Appraisal of students experience survey (SES) as a measure to manage the quality of higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: an institutional study using six sigma model

Students’ Evaluating Teaching Effectiveness is one of the most widely accepted methods of measuring the Quality of Higher Education worldwide. The University of Dammam is currently performing several evaluations by students as required for academic accreditation by the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment. Of these, two of them deal with program evaluation i.e. Students Experience Survey (SES), and Programme Evaluation Survey (PES). SES denotes the experience of students halfway through in a given academic program and PES denotes the students overall experience at the end. This study was conducted among the students of Medical and Nursing programs to capture their experiences related to various aspects of the teaching and learning process adopted in their college. The students’ attitude was captured through the SES questionnaire and the data were analyzed through six sigma analytical tool using the Poisson distribution model. From the non-conformance level apprehended through the responses from the students about the various categories of teaching and learning process prevailing in the College, the corresponding sigma rating for each teaching and learning process was calculated. Consequently, an innovative six point quality rating system was developed for each sigma values.     

Experimental Validation of Antidiabetic Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cayratia trifolia</Emphasis> (L.) Domin: An Indigenous Medicinal Plant

The present study was undertaken to evaluate antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Cayratia trifolia root extract against streptozotocin induced diabetes in experimental rats to scientifically validate its use against diabetes in some parts of India. Ethanolic extract, showing the highest activity in in vitro experiments, was prepared in saline and administered orally to streptozotocin induced albino Wistar diabetic rats for 21 days. Biochemical parameters liver and muscles glycogen and in vivo antioxidant activity in normal, diabetic control, standard (metformin) and treated animals were determined and compared. Attempt was made to isolate, purify and characterize one of the major secondary metabolites in extract by range of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats with ethanolic root extract (500 mg/kg) caused significant (P < 0.01) reduction in blood glucose (312–178 mg/dL), increase in body weight (181–219 g) and serum insulin (1.28–2.26 IU/dL). It also maintained lipid profile and tests of liver and kidney functions within normal range as compared to diabetic control rats and almost at par with standard drug metformin. The oxidative stress induced decline in glutathione and catalase in liver and kidney tissues showed recovery nearly to normal level as a function of treatment. The GC–MS profile of the extract showed relatively high concentration of β-sitosterol which was characterized by different spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. The result scientifically and comprehensively validate the reported use of roots of this indigenous plant against diabetes. A strong antioxidant activity of the ethanolic root extract suitably compliments the antidiabetic effect.     

Antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of rhizome ofPicrorhiza kurroa on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer during healing

Oral administration of ethanol extract of the rhizome ofPirorhiza kurroa at a dose of 20mg/kg body weight, for 10 consecutive days, was found to enhance the rate of healing on Indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats, compared to the ulcerated group without treatment. The level of peroxidised lipid, in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), in gastric tissue, was increased in ulcerated rats which was restored to near normalcy on treatment with ethanol extract. The specific activity ofin vivo antioxidant enzymes, viz SOD and catalase and total tissue sulfhydryl (thiol) group, which were markedly decreased in ulcerated group, were found to be significantly elevated (p<0.05), on treatment with the above extract, at the specified dose, compared to the indomethacin—induced ulcerated group without any supporting treatment. The present study thus suggests that the ethanol extract of rhizome ofPicrorhiza kurroa, at the dose of 20mg/kg body weight, accelerated the healing of stomach wall of indomethacin induced gastric ulcerated rats by anin vivo free radical scavenging action.     

Effect of vitamin A supplementation on hematopoiesis in children with anemia

Fifty children (1–4 years age) presenting with microcytic hypochromic anemia (hemoglobin less than 10g/dl) were studied in two groups of 25 each. Group I was supplemented with iron (ferrous sulphate 6 mg/kg/d) while group II in addition to iron was also supplemented with vitamin A (5000 IU/d). Hemoglobin concentration was found to be significantly increased after 4 weeks of iron supplementation. Rise in hemoglobin was comparatively more in-group II, as compared to group I, after 8 and 12 weeks. Serum iron was significantly higher after 4 weeks in both the groups. Packed cell volume (PCV) and retinol levels increased significantly in-group II only. The data suggests that supplementation of vitamin A improves hematopoiesis.     

