Trends in the Presentation of Cell Biology and Histology in Contemporary Histology Books as Revealed in Their Prefaces

Background: Teaching and learning of Cell Biology and Histology have gone through remarkable changes in recent times. The undergraduate medical courses in Bangladesh have incorporated some of these changes but seem to have some more way to go. Good Histology books are supposed to be reflectors of the desirable changes and of the present trends in teaching-learning and assessment in the subject in good institutions. Analyses of the Prefaces of these books can help in developing an insight into the approaches taken and means applied in presenting Cell Biology and Histology in the books for meeting the demands of time. This insight, in turn, would guide the curriculum planners of the country and others seeking for changes in taking necessary steps. Objectives: To analyse the Prefaces of contemporary Histology books, qualitatively, for noting the approaches taken and means applied in presenting Cell Biology and Histology in the books. Methods: The study was descriptive, observational and qualitative in nature, carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, between July 2007 and June 2008. The study materials were the Prefaces of fifteen Histology books dealing with Cell Biology and Histology, published since 1984. The Prefaces were analysed qualitatively to identify the information provided and comments made by their authors/editors on the approaches taken and means applied in the books in selecting and presenting topics, text and illustrations. The observations were organised into specific themes. Results: Sixteen themes could be identified. These include, among others, special emphasis in the books on following curricular reforms, incorporation of new information and special focus on the relationship of structures with functions. Additions and improvements regarding tables and illustrations are also highlighted. Conclusion: By incorporating the findings of the present study with the present-day ideas and trends in Cell Biology and Histology teaching-learning and assessment in the renowned institutions of the world, as evident from the available literature, suggestions can be formulated on improving the methods of teaching and assessment in Cell Biology and Histology in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.11017 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):46-5

Trends in the Presentation of Cell Biology and Histology in Contemporary Histology Books as Revealed in Their Prefaces

Background: Teaching and learning of Cell Biology and Histology have gone through remarkable changes in recent times. The undergraduate medical courses in Bangladesh have incorporated some of these changes but seem to have some more way to go. Good Histology books are supposed to be reflectors of the desirable changes and of the present trends in teaching-learning and assessment in the subject in good institutions. Analyses of the Prefaces of these books can help in developing an insight into the approaches taken and means applied in presenting Cell Biology and Histology in the books for meeting the demands of time. This insight, in turn, would guide the curriculum planners of the country and others seeking for changes in taking necessary steps. Objectives: To analyse the Prefaces of contemporary Histology books, qualitatively, for noting the approaches taken and means applied in presenting Cell Biology and Histology in the books. Methods: The study was descriptive, observational and qualitative in nature, carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, between July 2007 and June 2008. The study materials were the Prefaces of fifteen Histology books dealing with Cell Biology and Histology, published since 1984. The Prefaces were analysed qualitatively to identify the information provided and comments made by their authors/editors on the approaches taken and means applied in the books in selecting and presenting topics, text and illustrations. The observations were organised into specific themes. Results: Sixteen themes could be identified. These include, among others, special emphasis in the books on following curricular reforms, incorporation of new information and special focus on the relationship of structures with functions. Additions and improvements regarding tables and illustrations are also highlighted. Conclusion: By incorporating the findings of the present study with the present-day ideas and trends in Cell Biology and Histology teaching-learning and assessment in the renowned institutions of the world, as evident from the available literature, suggestions can be formulated on improving the methods of teaching and assessment in Cell Biology and Histology in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.11017 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):46-5

Morphological and Morphometrical Study of Umbilical Cord of Newborn Babies

out during January to December 1998 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka to expand the knowledge of gross anatomy of the umbilical cord of Bangladesh. The length of the cords were irrespective of sex ranged from 28 to 93 cm with a mean (±SD) of 55.6 (±10.78). The length of the umbilical cords of males were significantly longer than female (P\u3c0.001). The diameter of the cords irrespective of sex were varied from 1 to 1.9 cm with a mean (±SD) of 1.45±0.31 cm. The mean circumference length percentage ratio index of umbilical cord was 8.31. Thirty-three (66%) cords were inserted eccentrically, all being paracentral in position. The rest were inserted centrally. False knots were more frequent (47; 94%). Only one (2%) showed a true knot in addition of false knot. In 2(4%) cases cord had not any true or false knot. It is concluded that the gross morphological and morphometrical features of the umbilical cord in Bangladesh appear to be similar to those described in western literature

Histomorphological Study of Umbilical Cord on 50 Bangladeshi

Microscopic study was done on 50 human umbilical cords in the Department of Anatomy, during January to December 1998 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. The basic structure of the umbilical cord was observed. The covering of umbilical cord varied on two sides. The side overlying the umbilical vein was covered by simple epithelium and that overlying the umbilical arteries was covered by multilayer epithelium. Presence of internal elastic lamina of umbilical arteries was found in 18% and in the veins was in 70% cases. Remnant of allantois was found in 28% cases

Frog retinal ganglion cells. Morphological and spatial analyses

Retinal ganglion cells have previously been classified using morphological, electrophysiological and biochemical criteria that are sometimes correlated. However, emphasis on morphological details has often led to complicated classification schemes, which risk creating artificial cell types rather than discovering natural types. This study addresses the problem by exploiting the population characteristic of an independent, regular spatial distribution (mosaic) as a classification criterion for ganglion cells, alongside individual morphological features. Retrogradely labelled large ganglion cells were studied light- microscopically in five frog species from four genera. These were the aquatic Xenopus laevis, semi-aquatic Rana esculenta and Rana pipiens, terrestrial Bufo marinus and arboreal Hyla (Litoria) moorei. Three large (a) ganglion cell types were identified in each of the first four species. Each formed an independent mosaic and was morphologically distinct. One had a dendritic arborisation in the most scleral sublamina (a) of the inner plexiform layer, the second in both that sublamina and the middle sublamina (b), and the third mostly in the vitreal sublamina (c). Accordingly, a nomenclature was devised in which they are termed aa, aab respectively. In Hyla moorei, a larger and a smaller aab type formed independent mosaics and were termed a1ab and a2ab. The ac type was present (although not labelled consistently enough to permit spatial analysis) but no aa type was found. Members of each mosaic were analysed for within-type and cross-type similarities, and variations in mosaic properties and morphological features. The observations are compared with those of other authors to identify possible cross-species homologies and formulate a broad classification scheme. Possible functional roles and developmental mechanisms for different large ganglion cell types and their mosaics across species are discussed, taking into consideration both potential phylogenetic links and preliminary evidence for dendritic interactions. The importance of further mosaic studies is emphasised

Morphological and morphometrical study of umbilical cord of new born babies

Morphological and morphometric study of umbilical cord of 50 newborn babies were carried out during January to December 1998 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka to expand the knowledge of gross anatomy of the umbilical cord of Bangladesh. The length of the cords irrespective of sex was ranged from 28 to 93 cm with a mean (±SD) of 55.6 (±10.78).The length of the umbilical cord of male was significantly longer than female (P\u3c0.001). The diameter of the cord irrespective of sex varied from 1 to 1.9 cm with a mean (±SD) of 1.45 +0.31 cm. The mean circumference length percentage ratio index of umbilical cord was 8.31. Thirty-three (66%) cords were inserted eccentrically, all being paracentral in position. The rest were inserted centrally. False knots were more frequent (47; 94%). Only one (2%) showed a true knot in addition of false knot. In 2(4%) cases cord had not any true or false knot. It is concluded that the gross morphological and morphometrical features of the umbilical cord in Bangladesh appear to be similar to those described in western literature