Learning Styles, Academic Achievement, and Gender in a Medical School Setting

Aim: To investigate correlations among learning styles, academic achievement and gender of medical students in preclinical years. Material and Method: All medical students in preclinical years at our institution were approached. The Grasha-Reichmann Student Learning Styles Scale was used to define primary learning style of the participants in six categories (independent, dependent, competitive, collaborative, avoidant, and participant). Academic achievement criteria included thematic block exam scores, final exam scores, and passing grades. Results: Competitive (34.8%) and collaborative (33.7%) were the most frequent learning styles among participants. Competitive learning style was associated with higher mean final exam scores and passing grades. Female students with competitive and collaborative learning styles scored significantly higher than male students. Discussion: Students with competitive learning styles had higher academic achievement than others. Among students with competitive and collaborative styles, there was a gender difference in favor of female students in terms of academic achievement

Medical students' participation in and perception of unprofessional behaviors: comparison of preclinical and clinical phases

We aimed to compare reported observations, participation in, and perceptions of unprofessional behaviors across preclinical and clinical medical students using a 23-item questionnaire that asked participants whether they witnessed or participated in the behavior and considered it unprofessional. Overall, 111 preclinical (year 3) and 104 clinical (year 4) students responded. For all of the behaviors, significant positive correlations were present between participation and affirmative perceptions. Participation rates for several unprofessional behaviors (14 of 23 items) were higher in the clinical phase. Clinical students more frequently perceived unprofessional behaviors as appropriate (17 of 23 items) compared with preclinical students. In conclusion, both preclinical and clinical medical students in our setting commonly witness unprofessional behaviors. Clinical students participate in and tend to rationalize these behaviors more frequently than preclinical students do

Acetylsalicylic acid and ascorbic acid combination improves cognition; Via antioxidant effect or increased expression of NMDARs and nAChRs?

Chronic inflammation occurs systematically in the central nervous system during ageing, it has been shown that neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders. Aspirin, a nonselective COX inhibitor, as well as ascorbic acid, has been purported to protect cerebral tissue. We investigated the effects of subchronic aspirin and ascorbic acid usage on spatial learning, oxidative stress and expressions of NR2A, NR2B, nAChR alpha 7, alpha 4 and beta 2. Forty male rats (16-18 months) were divided into 4 groups, namely, control, aspirin-treated, ascorbic acid-treated, aspirin + ascorbic acid-treated groups. Following 10-weeks administration period, rats were trained and tested in the Morris water maze. 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde were evaluated by ELISA and HPLC, respectively. Receptor expressions were assessed by western blotting of hippocampi. Spatial learning performance improved partially in the aspirin group, but significant improvement was seen in the aspirin + ascorbic acid group (p < 0.05). While 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased, NR2B and nAChRa7 expressions were significantly increased in the aspirin + ascorbic acid group as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Subchronic treatment with aspirin + ascorbic acid in aged rats was shown to enhance cognitive performance and increase the expressions of several receptors related to learning and memory process. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effects of maternally exposed coloring food additives on receptor expressions related to learning and memory in rats

Exposure to artificial food colors and additives (AFCAs) has been implicated in the induction and severity of some childhood behavioral and learning disabilities. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nACHRs) are thought to be effective in the learning and memory-generating process. In this study, we investigated the effects of intrauterine exposure to AFCAs on subunit concentrations of NMDARs and nAChRs isoforms in rats. We administered a mixture of AFCAs (Eritrosin, Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, Sunset Yellow FCF, Tartrazin, Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Azoruhin and Indigotin) to female rats before and during gestation. The concentration of NR2A and NR2B subunits and nAChR alpha 7, alpha 4 beta 2 isoforms in their offspring's hippocampi were measured by Western Blotting. Expressions of NR2B and nAChR beta 2 were significantly increased (17% and 6.70%, respectively), whereas expression of nAChR alpha 4 was significantly decreased (5.67%) in male experimental group compared to the male control group (p < 0.05). In the female experimental group, AFCAs caused a 14% decrease in NR2B expression when compared to the female control group (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that exposure to AFCAs during the fetal period may lead to alterations in expressions of NMDARs and nAChRs in adulthood. These alterations were different between male and female genders. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Immunoadsorption method using immunoglobulin Adsopak in adult cases with ITP resistant to splenectomy and other medical therapies

Background: Despite all medical therapies and splenectomy performed, severe life-threatening thrombocytopenia persists in many adult patients

Are there any remarkable effects of prenatal exposure to food colourings on neurobehaviour and learning process in rat offspring?

Objective: Artificial food colourings and additives (AFCAs) have long been discussed to have adverse effects on cognition and behaviour in children. In this study, our aim was to assess the probable side effects of prenatal exposure to colouring food additives on neurobehaviour and spatial learning process

Effects of maternally exposed coloring food additives on receptor expressions related to learning and memory in rats

Exposure to artificial food colors and additives (AFCAs) has been implicated in the induction and severity of some childhood behavioral and learning disabilities. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nACHRs) are thought to be effective in the learning and memory-generating process. In this study, we investigated the effects of intrauterine exposure to AFCAs on subunit concentrations of NMDARs and nAChRs isoforms in rats. We administered a mixture of AFCAs (Eritrosin, Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, Sunset Yellow FCF, Tartrazin, Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Azoruhin and Indigotin) to female rats before and during gestation. The concentration of NR2A and NR2B subunits and nAChR alpha 7, alpha 4 beta 2 isoforms in their offspring's hippocampi were measured by Western Blotting. Expressions of NR2B and nAChR beta 2 were significantly increased (17% and 6.70%, respectively), whereas expression of nAChR alpha 4 was significantly decreased (5.67%) in male experimental group compared to the male control group (p < 0.05). In the female experimental group, AFCAs caused a 14% decrease in NR2B expression when compared to the female control group (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that exposure to AFCAs during the fetal period may lead to alterations in expressions of NMDARs and nAChRs in adulthood. These alterations were different between male and female genders. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The effect of learning styles and study behavior on success of preclinical students in pharmacology

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of learning styles and study behaviors on preclinical medical students pharmacology exam scores in a non-Western setting

Evaluation of Lipid Peroxidation and Oxidative DNA Damage in Patients With Periodontitis and Hyperlipidemia

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), as a lipid peroxidation marker, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as an oxidative DNA damage marker, in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and hyperlipidemia

Investigation of Factors Affecting Cost of Geriatric Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department

Objective: Increased health cost, which is one of the major problems of countries, makes cost analysis studies become important in specific age groups and clinics. Although the aged population has an enormous role in increasing health costs, there are not much data about follow-up and treatment costs of geriatric patients in the Emergency Departments. We believe that the data obtained from this study would help to improve some arrangements about the geriatric population in ED's including cost and efficiency