Journal of Basic and Applied Pharmacology

Effects of Feeding Unripe Plantain Peel Meal on Haematological Parameters and Serum Bio-Chemicals of Growing Broilers

2024-06-20T16:36:29+07:00

Plantain peel has been reported to be rich in minerals and high in energy. These potentials have qualified it to be a research focus as a non-conventional energy source for the preparation of feed for broilers. It was on this background that this experiment was conducted for 6 weeks with eighty-four (84) day old broiler chicks. They were grouped into treatments and replicates at 2 weeks having attained an average weight range of 325.56±2.70 to 329.90±10.06 g to assess the effects of 0, 5, 10, and 20% maize replaced by unripe plantain peel meal (UPPM) in the chickens’ diet on their haematological parameters and serum bio-chemicals. The birds were assigned to each of the treatments replicated three times to contain seven birds per replicate using a completely randomized design (CRD). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the haematological parameters viz; erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, lymphocytes, heterophils, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils. The treatment significantly influenced liver function enzymes, high-density lipoprotein, and some metabolites (p < 0.05). ALP increased following an increase in the inclusion of UPPM in the diets but was within the normal recommended range. Cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides were highest in the control; suggesting their serum lowering potential by UPPM which may translate to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. The antioxidant assays revealed an upward rise in superoxide dismutase (SOD) following an increased percentage inclusion of UPPM. Following the outcome of this study, the recommendation of further research on UPPM in broilers’ nutrition was made. This may eventually lead to the discovery of a novel natural source of antidyslipidaemic, antihypercholesterolemic, and antioxidant agents from UPPM.

Evaluating the Impact of Blended Learning in Clinical Pharmacology Among Medical and Allied Health Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study

2024-07-25T13:34:10+07:00

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a blended learning model in teaching clinical pharmacology to undergraduate healthcare students, including those from medical and allied health disciplines. The study assessed the model’s impact on their career development and examined its effects on academic performance, knowledge retention, practical application of pharmacological concepts, career aspirations, and clinical practice readiness.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 10 to May 20, 2024, in China. Undergraduate healthcare students who completed a clinical pharmacology course via blended learning participated. Data were collected using an online questionnaire through “Questionnaire Star”. Out of 513 collected questionnaires, 330 valid responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics and Python for descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and cluster analyses.

Results: The blended learning model significantly enhanced student engagement and knowledge acquisition. The Flipped Classroom was the most frequently used method (average frequency 0.75), followed by Face-to-Face Teaching (0.71) and Online MOOC Learning (0.68). Both male and female students reported similar knowledge impact (4.08±0.93 for males, 4.00±0.90 for females). Clinical Medicine students reported the highest satisfaction (4.44±0.66). Regression analysis identified Online MOOC Learning (0.260) and Face-to-Face Teaching (0.201) as significant predictors of knowledge acquisition. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct student groups with varying satisfaction and perceived effectiveness.

Conclusion: The blended learning model effectively enhances academic performance, knowledge retention, and professional skills among undergraduate medical and allied health students. A balanced integration of online and offline components maximizes learning outcomes. Tailored approaches are needed for different disciplines. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impact on career development.

Integrating Ideological and Political Education into Clinical Pharmacology: Reforming Medical Education

2024-09-03T14:29:11+07:00

Objective: To explore the integration of ideological and political education into clinical pharmacology courses and assess its impact on student engagement, knowledge, and professional readiness.

Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach involving surveys, examination score analysis, and educational material reviews. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed changes in student attitudes, knowledge, and engagement. Examination scores were analyzed to evaluate academic performance. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, ANOVA, and regression models. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and k-means clustering identified distinct student groups based on engagement and attitudes.

Results: The integration of ideological and political education significantly enhanced student engagement and knowledge. Pre- and post-course surveys indicated improvements in understanding clinical pharmacology (t = 8.611, p < 0.001) and ethical issues (t = 3.197, p = 0.001). Examination scores showed higher median and mean values post-reform: Regular Score remained similar, with a median of around 69.0, while the Final Examination Score increased from 73.0 to 77.0, and the Final Score rose from 72.0 to 74.0. Standard deviations decreased, indicating more consistent performance. Regression analysis confirmed the intervention's positive impact (coefficient = 2.2043, p < 0.001), with regular scores as strong predictors of final scores (coefficient = 0.6054, p < 0.001). K-means clustering identified three distinct groups: low, moderate, and high engagement, with the highest engagement group showing substantial educational enhancements.

Conclusion: Integrating ideological and political education into clinical pharmacology enhances the overall quality of medical education, fostering well-rounded, ethically grounded, and socially responsible medical professionals. Future studies should expand to larger, more diverse samples and other medical disciplines to validate and extend these findings.

Comparison of In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Extracts from Original Ya-Ha-Rak and Adapted Formula

2024-09-12T10:02:21+07:00

This study aimed to compare the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the original Ya-Ha-Rak, and the adapted formula. The original Ya-Ha-Rak formula is composed of the roots of Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze, Capparis micracantha DC., Ficus racemosa L., Tiliacora triandra Diels, and Harrisonia perforata Merr., whereas the adapted formula is similar to the original formula, except the root of H. perforata was replaced with the stem part. The original Ya-Ha-Rak formula, and the adapted formula as well as each plant ingredient, were extracted with 95% ethanol and freeze-dried. The roots of H. perforata gave the highest extract yield of 4.26% w/w while that of H. perforata stem only gave 1.61% w/w. Dexamethasone was used as the positive control in the measuring of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Our results demonstrated that the original Ya-Ha-Rak and the adapted formula significantly reduced nitric oxide production with IC₅₀values of 97.38±6.80 and 125.58±9.45 µg/mL respectively, in RAW 264.7 cells after treatment. At a 200 µg/mL dose of both formulas, the release of TNF-α and IL-1β was significantly reduced. The same results were obtained with dexamethasone (40 µM). Interestingly, the 5R extract demonstrated comparable results between PGE2 and dexamethasone. This study implied that the stem of H. perforata has the potential to be used in Ya-Ha-Rak provided that the appropriate ratio of the stem ingredient and its biological activities are further evaluated.