International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 129-134, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Methods of teaching anatomy to 200 level pharmacy students of the University of Lagos, Nigeria

*Ayo Odunayo¹, Henri Ajimobi² and Festus  Awolowo²

Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, City University, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lagos State University, Lagos State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 12 January, 2016

Abstract

The introduction of the problem-based learning (PBL) may be a very uncomfortable problem for the students originally exposed to the didactic methods of teaching and learning. Our medical and pharmaceutical curriculum is yet to adopt this new method of learning and as such this study looks forward to exposing some aspects of the traditional style as well as introducing to the students the new method using PBL. It is envisaged that in the five-year Pharmacy program, the students would be exposed to and monitored and their academic performance vis-à-vis their professional competencies adjudged using this two styles of teaching anatomy. A total of one hundred and fifty 200 level Pharmacy students were randomly divided into fifteen groups of ten per group during their 2 semester course in Anatomy in the academic year 2007/2008 session. The students were exposed to both the PBL and traditional methods of teaching anatomy alternately. At the end of the period, 150 structured questionnaires were administered to the students and analyzed statistically. Results from this preliminary study does show that the PBL method of teaching Anatomy to Pharmacy students has strong positive impact in the general perception and knowledge build of the students in their 200 level studies despite the obvious challenges of the environment.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (6) pp. 085-088, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment of the effect of exposure to gasoline vapours on the functionality of the prostate gland using serum total and prostatic acid phosphatase

*Julius Akpan, Bob Ekong and Samuel Edet

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B.1115, Calabar, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 05 March, 2015

Abstract

In this study, changes in the activities of serum total and prostatic acid phosphatase (TACP and PACP, respectively), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma( )-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and testosterone level were assessed in male rats exposed wholly to 17.8±2.6cm³ hr^-1kg^-1m^-3 day^-1 of gasoline vapours (8 hours daily, 6 days/week) for 20 weeks in exposure chambers. The results showed that exposure to gasoline vapours caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum TACP, PACP, ALP, GGT and testosterone levels, by 74.12 ± 4.71, 74.00 ± 2.80, 53.00 ± 3.6, 87.17 ± 2.5 and 83.42 ± 5.2 percents, respectively, in male rats. Increase in serum acid and alkaline phosphatases, - glutamyltransferase and testosterone levels, observed in this study to be associated with exposure of male rats to gasoline vapours, is known to be implicated in various prostatic clinical conditions, including prostatic cancer.

Key words : Gasoline vapours, acid phosphatase,  -glutamyltransferase, testosterone.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 089-092, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Double foramen transversarium in cervical vertebrae: A morphological study

Ridhdhish Patel¹, Ritika Patel¹, Mital Patel²

¹P.G.Student, Department of Anatomy, M.P.Shah Govt. Medical College, Jamnagar, India.

²Professor & Head, Department of Anatomy, M.P.Shah Govt. Medical College, Jamnagar, India. 

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 071-076, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of  the antioxidant vitamin E in blood sample of steady state sickle cell anaemia and non-sickle cell anaemia patients

*Ibrahim Alkali¹, Kashim Monguno² and Mustapha Waziri²

¹Department of Human Physiology, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

²Department of Human Physiology, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 05 May, 2015

Abstract

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin characterized by sickled red blood cells and increased destruction of these cells. This research aims to study the antioxidant vitamin E in blood sample of steady state sickle cell anaemia patients and that of non-sickle cell anaemia in Maiduguri, Borno State, North-eastern Nigeria. Sickle-cell anaemia is a hereditary disorder, which results into various types of crisis such as chronic acute pain syndromes, severe bacterial infections, and necrosis (tissue death), although, there is no cure for sickle cell disease. However, with a nutritionally balanced diet, other supplements such as vitamins E, A and C, well hydration and taking care of infection potentially help lessen the effects of the disorder. Vitamin E improves vascular endothelial vasodilatory function by inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation or by protein kinase activation or by enhancement of nitric oxide (NO) dependent mechanism. It also increases femoral blood flow (FBF) and decreased forearm vascular resistance in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients. This study was carried out on steady state sickle cell anaemia patients attending the paediatrics and haematology clinics of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) as a referral center. Undergraduate students, secondary, primary and pre-primary school students of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, were incorporated in the study as controls. A total number of 120 subjects were enrolled into the study constituting 60 subjects with homozygous SS, and 60 controls who are homozygous AA. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the determination of the vitamin E. The mean vitamin E in SCA in relation to age, occupation, educational level, and BMI were 0.072 ± 0.004 mg/ml, 0.059 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.071 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.70 ± 0.001 mg/ml respectively and that of the control were 0.092 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.081 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.092 ± 0.001 mg/ml, and 0.103 ± 0.001 mg/ml. These values were significantly lower (P˂0.05) in SCA patients compared to that of the control. In conclusion, there is a decrease in vitamin E levels in SCA patients in the steady state with controls. These results also showed that the level of education improved the vitamin level of the SCA patients.

Key words: Sickle cell anaemia, vitamin E, age, level of education.