Experiences from two ways of integrating Pre- and Post-course Multiple-choice assessment questions in educational events for surgeons

To examine how to optimise the integration of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for learning in continuing professional development (CPD) events in surgery, we implemented and evaluated two methods in two subspecialities over multiple years. The same 12 MCQs were administered pre- and post-event in 66 facial trauma courses. Two different sets of 10 MCQs were administered pre- and post-event in 21 small animal fracture courses. We performed standard psychometric tests on responses from participants who completed both the pre- and post-event assessment. The average difficulty index pre-course was 57% with a discrimination index of 0.20 for small animal fractures and 53% with a discrimination index of 0.15 for facial trauma. For the majority of the individual MCQs, the scores were between 30%-70% and the discrimination index was >0.10. The difficulty index post-course increased in both groups (to 75% and 62%). The pre-course MCQs resulted in an average score in the expected range for both formats suggesting they were appropriate for the intended level of difficulty and an appropriate pre-course learning activity. Post-course completion resulted in increased scores with both formats. Both delivery methods worked well in all regions and overall quality depends on applying a solid item development and validation process

MCD and Induced CD of a Tetraphenoxyperylene-Based Dye in Chiral Solvents: An Experimental and Computational Study

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of N,N '-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,6,7,12-tetraphenoxyperylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxydiimide, also known as Lumogen Red 300 or ROT-300, has been recorded both in achiral and chiral solvents. The induced CD spectra in chiral solvents have, similarly, been recorded. A discussion of the spectroscopic response, both in CD and in MCD experiments, is presented in this paper. Both types of spectra have been predicted most satisfactorily by DFT calculations; the CD spectra were obtained by assuming the prevalence of one "enantiomeric" conformer and the same set of conformers could also be used for MCD, since "enantiomeric" structures present identically in MCD spectra

Hepatitis C virus and alcohol: Same mitotic targets but different signaling pathways

Background & Aims: Chromosomal aberrations are frequently observed in hepatitis C virus (HCV)- and alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The mechanisms by which chromosomal aberrations occur during hepatocarcinogenesis are still unknown. However, these aberrations are considered to be the result of deregulation of some mitotic proteins, including the alteration of Cyclin B1 and Aurora kinase A expression, and the phosphorylation of gamma-tubulin. Our study aims at investigating changes in expression of the above mentioned proteins and related intracellular pathways, in in vitro and in vivo models of both HCV- and alcohol- dependent HCCs.Methods: In this study, the molecular defects and the mechanisms involved in deregulation of the mitotic machinery were analyzed in human hepatoma cells, expressing HCV proteins treated or not with ethanol, and in liver tissues from control subjects (n = 10) and patients with HCV- (n = 10) or alcohol-related (n = 10) HCCs.Results: Expression of Cyclin B1, Aurora kinase A, and tyrosine-phosphorylated gamma-tubulin was analyzed in models reproducing HCV infection and ethanol treatment in HCC cells. Interestingly, HCV and alcohol increased the expression of Cyclin B, Aurora kinase A, and tyrosine-phosphorylated gamma-tubulin also in tissues from patients with HCV- or alcohol-related HCCs. In vitro models suggest that HCV requires the expression of PKR (RNA-activated protein kinase), as well as JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) proteins; while, ethanol bypasses all these pathways.Conclusions: Our results support the idea that HCV and alcohol may promote oncogenesis by acting through the same mitotic proteins, but via different signaling pathways. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of the European Association for the Study of the Liver

Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Some [2]Paracyclo[2](5,8)quinoliphane Derivatives with Planar and Central Chirality

With the aim of finding and characterizing new simple organic molecules (SOM) generating circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), we test here nine [2]paracyclo[2](5,8)-quinoliphane derivatives, whose circular dichroism (CD) spectra were previously measured at short wavelengths in a study encompassing also OR and VCD (CD in the IR). Completion of the CD spectra is carried out with attention paid to weaker and longer wavelength features. The observed signs of the CPL spectra are compared to the signs of the CD band at the longest wavelength and are found coincident except in two cases. The magnitudes of dissymmetry ratios g in luminescence are of the order 10−3, like the corresponding |g| values for the absorption case. TD-DFT calculations for the two simplest cases provide details on the molecular orbitals involved in the transitions responsible for the observed signals of these molecules. The calculations allow us to provide also a first explanation of the two observed behaviors of the |glum|/|gabs| ratios

The role of chirality in a set of key intermediates of pharmaceutical interest, 3-aryl-substituted-γ-butyrolactones, evidenced by chiral HPLC separation and by chiroptical spectroscopies