Clodronate-superparamagnetic iron oxide-containing liposomes attenuate renal injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Background and objective

It has been shown that macrophages play an important role in the development of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and eventually lead to multiple organ failure (MOF). Clodronate-liposome selectively depleted macrophages. This study was to investigate the role of renal macrophage infiltration in acute renal injury in rats with SAP and to evaluate the potential of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis.

Methods

Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by chemical coprecipitation. SPIO-liposomes and SPIO-clodronate-liposomes were prepared by the thin film method. SAP models were prepared by injection of sodium taurocholate into the subcapsular space of rat pancreas. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, SAP plus SPIO-liposome (P) group, and SAP plus SPIO-clodronate-containing liposome (T) group. Kidney injury was evaluated by T2-weighted MRI scan. The levels of serum amylase (SAM), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) were measured by an automated enzymatic method. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological changes in the pancreas and kidney were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, while cell apoptosis was detected with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. In addition, the macrophage markers (CD68) of the renal tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry.

Results

The pathological changes in the pancreas and kidneys of rats in the T group were milder than those in the P group. The MRI signal intensity of the kidneys in the P and T groups was significantly lower than that in the control group. There were significant changes in the two experimental groups (P<0.01). The levels of SAM, Bun, SCr, and TNF-α in rats in the P group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01) and in the T group (P<0.01). The apoptosis of the kidney in the T group was higher than that in the P group at 2 and 6 h (P<0.01).

Conclusions

Clodronate-containing liposomes protected against renal injury in SAP rats, and SPIO can be used as a tracer for MRI examination to detect renal injury in SAP rats. SPIO-aided MRI provided an efficient non-invasive way to monitor the migration of macrophages after renal injury in rats with SAP.     

氯屈膦酸二钠-超顺磁性氧化铁脂质体减轻重症急性胰腺炎肾损伤(英文)

研究目的:探讨氯屈膦酸二钠-超顺磁性氧化铁(SPIO)脂质体对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)肾损伤的保护作用。创新要点:围绕SAP并发多器官损伤这一核心问题,联系巨噬细胞在SAP发病过程中的作用,使用纳米脂质体携带氯屈膦酸二钠及SPIO,以及利用自体巨噬细胞对SAP时多器官损伤的定性靶向性以及磁性纳米颗粒的超顺磁性,应用磁共振成像(MRI)对SAP并发多器官损伤进行早期诊断。结合使用氯屈膦酸二钠,使其促进巨噬细胞的凋亡,减少其在急性胰腺炎早期产生炎症介质,阻止全身性炎症反应的进程,从而实现对多器官损伤的保护作用。研究方法:采用胰腺被膜下均匀注射5%牛磺胆酸钠制作SAP模型。SD大鼠48只,随机分为对照组(C组)、空白SPIO脂质体组(P组)和氯屈膦酸二钠+SPIO脂质体组(T组)。P组和T组大鼠制作SAP模型。制模2 h和6 h后取肠系膜上静脉血液,检测各组大鼠血清中淀粉酶、尿素氮、血肌酐和肿瘤坏死因子-α的含量,观察胰腺及肾组织的病理学变化及进行病理评分,通过检测肾组织的TUNEL染色及CD68表达研究氯屈膦酸二钠-超顺磁性氧化铁脂质体对肾组织巨噬细胞凋亡的影响并进行MRI诊断。重要结论:氯屈膦酸二钠-超顺磁性氧化铁脂质体可选择性清除单核/巨噬细胞,减少炎症介质释放,对SAP大鼠胰腺及肾损伤有保护作用。SPIO可作为MRI示踪。     

Molecule matters

Ever since its isolation in 1820, Quinine has played a crucial role in the development of organic chemistry, chemical industry and modern medicine. The total synthesis of quinine, widely regarded as an event of epochal importance was claimed by Woodward and Doering in 1945. This work, however, heavily relied on unsubstantiated literature reports and it appears that Woodward’s work fell short of a total synthesis of quinine. The first stereoselective total synthesis of quinine was accomplished only in 2001, by Stork, who incidentally is the originator of the concept of stereoselectivity in total synthesis. Naturally, this work has been attested as a landmark in organic synthesis by leaders in the field.