Reaction of Medical Students to Experiences in Dissection Room

Background: As preclinical medical students start and/or enter the course, they go through the anatomy curriculum, which involves interaction with cadavers and cadaveric material. The objective of this study was to determine the reactions of preclinical medical students from year two and year three to the dissecting room.Methods: Questionnaire was distributed to all second and third year medical students. The questionnaire was designed with the objective of identifying specific patterns of attitudes held and problems faced by the students in their first exposure to the human cadaver. The results are analyzed statistically using the SPSS 16.0 software and P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The commonest symptoms experienced were loss of appetite (43.29% year 2 and 34.86 % third year students). The commonest cause of their symptoms was studied and the result shows that it was the smell of the dissection room, as reported by 67.01% of year two students; and 54.12% for year 3 students.Conclusion: The present study findings show that smell of the dissection room, touch and fear of cadaver were the commonest cause of their symptoms experienced while study in dissection room for the majority of students. Thus, instructors are should give awareness raising education before the commencement of the dissection session to the students both mentally and emotionally ready to do their work enthusiastically and confidently. Moreover, it is necessary to make the laboratory tidy for the students so that they develop a love for the dissection room.Keywords: Anatomy, dissecting room, preclinical students, student reactions, stress, learning method

Occurrence and fertility rates of hydatid cysts in sheep and goats slaughtered at Modjo Luna Export Slaughter House, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia very limited studies were conducted in small ruminant hydatidosis compared to cattle. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Modjo Luna Export Slaughter House from December 2009 to February 2010 to determine the prevalence and fertility of hydatid cysts. A total of 325 sheep and 440 goats were examined. Examination of lung, liver, kidney, heart and carcass was conducted following standard postmortem procedures. Fertility of hydatid cysts was tested by absence or presence of motility and staining with 0.1% aqueous eosin solution. Out of 325 sheep and 440 goats examined 25 (7.7%) sheep and 27(6.13%) goats had hydatid cysts. The prevalence was high in sheep compared to goats although the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The organ distribution of hydatid cyst in sheep was 15 (60%) in lung, 9 (36%) in liver and 1 (4%) both the liver and lungs. In goats, hydatid cysts were recovered from 19 (70%) of the lung, 5 (18.5%) of the liver, 1 (3.7%) of the kidney, 2 (7.4%) of the heart and 2 (7.4%) of the muscle. In both sheep and goats the infection was more in lungs, followed by liver. Eighty percent of the cysts found in the lung of sheep were fertile, while there was no fertile cyst detected in the lung of goats and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In Ethiopia, to break the life cycle of echinococcosis/hydatidosis, public education on habit of feeding condemned organs to dogs should be undertaken

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Peste des petits ruminants virus circulating in small ruminants in eastern Amhara region, Ethiopia

Background: Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a severe, highly infectious and fatal viral disease of small ruminants. Four lineages of PPR virus have been identified globally based on sequence analysis of the nucleoprotein (N) and fusion (F) gene. The aim of this study was to isolate and genetically characterize recently circulating PPR virus in small ruminants in the eastern Amhara region in Ethiopia. A total of 28 anti-mortem samples (gum debris, nasal and ocular swab) were collected from clinically suspicious animals and examined for the presence of PPRV by a one-step RT-PCR assay. Samples positive with RT-PCR were subjected to isolation of the virus which were subsequently genetically characterized by sequencing of the nucleoprotein (N) gene and phylogenetic analysis of PPR virus (PPRV) strains. Results: Of the 28 clinical samples examined, 46.4% were positive with RT-PCR for viral nucleic acid. The PPRV was successfully isolated on CHS-20 cell line with the ovine signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) receptor expressed on the cell surface and confirmed with RT-PCR and IFAT assay. The nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the PPRV obtained were clustered genetically with Lineage IV isolates of the virus. Conclusion: The successful isolation of the virus and molecular findings of this study confirmed active lineage IV PPRV infections among populations of sheep and goats in eastern Amhara, suggesting risks for potential spread of the disease to currently free areas. Thus, we recommend systematic vaccination to contain outbreaks in affected districts and geographically linked surrounding districts to which the disease could potentially spread due to different epidemiological linkages

Duration of low temperature storage, clove topping and gibberellic acid on garlic sprouting and seedling vigor

