Antibiotic literacy among Japanese medical students

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent global issue. After the AMR action plan was introduced in 2016, a study on antibiotic literacy (i.e., awareness, knowledge, and attitude relating to antimicrobial use) among clinicians and lay people was conducted in Japan. However, no studies have hitherto targeted medical students who are expected to have a high level of antibiotic literacy. The present study was conducted between September 2019 and February 2020, enrolling undergraduate students at Okayama University Medical School. We collected data using a paper-based questionnaire form with 11 questions about antibiotic literacy. The response rate was 93.8% (661/705 students). Overall, 92.6% of the students knew that antibiotics inhibit the growth of bacteria. Student reporting that antibiotics could treat the common cold accounted for 77.0% (Year 1), 50.9% (Year 2), 48.2% (Year 3), 49.1% (Year 4), 23.8% (Year 5), and 26.2% (Year 6). Only 43 (6.5%) had heard about the AMR action plan. The study data suggested that medical students' level of literacy on antimicrobial use should be further enhanced to address AMR and promote antimicrobial stewardship

(-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate Reduces Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB-Stimulated Interleukin-6 Synthesis in Osteoblasts: Suppression of SAPK/JNK

We previously showed that the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase superfamily, p44/p42 MAP kinase, p38 MAP kinase, and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal (JNK), positively plays a part in the platelet-derived growth factor-BB- (PDGF-BB-) stimulated synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a potent bone resorptive agent, in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells while Akt and p70 S6 kinase negatively regulates the synthesis. In the present study, we investigated whether (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the major green tea flavonoids, affects the synthesis of IL-6 in these cells and the mechanism. EGCG significantly reduced the IL-6 synthesis and IL-6 mRNA expression stimulated by PDGF-BB, EGCG reduced the PDGF-BB-stimulated IL-6 synthesis also in primary-cultured osteoblasts. EGCG had no effect on the levels of osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin in MC3T3-E1 cells. The PDGF-BB-induced autophosphorylation of PDGF receptor β was not suppressed by EGCG. The PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase was not affected by EGCG. On the other hand, EGCG markedly suppressed the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK. Finally, the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of Akt and p70 S6 kinase was not affected by EGCG. These results strongly suggest that EGCG inhibits the PDGF-BB-stimulated synthesis of IL-6 via suppression of SAPK/JNK pathway in osteoblasts

Exocytotic features of rat specific atrial granules.

To clarify the mode of secretion of specific atrial granules, rat atrial muscle cells were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Atrial granule formation and exocytotic features of granules were clearly seen. Abrupt breaks in the unit membrane structure of mature granules were observed in thin sections, but these breaks were not detected in freeze-fracture replicas. These findings support the concept that the granule contents are released to the extracellular space by exocytosis.</p

Spin frustration in antiperovskite systems: (TTF˙+or TSF˙+)3[(Mo6X14)2−Y−]

Two novel antiperovskite charge-transfer (CT) solids composed of a tetraselenafulvalene radical cation (TSF˙+), a dianionic molybdenum cluster unit [Mo6X14]2−, and a halogen anion (Y−) (X, Y = Cl, Br) were prepared by electrocrystallization. Their crystal structures and magnetic properties with regard to spin frustration are discussed together with those of isostructural tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) CT solids previously reported. Both TSF and TTF salts have an apex sharing distorted octahedral spin lattice with a rhombohedral R[3 with combining macron] space group. The calculated overlap integrals based on the crystal structures and insulating nature of the TSF salts indicate that they are Mott insulators. Their spin susceptibilities obeyed the Curie–Weiss law and exhibited an antiferromagnetic ordering at lower temperatures for the TSF salts (Néel temperature, TN = 3.0 K for X = Y = Cl and 5.5 K for X = Y = Br) than the TTF salts. The Curie–Weiss temperatures (|ΘCW| ∼ 1.6–6.3 K) for the TSF salts are lower than those of the TTF salts. For the TSF salts, spin-flop behavior was detected at 3.2 T for X = Y = Cl and 1.5 T for X = Y = Br at 1.9 K. Due to both the distortion of the octahedral geometry of the spin lattice and the anisotropic molecular orientation, the geometrical spin frustrations in TSF and TTF systems are weakened

Effects on postgraduate-year-I residents of simulation-based learning compared to traditional lecture-style education led by postgraduate-year-II residents: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based learning plays an important role in contemporary medical education, although there are problems providing tutors. Peer-assisted learning has begun being formally adopted in medical education. Although it is considered useful for simulation-based learning, its effectiveness remains unclear. This study was designed to compare the effect of simulation-based learning with that of traditional lectures conducted by postgraduate-year (PGY)-II residents on PGY-I residents. METHODS: This study was conducted at Okayama University Hospital over three years, for one week each year, before residents entered clinical practice. The study enrolled 76 PGY-I residents, who were randomized into two groups: simulation and lecture groups. PGY-II residents volunteered to conduct simulations and lectures. Knowledge evaluation was performed using pre- and post-tests, and self-evaluation of competence and behaviour-change and program evaluations were conducted using questionnaires. RESULTS: In both groups, knowledge test scores were found to improve significantly, and the score difference between pre- and post-tests in both the groups was not significant. Self-evaluation of competence and behaviour-change was found to be higher in the simulation group than the lecture group. The trainees in the simulation group valued the program and the PGY-II residents as teaching staff more than those in the lecture group. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of simulation-based learning and peer-assisted learning led by PGY-II residents is potentially more effective in improving the postgraduate education of PGY-I residents than the combination of lecture and peer-assisted learning

Excitation spectrum and effective mass of the even-fraction quantum Hall liquid

To probe the nature of the even-fraction quantum Hall system, we have investigated the low-lying excitation spectrum by means of exact diagonalization for finite systems. We have found (i) a striking one-to-one correspondence (i.e., a shell structure) between the spectrum and those for free (composite) fermions, (ii) a surprisingly straight scaling plot for the excitation energy that gives a zero gap (metal) in the thermodynamic limit, (iii) the effective mass evaluated from the scaling becoming heavier for filling factor = 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, but (iv) some deviations from the single-mode or the Hartree-Fock composite fermion approximation as well.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX format, 4 eps-figure