Bioassay-guided identification of an anti-inflammatory prenylated acylphloroglucinol from Melicope ptelefolia and molecular insights into its interaction with 5-lipoxygenase.

A bioassay-guided investigation of Melicope ptelefolia Champ ex Benth (Rutaceae) resulted in the identification of an acyphloroglucinol, 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-geranylacetophenone or tHGA, as the active principle inhibiting soybean 15-LOX. The anti-inflammatory action was also demonstrated on human leukocytes, where the compound showed prominent inhibitory activity against human PBML 5-LOX, with an IC 50 value of 0.42 μM, very close to the effect produced by the commonly used standard, NDGA. The compound concentration-dependently inhibited 5-LOX product synthesis, specifically inhibiting cysteinyl leukotriene LTC4 with an IC 50 value of 1.80 μM, and showed no cell toxicity effects. The anti-inflammatory action does not seem to proceed via redox or metal chelating mechanism since the compound tested negative for these bioactivities. Further tests on cyclooxygenases indicated that the compound acts via a dual LOX/COX inhibitory mechanism, with greater selectivity for 5-LOX and COX-2 (IC 50 value of 0.40 μM). The molecular features that govern the 5-LOX inhibitory activity was thus explored using in silico docking experiments. The residues Ile 553 and Hie 252 were the most important residues in the interaction, each contributing significant energy values of 13.45 (electrostatic) and 5.40 kcal/mol (electrostatic and Van der Waals), respectively. The hydroxyl group of the phloroglucinol core of the compound forms a 2.56 Å hydrogen bond with the side chain of the carboxylate group of Ile 553. Both Ile 553 and Hie 252 are crucial amino acid residues which chelate with the metal ion in the active site. Distorting the geometry of these ligands could be the reason for the inhibition activity shown by tHGA. The molecular simulation studies supported the bioassay results and served as a good model for understanding the way tHGA binds in the active site of human 5-LOX enzyme

Possible participation of nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate/protein kinase C/ATP-sensitive K + channels pathway in the systemic antinociception of flavokawin B.

The possible mechanisms of action in the antinociceptive activity induced by systemic administration (intraperitoneal, i.p.) of flavokawin B (FKB) were analysed using chemical models of nociception in mice. It was demonstrated that i.p. administration of FKB to the mice at 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10 mg/kg produced significant dose-related reduction in the number of abdominal constrictions. The antinociception induced by FKB in the acetic acid test was significantly attenuated by i.p. pre-treatment of mice with l-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthase or glibenclamide, the ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor, but was enhanced by methylene blue, the non-specific guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. FKB also produced dose-dependent inhibition of licking response caused by intraplantar injection of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a protein kinase C activator (PKC). Together, these data indicate that the NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate/PKC/ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway possibly participated in the antinociceptive action induced by FKB

Comparing the effectiveness of peer assisted versus lecture based learning in community medicine nutrition course

Research in medical education has highlighted discontentment with traditional didactic teaching approaches and have supported social and cognitive congruence in student learning. Peer assisted learning (PAL) is a widely reported collaborative educational strategy in medical schools, which has been used sparingly in Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to generate evidence on the applicability and effectiveness of same year PAL in comparison with the established method of lecturing and to understand the perceptions of learners about the two approaches. The research question focused on the association between gender and high school qualifications on effectiveness of PAL and lectures and the perceptions of learners. Mixed method study was conducted using randomized control trial and qualitative case study designs. Ninety nine study participants were recruited through convenience sampling technique from fourth year MBBS class of 2014. They were randomly allocated to the PAL and Lecture cohorts, for the Community Medicine, Nutrition & Health course. Multiple sources of information were employed, including questionnaire, checklist, pre and post-test scores and focus group discussion. Quantitative data was subjected to Chi square, Kruskal-Wallis, ANCOVA, independent sample and paired t tests. The qualitative data was analyzed by triangulation and identification of themes. Key findings indicate that learners embraced PAL as an effective educational strategy for independent cooperative learning, which they found to be gratifying and enjoyable. There was no difference in the academic achievements of the PAL and the Lecture cohorts. PAL can easily be integrated in the present medical curriculum as an adjunct strategy to interactive, learner centered lectures. The social significance of this study was to provide insight to other educators planning to implement similar programs, based on our experience