Dormancy of garlic (Allium sativum L.) creates a problem in use of freshly harvested garlic bulbs. Thus, pre-planting treatment of garlic cloves is an important agronomic concern for inducing and improving sprouting behavior of garlic. Glasshouse experiment was conducted at Haramaya University to evaluate the effect of cold storage (7°C) durations (10, 20, 30 days and one stored at room temperature that is 21°C for 30 days), clove topping (whole and cut) and gibberellic acid concentrations (0, 125, 250 and 375 mg/l) and distilled water treatment as second control on sprouting behavior of improved garlic variety (‘Tseday’). The treatments were laid out in factorial arrangement with three replications using completely randomized design (CRD). For cloves stored at ambient temperature (0 day) and non-topped, gibberellic acid application (250 and 375 mg/l) showed a significant increase in sprouting percentage, speed of sprouting and shoot dry mass of garlic as compared to 125mg/l GA3 treated and the controls. On the other hand, for topped cloves stored at ambient temperature (0 day), 10 and 20 days cold storage, gibberellic acid treatment did not show a significant influence on these characteristics as compared to the controls. The interaction effect of 30 days cold stored and topped cloves significantly increased pseudo-stem height (40.51%) compared to the lowest values recorded for the non-cold treated and non-topped cloves. The 30 days cold stored and topped cloves soaked in water significantly increased sprouting percentage over the period of 19 days after planting, speed of sprouting (four fold) and above ground shoot dry mass (79.41%) compared to the lowest values recorded for the non-cold treated and non-topped cloves not soaked in water and gibberellic acid (GA3). Hence, it can be concluded that 30 days cold storage, topping and soaking in water could enhance early sprouting of the garlic variety tested under glasshouse condition.Keywords: Clove topping, Dormancy, Garlic, Gibberellic acid, Sprouting percentage, Storage condition

Effects of Salinity and Mycorrhizal Inoculation (Glomus fasciculatum) on Growth Responses of Grape Rootstocks (Vitis spp.)

A pilot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of soil salinity and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizalfungus (Glomus fasciculatum) on growth (shoot length, leaf number, internode length, and total dry weight), sporecount and root colonisation of grape rootstocks (Salt Creek, St. George, Dogridge and 1613). Analysis of varianceresults revealed that increasing salinity reduces growth, spore count and root colonisation, with St. George rootstockshowing the highest reduction. Although all rootstocks responded positively to mycorrhizal inoculation, the extentof host preference varied significantly. Dogridge was the least preferred, while the 1613 rootstock was the mostpreferred. The arbuscular fungal symbiosis increased vegetative growth, with 1613 attaining the highest growthunder saline conditions. All the inoculated rootstocks exhibited longer internodes, indicating the beneficial roleof mycorrhizal inoculation for improving plant growth and salt tolerance. Based on overall growth and total drymatter accumulation, the salt tolerance ranking of the four rootstocks, in decreasing order, was Dogridge, SaltCreek, 1613 and St. George

Hypertension in hemodialysis patients treated with atenolol or lisinopril: a randomized controlled trial

Background The purpose of this study was to determine among maintenance hemodialysis patients with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension whether in comparison with a β-blocker-based antihypertensive therapy, an angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitor-based antihypertensive therapy causes a greater regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Methods Subjects were randomly assigned to either open-label lisinopril (n = 100) or atenolol (n = 100) each administered three times per week after dialysis. Monthly monitored home blood pressure (BP) was controlled to <140/90 mmHg with medications, dry weight adjustment and sodium restriction. The primary outcome was the change in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) from baseline to 12 months. Results At baseline, 44-h ambulatory BP was similar in the atenolol (151.5/87.1 mmHg) and lisinopril groups, and improved similarly over time in both groups. However, monthly measured home BP was consistently higher in the lisinopril group despite the need for both a greater number of antihypertensive agents and a greater reduction in dry weight. An independent data safety monitoring board recommended termination because of cardiovascular safety. Serious cardiovascular events in the atenolol group occurred in 16 subjects, who had 20 events, and in the lisinopril group in 28 subjects, who had 43 events {incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.36 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.36–4.23, P = 0.001]}. Combined serious adverse events of myocardial infarction, stroke and hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death in the atenolol group occurred in 10 subjects, who had 11 events and in the lisinopril group in 17 subjects, who had 23 events (IRR 2.29, P = 0.021). Hospitalizations for heart failure were worse in the lisinopril group (IRR 3.13, P = 0.021). All-cause hospitalizations were higher in the lisinopril group [IRR 1.61 (95% CI 1.18–2.19, P = 0.002)]. LVMI improved with time; no difference between drugs was noted. Conclusions Among maintenance dialysis patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, atenolol-based antihypertensive therapy may be superior to lisinopril-based therapy in preventing cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause hospitalizations. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00582114

