Experience of online physiology laboratory teaching for undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional face-to-face human physiology teaching for students at the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Thailand since February 2020. An online curriculum for both lectures and laboratory sessions was developed to continue the education. This work compared the effectiveness of online physiology labs to the traditional onsite counterparts for 120 dental and pharmacy sophomore students during the 2020 academic year. The method used was a Microsoft Teams synchronous online laboratory experience consisting of eight topics. Faculty lab facilitators created protocols, video scripts, online assignments, and instruction notes. Group lab instructors prepared and delivered the content for recording and led the student discussion. Data recording and live discussion were synchronized and executed. The response rates for the control (2019) and study (2020) groups were 36.89 and 60.83%, respectively. The control group reported higher satisfaction about general laboratory experience, compared to the online study group. The online group rated the laboratory online experience with equal satisfaction to that of an onsite lab experience. The onsite control group reported 55.26% satisfaction with the equipment instrument, while only 32.88% online group voiced their approval of this measure. It was understandable because the excitement in physiology work relies heavily on the experience of the work (P < 0.027). With the same difficulty index for both academic year examination papers, the nonsignificant difference in academic performance of the control and study groups (59.50 ± 13.50 and 62.40 ± 11.43, respectively) showed the effectiveness of our online synchronous physiology lab teaching. In conclusion, the online physiology learning experience was appreciated when a good design was achieved.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The COVID-19 pandemic has forced physiology educators to use online teaching. At the time of this work, there was no research investigating the effectiveness of online and face-to-face physiology lab teaching in undergraduate students. A synchronized online lab teaching of a virtual lab classroom on the Microsoft Teams platform was successfully implemented. Our data showed that online physiology lab teaching could make the students understand physiology concepts and have the same effectiveness as the onsite lab experience.

Vernonia cinerea water extract improves insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Vernonia cinerea (V cinerea) is a plant distributed in grassy areas in Southeast Asia and has several pharmacological effects, including antidiabetic activity. However, the information available regarding the effect of V cinerea on insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice is not yet determined. We hypothesized that V cinerea water extract (VC) improves insulin sensitivity in HFD-induced obese mice by modulating both phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. Obesity was induced in mice from the Institute for Cancer Research by feeding an HFD 188.28 kJ (45 kcal % lard fat) for 12 weeks. During the last 6 weeks of the HFD, obese mice were treated with VC (250 and 500 mg/kg). We found that VC at both doses significantly reduced the hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and hyperlipidemia. Obese mice treated with VC could increase serum adiponectin but reduce the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The extracts decreased triglyceride storage in liver and skeletal muscle of obese mice. The average size of fat cells was smaller in VC-treated groups than that of the HFD group. The protein expressions of PI3K and AMPK pathways in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue were upregulated (increased phosphorylation of PI3K, protein kinase B, AMPK, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase) by VC treatment. Furthermore, the glucose transporter 4 was increased in muscle and adipose tissue in obese mice treated with VC. These data indicate that VC treatment stimulates phosphorylation of PI3K and AMPK pathways in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. Stimulating these pathways may improve impaired glucose and lipid homeostasis in an HFD-induced obesity mouse model. Based on these findings, it appears that VC has potential as a functional food or therapeutic agent in management of insulin resistance related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Effects of Solanum torvum fruit water extract on hyperlipidemia and sex hormones in high-fat fed male rats

Objective:To study the effect of water extract of Solanum mrvum (S.torvum) on blood lipid and sex hormone levels in high-fat diet (HFD) fed male rats.Methods:Male Wistar rats were maintained on a standard diet or HFD for 10 weeks.During the last 4 weeks,the standard diet groups received distilled water or S.torvum (400 mg/kg) and the HFD groups received distilled water or S.torvum (100,200 and 400 mg/kg).Body weight,lipid profiles,sex hormone,internal organs weight and liver histopathology were all measured.Moreover,kidney function was evaluated using blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels,and liver function by the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase.Results:The result showed that rats in the HFD control group had increased body weight and hyperlipidemia,but had decreased levels of both testosterone and estradiol.When receiving the S.torvum extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg,treated rats had significantly increased sex hormone levels of both types,and decreased total cholesterol levels,and at a dose of 200 mg/kg,treated rats had significantly decreased levels of triglyceride.Long term administration of the S.torvum did not produce any toxic signs in livers and kidneys.Pathological examinations of livers showed lipid accumulation in the HFD group,but the treatment of S.torvum slightly reduced lipid deposition in liver tissue.Conclusions:S.torvum extract can reverse the level of sex hormones to their normal level and reduce serum cholesterol in HFD-induced obese male rats.Furthermore,the long term oral administration of S.torvum extract is harmless.

Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) improved novel object recognition task and increased cerebral vesicular glutamate transporter type 3 in sub-chronic phencyclidine rat model of schizophrenia.