Perceptions of learners about peer assisted learning and lectures

The study explored the perceptions of learners about peer assisted learning in comparison to established method of lectures, with a view to incorporate peer assisted learning as a supplementary method within the traditional medical syllabus . Mixed method study was conducted using randomized control trial and qualitative case study design. Study participants were recruited through convenience sampling technique from fourth year MBBS class of 2014. Participants were randomly allocated to the peer assisted learning and lecture cohorts, for the Community Medicine, Nutrition & Health course. Sources of information employed were, likert scale inventory and focus group discussion. Quantitative data was subjected to chi square and independent sample t tests. The qualitative data was analyzed by triangulation and identification of themes. Out of a total of 125 students, 99 participated in the study (79%). Key findings indicate that learners embraced peer assisted learning as an effective educational strategy for independent cooperative learning, which they found to be gratifying and enjoyable. peer assisted learning can easily be integrated in the traditional medical curriculum as an adjunct strategy to interactive, learner centered lectures. The social significance of this study was to provide insight to other educators planning to implement similar programs, based on our experience

Determinants of depression among undergraduate medical students of a private medical college in Lahore

Objective: To assess the prevalence and determinants of depression in undergraduate medical students within their learning environment. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan, from May to June 2015, and comprised medical students of all the five professional years. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Section one of the questionnaire related to demographic information, section two comprised Patient health questionnaire-9 for screening depression, and section three was the Dundee ready education environment measure inventory to gather students' perceptions of their learning environment. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Results: Of the 533 students, 206(39%) were males, 327(61%) were females, 213(40%) were of preclinical years and 320(60%) were of clinical academic years. Overall, 399(75%) students were found to be depressed. Of them, 255(64%) were females and 144(36%) were males. Among the students, 96(18%) had negative perception of their learning environment, and out of these, 91(95%) were found to be depressed. There was significant association of depression with female gender (p=0.037) and negative perception of the students of their learning climate (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of depression was found to be high among the medical students and it was associated with female gender and negative perception of the learning environment. Keywords: Patient health questionnaire-9, Depressive symptoms, Environmental determinants, DREEM inventor

Lecture based versus peer assisted learning: quasi-experimental study to compare knowledge gain of forth year medical students in community health and nutrition course

Background: The present study was designed to compare the knowledge gain of students in lectures and peer assisted learning (PAL) via end of course test scores. The purpose of this comparison was to assess the ability of PAL in enhancing academic achievement and to consider its addition within the traditional medical syllabus. Methods: A randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted at Department of Community Medicine, Lahore Medical and Dental College in 2014. Convenience sampling was used and out of 125 fourth year MBBS students, those who agreed to take part in the study (N = 99),were randomly allocated to PAL (n = 49) and lecture (n = 50) groups. Community Health& Nutrition was the course chosen for the study. Both lecture and the PAL sessions were conducted simultaneously and the duration and content covered in each session were the same for both groups. Knowledge gained was assessed through a pre- and post-test. Chi-square test, independent t test, paired t test and analysis of co variance (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis. Results: The study participants demonstrated a significant difference in the pre-test and post-tests cores in both the study groups (P ≤ 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the post-test scores between the Lecture and PAL groups, F (1, 95) = 0.584, P = 0.447.Gender and high school qualifications had no bearing on test scores in both learning groups. Conclusion: The present study concludes that in terms of academic achievements, PAL was equally effective to lectures. Therefore, PAL can be incorporated as a supplement to lectures in medical school curricula

Leukotriene inhibitor and method for producing the same

The present invention relates to a compound for inhibiting cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLT) which is the most potent bronchoconstrictors. The present invention further relates to methods for producing the compound either from natural product or chemical synthesis. The compound from the present invention is potent for preventing or treating inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases and ischemic renal failure

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

•We report INICC device-associated module data of 50 countries from 2010-2015.•We collected prospective data from 861,284 patients in 703 ICUs for 3,506,562 days.•DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance were higher in the INICC ICUs than in CDC-NHSN's.•Device utilization ratio in the INICC ICUs was similar to CDC-NHSN's. Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. Methods: During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days. Results: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs. Conclusions: Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically