Insulin and leptin relations in obesity: a multimedia approach.

Full Abstract

Obesity has been recognized as a worldwide public health problem. It significantly increases the chances of developing several diseases, including Type II diabetes. The roles of insulin and leptin in obesity involve reactions that can be better understood when they are presented step by step. The aim of this work was to design software with data from some of the most recent publications on obesity, especially those concerning the roles of insulin and leptin in this metabolic disturbance. The most notable characteristic of this software is the use of animations representing the cellular response together with the presentation of recently discovered mechanisms on the participation of insulin and leptin in processes leading to obesity. The software was field tested in the Biochemistry of Nutrition web-based course. After using the software and discussing its contents in chatrooms, students were asked to answer an evaluation survey about the whole activity and the usefulness of the software within the learning process. The teaching assistants (TA) evaluated the software as a tool to help in the teaching process. The students' and TAs' satisfaction was very evident and encouraged us to move forward with the software development and to improve the use of this kind of educational tool in biochemistry classes.

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Author information

Author/s: Yokaichiya, Daniela K (DK); Galembeck, Eduardo (E); Torres, Bayardo B (BB); Da Silva, José Antônio (JA); de Araujo, Daniele R (DR);

Affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Advances in physiology education (Adv Physiol Educ), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 32 (issue 3) : pp 231-6

Dates: Created 2008/09/16; Completed 2008/10/03;

PMID: 18794246, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Biochemistry - education
Computer-Assisted Instruction
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - etiology; metabolism
Education, Distance - methods
Health Education - methods
Humans
Insulin - metabolism

Leptin - metabolism
Multimedia
Obesity - complications; metabolism
Program Evaluation
Software
Teaching - methods
Teaching Materials

Associated Chemicals: Leptin (0) ; Insulin (11061-68-0)

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