Effect of an educational game on student´s learning: different approaches for evaluation

[EN] The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of an educational game about cardiac cycle, used as replacing or complementing activity for traditional teaching methods, on the learning of physiology students by using different evaluation approaches. The comparisons were made between the grades obtained in pre- and post-tests applied before and after the use of the game, and between the number of correct answers of groups that performed an activity with the puzzle or had a lecture or reading, in the same or different careers. In all these approaches, the students who performed the activity with the educational game had a better performance in the assessment tests in comparison with those who did not use the educational game. This effect was observed when the puzzle replaced a lecture or reading activity and also when it was used as a complementary activity after a previous lecture. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that one educational game used as active teaching-learning method can improve the students’ learning, and that its effect on student´s learning can be evaluated by different approaches by the teacher during the classroom routine.Marcondes, F.; Cardozo, L.; Mello-Carpes, P.; Montrezor, L. (2017). Effect of an educational game on student´s learning: different approaches for evaluation. En Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 161-168. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD17.2017.508016116

Efeitos da endotelina-1 sobre a esteroidogênese e o crescimento celular em cultura de células da granulosa de bovinos

Além do controle neuroendócrino do eixo hipotalâmico-hipofisário-gonadal existem fatores autócrinos e parácrinos que controlam o crescimento, seleção e ovulação nos mamíferos. Estes fatores ainda não estão bem estabelecidos. Objetivando analisar as variações nas concentrações plasmáticas da endotelina-1 em um ciclo estral bovino e seus efeitos sobre o cultivo de células da granulosa, foram analisadas amostras plasmáticas de 5 dias (0, 1, 3, 7 e 13) de um ciclo estral, tendo como base o dia da ovulação (dia 0) e 3 horas (8, 13 e 16) do 14º dia do ciclo. As variações nas concentrações plasmáticas de endotelina-1 não foram significativas para os dias assim como para as horas do dia analisado. Células da granulosa obtidas de folículos antrais foram cultivadas durante 48 horas com diferentes concentrações de endotelina. Os resultados demonstraram que a endotelina atua de maneira dose-dependente estimulando a produção de progesterona e inibindo o crescimento celular.Besides the neuroendocrine control of the hypotalamic-hypophisary-gonodal axis there are autocrines and paracrines factors that control the growth, selection and ovulation in the mammals. These factors are not well established yet. Aiming to analyze the variations in the endotelin-1plasmatic concentrations in a bovine estral cycle and their effects on the culture of granulosa cells, plasma samples of 5 days (0,1,3,7 and 13) from an estral cycle have been analyzed, having as basis the ovulation day (day 0) and 3 hours (8,13,16) of the fourteenth day of the cycle. The variations in the endothelin-1 concentrations were not significant for the days as well as for the hours of the analyzed day. Granulosa cells obtained from antral follicles were cultivated during 24 hours with different concentrations of endothelin. The results demonstrated that the endothelin-1 acts in a dose-dependent manner stimulating the production of progesterone and inhibiting the cellular growth

Norepinephrine stimulates progesterone production in highly estrogenic bovine granulosa cells cultured under serum-free, chemically defined conditions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since noradrenergic innervation was described in the ovarian follicle, the actions of the intraovarian catecholaminergic system have been the focus of a variety of studies. We aimed to determine the gonadotropin-independent effects of the catecholamine norepinephrine (NE) in the steroid hormone profile of a serum-free granulosa cell (GC) culture system in the context of follicular development and dominance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Primary bovine GCs were cultivated in a serum-free, chemically defined culture system supplemented with 0.1% polyvinyl alcohol. The culture features were assessed by hormone measurements and ultrastructural characteristics of GCs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>GCs produced increasing amounts of estradiol and pregnenolone for 144h and maintained ultrastructural features of healthy steroidogenic cells. Progesterone production was also detected, although it significantly increased only after 96h of culture. There was a highly significant positive correlation between estradiol and pregnenolone production in high E2-producing cultures. The effects of NE were further evaluated in a dose–response study. The highest tested concentration of NE (10 (−7) M) resulted in a significant increase in progesterone production, but not in estradiol or pregnenolone production. The specificity of NE effects on progesterone productio n was further investigated by incubating GCs with propranolol (10 (−8) M), a non-selective beta-adrenergic antagonist.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present culture system represents a robust model to study the impact of intrafollicular factors, such as catecholamines, in ovarian steroidogenesis and follicular development. The results of noradrenergic effects in the steroidogenesis of GC have implications on physiological follicular fate and on certain pathological ovarian conditions such as cyst formation and anovulation.</p

Hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses in rats with polycystic ovaries

In female rats, a single injection of estradiol valerate (EV) results in effects that are similar to those observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We hypothesized that EV-induced PCOS affects breathing control based on evidence showing an influence of sex hormones on ventilation. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of EV treatment on the ventilation of female rats in air, in 7% CO2 and in 7% O2, at 30, 45 and 60 days after EV injection. The group examined 30 days after EV treatment showed a 61% reduction in the hypercapnic ventilatory response compared to the control group. Basal ventilation, hypoxic ventilatory response, and body temperature were not affected. These results, suggest that the hormonal changes observed in PCOS may result in a temporary inhibition of the central chemoreflex but do not influence basal ventilation or the hypoxic peripheral chemoreflex

A puzzle used to teach the cardiac cycle

The aim of the present article is to describe a puzzle developed for use in teaching cardiac physiology classes. The puzzle presents figures of phases of the cardiac cycle and a table with five columns: phases of cardiac cycle, atrial state, ventricular state, state of atrioventricular valves, and pulmonary and aortic valves. Chips are provided for use to complete the table. Students are requested to discuss which is the correct sequence of figures indicating the phases of cardiac cycle. Afterward, they should complete the table with the chips. Students of biology, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing graduation courses from seven institutions performed the puzzle evaluation. They were invited to indicate whether the puzzle had been useful for learning about the subject by filling one of four alternatives. Of the students, 4.6% answered that it was not necessary but helped them to confirm what they had learned, 64.5% reported that although they had previously understood the cardiac cycle, the puzzle helped them to solve doubts and promoted a better understanding of it, and 30.9% said that they needed the puzzle to understand the cardiac cycle, without differences among courses, institutions, and course semesters. The results of the present study suggest that a simple and inexpensive puzzle may be useful as an active learning methodology applied after the theoretical lecture, as a complementary tool for studying cardiac cycle physiology.The aim of the present article is to describe a puzzle developed for use in teaching cardiac physiology classes. The puzzle presents figures of phases of the cardiac cycle and a table with five columns: phases of cardiac cycle, atrial state, ventricular state, state of atrioventricular valves, and pulmonary and aortic valves. Chips are provided for use to complete the table. Students are requested to discuss which is the correct sequence of figures indicating the phases of cardiac cycle. Afterward, they should complete the table with the chips. Students of biology, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing graduation courses from seven institutions performed the puzzle evaluation. They were invited to indicate whether the puzzle had been useful for learning about the subject by filling one of four alternatives. Of the students, 4.6% answered that it was not necessary but helped them to confirm what they had learned, 64.5% reported that although they had previously understood the cardiac cycle, the puzzle helped them to solve doubts and promoted a better understanding of it, and 30.9% said that they needed the puzzle to understand the cardiac cycle, without differences among courses, institutions, and course semesters. The results of the present study suggest that a simple and inexpensive puzzle may be useful as an active learning methodology applied after the theoretical lecture, as a complementary tool for studying cardiac cycle physiology391273