Evaluation of the effect of COVID-19 mandated shift to virtual teaching on medical students' performance at King Khalid University, Abha.

Objectives: The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic required populations in most parts of the world to take drastic precautions. Face-to-face teachings were suspended, and the teaching and learning process was shifted to the virtual mode. This was a formidable challenge for students, teachers, parents, guardians, and academic administrators. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of the shift to virtual mode on medical students' academic performance in general and systemic pathology courses. Methods: The grades achieved in a quiz and practical test taken before the shift to virtual classes were compared to another quiz and practical exam taken by the same groups of students after several weeks of virtual teaching. The paired t-test was conducted to test the hypotheses, and SPSS software was used for data analyses. A short electronic survey was designed and sent to the targeted students (N = 103). The targeted students were also surveyed to understand their experience with e-learning during this time. Results: In total, 60% of the students reported their e-learning experience as valuable, and 84% prefer to have e-learning as part of the teaching and learning process even after normalcy is restored. The students' performance in the post-virtual tests was significantly better than that in the pre-virtual tests. Conclusion: The virtual learning format was well received by the students and influenced their academic outcomes. Institutes should provide training sessions for staff and students to address potential education drawbacks and provide modern educational technologies and simulation labs to enhance the educational systems.

The effectiveness of vitamin C on quinalphos ileal toxicity: a study of histological, ultrastructural, and oxidative stress markers.

There is a significant hazard of human exposure to the organophosphates which is a constant threat, and they are responsible for numerous cases of poisoning and mammalian toxicity annually in non-target wildlife. The antioxidants, including the vitamin C (Vit C), have a protective effect on some organophosphorus compounds-induced organ damage. Quinalphos (QP) is one of these compounds. The investigation's objective is to see if there was any effect of QP on the rat ileum which could be rectified by using Vit C. Three groups of 24 animals were created. As a control, the first group was given pure water. Second group subjected to oral gavages of QPs. Third group rats were given oral gavages of Vit C plus QPs for 10 days. The reaction of ileal enterocytes to food-borne QPs was marked by poorly organized microvilli, numerous vacuoles within them, disrupted nuclei with chromatin margination, disoriented mitochondria, and an expanded intercellular space. The absorptive columnar cell illustrated many vacuoles inside with herniation of microvilli, and normal goblet cells were also seen. Many Paneth cells towards the lumen of intestinal gland contained secretory granules of different sizes and shapes. The histological architecture of the ileal mucosa in the QP plus Vit C group was found to be close to those of healthy controls. The outcomes of this study suggest that administering Vit C in rats treated with QPs protects them from ill dysfunction caused by QP.

The possible effects of α-tocopherol against amiodarone-treated lungs in rats: vimentin detection, lipid peroxidation assay, and histological and ultrastructural evaluations.

The purpose of this study was to learn more about the pathogenesis of amiodarone (AD) on alveoli and also the possible preventive effect of α-tocopherol (α-T) against these hazards. Rats were divided into 4 groups, one of which acted as a control, the second received α-T, the third AD, and the fourth AD and α-T for 2 weeks. Light microscopy (LM), immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity were analyzed in sections of lung tissue. Alveoli of lung tissue AD examined with LM showed dilatation of alveolar spaces, aggregation of red blood cells, and narrowing of alveolar septa. When stained with vimentin (VIM), alveoli showed a positive reaction in the majority and a moderate reaction in others. In the pneumocytes of the type II, some cytoplasmic vesicles had been deflated, whereas others contained lamellar bodies, a damaged nucleus, and vesicles in their heterochromatin. In the interstitial space, collagen fibers with aggregation of red blood cells and a disrupted blood-air barrier were detected. In rat lung alveoli treated with AD and α-T, the alveolar septum thickened and the alveolar spaces expanded as estimated. The alveoli of this group had more or less intact type I and II pneumocytes and a better appearance of the blood-air barrier. In the cells of the alveolar lining, the VIM staining leads to a diffuse positive response. Finally, lung parenchyma also improved, suggesting that α-T may help minimize the effects of AD.

The Prevalence of Isolated Neutropenia at High Altitude in Southern Saudi Arabia: Does Altitude Affect Leucocyte Count?

