Evaluation of the educational environments of undergraduate medicine and pharmacy programmes at the University of Zambia

Background: Situational factors influence learners’ approaches to learning and determine learning outcomes. The study determined issues in the learning environments of medical and pharmacy students at the University of Zambia with a view to providing information for improvement. Methods: A quantitative observational design based on the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measurement (DREEM) inventory was used to survey undergraduate students’ perceptions of their learning environments. A total of 270 students – 135 in years 3 to 7 of medical school and 135 in years 3 to 5 of pharmacy school – at the University of Zambia participated. Total, subscale, and single item DREEM scores were analysed and compared. Results: Mean total DREEM score for all participants was 119/200 (±20.4). Scores for the subscales varied from 15/28 (±3.6) for social self-perception to 21/32 (±3.9) for academic selfperception. The total and subscale scores were not significantly different between Medicine and Pharmacy at P > 0.05. Six areas of concern were observed in both programmes: lack of a social support system for stressed students, dictatorial staff, overemphasis on factual learning, tense teaching atmosphere, curriculum issues, and unpleasant accommodations. Medical students were particularly about tense classrooms and lack of feedback; pharmacy students were more likely to be concerned about curriculum issues. Conclusion: The study showed that although the educational climates of healthcare programmes in medical schools may be comparable, specific programme concerns can be significantly different. Strategic planning to improve schools should consider both general perceptions and specific issues in individual programmes

Phytochemical Studies and Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Zambian Cultivars of Piliostigma thonningii in Alloxan - Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: There is anecdotal evidence among some Zambian traditional medicine practitioners that Piliostigma thonningii possesses antidiabetic effects. This study assessed the in-vivo antidiabetic effects of ethanol extract of the plant in alloxaninduced diabetic wistar rats.Study design: A laboratory-based experimental study involving 24 rats divided into 4 groups of 6 and administered the extract,  glibenclamide and placebo.Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 150mg/kg alloxan monohydrate. The in-vivo glucose lowering  effect of ethanol extract of stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii was evaluated in comparison to normal saline as negative control and glibenclamide as positive control. Standard methods for identification of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids and anthraquinones were employed in the phytochemical analysis of the extract.Results: Piliostigma thonningii ethanol stem bark extract showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides and terpenoids. The extract caused a 55.3% (P=0.002) reduction in blood glucose of the experimental animals over the treatment period from the initial 19.7±7.0 mmol/l to 8.8±2.5 mmol/l, compared with glibenclamide which caused 68.3 % (P=0.001) lowering blood glucose levels from 24.0±4.5 mmol/l to 7.6±5.9 mmol/l.Conclusions: Stem bark extract of Piliostigma thonningii showed a significant glucose lowering effect in diabetic rats. The study also demonstrated presence of secondary plant metabolites which could be responsible for some of the medicinal properties of the plant. Further studies are required to purify the plant and identify active fractions responsible for the anti-diabetic effect observed

Glucose lowering effect of leaf extracts of Viscum Album in normal

<strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: The use of plants in the treatment of diabetes mellitus is a well-established practice in traditional medicine.<br /> Viscum album has been recommended for the treatment of several diseases. This study evaluated the glucose lowering<br /> effect of leaf extracts of this plant in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.<br /> <strong>METHODS</strong>: Leaf extracts of Viscum album were prepared with 80 % ethanol and administered to normal and diabetic<br /> New Zealand white rats. The LD50 was determined by the Karbar method. The glucose lowering effect was assessed in<br /> these animals in comparison to normal saline and glibenclamide. Blood glucose was estimated with the aid of a glucose<br /> sensor.<br /> <strong>RESULTS</strong>: The LD50 was 1520 mg/kg. A dose dependent lowering effect of the fasting blood glucose was observed in<br /> both the normal and diabetic rats, with maximum lowering occurring 6 hours after extract administration. The patterns<br /> of effect were similar to that produced by glibenclamide.<br /> CONCLUSIONS: Leaf extracts of Viscum album showed a significant glucose lowering effect in normal and diabetic rats.<br /> Extracts from this plant could therefore, be useful in controlling blood glucose level.<br /><strong> KEY</strong> <strong>WORDS</strong>: Animal models, diabetes mellitus, Viscum album, hypoglycemic effect, streptozotocin

Medical School Admissions: A Review of Global Practices, Predictive Validity, and Practice Points for Africa

Background: Processes for selection of candidates into medical schools vary globally. Knowledge of the predictive validity of a selection method is important for policy revision. Aim: To survey the practices used by medical schools to select students and their predictive validity. Methods: Search terms developed from the research problem were used to search Google Scholar, PubMed, and Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC). These were “medical school,” “predictive validity,” “success,” “academic achievement” “admission criteria,” and “student selection.” Retrieved articles were screened for relevance and sorted according to countries ofpublication. Authors narratively reviewed the articles from each country and collated the findings. Best practices were recommended for African-based medical schools. Results: Articles retrieved from 14 countries were included in the review. USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand operate  centralized medical school admission programs and administer nationwide admission tests. These tests cover cognitive and non-cognitive domains. The validity of these tests in predicting medical school success were extensively studied and reported. Other countries do not operate centralized medical school admission programs. Most of these rely on cognitive excellence to select students. Few reports are available on the validity of selection practices in Africa. Most rely on cognitive excellence which highly predicted academic success during preclinical studies. Predictivity decreased during clinical phases and non-cognitive variables  became better predictors of success. Conclusion: Medical school admission processes should consider cognitive and non-cognitive factors. With non-cognitive factors,  candidates with right attitudes are selected. African countries should align their practices to that of Western countries. Keywords: Admission, undergraduate medical education, predictive value of tests, selection criteria, educational achievemen

Kigelia africana fruit fractions inhibit in vitro alpha-glucosidase activity: a potential natural alpha-glucosidase inhibitor

Abstract Background Diabetes affects 75% of people in low-income countries, where conventional drugs like metformin are available, but newer drugs like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are not accessible to most Southern African patients. Aim To evaluate the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of fractionated aqueous extracts of Kigelia africana fruit (KAFE) and their phytochemical fingerprints using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Materials and methods We studied K. africana fruit fractions' inhibitory effects on alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase using bioassay-guided fractionation, and analyzed their phytochemical profiles with GC–MS. Key findings Both the aqueous extract and ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract exhibited a low dose-dependent inhibition of alpha-amylase activity (p < 0.0001). At a concentration of 500 μg/mL, the aqueous extract caused an alpha-glucosidase inhibition of 64.10 ± 2.7%, with an estimated IC50 of 193.7 μg/mL, while the ethyl acetate fraction had an inhibition of 89.82 ± 0.8% and an estimated IC50 of 10.41 μg/mL. The subfraction G, which had the highest alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity at 85.10 ± 0.7%, had significantly lower activity than the ethyl acetate fraction. The most bioactive fraction was found to contain 11"(2-cyclopenten-1-yl) undecanoic acid, ( +)- and cyclopentane undecanoic acid as well as the indole alkaloids Akuammilan-17-ol-10-methoxy, N-nitroso-2-methyl-oxazolidine and epoxide Oxirane2.2″ -(1.4-butanediyl) bis-. Conclusion The K. africana fruit fraction demonstrated significant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, while its alpha-amylase inhibitory activity was limited. This study suggests a potential natural alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and phytocompounds that could serve as leads for developing antidiabetic agents