ABSTRACT
Vitamin K is present in the testes though its actual function in male reproduction is poorly understood. This study investigated the harmful effect of extrahepatic vitamin K insufficiency on the testicular structure. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with a diet containing warfarin for 2, 4 and 8 weeks; control animals received a standard diet without warfarin. It was found that extrahepatic vitamin K deficiency that is induced by warfarin results in histopathological features that range from delayed spermiation, presence of multinucleated giant cells in the seminiferous tubules, germ cells degeneration, asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia and increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm morphology when compared to the controls. Data obtained from the two groups were analysed using the Student t test. It is concluded that warfarin-induced vitamin K deficiency has a negative impact on spermatogenesis.
Subject(s)
Infertility, Male/pathology , Spermatogenesis/drug effects , Vitamin K Deficiency/complications , Vitamin K/antagonists & inhibitors , Warfarin/adverse effects , Administration, Oral , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Humans , Infertility, Male/etiology , Male , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Seminiferous Tubules/cytology , Seminiferous Tubules/pathology , Spermatozoa/growth & development , Spermatozoa/pathology , Vitamin K/metabolism , Vitamin K Deficiency/chemically induced , Warfarin/administration & dosageABSTRACT
CONTEXT: -Web-based learning is a major component of distance education. OBJECTIVE: -To explore Web-based applications for pathology teaching in resource-limited sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN: -The participants were consultant pathologists and trainees drawn from tertiary institutions in Nigeria. They viewed the digital slides via the Leeds virtual pathology Web site, after which, interactive lectures were given via Skype (Skype Communications, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg). Questionnaires were administered via SurveyMonkey (Palo Alto, California) to all participants of 12 sessions between 2014 and 2015. RESULTS: -Nine consultant pathologists and 33 trainees participated in this survey. Of all respondents, 29 (69%) thought it was fairly easy to navigate the system, 11 (26.2%) thought it was easy, whereas 2 (4.8%) felt it was difficult. In addition, 26 respondents (61.9%) found it fairly easy to make a make a diagnosis, 13 (31%) thought it was easy, and 3 (7.1%) noted that it was difficult. Twenty-four respondents (57.1%) had a fairly smooth user experience, 12 (28.6%) experienced occasional crashes, whereas 6 (14.3%) reported a smooth experience. Almost all (41 of 42; 97.6%) respondents felt the pathology teaching was beneficial to their local pathology practice, and all (100%) indicated the need for additional, similar sessions. CONCLUSION: -The beneficial applications of Internet-based lectures make them a viable, cheaper, and cost-effective alternative to face-to-face lectures in our environment.
Subject(s)
Computer-Assisted Instruction/methods , Education, Medical/methods , Pathology, Clinical/education , Telepathology/methods , Developing Countries , Humans , Nigeria , United KingdomABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the completeness and accuracy of breast cancer pathologic reporting in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The histologic parameters provided in breast cancer pathology reports at a large teaching hospital in Nigeria were assessed. The corresponding slides were reviewed after the United Kingdom Royal College of Pathologists guidelines, and results were compared. RESULTS: Out of 115 breast cancer cases, histologic type of breast carcinoma was concordant with the review type in 53.1% of cases and discordant in 46.9%. Grading was stated in 89.62% of cases, of which 50.5% were correctly graded, 35.8% were under-graded, and 8.5% were over-graded. Poor fixation and omission of the mitotic count were the main reasons for discordant grades. A comment on lymph node status was included in 40% of cases, and lymphovascular invasion was not commented on in 97.4% of cases. Only 26% of the tumors had hormone receptors and/or HER2 tested. CONCLUSION: Some essential histologic parameters were absent from the histologic reports, and where present, a proportion were inaccurate. Attention to specimen fixation and method of grading and familiarity with uncommon breast cancer types are required; all can be facilitated by education and training. The use of a template/proforma is recommended to ensure cancer data set parameters are included in the pathology reports.
