The development, implementation, and evaluation of a pre-rotation quiz to improve resident preparedness for an abdominal wall reconstruction surgical rotation.

Introduction: Although hernia repair constitutes a significant portion of surgical training, education around more complex hernia concepts such as abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) or paraesophageal hernia repair may be lacking. We developed and implemented a pre-rotation quiz for residents on an AWR and minimally invasive surgery service. We also investigated the staff and resident perception of resident knowledge and experience of the rotation before and after quiz implementation.

American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam Performance Predicted by Question Bank Use While Unassociated With Other Learning Strategies.

Introduction: There is no consensus regarding optimal curricula to teach cognitive elements of general surgery. The American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE) aims to measure trainees' progress in attaining this knowledge. Resources like question banks (QBs), Surgical Council on Resident Education (SCORE) curriculum, and didactic conferences have mixed findings related to ABSITE performance and are often evaluated in isolation.

Paving a Path to Gender Parity: Recent Trends in Participation of Women in an Academic Surgery Society (Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract).

Introduction: The proportion of women surgeons is increasing, although women in surgical leadership and research has not kept pace. The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) pledged its commitment to diversity and inclusion in 2016. Our study sought to evaluate the temporal trend of gender representation in leadership, speakership, and research at SSAT.

The Right Way to Teach Lefties - Exploring the Experiences of Left-Handed Trainees and Surgeons.

Objective: This study describes the educational experiences of left-handed (LH) surgeons and provides recommendations for educating LH trainees, who face challenges due to their handedness.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A mixed methods analysis was performed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with LH trainees, LH attendings, and right-handed (RH) attendings representing 4 hospitals within a large academic hospital system.

Female Representation at the Association of Program Directors in Surgery Annual Meeting: Moving Towards Gender Equality.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the state and changes over time of female representation in Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) leadership and annual meeting presenters and session leaders.

Design, Setting, And Participants: APDS conference programs from 2013 to 2022 were reviewed to identify society leadership and meeting presenters and session leaders. Verified online profiles were used to gather professional role and reported gender.

Ameliorative effects of aqueous extract against oxidative stress in the testes and epididymis of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats.

Hyperglycemia is a central trait of diabetes mellitus (DM) and is linked to an increase in free radical generation and oxidative stress in the testes, resulting in testicular tissue damage and male infertility. Synthetic medicines are commonly used to manage diabetes; however, they are costly and associated with adverse effects. As a result, the search for a safer and affordable alternative from medicinal plants that contain antioxidants has become imperative to scavenge free radicals caused by hyperglycaemia, thereby alleviating male reproductive dysfunction.

Effect of kolaviron on islet dynamics in diabetic rats.

Kolaviron, a biflavonoid isolated from the edible seeds of , lowers blood glucose in experimental models of diabetes; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. The objective of the current study was to assess the effects of kolaviron on islet dynamics in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Using double immunolabeling of glucagon and insulin, we identified insulin-producing β- and glucagon-producing α-cells in the islets of diabetic and control rats and determined the fractional β-cell area, α-cell area and islet number.

Leaf Extracts of Ameliorated Kidney and Pancreatic Damage in Type 2 Diabetes.

Kidney disease in diabetes is one of the common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus implicated in end-stage renal failure. This study explored the ability of to ameliorate kidney and pancreatic damage in type 2 diabetes mellitus using male Wistar rats. Two weeks of fructose (10%) administration followed by streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) were used to induce type 2 diabetes.

The Beneficial Role of in STZ-Induced Reproductive Dysfunction in Male Wistar Rats.

Background: Progression of diabetes mellitus has increasingly led to several diabetic complications. Diabetes is one of the major factors implicated in male reproductive system damage. Recent approaches such as the use of medicinal plants have been explored in the management of diabetes and associated complications.

The impact of enteric fistulas on US hospital systems.

Background: There is limited characterization of patients with enteric fistula. Our objective is to determine the incidence of the disease, and characterize demographics, healthcare costs, co-diagnoses, and procedures in this population.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database 2004-2014 was queried to identify patients with enteric fistula using ICD-9 code 569.

Effects of on Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Organ Toxicity in STZ-Induced Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Persistent hyperglycemia is known to cause enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species in diabetes. Several inflammatory cytokines are induced by oxidative stress, and their release also leads to increased oxidative stress; this makes oxidative stress one of the important factors in the development of chronic inflammation and other immune responses. These have been implicated in the development of diabetic complications such as nephropathy and cardiomyopathy.

The qualification and training of laser/intense pulse light hair removal operators within South Africa.

Background: Lasers and intense pulse light (IPL) sources are powerful devices that can cause skin burns, pigmentary changes, and scarring if used incorrectly. Adequate training is essential, and regulations are required to limit complications.

Aims: The purpose was to investigate the qualifications and training obtained by laser hair removal operators in South Africa.

Immunogenicity of a Tripartite Cell Penetrating Peptide Containing a MUC1 Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (VNTR) and A T Helper Epitope.

Peptide-based vaccines for cancer have many advantages however, for optimization these immunogens should incorporate peptide epitopes that induce CD8, as well as CD4 responses, antibody and long term immunity. Cell penetrating peptides (CPP) with a capacity of cytosolic delivery have been used to deliver antigenic peptides and proteins to antigen presenting cells to induce cytotoxic T cell, helper T cell and humoral responses in mice. For this study, a tripartite CPP including a mucin 1 (MUC1) variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) containing multiple T cell epitopes and tetanus toxoid universal T helper epitope peptide (tetCD4) was synthesised (AntpMAPMUC1tet) and immune responses investigated in mice.

