Protective Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on Testicular Histology in Rats Exposed via Chronic Mosquito Coil Smoke Inhalation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the preventive effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the testicular histology of rats exposed chronically to mosquito coil smoke. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College/National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December 2020. METHODOLOGY: Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Group A was the healthy control. Group B rats were exposed to allethrin-based mosquito coil smoke for 12 weeks (4 hours/day). Group C rats received coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, 10mg/kg/day) through oral gavage, in addition to 12 weeks of mosquito coil smoke exposure (4 hours/day). At the end of the study, testicular histology was compared among three groups including the germinal epithelium height, seminiferous tubule diameter, and testicular capsule thickness, while adjusting for the body weight variations among rats. RESULTS: The rats in Group B, exposed only to mosquito coil smoke showed testicular disruption, characterised by dilated seminiferous tubules (p <0.001), reduced germinal epithelial height (p <0.001), and thickened testicular capsule (p <0.007), as compared to the control group rats. However, the germinal epithelium height (p = 0.73) and testicular capsule thickness (p = 0.31) of rats receiving CoQ10 in addition to mosquito coil smoke inhalation were not significantly different from the control group. CONCLUSION: Prolonged inhalation of allethrin-based mosquito coil smoke can cause testicular disruption among rats. The oral CoQ10 administration can effectively prevent the histomorphological adverse effects on the testis among rats exposed to mosquito coil smoke. KEY WORDS: Allethrin, Coenzyme Q10, Germinal epithelium, Mosquito coil, Seminiferous tubules, Testicular capsule.

Ameliorative Effects of Prolotherapy on Histomorphology of Tibial Articular Cartilage of Chemically Induced Osteoarthritic Knee Joint in a Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ameliorative effects of prolotherapy on monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced and histomorphological changes in the articular cartilage of tibial condyles at rat knee joint. STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, NUMS, Rawalpindi, from August to November 2021. METHODOLOGY: Thirty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups, each having 10 rats. Group A was control. Group B was injected with single dose of 1mg MIA intraarticularly in the right knee to induce osteoarthritic changes. Group C was injected with single dose of 1mg MIA intraarticularly, in right knee was followed by 0.1ml Prolotherapy (3ml of 25% dextrose, 2ml of 2% xylocaine, 1ml of injection neurobion, and 1ml of injection methecobal) as intra articular injection at week 2, 6 and 10 in right knee. Rats were sacrificed after one month of the last dose of Prolotherapy. Articular cartilage was collected for gross and histological examination and compared among the groups. RESULTS: Articular cartilage belonging to control group A was normal. While group B showed statistically significant deterioration in gross appearance (p = 0.001**), reduction in number of chondrocytes (p = 0.005*) and thickness of articular cartilage (p = 0.001**) in comparison to group A. In group C due to prolotherapy statistically significant improvement in gross appearance (p = 0.034*), increase in number of chondrocytes (p = 0.003*), and thickness of articular cartilage (p = 0.001**) was observed as compared to group B. CONCLUSION: Prolotherapy significantly ameliorates histomorphology of tibial articular cartilage against MIA induced osteoarthritic changes in rat knee joint. KEY WORDS: Articular cartilage, Knee joint, Monosodium iodoacetate, Osteoarthritis, Prolotherapy.

Factors associated with stress among medical students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the probable factors responsible for stress among undergraduate medical students. METHODS: The qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a public-sector medical college in Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to April 2014. Self-administered open-ended questionnaires were used to collect data from first year medical students in order to study the factors associated with the new environment. RESULTS: There were 115 students in the study with a mean age of 19±6.76 years. Overall, 35(30.4%) students had mild to moderate physical problems, 20(17.4%) had severe physical problems and 60(52.2%) did not have any physical problem. Average stress score was 19.6±6.76. Major elements responsible for stress identified were environmental factors, new college environment, student abuse, tough study routines and personal factors. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of undergraduate students experienced stress due to both academic and emotional factors.