Ziad M. Bataineh

Attitudes and reactions of Jordanian medical students to the dissecting room

Emotional and psychological reactions of Jordanian medical students to the dissecting room (DR) were assessed. A questionnaire was distributed to 200 students in preclinical years in the academic year 2002–2003 in the faculty of medicine at Jordan University of Science and Technology; 145 students have responded. Varying degree of fear on first entering the DR was reported by 28.4%. The most frequent reactions were recurring visual images of cadavers 28.9% and palpitation 19.3%. Students’ reactions were most commonly elicited by smell of the DR 58.5% and by fear of infection 50.3%. The most frequent method of coping with such fears was by rationalization 89.8%. Significant gender differences (P<0.05) were found in the most aspects of DR experiences. Female students showed higher level of fear, reported recurring visual images of cadavers more often than males, were more disturbed by certain stimuli in the DR and used religious books and praying as coping methods more frequently than their male peers. The need for appropriate psychological preparation of students before DR practical on human cadavers is discussed.

Effect of Nigella sativa volatile oil on Jurkat T cell leukemia polypeptides

AbstractNigella sativa L. Ranunclaceae is a spicy plant that has bronchodilatory, hypotensive, antibacterial and immunopotentiating activities. Its effect on intracellular signals has not been investigated. Jurkat T leukemia cells were treated with the volatile oil of N. sativa and their cellular polypeptides were analyzed using two-dimensional poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and silver staining. Two polypeptide spots were changed in their intensity following the treatment. The molecular weight of the protein corresponding to these spots was 24 kd. The isoelectric points were 5.3 for the acidic protein and 5.8 for the basic protein. The basic protein was decreased and the acidic protein was increased after 10 min of N. sativa volatile oil treatment. The two protein spots have a pinkish color after silver staining. Analysis of metabolically [32P] labelled Jurkat cells did not reveal any radioactivity in the vicinity of these two proteins. Analysis of lymphoid and non-lymphoid cell lines trea...

Short-term exposure of female rats to industrial metal salts: Effect on implantation and pregnancy

AimThe objective of this study was to characterize the adverse effects of industrial metal salts during the early stages of pregnancy.MethodsSuccessfully mated female rats were exposed to the following metal salts via intragastric intubation; manganese sulfate, lead acetate, aluminum chloride, ferrous chloride and ferric chloride in doses of 50 mg/kg body weight and chromium chloride and potassium dichromate in doses of 25 mg/kg body weight on days l–3 or 4–6 of pregnancy. Female rats were killed on day 20 of gestation and the pregnancy outcome was determined.ResultsThe administration of manganese sulfate, chromium chloride, potassium dichromate and ferric chloride to female rats on days 1–3 of pregnancy caused pregnancy failure. However, the administration of manganese sulfate and potassium dichromate reduced the number of implantations. The administration of manganese sulfate, potassium dichromate and ferric chloride reduced the number of viable fetuses. The total number of resorptions increased in the lead acetate, aluminum chloride, ferrous chloride and ferric chloride exposed groups. In contrast, the administration of manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride and ferric chloride on days 4–6 of pregnancy caused pregnancy failure. However, the administration of ferric chloride reduced the number of implantations. The administration of manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, potassium dichromate, ferrous chloride and ferric chloride reduced the number of viable fetuses. The total number of resorptions increased in the manganese sulfate, lead acetate, aluminum chloride, potassium dichromate, ferrous chloride and ferric chloride exposed groups.ConclusionThis work demonstrates that the short-term exposure of female rats to industrial metal salts during the early stages of gestation would cause failure of pregnancy and produce fetotoxic or fetal resorptive potentials.