OBJECTIVE: To identify the topics difficult to understand in learning Anatomy and to investigate the reasons of difficulty and their possible solutions. METHODS: This descriptive observational study was conducted at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from April to November 2019. Open ended and validated questionnaires were filled by 205 undergraduate medical students at the end of their academic year to ensure that complete course of anatomy including gross anatomy, histology and embryology were covered by students. Students were asked to specify the problem area, the subtopics, give the reasons for topics being difficult and mention possible solutions they think will help them in better understanding of these difficult areas. The problems having 5 or less number of responses were not included in the analysis. RESULTS: Embryology, histology & neuroanatomy were perceived as the most difficult areas by 89%, 62% & 61% of students respectively. Constraint of time (41% for gross anatomy & 26% for embryology), high difficulty level (35% for embryology & 29% for gross anatomy) and difficulty in differentiation of slides (34% for histology) were the main reasons for problems in understanding the topics. Use of more 3-D aids (61%) & revision classes along with written tests (39%) were commonest possible solutions for perceived difficulties by students. CONCLUSION: Embryology has been perceived as the most difficult topic of anatomy by the students of second year MBBS followed by gross anatomy and Histology. Time constrain was suggested as main reason and Use of 3-D aids as main solution for difficulties.

Objective: To determine the effects of carboplatin and alpha-tocopherol co-administration on gross kidney features and renal cortical tubules of carboplatin-treated rats. Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College/National University of Medical Sciences Rawalpindi Pakistan, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Pathology Lab Pak Emirates Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Dec, 2021. Methodology: Thirty adults "Sprague-Dawley rats" of both genders were used and were divided into three Groups. Group-A was the Control Group. Groups B and C were given injection carboplatin 2.5 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally on the first day. Group-C was given vitamin E at a dose of 62.7 mg/kg body weight daily via oral gavage starting from the second day of the experiment till the end of 12 weeks. Rats were euthanized at the end, kidneys were dissected, and they were preserved in 10% formalin after gross inspection. Tissue processing and staining were performed. A microscopic study was done to observe proximal and distal tubule necrosis. Results: Thirty adult Sprague Dawley rats, of age 10-12 weeks, and weight 250.0±50.0 grams, were included, there was statistically significant difference in the animal weight difference (p=0.001), length of right kidneys (cm) (p=0.002), width of right kidney (cm) (p= 0.001) and weight of right kidney (gm) (p=0.012) kidneys and relative tissue body weight index (RTBWI) (p = 0.048) of Control Group-A and Experimental Group B and C. Conclusion: Alpha-tocopherol has an ameliorative effect on gross features of rat kidneys..........

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