Medicine as a career choice: a cross-sectional study on undergraduate medical students at King Abdulaziz University

Background: During the last 15 years large number medical schools have been launched in Saudi Arabia in order to compensate for the shortage of Saudi physicians. Till now the reasons for choosing the medical profession by Saudi students were not thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for study medicine at King Abdulaziz University (KAU); and if there is any difference in these reasons between the junior and senior medical student.  Factors helping in profession selection as well as the future specialty selection were also investigated.Methods: This comparative cross section study was conducted at KAU during the year 2014-2015 using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to all the 2nd and 6th year medical students.Results: Like to help patients, interest in medical field and being prestigious career were the commonest causes of choosing the medical profession among the 2nd year students and they were significantly rated higher ( 0.031, 0.001, 0.028) in 2nd year students compared to the 6th year. Getting a high GPA was rated significantly higher (p=0.01) by the 6th year students than the 2nd year students. Publications and internet sources was the significant (p=0.001) helpful factors rated by the 2nd year students. Surgery, Pediatric and Internal medicine were the commonest future specialties that had been chosen by both 2nd and 6th year students.Conclusions: Comprehensive and structured programs directed to the secondary school and preparatory university year students to guide them to the proper career with the highlight of Medicine as one of the profession strongly needed in Saudi Arabia.

Impaired expression of sex hormone receptors in male reproductive organs of diabetic rat in response to oral antidiabetic drugs

Introduction. Few oral antidiabetic drugs have been evaluated for their reproductive complication. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of metformin, pioglitazone and sitagliptin on the structure of male reproductive system through an immunohistopathological study. Material and methods. Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with streptozotocin. The diabetic rats were divided into four groups (n = 8/each group); diabetic control, metformin-, pioglitazone- and sitagliptin-treated groups in addition to a normal control group (n = 8). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical assessment. Testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle were dissected and processed for histopathological examination using routine and immune-staining. Results. All drugs significantly (p < 0.05) decreased fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides and malondialdehyde compared to the diabetic control group. Metformin has induced the least pathologic changes on the structure of the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle among the studied drugs. Metformin succeeded to restore weights of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle as well as testosterone hormone level back to values of the NC group while the pioglitazone and sitagliptin failed to do that. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in testicular ERa and ERb immunoexpression of pioglitazone-treated group as well as suppression of ERb and AR immunoreactivity in in epididymus and seminal vesicles of pioglitazone- and sitagliptin-treated rats were observed compared to the control animals. Conclusions. Histological structure as well ER and AR expression in the system organs were negatively and significantly affected with all studied drugs. Metformin has the least effect on the structure of the studied male reproductive organs. Thus, pioglitazone and sitagliptin treatment should be avoided in young male diabetic patients

Effects of maternal age on the expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers in the components of human umbilical cord

Introduction. Although the human umbilical cord (UC) has been previously considered a medical waste, its use as a main source of fetal stem cells for regenerative medicine applications has increased over the past few years. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the maternal age on the expression of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) markers CD105 and CD29 in the different areas of human UC. Material and methods. In this comparative cross sectional study, one hundred term UCs from five maternal age groups (20–45 years) were collected after delivery from healthy mothers and were processed to assess both immuno- and gene expression of CD105 and CD29 surface antigen markers using immunohistochemical and RT-PCR techniques. Results. The immunoexpression of CD105 and CD29 in the amniotic membrane (AM) and Wharton’s jelly (WJ), the umbilical artery (UA) and the umbilical vein (UV) showed significant negative correlation with the maternal age (p < 0.001). Reduced amount of cells as well as the studied MSC markers and their gene expression levels were documented in older age mothers. CD105-positive MSCs were more abundant in the UA, whereas CD29-positive MSCs were more abundant in the AM and WJ. Conclusion. The decreased expression of CD105 and CD29 MSCs markers with age suggests that selective isolation of MSCs from Wharton’s jelly, umbilical artery or umbilical vein of younger mothers should be recommended

Specialty selection satisfaction and regret among medical school postgraduates and faculty at King Abdulaziz University

Background: In the field of medicine, specialty selection is a life-altering decision that plays a crucial role in career satisfaction, and in turn patient-care. This study explores the significant factors affecting specialty selection satisfaction and regret from the perspective of medical postgraduates and faculty in King Abdulaziz University (KAU).  Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on a sample of 172 medical school postgraduates and faculty working at KAU using self-administered questionnaire.Results: The majority of the participants were residents (51.7%), The analysis showed that 11% of the participants regret their choice of specialty. The results showed that the level of satisfaction increases as the academic degree of the participants increase. Among the significant factors affected specialty selection satisfaction and regret were; income (P = 0.003), long length of training (P = 0.027), vast options of sub-specialties (P = 0.001) and interesting and exciting field.Conclusion: These results identify the essential factors that have a potential impact on specialty satisfaction and regret among medical school postgraduates and faculty. This highlights the importance of career counseling for the proper specialty selection

