Student Seminars in Basic Medical Sciences: Perception of First Year Dental Students

Medical education is changing drastically from teacher centered learning to active learning. Seminars promote active learning as it involves the student actively to go through various study materials to prepare to deliver the seminar effectively. A total of 70 male and female participants were part of the study after obtaining the written informed consent. Seminars were included as a weekly activity in the Department of Physiology. Thrust areas were identified in each system and topics were allotted to the students. 5 students were given opportunity to present the seminar in a week according to their role numbers. They were given 8 minutes to present the topic and 2 minutes for discussion. After the presentation the questions which are not answered were noted down and they were explained by the facilitator in the tutorials where all the 70 students were present. The same day, students were requested to provide the feedback about their perceptions on Likert four point scale. Majority of the students had given positive response to the seminars. The study recommends the inclusion of weekly seminars in the dental curriculum.


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Antioxidant Activity of Biofield Energy Healing (The Trivedi Effect®) Based Formulation in Sprague Dawley Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Consciousness Energy Healing (The Trivedi Effect®) based novel proprietary formulation in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The formulation was divided into two parts. One part received the Biofield Energy Healing Treatment by renowned Biofield Energy Healer, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, defined as the Biofield Energy Treated sample. Another part did not receive any treatment and referred as a control. Additionally, three groups of animals were also received Biofield Energy Healing Treatment at day -15 per se. The tissue lipid peroxidation data exhibited that the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced by 22.75% and 19.57% in the Biofield Energy Treated test formulation (G5) and Biofield Energy Treatment per se plus Biofield Energy Treated test formulation from the day -15 (G8), respectively compared to the disease control group (G2). Antioxidant enzyme like superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly increased by 35.35% and 37.53% in the G7 and G8 groups, respectively as compared to the G2 group. Additionally, the level of catalase was significantly (p≤0.05) increased by 85.29%, 78.84%, 135.87%, 130.08%, 102.15%, and 66.45% in the G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, G9 groups, respectively compared to the G2 group. Further, hematology data showed that the platelet count was significantly increased by 17.09% and 9.42% in the G6 and G8 groups, respectively as compared to the G2 group. Biochemical results showed that the level of blood urea was reduced by 26.26%, 28.51%, 26.88%, 17.19%, and 18.05% in the G3, G4, G6, G7, and G9, groups respectively compared to the G2 group. The level of uric acid level was significantly reduced by 31.25% in the G6 group, while phosphorus was significantly increased by 20.57% and 33.03% in the G7 and G8 groups, respectively compared to the G2 group. Further, the change in body weight and feed consumption did not suggest any statistical difference, which depicts that the Biofield Energy Treated test formulation was found to be safe. Thus, the Biofield Treated test formulation has shown sigificant antioxidant activity and can be used for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, stress management and prevention, and act as anti-aging therapy for the improvement of overall health.

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Adverse Effects of Cadmium on the Biochemical and Histopathological Profiles of Chicken Liver

Background: Cadmium is one of the heavy metals which have toxic effects on the various organs and systems of the body. Estimates demonstrate the increased prevalence of cadmium, particularly in industrial regions. In this study, we examined its harmful effects on the liver of chicken.
Method: Forty chickens were purchased and were randomly divided into four groups. After collecting liver samples, the microscopic slides were prepared in laboratory. Also, the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured.
Results: The normal structure of liver was observed at control group, but hemorrhage and irregularity in the shape and distribution of hepatocytes in treatment groups were observed. The activities of CAT and SOD decreased significantly at treatment groups compared to the control group. Also, the level of MDA increased significantly at treatment groups compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The results showed the adverse effects of cadmium on the liver that consequently affects the overall function of body. Due to the growing use of cadmium, particularly in industrial regions, this study shows the impacts of cadmium on the birds of industrial regions and provides a warning for preventing its more outbreaks.

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Assessment of the Phytonutrient Content, Mineral and Proximate Compositions of Selected Yam Landraces (Dioscorea Rotundata Poir)

The phytochemical screening, assessment of mineral and proximate compositions of eleven selected yam landraces were carried out using standard laboratory protocols with the view to gain insight to its nutritional and health potentials. Phytonutrient composition (mg/100g) analyses were carried out using different extraction solvents namely diethyl ether, ethanol, methanol, acetone and methanol. The results revealed that the eleven samples studied had alkaloid between the range of (0.22 – 0.40), flavonoid (2.96 - 3.51), saponin (2.89 - 1.89), tannin (0.03 – 0.05), phytate (0.001 – 0.02) and oxalate (0.04 – 0.06). All observed phytonutrients were below toxic level and thus essential for good health and vitality. Mineral elements (mg/100g) – calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and copper were assessed. The eleven selected yam landraces had relatively high contents (within the WHO recommendations) of the assessed mineral elements such as calcium (16.47 – 91.32), magnesium (38.16 – 76.90), phosphorus (157.97 – 269.33), etc. The results of the proximate compositions showed that crude fibre was highest in Ogoja (2.36). Okpani had the highest content of crude protein (5.33) while Adaka had the highest content of crude fat (0.82). The caloric values (Cal/100g) ranged from 150.32 – 193.57 respectively.

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