Assessing the value of climate forecast information for pastoralists: Evidence from southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya

Climatic variability exerts tremendous influence on the livelihoods and well-being of pastoralists who inhabit the arid and semi-arid lands of the Horn of Africa. Recent advances in climate forecasting technologies have raised the intriguing prospect of reasonably accurate forecasts of coming seasons' rainfall patterns. Several donors and governments in the region are keenly interested in these technologies and in developing forecast delivery channels on the assumption that this information will prove valuable to the vulnerable populations it is meant to help not only indirectly, as an input into top-down early warning systems, but also directly, as a basis for improving choice under uncertainty. We explore the value of such external climate forecast information to pastoralists in a large study area spanning southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya using original data collected using both open-ended qualitative methods to identify and understand indigenous climate forecasting methods and quantitative data collected using survey instruments fielded in two rounds, one before and one after the long rains of 2001. The data show that pastoralists rely heavily on indigenous forecasting methods — in terms of having both access to and confidence in these methods — while external forecasts are less commonly received or believed. We elicited pastoralists' subjective, probabilistic expectations of the coming season's rainfall and find that neither use of nor belief in external forecasts causes any appreciable change in respondents' seasonal rainfall expectations. Moreover, relatively few pastoralists act on their own climate expectations, no matter how formed. In sum, climate forecast information does not seem a limiting factor at present in pastoralist communities in the Horn of Africa, not least of which because of the existence of a vibrant and still-relevant tradition of indigenous forecasting

Public Engagement to Prioritize the Pastoral Research Agenda at the Pastoral and Agro-pastoral Research Center of OARI in Ethiopia

The Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) has a mandate to conduct agricultural and livestock research throughout the Regional State of Oromia in Ethiopia. OARI has recently opened a facility near Yabello town on the Borana Plateau called the Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Research Center. A meeting was held in August 2006 at Yabello that involved representatives from pastoral communities, the private sector, government, and non-governmental organizations. The aim was to engage stakeholders in a process of problem prioritization and set the stage to create new partnerships to better address pressing problems. The final priorities included: addressing a general decline in forage availability; improving water-harvesting methods; reducing effects of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD); improving pastoral livestock marketing; and intervening to help mitigate problems associated with increased competition for land between maize cultivation and dry-season grazing. Researchers, pastoral community members, development actors, and policy makers all play varied roles in dealing with each of the five priority issues. The implementation of a new prescribed fire program to restore bush-encroached rangelands in southern Ethiopia, and hence increase forage supplies, is given as an example of integrated action to address problems. The results of this prioritization meeting were encouraging—the key is the focus on process and new partnerships. OARI plans to use the same approach in planning activities at other research centers in different agro-ecological zones

Collective Action by Women’s Groups to Combat Drought and Poverty in Northern Kenya

Collective action can be an effective means of local development and risk reduction among rural people, but few examples have been documented in pastoral areas. We conducted extensive interviews for 16 women’s groups residing in northern Kenya. Our objectives were to understand how groups were formed, governed, and sustained and what activities they have pursued. The groups we interviewed were 10 years old, on average. Charter memberships averaged about 24 women, 20 of whom were illiterate. Half of the groups formed after facilitation by a development partner and half formed spontaneously. Groups are governed under detailed constitutional frameworks with elected leaders. Groups primarily form to improve living standards of the members and undertake a wide variety of activities founded on savings and credit schemes, income diversification, small business development, education, health service delivery, and natural resource management. Groups have evolved means to buffer members from drought and poverty. The greatest threats to the sustainability of the groups come from internal factors such as unfavorable group dynamics and illiteracy, while external challenges include drought, poverty, and political incitement. Principles of good group governance and wisdom in business are reportedly the key ingredients for long-term success