Background: E-learning is important in improving access to quality health sciences education. This study aimed to determine the perspectives of Kenyan health science students toward e-learning in a bid to enhance effective learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study targeted 294 Kenyan health science students. Approval was obtained from the Kenyatta National Hospital–University of Nairobi Ethics Research Committee, and informed consent was obtained from participants. Data were collected using Google Forms and analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. A p value ≤0.05 was considered significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: Most students had good knowledge of online learning; 74.9% reported having received training on the same by their universities and 74.5% further reported to have taken tests on the same. Almost half (45.5%) were knowledgeable of the use of the internet to access materials. Most (79.6%) portrayed a positive attitude toward online learning, agreeing to its use as an integral part of learning. However, 70.2% noted a decrease in concentration and changes in reading habits (44.7%). Regarding challenges faced, unreliable internet connection (56.9%) and lack of motivation (73.7%) were common. Conclusion: The majority of the Kenyan health science students portrayed good knowledge, attitude, and practice toward e-learning amidst challenges.

Objectives: The role of alpha-lipoic acid in the amelioration of iron overload-induced hepatic damage remains largely underexplored. Therefore, this paper aimed at describing the structural effects of alpha-lipoic acid on the liver following iron overload in mice. Methods: After ethical approval, a total of 24 male mice were used. Twenty mice were randomly divided into two groups: A and B. Group A rats received 50 mg/kg of iron dextran intraperitoneally daily for 49 days, while those in Group B received a daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg alpha-lipoic acid by gavage in addition to the treatment in Group A. Four mice were used as normal controls. At the endpoint of the experiment, the livers were harvested and studied for iron deposition, parenchymal histoarchitecture and hepatocyte densities. Photomicrographs were taken using a digital photomicroscope for morphometric analysis. Results: Treatment of mice with iron led to a distortion of the histoarchitecture of the liver which was attenuated with co-administration of alpha-lipoic acid. Additionally, co-treatment of iron with alpha-lipoic acid resulted in significant lowering of hepatic iron deposition (p<0.001), reduction in leukocyte infiltration and significantly greater hepatocyte densities (p<0.001). Conclusion: Alpha-lipoic acid considerably attenuates the structural damage in the liver induced by iron overload.

Background: Duplication of the femoral vein is an important anatomical variation of the venous anatomy which has been shown to have an impact on the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis by compression ultrasonography. The presence of duplication may result in false negative findings while evaluating for deep venous thrombosis, with serious consequences such as pulmonary embolism and death. This metaanalysis aims to determine the pooled prevalence of duplicated femoral veins. Methods: A systematic search was conducted through the major databases PubMed, Hinari, Embase and Medline to identify studies eligible for inclusion. Appropriate data were extracted and pooled into a random-effects metaanalysis using MetaXL software. The primary and secondary outcomes of the study included the pooled prevalence of duplicated femoral veins and the prevalence of bilaterally duplicated femoral veins, respectively. Results: A total of 11 studies (n = 3,682 limbs) were included. The overall pooled prevalence of duplicated femoral veins was 19.7% (95% CI 11–30). There was a significant difference in prevalence between cadaveric studies (2%, 95% CI 1–4) and imaging studies (25%, 95% CI 17–34). Conclusion: Duplication of the femoral vein is a common variation in the lower limbs. Routine watch-out should be practiced especially when performing lower limb Doppler studies in cases of deep venous thrombosis in order to avoid misdiagnosis and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Objectives:The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a known biomarker of clinical and subclinical cardiovascular events and evaluation of therapeutic action. Excessive salt directly causes changes in the common carotid intima and media layers and has been linked to hypertensive disease resulting to changes on vascular structure. Hibiscus sabdariffa is a traditional herbal drink with antihypertensive effects. The anatomical aspects of its effects however, are largely unknown. This study therefore, investigated the effects of hibiscus extract on CIMT in rats fed with a high-salt diet.Methods: Young albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into three groups: (A) high-salt diet alone, (B) high-salt diet and Hibiscus sabdariffa extract and (C) control group fed a normal diet for 8 weeks. Specimens from carotid arteries of rats were fixated and processed for paraffin embedding. Seven-micrometer thick sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin stain and examined under light microscopy. Morphometric measurements were taken to determine the CIMT.Results: High-salt diet increased CIMT from 497.86 μm to 697.85 μm in 8 weeks. In Hibiscus sabdariffa extract fed rats, the CIMT decreased to 542.85 μm (p<0.05) by week 8. Conclusion:Hibiscus sabdariffa extract ameliorates salt-induced increase in CIMT in rats in a time-dependent manner. This implies that Hibiscus sabdariffa products may have therapeutic value in salt-induced vascular morbidity.

The tunica adventitia is an active vascular compartment that actively participates in modulation of vascular structure, function and pathophysiology. Adventitial thickness has recently been accepted as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. The effects of salt and chemicals that ameliorate those effects are important in understanding vascular structure, function and pathology. There are few studies on hibiscus and high salt induced vascular pathology. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of hibiscus on salt induced vascular changes on rat carotid artery. The experimental animals were divided into 3 groups of 8 animals each – (i) controls; (ii) high salt diet alone and (iii) high salt + hibiscus extract for a period of eight weeks. At ages 2, 5 and 8weeks 2 – 3 animals were sacrificed for study. They were anaesthetized with ether and perfused with formal saline. Specimens were then obtained from the middle of common carotid artery, fixed in 5% formaldehyde solution, processed routinely for paraffin embedding and 5-micron thick sections stained with Hematoxylin / Eosin and also with Mason’s Trichome/ Aniline blue. Adventitial thickness and volumetric densities of collagen were measured using morphometric techniques. High salt consumption induced statistically significant increase in adventitial thickness from 297.45μm at week 2 to 659.4μm in week 8. In hibiscus fed rats, this increase progressively reduced to 482.55μm in week 8. Volumetric density of collagen was 57% in high salt fed rats but reduced to 45.66% in hibiscus fed rats (p<0.001). The increase in tunica adventitial thickness and collagen density which is induced by high salt can be mitigated by hibiscus extract. This implies that hibiscus has potential to restore salt induced vascular injury. Further studies are recommended to refine the extract.Keywords: adventitial thickness, high salt, hibiscus, collagen, density