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

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards epilepsy among secondary school students in Enugu, South East Nigeria

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of secondary school students to epilepsy and its treatment that could pose as barriers in the treatment and care of epilepsy patients within the community.MethodsThis study was cross-sectional and descriptive in design using a self administered custom designed multiple choice questionnaire with sections on general information on epilepsy, awareness and perception of epilepsy, treatment of epilepsy/seizures and attitude towards people living with epilepsy.ResultsOut of 969 questionnaires analyzed, the majority of the students (87.6%) had heard of epilepsy as a disease. The commonest sources of information were the electronic media (36.4%) and family members (25.6%). More than half (59.4%) had witnessed a convulsion in the past and 8.9% had a family member with epilepsy. Jerking (50.6%) and loss of consciousness (47.4%) were identified as the commonest manifestations of epilepsy. Epilepsy was considered a psychiatric disorder by 51.9% and as an infectious disease by 40.6%. About 39.3% considered epilepsy to be due to spiritual causes, old age or poisoning/bad blood. A total of 63.1% regarded orthodox medicine and prayers as the best means to treat epilepsy, while 6.8% chose herbal remedies. Concerning first aid treatment, 50.6% agreed that an object should be inserted into the mouth, while 49.5% would call for medical help and 28.8% would remove the person from harm. On attitude, 64.9% would not keep a friend with epilepsy, 69.1% would not play with someone with epilepsy, 84.2% would not marry someone with epilepsy. 41.1% of the students said that people with epilepsy should neither marry while 42.2% say they should not have children. Only 39.1.5% had an overall positive attitude towards people living with epilepsy.ConclusionsThere is a persisting poor knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy among secondary school students in SE Nigeria. Efforts should be made to include basic facts about disorders with social consequences such as epilepsy in school health education curriculum

Extraction and demonstration of uterotonic activity from the root of steganotaenia araliacea hochst

Steganotaenia araliacea used for assisting labour in folk medicine.The root of Steganotaenia araliacea is used for assisting labour in folk medicine. Recent reports indicate that the root could possess uterotonic substances. The study aimed to evaluate three methods for the extraction of uterotonic principles from the root of S. araliacea growing in Zambia. Roots of the plant were collected from Chongwe District of Zambia. The air-dried roots were size-reduced, and the powdered material extracted with hot ethanol, hot distilled water, and cold distilled water. The solvent extracts were 0concentrated and dried at 110 C. Solutions of the hot aqueous and cold aqueous extracts were prepared in distilled water and used for organ bath experiments to demonstrate uterotonic activities using strips of pregnant rat uterus. The frequencies and amplitude of contractile forces were recorded. The amplitudes were plotted against log concentration of extract with GraphPad Prism software, and the EC50 values determined. The results showed that percentage yields were 31.3 % for the hot aqueous extract, 8.15 % for the ethanolic extract, and 3.27 % for the cold aqueous extract. The cold aqueous extract showed higher potency (EC50 of 0.54 mg/ml) compared to the hot aqueous extract (EC50 of 2.09 mg/ml). The conclusion were that root extracts of S. araliacea possess demonstrable uterotonic effects. Extraction of the roots for this purpose could benefit from preliminary defatting with organic solvents, followed by successive extraction with hot and cold water.Office of Global AIDS/US Department of State

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

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

Extraction and Demonstration of Uterotonic Activity from the Root of Steganotaenia Araliacea Hochst

Background: The root of Steganotaenia araliacea is used for assisting labour in folk medicine. Recent reports indicate that the root could possess uterotonic substances. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate three methods for the extraction of uterotonic principles from the root of S. araliacea growing in Zambia.Methods: Roots of the plant were collected from Chongwe District of Zambia. The air-dried roots were size-reduced, and the powdered material extracted with hot ethanol, hot distilled water, and cold distilled water. The solvent extracts were concentrated and dried at 110 0C. Solutions of the hot aqueous and cold aqueous extracts were prepared in distilled water and used for organ bath experiments to demonstrate uterotonic activities using strips of pregnant rat uterus. The frequencies and amplitude of contractile forces were recorded. The amplitudes were plotted against log concentration of extract with GraphPad Prism software, and the EC50 values determined.Results: The percentage yields were 31.3 % for the hot aqueous extract, 8.15 % for the ethanolic extract, and 3.27 % for the cold aqueous extract. The cold aqueous extract showed higher potency (EC50 of 0.54 mg/ml) compared to the hot aqueous extract (EC50 of 2.09 mg/ml).Conclusion: Root extracts of S. araliacea possess demonstrable uterotonic effects. Extraction of the roots for this purpose could benefit from preliminary defatting with organic solvents, followed by successive extraction with hot and cold water.Keywords: Childbirth, extraction methods, medicinal plant, potency, Steganotaenia araliacea, uterotonic effec

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