COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PROFESSIONALISM OF FUTURE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AMONG THREE PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGES OF BANGLADESH

Objectives: Medical professionalism forms the bridge between doctors and society. Conserving and maintaining professionalism is obligatory for physician curriculum. The objective of this study was to scrutinize and compare the professionalism of future medical professionals among different medical institutes. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted on 332 year-III and year-IV MBBS students of session 2012-2013 from three private medical colleges in Bangladesh. Data was collected using a mixed validated instrument containing items under fundamental elements of professionalism, measured by 5-points Likert scale giving a maximum score of 220. Results: Among 332 respondents, 44% were male, 56% female; Year-III respondents constituted 51% and Year-IV constituted 49%. Mean professionalism scores for male and female were 176.21 and 175.33, while for Year-III and Year-IV were 174.96 and 176.50 respectively. No significant differences observed between gender and year of study. However, significant differences were noticed between year-IV male students among three medical colleges. Majority (83%) students were imprecise of professionalism. Conclusions: Lack of focus is a worry for professionalism. Educators should focus on fundamental elements of professionalism. KEYWORDS: Professionalism, Medical-student, Core-values, Comparisons, Bangladesh

Evaluation of doctors’ performance as facilitators in basic medical science lecture classes in a new Malaysian medical school

Background: Didactic lecture is the oldest and most commonly used method of teaching. In addition, it is considered one of the most efficient ways to disseminate theories, ideas, and facts. Many critics feel that lectures are an obsolete method to use when students need to perform hands-on activities, which is an everyday need in the study of medicine. This study evaluates students’ perceptions regarding lecture quality in a new medical school. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted of the medical students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin. The study population was 468 preclinical medical students from years 1 and 2 of academic year 2012–2013. Data were collected using a validated instrument. There were six different sections of questions using a 5-point Likert scale. The data were then compiled and analyzed, using SPSS version 20. Results: The response rate was 73%. Among 341 respondents, 30% were male and 70% were female. Eighty-five percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that the lectures had met the criteria with regard to organization of lecture materials. Similarly, 97% of students agree or strongly agree that lecturers maintained adequate voices and gestures. Conclusion: Medical students are quite satisfied with the lecture classes and the lectures. However, further research is required to identify student-centered teaching and learning methods to promote active learning

Transmission electron microscopical assessment of black cumin fixed oil treatment on rat's hippocampus with surgically induced neurodegeneration

A growing body of evidence now supports the hypothesis that critically attained threshold cerebral hypoperfusion (CATCH) accelerates age related neurodegeneration. Such threshold was achieved in rats by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO). The hippocampal CA1 region pyramidal cells are the earliest neurons to degenerate following 2VO intervention. Nigella sativa oil extract (NSO) was found to preserve viability of cerebellar neuron cells in vitro putting forward its potential neuroprotective effect. The study objective was to assess the effect of NSO treatment on hippocampal pyramidal and other neighboring cells within CA1 subfield of rats with CATCH that was achieved through 2VO procedure. Nine rats were equally divided into three groups: sham control, untreated 2VO and NSO treated group (2VO with daily oral NSO treatment). After the 10th postoperative week coronal sections of the hippocampus were collected and processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The neurodegenerative changes observed in pyramidal cells, astrocytes, endothelial basement membrane and axoplasms within CA1 hippocampal region of 2VO group were not observed in sham control group. Meanwhile, NSO treated groups hardly showed ultrastructural neurodegenerative changes similar to those observed in untreated 2VO group. This indicates a promising prospective neuroprotective activity provided by NSO treatment to prevent age related neurodegenerative diseases especially Alzheimer’s disease. Keywords: Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer, hippocampus, 2VO, Nigella sativa, Transmission electron microscopy, rat

HEPATO-PROTECTIVE ROLE OF THE AQUEOUS AND N-HEXANE EXTRACTS OF NIGELLA SATIVA LINN. IN EXPERIMENTAL LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS

Objective: Liver disease is associated with the formation of oxygen derived free radicals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as nitrogen species are responsible for nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell death. Active principle of thymoquinone (TQ) of Nigella sativa acts as a scavenger of superoxide anion. Current study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Nigella sativa on rats. Methods: The study was carried out at prime postgraduate medical University of Bangladesh. Liver damage and oxidative stress were evaluated by measuring serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and hepatic Glutathione (GSH) levels. Aqueous extract of Nigella sativa and n-hexane extract of Nigella sativa were administered orally into two groups' of rats through intra-gastric tube for 28 days. Both the groups received paracetamol intraperitoneally on day 28th and were sacrificed on day 30th. Subsequently, the following parameters were studied: Serum ALT, hepatic MDA, and hepatic GSH. Results: Hepatic damage was evaluated by significant increases in serum ALT (p<0.001) and hepatic MDA (p<0.001) concentration with depleted hepatic GSH (p<0.001) in paracetamol treated group. Pre-treated with aqueous extract of Nigella sativa significantly reduced serum ALT (p<0.001) and hepatic MDA (p<0.001) levels and also significantly associated with the increase in hepatic GSH (p<0.01). Pretreatment with n-hexane extracts of Nigella sativa decreased serum ALT (p<0.001), hepatic MDA (p<0.001) and increased hepatic GSH (p<0.001). Conclusion: Hepatoprotective properties of Nigella sativa in liver damage of experimental rats by reducing oxidative stress is evident. Protection afforded by the n-hexane extract of Nigella Sativa in pre-treated group has also been validated. KEY WORDS: Hepatoprotective, Liver-damage, Nigella sativa Linn

Translation termination mutations analysis using the protein truncation test on exon11A of the BRCA1 gene in female breast cancer patients of Pahang, Malaysia

Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers in Malaysian females. Searching for a molecular link between breast cancer, early onset gene 1 (BRCA1) mutations and the development of early onset breast cancer has been of major interest over the past two decades. BRCA1 gene is located on chromosome 17 and known as a tumour suppressor gene maintaining genomic integrity to prevent uncontrolled proliferation of cells. Previous studies have found several translation termination mutations that led to the formation of truncated protein. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of detectable germ-line translation termination mutations within nucleotide 790 until 1950 of the coding region of BRCA1 gene. Subsequently we aim to contribute any detected mutations to the Breast Cancer Information Core (BIC). Information regarding age and family history of breast or ovarian cancer were obtained from each patient and control. DNA extracted from the blood samples was screened for the presence of translation termination mutations in Exon 11 (segment A) of the BRCA1 gene by the Protein Truncation Test (PTT). The PTT analysis did not detect any truncations, which indicates that there were no translation termination mutations in the investigated BRCA1 gene segment. These findings were subsequently verified by DNA sequencing analysis. Hence, this study concludes that there were no translation termination mutations within the studied segment of the BRCA1 gene in the studied population. Therefore we suggest other studies regarding other segments of Exon 11 and other Exons of the BRCA1 gene in addition to other types of mutations for future studies