Reduced vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) and 2 (VGLUT2) indicate glutamatergic hypofunction leading to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. However, VGLUT3 involvement in cognitive dysfunction has not been reported in schizophrenia. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) might be a new treatment and prevention for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia by acting on cerebral VGLUT3 density. We aimed to study cognitive enhancement- and neuroprotective-effects of Brahmi on novel object recognition and cerebral VGLUT3 immunodensity in sub-chronic (2 mg/kg, Bid, ip) phencyclidine (PCP) rat model of schizophrenia. Rats were assigned to three groups for cognitive enhancement effect study: Group 1, Control; Group 2, PCP administration; Group 3, PCP+Brahmi. A neuroprotective-effect study was also carried out. Rats were again assigned to three groups: Group 1, Control; Group 2, PCP administration; Group 3, Brahmi+PCP. Discrimination ratio (DR) representing cognitive ability was obtained from a novel object recognition task. VGLUT3 immunodensity was measured in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and cornu ammonis fields 1-3 (CA1-3) using immunohistochemistry. We found reduced DR in the PCP group, which occurred alongside VGLUT3 reduction in all brain areas. PCP+Brahmi showed higher DR score with increased VGLUT3 immunodensity in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Brahmi+PCP group showed a higher DR score with increased VGLUT3 immunodensity in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and CA1-3. We concluded that reduced cerebral VGLUT3 was involved in cognitive deficit in PCP-administrated rats. Receiving Brahmi after PCP restored cognitive deficit by increasing VGLUT3 in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Receiving Brahmi before PCP prevented cognitive impairment by elevating VGLUT3 in prefrontal cortex, striatum and CA1-3. Therefore, Brahmi could be a new frontier of restoration and prevention of cognitive deficit in schizophrenia.

Morin attenuates hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice

Morin is a natural bioflavonoid that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of morin on insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Obesity was induced in ICR mice by feeding a HFD (60 % kcal from fat) for 12 weeks. After the first 6 weeks, obese mice were treated with morin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) once daily for further 6 weeks. Blood glucose, lipid profile, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were then measured. Liver was excised, subjected to histopathology, glycogen determination, and gene and protein expression analysis. Morin administration reduced blood glucose, serum insulin, leptin, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels and increased serum adiponectin levels. Moreover, there was a reduction in serum lipid and liver triglyceride levels. Liver histology indicated that morin limited accumulation of lipid droplets. Interestingly, morin reduced expression of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and up-regulated hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) expression. Morin also stimulated glycogen storage and suppressed phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) protein expression. Furthermore, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) expression were increased after morin treatment. These findings indicate that morin has a positive effect in the HFD-induced obesity condition by suppressing lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress activities (AU)

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Morin attenuates hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice.

Morin is a natural bioflavonoid that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of morin on insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Obesity was induced in ICR mice by feeding a HFD (60 % kcal from fat) for 12 weeks. After the first 6 weeks, obese mice were treated with morin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) once daily for further 6 weeks. Blood glucose, lipid profile, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were then measured. Liver was excised, subjected to histopathology, glycogen determination, and gene and protein expression analysis. Morin administration reduced blood glucose, serum insulin, leptin, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels and increased serum adiponectin levels. Moreover, there was a reduction in serum lipid and liver triglyceride levels. Liver histology indicated that morin limited accumulation of lipid droplets. Interestingly, morin reduced expression of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and up-regulated hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) expression. Morin also stimulated glycogen storage and suppressed phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) protein expression. Furthermore, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) expression were increased after morin treatment. These findings indicate that morin has a positive effect in the HFD-induced obesity condition by suppressing lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress activities.

Rhinacanthus nasutus leaf improves metabolic abnormalities in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of Rhinacanthus nasutus (R. nasutus) leaf extract on impaired glucose and lipid metabolism in obese ICR mice. Methods: Obesity was induced in the male ICR mice by feeding them a high-fat diet (60 kcal% fat) for 12 weeks. After the first six weeks of the diet, the obese mice were administered with the water extract of R. nasutus leaves at 250 and 500 mg/kg per day for the next six weeks. Subsequently, the blood glucose, lipid profiles, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels were measured. The liver and adipose tissues were excised for his-topathological examination and protein expression study. Results: After six weeks of the treatment, R. nasutus extract (at 250 and 500 mg/kg per day) was found to reduce the elevated blood glucose level, improve the insulin sensitivity, decrease the serum leptin, and increase the serum adiponectin levels. The obese mice treated with R. nasutus were found to have a reduction in the increased lipid concen-trations in their serum and liver tissues. Moreover, treatment with R. nasutus reduced the fat accumulation in the liver and the large adipocyte size in the fat tissues. Interestingly, the administration with R. nasutus extract was marked by an increase in the hepatic peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha, fat cell adiponectin, and glucose transporter 4 proteins. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report on the impact of R. nasutus extract in improving the impaired glucose and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice via stimulating the insulin sensitivity in the liver and adipose tissues.

Effect of Tri-sa-maw recipe on gastrointestinal regulation and motility. .

BACKGROUND: Tri-sa-maw recipe is comprised ofequal proportions of three herbal fruits, including Terminalia chebula Retz., Terminalia sp. and Terminalia bellirica Roxb. The traditional use of this recipe has been reported as a medication for fever; expectorant, relief of tightness in the stomach, laxative and antidiarrheal agent. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Tri-sa-maw recipe extract on gastrointestinal tract in both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Gastrointestinal effect of Tri-sa-maw recipe was studied by using two in vivo models (gastric emptying, gastrointestinal transit) and in vitro isolated guinea pig ileum experiment. RESULTS: Tri-sa-maw recipe showed both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the stomach function. Not only did the extract at the dose of 1,000 mg/kg inhibit the gastric emptying time, but also stimulate the movement of the digestive tract by increasing the mobility of charcoal. In the isolated guinea pig ileum experiment, the extract at low concentration (0.1 ng/mL) induced the contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum. However the stimulation effect on contractions of isolated guineapig ileum was very much decreased at the high concentration (0.2-1 ng/mL) of the extract. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study support to traditional uses of Tri-sa-maw recipe as a laxative and antidiarrheal agent.