Teaching strategies and learning styles: are we addressing students' learning needs? At Faculty of Medicine, University Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To investigate correlation of learning styles and instructional strategies in fulfilling learning needs of students

Study Design: A Descriptive Cross sectional Study

Place and Duration: At faculty of Medicine, University Tabuk, KSA from 13[th] September 2013 to 2[nd] April 2014

Methodology: A total of 140 Phase II students' of 2[nd] and 3[rd] year medical program were enrolled. Students' learning styles were identified by using Kolb learning style Inventory version 3.1 and any gender based variation was investigated. Teaching strategies offered to year 2 and 3 were summated respectively to have frequency distribution. Gap analysis was done between students' learning styles and the instructional strategies currently practiced in Phase II medical program

Results: The learning style frequency distribution showed divergents as 36 %, followed by assimilators 30%, accomodators 24% and convergents 8%. For teaching strategies lectures take up 61% and 59% of curriculum time for 2[nd] and 3[rd] year respectively. Problem based learning is not offered for 2[nd] year and only 3% for 3[rd] year in the curriculum .The other teaching strategies are falling in between lectures and PBL. In terms of students learning needs a substantial gap was found between learning styles' and the teaching strategies offered

Conclusion: It is the need in time to bring reform in teaching strategies with a student centered approach in the light of new trends worldwide. This would embrace our students to learn how to learn and be self directed life long learners

Hypoglycemic and anti-platelet aggregatory effect of acacia modesta leaves extract on alloxan induced diabetic rats

Objectives: To compare the hypoglycemic and anti-platelet aggregation effect of Acacia modesta leaves extract and Glibenclamide on alloxan induced diabetic rats

Study Design: Experimental study

Place And Duration: This Experimental study was performed at Shifa College of Medicine and National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad

Methodology: Diabetes mellitus was induced in 90 out of 120 male albino rats by intraperitoneal injection of 110 mg/kg bw of alloxan and was confirmed by measuring fasting blood glucose level >200 mg/dl on 4th post-induction day. The rats were equally divided into four groups, A [normal control], B [diabetic control], C [diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide], and group D [diabetic rats treated with plant extract]. Rats of group C and D were treated with single dose of 900 micro.g/kg b.w of glibenclamide and 400 mg/kg b.w of Acacia modesta leaves extract respectively for three weeks. Blood Glucose levels were measured by glucometer, Platelet aggregation by Dia-Med and serum beta-thromboglobulin by ELIZA technique

Results: The results showed significant hypoglycemic [p<0.01] and anti-platelet aggregatory [p<0.01] effect of glybenclamide and Acacia modesta leaves extract on diabetic control rats. Within the treatment groups, the fasting blood glucose, and serum beta-thromboglobulin levels were nearly equally significant [p<0.05] in diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide and plant extract

Conclusion: Acacia modesta leaves extract has a nearly equally significant hypoglycemic and anti-platelet aggregation effect on diabetic rats as that of glybenclamide

Comparison of methanolic extract of acacia modesta leaves and glibenclamide on hyperlipidemia in alloxan induced diabetic rats

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of Acacia modesta [AM] leaves extract in comparison with glibenclamide in alloxan induced diabetic rats

STUDY DESIGN: An Experimental study

PLACE AND DURATION: This study was carried out at the Shifa College of Medicine and National Institute of Health, Islamabad from October 2010 to October 2011

MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty healthy male albino rats were equally divided into four groups [n=30], groups A [normal control], B [diabetic control], C [diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide] and group D [diabetics rats treated with AM leaves extract]. Diabetes was induced in overnight fasting [14-16 hrs] rats of groups B, C and D by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan [110 mg/kg b.w] and was confirmed by measuring fasting blood glucose level >200 mg/dl on 4th post-induction day. Rats of group C and D were treated with glibenclamide [900 µg/kg b.w] and Acacia modesta leaves extract [400 mg/kg b.w] respectively for 3 weeks. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and serum HDL levels were measured by homogenous enzymatic colorimetric method

RESULTS: A significant decrease [p<0.05] in the levels of serum triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL levels, and an increase in HDL levels were noticed in rats treated with glibenclamide [group C] and AM leaves extract [group D] than the diabetic control rats [group B]. Group C showed a significant decrease in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL with a significant increase in levels of HDL as compared to group D

CONCLUSION: Administration of AM leaves extract results in hypolipidaemic activity in diabetic rats as that of glibenclamide