ABSTRACT
Screener, a board game supplemented with online resources, was introduced and distributed by the Brazilian Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics to postgraduate programs as an instructional tool for the process of drug discovery and development (DDD). In this study, we provided a comprehensive analysis of five critical aspects for evaluating the quality of educational games, namely: 1) description of the intervention; 2) underlying pedagogical theory; 3) identification of local educational gaps; 4) impact on diverse stakeholders; and 5) elucidation of iterative quality enhancement processes. We also present qualitative and quantitative assessments of the effectiveness of this game in 11 postgraduate courses. We employed the MEEGA+ online survey, comprising thirty-three close-ended unipolar items with 5-point Likert-type response scales, to assess student perceptions of the quality and utility of Screener. Based on 115 responses, the results indicated a highly positive outlook among students. In addition, we performed a preliminary evaluation of learning outcomes in two courses involving 28 students. Pre- and post-quizzes were applied, each consisting of 20 True/False questions directly aligned with the game's content. The analysis revealed significant improvement in students' performance following engagement with the game, with scores rising from 8.4 to 13.3 (P<0.0001, paired t-test) and 9.7 to 12.7 (P<0.0001, paired t-test). These findings underscore the utility of Screener as an enjoyable and effective tool for facilitating a positive learning experience in the DDD process. Notably, the game can also reduce the educational disparities across different regions of our continental country.
ABSTRACT
Os efeitos da administração oral subcrônica do extrato hidroalcoólico (EHA) preparado de flores de Calendula officinalis L. foram investigados sobre os parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos em ratas Wistar adultas. Quarenta ratas (n=10/grupo) foram tratadas durante 30 dias consecutivos com EHA por via oral nas doses de 0,25, 0,5, e 1,0 g/kg de peso e, em seguida, determinados os perfis bioquímico e hematológico e a massa dos órgãos. Os resultados mostram que durante o período do tratamento não se observou sinais de toxicidade ou morte. Os parâmetros bioquímicos e hematológicos, assim como a massa dos órgãos não foram modificados pela administração subcrônica do EHA, excetuando-se aumento significativo de 24,2 por cento para uréia na maior dose estudada e aumento, respectivamente, de 62,3, 30,2 e 44,4 por cento, para ALT. Na hematologia, registrou-se flutuação dentro dos valores de referência na contagem diferencial de neutrófilos, linfócitos e monócitos. Dessa forma, a administração subcrônica do extrato hidroalcoólico de Calendula officinalis não produz efeitos tóxicos sobre a maioria dos parâmetros bioquímicos e hematológicos estudados em ratas Wistar adultas. Entretanto, o aumento dos níveis séricos de uréia e alanina aminotransferase (ALT) em doses elevadas sugere sobrecargas renal e hepática, respectivamente, as quais devem ser investigadas em maiores detalhes.
The effects of the subchronic oral administration of the hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) prepared from flowers of Calendula officinalis L. were investigated on biochemical and hematological parameters in female adult Wistar rats. Forty female rats (n=10/group) were orally treated daily for 30 days with HAE at the doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg body weight and the biochemical and hematological parameters and organ weight evaluated. The treatment did not cause any deaths or toxicity in the animals. The administration of HAE failed to change biochemical and hematological parameters and organ weight, except for an increase of 24.2 percent in blood urea nitrogen and 62.3, 30.2, and 44.4 percent, respectively, in alanine transaminase (ALT) plasma level. For the hematological parameters, there were slight changes in which neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were not different from the reference values. In conclusion, the subchronic administration of HAE of Calendula officinalis did not induce any harzadous effects on most of the biochemical and hematological parameters studied in female adult Wistar rats. However, the increase in the levels in blood urea nitrogen and ALT in high doses, suggests a possible renal and hepatic overload which should be investigated in more detail.