Experiencing technology integration in education: children's perceptions

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of six children using technologies in their education. Data were collected via in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and home observations. The results showed that students have commonperceptions toward their experience with technology integration. Furthermore, the following four themes emerged; the value of technology, authority over learning, misuses and misconceptions, and the border of integration

Effects of grape seed extract on periodontal disease: an experimental study in rats

Natural compounds capable of modulating the host response have received considerable attention, and herbal products are suggested as adjunctive agents in periodontal disease treatment. Objective This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on periodontitis. Material and Methods Ligature induced periodontitis was created in 40 rats and they were assigned to four equal groups. One group was fed laboratory diet (group A) while three groups received GSE additionally. Silk ligatures were placed around the cervical area of the mandibular first molars for four weeks to induce periodontitis. The GSE groups were reallocated regarding GSE consumption as: for two weeks before ligation (group B; totally eight weeks), from ligation to two weeks after removal of the ligature (group C; totally six weeks), and for two weeks from ligature removal (group D; totally two weeks). Sections were assessed histologically and immunohistochemically. Inflammatory cell number (ICN), connective tissue attachment level (CAL), osteoclast density (OD), IL-10 and TGF-β stainings in gingival epithelium (GE), connective tissue (GC), and periodontal ligament (PL) were used as the study parameters. Results Lower ICN, higher CAL, and lower OD were observed in the GSE groups (

Protective effect of vitamin E against iron-induced neurotoxicity in the rat cerebellum

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, intraserebroventriküler olarak verilen demirin, sıçan serebellar Purkinje hücrelerinde oluşturduğu nörotoksisiteye karşı yağda çözülebilen güçlü bir antioksidan olan vitamin E'nin (?-tokoferol) etkisini araştırdık. Gereç ve Yöntem: Sıçanlar, kontrol, demir ve demir+vitamin E grupları olmak üzere üç gruba ayrıldı. Demir ve demir+vitamin E gruplarındaki sıçanlara intraserebroventriküler olarak demir (FeCl36H2O, 200 mM, 2.5 ?l) verildi. Demir+vitamin E grubundaki sıçanlara operasyonu takiben on gün süreyle 100 mg/kg/gün dozunda vitamin E intraperitoneal olarak verildi. Onuncu günün sonunda, bütün gruplardaki hayvanlar intrakardiyak yolla perfüze edildikten sonra dekapite edildiler. Beyin dokuları çıkarılarak standart histolojik doku takibi uygulandı. Toplam Purkinje hücre sayıları tarafsız sayım metodu olan stereolojik yöntemle hesaplandı. Bulgular: Ortalama toplam Purkinje hücre sayıları, kontrol grubunda 490584±13286; demir grubunda 331497±10764 ve demir+vitamin E grubunda 412118±15842 olarak bulundu. Demir ve demir+vitamin E grupları karşılaştırıldığında, vitamin E'nin demirin indüklediği Purkinje hücre kaybını %32.4'den %15.9'a düşürdüğü bulundu (p<0.01). Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, vitamin E'nin sıçan serebellumunda demirin indüklediği Purkinje hücre kaybını dikkate değer ölçüde geri çevirdiğini gösterdi. Bu nöroprotektif etkinin, vitamin E'nin serbest radikaller üzerine antioksidan aktivitesinden kaynaklandığı düşünülmektedir.Objective: In this study, we investigated the effect of vitamin E (&amp;#945;-tocopherol), a potent fat-soluble antioxidant, against intracerebroventricular-injected iron-induced neurotoxicity on the cerebellar Purkinje cells in rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: control, iron and iron+vitamin E groups. Rats in the iron and iron+vitamin E groups received intracerebroventricular iron (FeCl36H2O, 200 mM, 2.5 &amp;#956;l), while those in iron+vitamin E groups were intraperitoneally injected with vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day) once a day after the operation for 10 days. After 10 days, all rats were perfused intracardially and then sacrificed. Brain tissues were removed and standard histological techniques were performed. The total numbers of Purkinje cells were estimated using unbiased stereological techniques. Results: Means of the total numbers of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum were estimated as 490584&plusmn;13286, 331497&plusmn;10764, 412118&plusmn;15842 in the control, iron and iron+vitamin E groups, respectively. Comparison between iron and iron+vitamin E groups revealed that vitamin E significantly attenuates the iron-induced neuron loss from 32.4% to 15.9% (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: Findings of the present study show that &amp;#945;-tocopherol considerably reverses iron-induced Purkinje cell loss in cerebellum. It is thought that this effect may be due to the scavenging activity of vitamin E on free radicals

The neurotoxic effects of prenatal gabapentin and oxcarbazepine exposure on newborn rats