INTRODUCTION: Isolated neutropenia is a common problem in hematology practice. Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN) is the common form of neutropenia worldwide and it affects mainly African and Middle Eastern ethnicities. Most cases of isolated mild and moderate neutropenia are benign and associated with no clinical significance. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of isolated neutropenia at high-altitude southern Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A large dataset of complete blood counts (CBCs) was analyzed for walk-in patients of both genders, of age ranges from 12 to 60 years doing blood tests at a commercial lab for high altitude - 2,270 meters above sea level - (HA) group, and from sea level SL group. Abnormal biochemical or CBC results were excluded before analysis. RESULTS: For HA group, 3123 CBCs were analyzed and for SL group 18,427 CBCs were analyzed. The prevalence of mild neutropenia, defined as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) in the range of 1.0-.5× 109/L, was 12.4% (n=399) versus 5.6% (n=1025), while moderate neutropenia, defined as ANC of 0.5-1 × 109/L, was present 6% (n=191) versus 1.45% (n=269) in the high altitude and sea level groups, respectively. Severe neutropenia, defined as neutrophil count less than 0.5-1 × 109/L, was rare in both groups. CONCLUSION: Isolated neutropenia is common in Saudis living at high altitude. While benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN) is thought to be the major contributing factor to this high prevalence, other factors including environmental factors and altitude are possible contributing factors along with underlying ethnic neutropenia.

Vitamin C administration attenuated artemether induced hepatic injury in rats / La aAdministración de vitamina C atenúa la lesión hepática inducida por artemeter en ratas

This research was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of vitamin C supplementation against hepatocyte ultrastructural alterations induced by artemether (antimalarial drug) administration. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were used in this study and were divided into four groups (n=6). Group I served as a control and rats in group II administrated artemether (4 mg/kg B.W) orally for three consecutive days. Group III administered artemether plus a low dose of vitamin C (2.86 mg/kg/l water) while group IV received artemether plusa high dose of vitamin C (8.56 mg/kg). At the end of the experimental period (14 days), the harvested liver tissues were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and blood samples were assayed for biomarkers of liver injury and oxidative stress. Artemether significantly (p<0.05) augmented biomarkers of liver injury such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and oxidative stress such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), and caused degeneration and damage of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and disrupted mitochondria. The blood sinusoids were also damaged with distortion of their canaliculi. Administration of vitamin C showed improvement of liver biomarkers, and liver parenchyma, especially in a high dose of vitamin C.We concludes that vitamin C is a partial protective agent against artemether-induced liver injury.

Esta investigación fue diseñada para investigar el posible efecto protector de la vitamina C contra las alteraciones ultraestructurales de los hepatocitos, inducidas por la administración de arteméter (medicamento antipalúdico). En el estudio se utilizaron 24 ratas albinas macho adultas y se dividieron en cuatro grupos (n = 6). El grupo I fue designado como control y las ratas en el grupo II se adminstró Arteméter (4 mg / kg de peso corporal) por vía oral durante tres días consecutivos. En el grupo III se administró arteméter, además de una dosis baja de vitamina C (2,86 mg / kg / l de agua) mientras que el grupo IV recibió arteméter más una dosis alta de vitamina C (8,56 mg / kg). Al final del período experimental (14 días), los tejidos hepáticos recolectados se examinaron por microscopía electrónica de transmisión (MET), y las muestras de sangre se analizaron en busca de biomarcadores de daño hepático y estrés oxidativo. El arteméter aumentó significativamente (p <0,05) los biomarcadores de daño hepático como alanina aminotransferasa (ALT), aspartato aminotransferasa (AST) y estrés oxidativo como superóxido dismutasa (SOD), glutatión peroxidasa (GPX) y causó degeneración y daño de la retículo endoplásmico rugoso y mitocondrias alteradas. Los sinusoides sanguíneos también fueron dañados con la distorsión de sus canalículos. La administración de vitamina C mostró una mejoría de los biomarcadores hepáticos y el parénquima hepático, especialmente en una dosis alta de vitamina C. Concluimos que la vitamina C es un agente protector parcial contra la lesión hepática inducida por arteméter.

Alterations of COX-2, HER-2/neu and E-Cadherin protein expression in the prostatic adenocarcinoma: preliminary findings.

Altered expression of the pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, E-Cadherin cell-cell adhesion protein and Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu, a proto-oncogene) are involved in the pathogenesis of several cancers including the prostatic adenocarcinoma (PRCa). However, to date the results of the previous studies in this neoplasm are controversial, and the relationships among expression of these molecules in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and PRCa are mostly unknown. We hypothesize that "there are alterations of COX-2, HER-2/neu and E-Cadherin protein expression in PRCa". We carried out this study to test our hypothesis and to assess the relationships among these molecules both in PRCa and BPH. We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of these proteins in the tissue specimens of both BPH (27 cases) and PRCa (45 cases). Immunohistochemical staining patterns verified over-expression of COX-2 and HER-2/neu proteins in PRCa as compared to BPH. Alternatively, there was an aberrant (reduced) E-Cadherin protein expression in PRCa. There were weak positive correlations between COX-2 versus HER-2/neu expression. A weak negative correlation was noted between COX-2 and E-Cadherin expression. In conclusion, there were alterations of COX-2, HER-2/neu and E-Cadherin proteins in PRCa. The molecular alterations of the relevant genes and the therapeutic ramifications (the development of selective inhibitors to COX-2 and HER-2/neu) of these preliminary findings are open to further investigations.