The enantiomers of four chiral 3-aryl-substituted-\u3b3-butyrolactones, key intermediates for the preparation of compounds of pharmaceutical interest, were successfully isolated by enantioselective chromatography, employing the Chiralpak AD-H chiral stationary phase. For all compounds the same elution order was observed, as monitored by a full set of chiroptical methods that we employed, namely ORD (optical rotatory dispersion), ECD (electronic circular dichroism, or CD in the UV range), and VCD (vibrational circular dichroism, or CD in the IR range). By density functional theory (DFT) calculations we were able to determine that the first eluted enantiomer has (S) absolute configuration in all four cases. We were able to justify the elution order by molecular docking calculations for all four enantiomeric pairs and suitable modeling of the stationary and mobile phases of the employed columns. The optimal performance of the chiroptical spectroscopies and of the DFT calculations allows us to formulate a lactone chirality rule out of the CO stretching region of the VCD spectra

Passive sentinel surveillance system for sexually transmitted diseases in primary healthcare sites in Ethiopia, 1991–3

Background: In 1989 the ministry of health of Ethiopia launched an STD control programme to strengthen the STD case management capabilities at public health centres and hospitals. The programme included the introduction of a syndrome based system for notification of STD cases. We here report the data originated by the syndromic case reporting system under programme conditions. Methods: 35 (17%) of the total 225 hospitals and public health centres of Ethiopia were included in the programme. Information relevant to the years 1991 to 1993 was analysed at mid 1994. Results: 32 clinical sites (91% of the total) provided at least one monthly report. The proportion of monthly reports received was 65% of those due, ranging from 51% in 1991 to 73% in 1992 and 42% in 1993. A total of 77 294 consultations for STD related symptoms were recorded, including 70 200 new cases, 6588 repeated consultations, and 506 partners of STD patients. Among first attendant patients 38 459 (52.7%) were males with a male to female ratio of 1:1. Urethral discharge and vaginal discharge were the leading cause of consultation among males (58%) and females (64%) respectively. The frequency of genital ulcer diseases was 26% among males and 15% among females. Inguinal adenopathy in the absence of genital ulcers was also frequent, accounting for 10% of consulting males and 5% of females. Based on Gram stain, gonorrhoea was identified in 64% of the cases of urethral discharge, while trichomoniasis and candidiasis were identified by wet mount in 28% and 16% of the cases of vaginal discharge respectively. Conclusions: STDs are a common cause of consultation at public health centre sites in Ethiopia. A syndromic case reporting system proved to be efficient and produced valuable information to initiate assessment of the problem and to set up bases for monitoring trends of STD morbidity. Key Words: sexually transmitted diseases; case notification; Ethiopi

Characterization of tetrakis(thiadiazole)porphyrazine metal complexes by magnetic circular dichroism and magnetic circularly polarized luminescence

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of metal complexes of tetrakis(thiadiazole)porphyrazines ([TTDPzM] with M = 2HI, ZnII, MgII(H2O), and CdII) have been recorded in dimethyl formamide solution. Together with the UV–Vis spectra, the MCD spectra provide useful information about the structure and electronic properties of the complexes. The experimental UV–Vis and MCD spectra compare pretty well with DFT calculations of two sorts, based either on the sum-over-states (SOS) approach or on the complex polarization propagator approach. They further corroborate the findings and interpretation of MCD spectra of porphyrazines based on the model of Michl for peripheral molecular orbitals. Magnetic circularly polarized luminescence (MCPL) spectra, quite uncommon in the literature, have been recorded for [TTDPzM] (M = 2HI, ZnII, MgII(H2O))

New naphthyl derivatives from Aspergillus californicus

Two new naphthyl-products calinaphthyltriol A (1) and calinaphthalenone A (2) were isolated from Aspergillus californicus IBT 16748 together with one known compound ophiobolin X (3). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of 2 was solved by comparing its optical rotation with data for the known compounds 4, 5, and 6 as well as theoretical calculations. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of 1 and 3 were evaluated. Both compounds did not show antibacterial activity (MIC > 96 µg·ml−1) against a few selected clinically relevant Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. However, they showed moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell line with IC50 values of 18 and 24 µg·ml−1, respectively

Spatial mapping of juxtacrine axo-glial interactions identifies novel molecules in peripheral myelination

Cell-cell interactions promote juxtacrine signals in specific subcellular domains, which are difficult to capture in the complexity of the nervous system. For example, contact between axons and Schwann cells triggers signals required for radial sorting and myelination. Failure in this interaction causes dysmyelination and axonal degeneration. Despite its importance, few molecules at the axo-glial surface are known. To identify novel molecules in axo-glial interactions, we modified the 'pseudopodia' sub-fractionation system and isolated the projections that glia extend when they receive juxtacrine signals from axons. By proteomics we identified the signalling networks present at the glial-leading edge, and novel proteins, including members of the Prohibitin family. Glial-specific deletion of Prohibitin-2 in mice impairs axo-glial interactions and myelination. We thus validate a novel method to model morphogenesis and juxtacrine signalling, provide insights into the molecular organization of the axo-glial contact, and identify a novel class of molecules in myelination