Obesity is linked to a variety of unfavourable outcomes, including anaemia, which is a serious global public health problem. The prevalence of obesity along with anaemia suggests a relationship bet...

The flipped classroom is a teaching strategy used to enhance the engagement of students in the learning process. Replacing didactic lectures with active learning strategies through flipped classroom sessions fosters independence and the opportunity for students to engage in different passive learning styles. Although many studies of the flipped classroom approach have been conducted with medical students, few have focused on the effect of flipped classroom sessions on students in other medical professional fields. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the flipped classroom approach on the performance of medical laboratory science students in a hematology course and their perception of the flipped classroom as an active learning strategy. In addition, students’ perceptions regarding the flipped classroom as an active learning strategy were assessed. Of two cohorts in hematology courses, cohort 2 attended flipped classroom sessions, whereas cohort 1 underwent traditional class sessions. Students’ learning outcomes, achievements and performance on examinations in hematology courses were assessed. In addition, a satisfaction survey was distributed to the students to evaluate their perception of the flipped classroom as a student-centred learning strategy. Students in cohort 2 performed significantly better in the knowledge and cognitive domains than did those in cohort 1 (p < 0.001). Cohort 2 students completed the course successfully with an average grade of 81%, and few students received low grades; in comparison, cohort 1 students completed the course with an average grade of 73%, and 7 students received a grade of F. Of students in cohort 2, 83% believed that the flipped classroom provided a better understanding of the subject matter and appropriate knowledge and skills. The results indicate the effectiveness of flipped classrooms as an active learning style in enabling students to obtain desirable knowledge and improve their academic performance. Moreover, students zrecognized that the flipped classroom as an active learning style was more beneficial than the traditional teaching approach.

Chronic kidney disease, one of the most common diseases in the world, is characterized by irreversible impairment of the kidney’s metabolic, excretory, and endocrine functions. During end-stage renal disease, patients require renal replacement therapy, such as hemodialysis (HD). Protein-energy wasting is a common health problem among HD patients. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of HD patients at two HD centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to determine its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted at two different dialysis centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 211 female and male HD patients. Malnutrition was recognized using the modified-subjective global assessment (M-SGA) comprising two parts: medical history and physical examination. Sociodemographic and health status for all patients were also determined. Patients were classified based on their M-SGA score into two groups: normal and malnourished. Overall, 54.5% of the participants showed malnutrition. Unemployment, low muscle strength and mass, high level of medication use, and high dialysis vintage were positively (P < .05) associated with malnutrition. In conclusion, the M-SGA score indicates a high prevalence of malnutrition among HD patients. These results show the importance of regular assessment and follow-ups for HD patients ensuring better health and nutritional status.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a highly morphic, retrovirus that rapidly evolves through mutation as well as recombination. Because of the immunocompromised status in HIV patients, there is often a higher chance of acquiring different secondary infections followed by liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B & C, and HIV-associated nephropathy. The current study was conducted to see the prevalence of secondary infections, hematological and biochemical markers for liver and renal associated diseases, and to detect the envelope gene (GP41) in newly diagnosed HIV patients. A total of 37 samples were collected from HIV-positive patients registered in different hospital settings under the National AIDS control program. The collected samples were processed for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hematological analysis, and biochemical analysis. To identify the envelope gene in newly diagnosed HIV patients, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using four gene-specific primers. The HIV infections were seen more in male as compared to females. A significant decrease in complete blood count was observed in HIV patients when compared to healthy individuals. There was a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine observed in HIV patients. No significant difference was observed in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin levels when compared to healthy control. Anemia was observed in 59.4% of HIV patients. A total of three (8.1%) patients were found to be co-infected with hepatitis B and one (2.7 %) was co-infected with hepatitis C. Out of these 37 tested samples, a total of four showed the successful amplification of the envelope gene. This study provides platform for the health care facilitators to regularly monitor the signs, symptoms and clinical biomarkers of HIV-associated infections to prevent toxicity at an early stage to improve the quality of life (QoL) and minimize the mortality rate in HIV patients. Envelope gene mutating frequently results in drug resistance, and thus future research on polymorphism analysis will reveal points of substitutions to improve drug designing.

This study examined the changes in hematological and hemostatic parameters in response to gastric mucosal injury in male Wistar rats divided into two major groups: acute and chronic. Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups: acute control (C1) and acute ulcer (U1), and chronic control (C2) and chronic ulcer (U2). Two experimental models were used in this study for peptic ulcer induction; the acute ulcer model was induced by pyloric ligation, and chronic gastric ulcers were induced by sub-serosal application of concentrated acetic acid. Gastric contents were collected for volume and pH determination in addition to macroscopic quantification of the degree of ulceration. Blood samples were examined for hemostatic parameters (prothrombin time; PT, activated partial thromboplastin time; aPTT) and other quantitative hemostatic parameters (fibrinogen, anti-thrombin III, D-dimer). Complete blood count and biochemical serum analysis of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were also performed. The results revealed an increase in serum IL-6 and TNF-α in both acute and chronic ulcer models in addition to elevated fibrinogen, especially in the chronic model. D-dimer was also significantly increased in the chronic model. Positive correlation is shown between inflammatory cytokines and fibrinogen and D-dimer. An increase of oxidative stress markers was also found in the stomach tissue of rats after induction of ulcers. The hemostatic and hematological changes might be due to elevated circulating inflammatory markers during ulceration via a lipid peroxidation-dependent mechanism, especially in the chronic state.

Childhood (pediatric) obesity is becoming increasingly common at an alarming rate. Obese children are more likely to develop insulin resistance, relative insulin insufficiency, and type 2 diabetes. Recent research suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction is related to, and may be predictive of, insulin resistance among adult relatives of type 2 diabetes patients. Mitochondria produce ATP, which is used to create energy, especially in muscle tissue, and they play a role in glucose and fat metabolism. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in the development of metabolic diseases. Affected tissues include adipose, liver, and skeletal muscle, which all contribute to food metabolism. Since cells require a balance between mitochondrial ATP generation through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and proton gradient dissipation to avoid damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), abnormal mitochondrial function leads to fat buildup and insulin resistance. Obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are all caused by growth and transcription factors that influence mitochondrial gene expression. On the other hand, obesity and hypertension both impair heart mitochondrial biogenesis and function. By promoting the expression of chaperones, SIRT1, and antioxidants, moderate weight reduction reduces systemic inflammation and improves mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review, the variables that relate mitochondrial dysfunction to pediatric obesity are discussed.