Brain-derived Neurotropic factor (BDNF) mediates the protective effect of Cucurbita pepo L. on salivary glands of rats exposed to chronic stress evident by structural, biochemical and molecular study

Acute and chronic stresses affect the salivary glands, representing the source of plasma BDNF during stressful conditions. Pumpkin is a medicinal plant with an evident antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential antidepressant effects. Objective: To assess the structural and biochemical effects induced by exposure to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on salivary glands of albino rats, and to evaluate the role of pumpkin extract (Pump) in ameliorating this effect. Methodology: Four groups (n=10 each) of male albino rats were included in this study: the control, CUMS, Fluoxetine-treated and Pump-treated. The corticosterone, the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the oxidant/antioxidant profile were all assessed in the serum. The level of BDNF mRNA was measured in the salivary glands using qRT-PCR. Histopathological changes of the salivary glands were also assessed. Results: The depressive-like status was confirmed behaviorally and biochemically. Exposure to CUMS significantly up-regulated (p<0.001) the level of serum corticosterone. CUMS induced degenerative changes in the secretory and ductal elements of the salivary glands evident by increased apoptosis. Both Fluoxetine and Pumpkin significantly up-regulated (p<0.001) BDNF expression in the salivary glands and ameliorated the CUMS-induced histopathological and biochemical alterations in the salivary glands. Pumpkin significantly (p<0.001) increased the serum levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX and CAT, and reduced the serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6. Conclusion: Pumpkin ameliorates the depressive-like status induced in rats following exposure to chronic stress through exerting a promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-depressant-like effects. The pumpkin, subsequently, improved stress-induced structural changes in the salivary glands that might be due to up-regulation of BDNF expression in the glands

Medicine as a career choice: a cross-sectional study on undergraduate medical students at King Abdulaziz University

Background: During the last 15 years large number medical schools have been launched in Saudi Arabia in order to compensate for the shortage of Saudi physicians. Till now the reasons for choosing the medical profession by Saudi students were not thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for study medicine at King Abdulaziz University (KAU); and if there is any difference in these reasons between the junior and senior medical student.  Factors helping in profession selection as well as the future specialty selection were also investigated.Methods: This comparative cross section study was conducted at KAU during the year 2014-2015 using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to all the 2nd and 6th year medical students.Results: Like to help patients, interest in medical field and being prestigious career were the commonest causes of choosing the medical profession among the 2nd year students and they were significantly rated higher ( 0.031, 0.001, 0.028) in 2nd year students compared to the 6th year. Getting a high GPA was rated significantly higher (p=0.01) by the 6th year students than the 2nd year students. Publications and internet sources was the significant (p=0.001) helpful factors rated by the 2nd year students. Surgery, Pediatric and Internal medicine were the commonest future specialties that had been chosen by both 2nd and 6th year students.Conclusions: Comprehensive and structured programs directed to the secondary school and preparatory university year students to guide them to the proper career with the highlight of Medicine as one of the profession strongly needed in Saudi Arabia.

Interdisciplinary Integration of the CVS Module and Its Effect on Faculty and Student Satisfaction as Well as Student Performance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Beyond the adoption of the principles of horizontal and vertical integration, significant planning and implementation of curriculum reform is needed. This study aimed to assess the effect of the interdisciplinary integrated Cardiovascular System (CVS) module on both student satisfaction and performance and comparing them to those of the temporally coordinated CVS module that was implemented in the previous year at the faculty of Medicine of the King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This interventional study used mixed method research design to assess student and faculty satisfaction with the level of integration within the CVS module. A team from the medical education department was assembled in 2010/2011 to design a plan to improve the CVS module integration level. After delivering the developed module, both student and faculty satisfaction as well as students performance were assessed and compared to those of the previous year to provide an idea about module effectiveness.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Many challenges faced the medical education team during design and implementation of the developed CVS module e.g. resistance of faculty members to change, increasing the percentage of students directed learning hours from the total contact hour allotted to the module and shifting to integrated item writing in students assessment, spite of that the module achieved a significant increase in both teaching faculty and student satisfaction as well as in the module scores.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The fully integrated CVS has yielded encouraging results that individual teachers or other medical schools who attempt to reformulate their curriculum may find valuable.</p