WOS: 000450690600016PubMed: 28931341Aim: Teratogenicity is a problematic issue for pregnant women because of X-ray radiation, drugs, and genetic and unknown variables. First-generation antiepileptic drugs (AED) like valproic acid are well-known teratogens for developing fetuses. However, their usage is necessary in order to prevent maternal seizures. The underlying mechanism of birth defects associated with AED exposure remains unclear and information about the neurotoxic effects of prenatal exposure to AED is still limited. Oxcarbazepine (OXC) and gabapentin (GBP) are second-generation AED. It still remains unclear how much these drugs are safe during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate whether any neurotoxic effect of OXC and GBP in utero exposure on the developing brain. Methods: Eighteen pregnant Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups. The first group was exposed to OXC at 100 mg/kg/day, the second to GBP at 50 mg/kg/day, and third to saline (0.9% NaCl) at 1.5 ml/day between the first and the fifth days of gestation. The same procedure was applied at the same dosages between the 6th and the 15th days of gestation for the 2nd three groups. Five female offspring (total n = 30, 45 days old) were taken from each group and stereological methods were applied in order to analyze the total and dopaminergic neuron number of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Conclusion: The result is that the OXC and GBP exposure at different gestational periods may not give rise to congenital malformation and it appears that the GBP exposure during the organogenesis period proliferatively affects the total number of neurons.Ondokuz Mayis University's Scientific Research Project Office [PYO.TIP.1904.10.025]Ondokuz Mayis University's Scientific Research Project Office supported this project (project number: PYO.TIP.1904.10.025). We wish to thank Biopharma Drug Company for their support in providing the drugs

Effects of grape seed extract on periodontal disease: an experimental study in rats

WOS: 000399107700002PubMed: 28403352Natural compounds capable of modulating the host response have received considerable attention, and herbal products are suggested as adjunctive agents in periodontal disease treatment. Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on periodontitis. Material and Methods: Ligature induced periodontitis was created in 40 rats and they were assigned to four equal groups. One group was fed laboratory diet (group A) while three groups received GSE additionally. Silk ligatures were placed around the cervical area of the mandibular first molars for four weeks to induce periodontitis. The GSE groups were reallocated regarding GSE consumption as: for two weeks before ligation (group B; totally eight weeks), from ligation to two weeks after removal of the ligature (group C; totally six weeks), and for two weeks from ligature removal (group D; totally two weeks). Sections were assessed histologically and immunohistochemically. Inflammatory cell number (ICN), connective tissue attachment level (CAL), osteoclast density (OD), IL-10 and TGF-beta stainings in gingival epithelium (GE), connective tissue (GC), and periodontal ligament (PL) were used as the study parameters. Results: Lower ICN, higher CAL, and lower OD were observed in the GSE groups (p<0.05). IL-10 was more intensive in the GSE groups and in the GEs (p<0.05). Group B showed the highest IL-10 for PL (p<0.05). TGF-beta was higher in the GEs of all groups (p<0.017). Conclusions: The results suggest anti-inflammatory activities of GSE, but further investigations are needed for clarification of these activities

Effects of grape seed extract on periodontal disease: an experimental study in rats

Abstract Natural compounds capable of modulating the host response have received considerable attention, and herbal products are suggested as adjunctive agents in periodontal disease treatment. Objective This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on periodontitis. Material and Methods Ligature induced periodontitis was created in 40 rats and they were assigned to four equal groups. One group was fed laboratory diet (group A) while three groups received GSE additionally. Silk ligatures were placed around the cervical area of the mandibular first molars for four weeks to induce periodontitis. The GSE groups were reallocated regarding GSE consumption as: for two weeks before ligation (group B; totally eight weeks), from ligation to two weeks after removal of the ligature (group C; totally six weeks), and for two weeks from ligature removal (group D; totally two weeks). Sections were assessed histologically and immunohistochemically. Inflammatory cell number (ICN), connective tissue attachment level (CAL), osteoclast density (OD), IL-10 and TGF-β stainings in gingival epithelium (GE), connective tissue (GC), and periodontal ligament (PL) were used as the study parameters. Results Lower ICN, higher CAL, and lower OD were observed in the GSE groups (p<0.05). IL-10 was more intensive in the GSE groups and in the GEs (p<0.05). Group B showed the highest IL-10 for PL (p<0.05). TGF-ß was higher in the GEs of all groups (p<0.017). Conclusions The results suggest anti-inflammatory activities of GSE, but further investigations are needed for clarification of these activities

Evaluation of IL-32 levels in gingival tissue and serum of experimental periodontitis model

Aim: Interleukin (IL)-32, a recently discovered proinflammatory cytokine, is demonstrated in several infectious diseases. The goal of this study is to investigate the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-32 in gingival tissue and serum of rats with experimental periodontitis. Material and Methods: Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing a silk ligature around the cervix of both sides of mandibular first molars in each male rat except for control group (Group 1). Thirty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups of ten animals each as experimental periodontitis groups (Group 2, ligated for seven days; Group 3, ligated for fourteen days) and periodontally healthy control group (Group 1). At the end of experimental period, rats were sacrificed, and histomorphometric analyses were performed on the mandibles. IL-32, IL-10 and IL-6 levels were measured in gingival tissue and serum samples by ELISA. Results: Alveolar bone and attachment loss were statistically higher in all experimental groups than those in control group (P<0.001). It was found that the levels of IL-32 and IL-6 (P<0.01) and IL-10 (P<0.05) in gingival tissues were higher in Groups 2 and 3 than those in Group 1 except for IL-32 and IL-10 levels in Group 3. There was a positive correlation between levels of IL-32 and IL-6 in the serum and gingival tissues in all groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: The present results reveal that IL-32 values are locally increased in periodontitis. Proinflammatory cytokines properties, which are linked to periodontal tissue destruction, are also associated with IL-32