Evaluating the Educational Use of Ultrasound and Custom-Made Imaging Phantoms in Anatomy Teaching

The use of ultrasound as a teaching adjunct is growing quickly, as it allows learners to visualise structures from an integrated perspective enhancing understanding of topographic anatomy. Ultrasound also allows vocational learners to practise important skills (e.g. central venous catheterisation on imaging phantoms). The perceived educational usefulness of hands-on ultrasound and imaging phantoms was assessed using a 0-5 Likert scale. The custom-made phantom was designed in-house using gelatine and penne pasta simulating the echogenicity of neck vessels with and without atherosclerotic plaques. Undergraduate honours science students, from a clinically applied anatomy course, were invited to complete a fully anonymous questionnaire in January 2019 at the University of Glasgow, UK. The teaching session focused on cerebrovascular disease and the students actively scanned the phantoms in the context of carotid disease. As these data were collected anonymously for teaching evaluation to inform future practice, ethical approval was not sought. Data were analysed in SPSS version 24 using non-parametric tests. Twenty-eight out of forty-seven students returned the questionnaires (60% response rate). Based on their experience, 100% of respondents would recommend the use of ultrasound for anatomy learning. The mean score for the perceived usefulness of the ultrasound and imaging phantom as teaching adjuncts in learning the content was 4.96 (SD: 0.189; min-max range: 4-5) and 4.82 (SD: 0.390; min-max range: 4-5) respectively. The mean score for the interaction with the ultrasound aiding understanding of the content was 4.79 (SD: 0.499; min-max range: 3-5). There was a statistically significant correlation between the perceived ultrasound usefulness and the interaction aiding understanding (r=0.394; p=0.038). These data not only highlight the usefulness of hands-on ultrasound within educational settings, but also the potential applications of custom-made imaging phantoms. This area is evolving quickly and more research will allow educationalists to better delineate the role of ultrasound and phantoms

The effect of krill oil supplementation on skeletal muscle function and size in older adults: A randomised controlled trial

Background & aims The aim of this study was to determine the effect of krill oil supplementation, on muscle function and size in healthy older adults. Methods Men and women, aged above 65 years, with a BMI less than 35kg/m2, who participated in less than 1h per week of structured self-reported exercise, were enrolled in the study (NCT04048096) between March 2018 and March 2020. Participants were randomised to either control or krill oil supplements (4g/day) for 6 months in this double blind randomised controlled trial. At baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months, knee extensor maximal torque was measured as the primary outcome of the study. Secondary outcomes measured were grip strength, vastus lateralis muscle thickness, short performance physical battery test, body fat, muscle mass, blood lipids, glucose, insulin, and C-Reactive Protein, neuromuscular (M-Wave, RMS and voluntary activation), and erythrocyte fatty acid composition. Results A total of 102 men and women were enrolled in the study. Ninety-four participants (krill group (26 women and 23 men) and placebo group (27 women and 18 men)) completed the study (mean (SD): age 71.2 (5.1) years and weight 71.8 (12.3) kg). Six months supplementation with krill oil resulted in, an increase in knee extensor maximal torque, grip strength and vastus lateralis muscle thickness, relative to control (

Evaluating the Educational Use of Ultrasound and Custom-Made Imaging Phantoms in Anatomy Teaching

The use of ultrasound as a teaching adjunct is growing quickly, as it allows learners to visualise structures from an integrated perspective enhancing understanding of topographic anatomy. Ultrasound also allows vocational learners to practise important skills (e.g. central venous catheterisation on imaging phantoms). The perceived educational usefulness of hands-on ultrasound and imaging phantoms was assessed using a 0-5 Likert scale. The custom-made phantom was designed in-house using gelatine and penne pasta simulating the echogenicity of neck vessels with and without atherosclerotic plaques. Undergraduate honours science students, from a clinically applied anatomy course, were invited to complete a fully anonymous questionnaire in January 2019 at the University of Glasgow, UK. The teaching session focused on cerebrovascular disease and the students actively scanned the phantoms in the context of carotid disease. As these data were collected anonymously for teaching evaluation to inform future practice, ethical approval was not sought. Data were analysed in SPSS version 24 using non-parametric tests. Twenty-eight out of forty-seven students returned the questionnaires (60% response rate). Based on their experience, 100% of respondents would recommend the use of ultrasound for anatomy learning. The mean score for the perceived usefulness of the ultrasound and imaging phantom as teaching adjuncts in learning the content was 4.96 (SD: 0.189; min-max range: 4-5) and 4.82 (SD: 0.390; min-max range: 4-5) respectively. The mean score for the interaction with the ultrasound aiding understanding of the content was 4.79 (SD: 0.499; min-max range: 3-5). There was a statistically significant correlation between the perceived ultrasound usefulness and the interaction aiding understanding (r=0.394; p=0.038). These data not only highlight the usefulness of hands-on ultrasound within educational settings, but also the potential applications of custom-made imaging phantoms. This area is evolving quickly and more research will allow educationalists to better delineate the role of ultrasound and phantoms

The effect of krill oil supplementation on skeletal muscle function and size in older adults: a randomised controlled trial

Background & aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of krill oil supplementation, on muscle function and size in healthy older adults. Methods: Men and women, aged above 65 years, with a BMI less than 35kg/m2, who participated in less than 1h per week of structured self-reported exercise, were enrolled in the study (NCT04048096) between March 2018 and March 2020. Participants were randomised to either control or krill oil supplements (4g/day) for 6 months in this double blind randomised controlled trial. At baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months, knee extensor maximal torque was measured as the primary outcome of the study. Secondary outcomes measured were grip strength, vastus lateralis muscle thickness, short performance physical battery test, body fat, muscle mass, blood lipids, glucose, insulin, and C-Reactive Protein, neuromuscular (M-Wave, RMS and voluntary activation), and erythrocyte fatty acid composition. Results: A total of 102 men and women were enrolled in the study. Ninety-four participants (krill group (26 women and 23 men) and placebo group (27 women and 18 men)) completed the study (mean (SD): age 71.2 (5.1) years and weight 71.8 (12.3) kg). Six months supplementation with krill oil resulted in, an increase in knee extensor maximal torque, grip strength and vastus lateralis muscle thickness, relative to control (p<0.05). The 6-month treatment effects were 9.3% (95%CI: 2.8, 15.8%), 10.9% (95%CI: 8.3, 13.6%) and 3.5% (95%CI: 2.1, 4.9%) respectively. Increases in erythrocyte fatty acid profile were seen with krill oil for EPA 214% (95%CI: 166, 262%), DHA 36% (95%CI: 24, 48%) and the omega-3 index 61% (95%CI: 49, 73%), relative to control (p < 0.05). Krill oil resulted in an increased, relative to control (p < 0.05), M-Wave of 17% (95%CI: 12.7, 38.1%) but there was no effect of krill oil on RMS, voluntary activation, or on any other secondary outcomes such as performance of the short performance physical battery test or quality of life. Conclusion: Krill oil supplementation for 6 months results in statistically and clinically significant increases in muscle function and size in healthy older adults. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04048096