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

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