Fibroblast growth factor 21, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, and β-Klotho expression in bovine growth hormone transgenic and growth hormone receptor knockout mice.

Objective: Although growth hormone (GH) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) have a reported relationship, FGF21 and its receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and cofactor β-Klotho (KLB), have not been analyzed in chronic states of altered GH action. The objective of this study was to quantify circulating FGF21 and tissue specific expression of Fgf21, Fgfr1, and Klb in mice with modified GH action. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that bovine GH transgenic (bGH) mice will be FGF21 resistant and GH receptor knockout (GHR-/-) mice will have normal FGF21 action.

Comparative Immunogenicity of a Cytotoxic T Cell Epitope Delivered by Penetratin and TAT Cell Penetrating Peptides.

Cell penetrating peptides (CPP), including the TAT peptide from the human immunodeficiency virus transactivator of transcription (HIV-TAT) protein and penetratin from Drosophila Antennapedia homeodomain protein, translocate various cargos including peptides and proteins across cellular barriers. This mode of delivery has been harnessed by our group and others to deliver antigenic proteins or peptides into the cytoplasm of antigen processing cells (APC) such as monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC). Antigens or T cell epitopes delivered by CPP into APC in vivo generate antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell and helper T cell responses in mice.

Effects of kolaviron on hepatic oxidative stress in streptozotocin induced diabetes.

Background: Alteration in antioxidant defence and increase in oxidative stress that results in tissue injury is characteristic of diabetes. We evaluated the protective effects of kolaviron (a flavonoid complex extracted from the seeds of Garcinia kola) on hepatic antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis in diabetic rats.

Methods: To induce diabetes, rats were injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally at a single dose of 50 mg/kg.

Kolaviron, a biflavonoid complex of Garcinia kola seeds modulates apoptosis by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes-induced nephrotoxic rats.

Diabetic nephropathy is a complex disease that involves increased production of free radicals which is a strong stimulus for the release of pro-inflammatory factors. We evaluated the renal protective effect of kolaviron (KV) - a Garcinia kola seed extract containing a mixture of 5 flavonoids, in diabetes-induced nephrotoxic rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: untreated controls (C); normal rats treated with kolaviron (C+KV); untreated diabetic rats (D); kolaviron treated diabetic rats (D+KV).

Effects of red palm oil and rooibos on sperm motility parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycaemia could affect sperm quality as a result of increased oxidative stress. This study was performed to investigate the effects of red palm oil (RPO), aqueous rooibos tea extracts (RTE) as well as their combination (RPO + RTE) on sperm motility parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and the rats were treated with red palm oil (2 ml/day) and / or aqueous rooibos tea extract (2%) for 7 weeks.

Modulation of antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats following intake of red palm oil and/or rooibos.

Objective: To investigate the role of red palm oil (RPO), rooibos tea extract (RTE) and their combined treatment (RPO + RTE) on antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and the rats were treated for 7 weeks. Antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)], antioxidant capacity [trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)] as well as total protein, albumin, globulin, total glutathione, conjugated diene and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were investigated.

In vitro study on the antioxidant potentials of the leaves and fruits of Nauclea latifolia.

This study was carried out to investigate the in vitro antioxidant potentials of the leaves and fruits of Nauclea latifolia, a straggling shrub or small tree, native to tropical Africa and Asia. Hot water extracts of the leaves and fruits of Nauclea latifolia were assessed for their total polyphenolic, flavanol, and flavonol contents as well as 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. The aqueous extract of the leaves was found to contain higher level of total polyphenols (11.

Kolaviron improved resistance to oxidative stress and inflammation in the blood (erythrocyte, serum, and plasma) of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aims: Bitter kola seed (Garcinia kola, family: Guttiferae) has been used as a social masticatory agent in Africa for several years and is believed to possess many useful medicinal properties. The present study evaluates the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antilipidemic effects of kolaviron (an extract from the Garcinia kola seeds) in the blood of streptozotocin- (STZ) induced diabetic rats. METHODS.

Kolaviron, a Garcinia biflavonoid complex ameliorates hyperglycemia-mediated hepatic injury in rats via suppression of inflammatory responses.

Background: Chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in hyperglycemia-induced liver injury. Kolaviron (KV), a natural biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds have been shown to possess anti- inflammatory properties which has not been explored in diabetes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of KV on pro-inflammatory proteins in the liver of diabetic rats.

Characterization of blood monocyte phenotype in patients with endometrial cancer.

Background: Endometrial tumors induce various tumor escape mechanisms that result in immunosuppression in patients and, ultimately, tumor progression. Blood monocytes are able to exhibit potent cytotoxic action against tumor cells where novel immunotherapeutics targeting antigen-presenting cells including dendritic cells, and blood monocytes are being used as a means of delivering immunogens to stimulate an antitumor and, ultimately, therapeutic response. This study shows that peripheral blood monocytes from patients with endometrial cancer show functional deficiencies, and these deficiencies can be characterized by phenotypic changes as well as altered cytokine secretion.