile are major concern. Medicinal plants are used by clinicians for treatment of diabetes. Gymnema sylvestre (GS) extract has been reported to increase insulin levels in diabetic rats. This study was designed to compare the antihyperglycemic effect of Gymnema sylvestre with metformin.Methods: Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using streptozotocin 45mg/kg. Methanolic extract of Gymnema sylvestre 120mg/kg p.o. prepared using Soxhlet apparatus.Results: GS extract reduced blood glucose levels but not statistically significant. GS extract increased HDL and triglycerides, reduced both serum ALT and AST but no statistical significance seen. Metformin significantly increased serum urea, which was not seen in GS extract group. GS extract showed regenerative changes in pancreas, liver and kidney.Conclusions: The study investigation demonstrates that methanolic extract of GS possesses antihyperglycemic and hypolipidaemic activity and so it can be considered as a promising natural remedy in a prediabetic state and in mild hyperlipidaemia to prevent its progression. Increase in ? cell regeneration activity could be a probable mechanism of action. However, further long term clinical studies are recommended to define its possible role in diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia. Role of GS as a potential hepatoprotective agent also needs further evaluation.
ABSTRACT
Background: During recent years, the carotenoid lycopene has attracted much attention for its potentially beneficial cardiovascular effects, which is located mainly in tomato peels. The antioxidant properties of tomatoes has been extensively studied for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but the beneficial effects of pure lycopene supplement is still debatable. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate and compare the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of pure lycopene powder and to compare it with that of atorvastatin in hyperlipidemic New Zealand white rabbits. Methods: Adult male New Zealand white rabbits (1.5-2.5 kg) were divided into three groups of six animals each. Group I - High fat diet (HFD) (5 ml/kg). Group II - HFD (5 ml/kg) + lycopene (10 mg/kg) orally. Group III - HFD (5 ml/kg) + atorvastatin (5 mg/kg) orally. Blood samples were taken from all 18 rabbits for baseline estimation of blood sugar levels (BSL), lipid levels and blood superoxide dismutase levels. Same tests were performed in all groups after 6 weeks. Results: The lipid lowering activity of atorvastatin 5 mg/kg was better than that of lycopene while the antioxidant activity of lycopene was better than that of atorvastatin. Both the results were statistically significant. There was no significant difference in fasting BSLs in both the groups. Conclusion: Findings suggest that lycopene may have considerable therapeutic benefit as an antioxidant and hypolipidemic agent, but may not be effective as a hypoglycemic agent.
ABSTRACT
Background: Wound healing is a significant healthcare problem in today’s medical practice. Despite extensive treatment modalities that are supposed to hasten the wound healing process, the outcomes of existing methods are far from optimal. One such agent that has been tried previously and found controversial in wound healing is phenytoin. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate and compare wound healing effect of topical phenytoin with povidone iodine ointment in rats. Methods: This study was conducted after approval from Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC). Wound healing activity of topical phenytoin (1 g% and 2 g%) was assessed in excision wound model in Sprague Dawley rats (n=8), which was compared with topical petroleum jelly and povidone iodine ointment. Parameters studied included wound area on day 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, percentage wound contraction, percentage wound healing from day 0 to day 20 and period of re-epithelisation. Results: Wound surface area decreased in all treatment groups from day 0 through day 20 and the percentage wound closure was better in both the preparations (1% and 2%) of phenytoin when compared wih control and povidone iodine, but this was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the days required for complete re-epithelisation were less with phenytoin treated groups. There was no statistical difference between both the preparations of phenytoin. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that topical phenytoin accelerates wound healing process in an excision wound model.