'Getting the VIBE’ in biochemistry education

Adapting to the recent changing educational landscape has inevitably widened the knowledge gap within an undergraduate biochemistry cohort, presenting challenges to educators to engage with and enhance understanding in biochemistry.  Students with a tenuous grasp of basic chemistry (and mathematics) concepts struggle to progress.  Visual literacy requires interpreting external representations of molecules into a spatial, 3D conceptual understanding yet competency can be hard to achieve (Linenberger et al, 2015; Hall, 2017; Lohning, 2019).  This study aimed to enhance engagement and understanding by incorporating a series of voluntary workshops harnessing 3D technologies focused on identifying key protein-ligand interactions underpinning drug action. Our ‘VIBE’ (or ‘Virtual reality In Biochemistry Education’) sessions included use of Oculus headsets (VR) allowing students to ‘step inside a protein’, molecular modelling (cheminformatics) and 3D printed proteins. During the session, students completed a workbook prior to being invited to participate in a qualitative feedback survey on their experience, perceived learning and engagement. Qualitative data were analysed thematically while quantitative data comparing students’ preferences and perceptions were represented graphically as percentage of participant pool. 80-100% of participants, between 2020-2023, agreed both VR and 3D modelling improved understanding because of the ability to physically explore structure at the molecular level detail while VR lead improved engagement. Thematic analysis supported enhanced engagement with VR and virtual, 3D modelling platforms. 3D printed proteins were less useful due to print quality limitations. Cost and technical considerations for these sessions were not trivial and are limited to small groups. This valuable feedback will help guide deployment of 3D technologies for future cohorts. REFERENCES Linenberger, K. J., & Bretz, S. L. (2015). Biochemistry students' ideas about how an enzyme interacts with a substrate. Biochemistry and molecular biology education: a bimonthly publication of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(4), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.20868 Hall, S., Grant, G., Arora, D., Karaksha, A., McFarland, A., Lohning, A., & Anoopkumar-Dukie, S. (2017). A pilot study assessing the value of 3D printed molecular modelling tools for pharmacy student education. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning, 9(4), 723–728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2017.03.029 Lohning, A. E., Hall, S., & Dukie, S. (2019). Enhancing Understanding in Biochemistry Using 3D Printing and Cheminformatics Technologies: A Student Perspective. Journal of Chemical Education, 96(11), 2497-2502. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b0096

‘Getting the Vibe’ in Biochemistry Education

Adapting to the recent changing educational landscape has inevitably widened the knowledge gap within an undergraduate biochemistry cohort, presenting challenges to educators to engage with and enhance understanding in biochemistry. Students with a tenuous grasp of basic chemistry (and mathematics) concepts struggle to progress. Visual literacy requires interpreting external representations of molecules into a spatial, 3D conceptual understanding yet competency can be hard to achieve (Linenberger et al, 2015; Hall, 2017; Lohning, 2019).This study aimed to enhance engagement and understanding by incorporating a series of voluntary workshops harnessing 3D technologies focused on identifying key protein-ligand interactions underpinning drug action. Our ‘VIBE’ (or ‘Virtual reality In Biochemistry Education’) sessions included use of Oculus headsets (VR) allowing students to ‘step inside a protein’, molecular modelling (cheminformatics) and 3D printed proteins. During the session, students completed a workbook prior to being invited to participate in a qualitative feedback survey on their experience, perceived learning and engagement. Qualitative data were analysed thematically while quantitative data comparing students’ preferences and perceptions were represented graphically as percentage of participant pool.80-100% of participants, between 2020-2023, agreed both VR and 3D modelling improved understanding because of the ability to physically explore structure at the molecular level detail while VR lead improved engagement. Thematic analysis supported enhanced engagement with VR and virtual, 3D modelling platforms. 3D printed proteins were less useful due to print quality limitations. Cost and technical considerations for these sessions were not trivial and are limited to small groups. This valuable feedback will help guide deployment of 3D technologies for future cohorts

Supplemental prophylactic intervention for chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis (spice) trial: Protocol for a multi-centre double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial

Aim: There is significant recent interest in the role of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) as an adjuvant therapy for chemotherapy‐induced nausea. The supplemental prophylactic intervention for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and emesis (SPICE) trial aims to assess the efficacy by reduced incidence and severity of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting, and enhanced quality of life, safety and cost effectiveness of a standardised adjuvant ginger root supplement in adults undergoing single‐day moderate‐to‐highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Methods: Multisite, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomised trial with two parallel arms and 1:1 allocation. The target sample size is n = 300. The intervention comprises four capsules of ginger root (totalling 60 mg of active gingerols/day), commencing the day of chemotherapy and continuing for five days during chemotherapy cycles 1 to 3. The primary outcome is chemotherapy‐induced nausea‐related quality of life. Secondary outcomes include nutrition status; anticipatory, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting; fatigue; depression and anxiety; global quality of life; health service use and costs; adverse events; and adherence. Results: During the five‐month recruitment period from October 2017 to April 2018 at site A only, a total of n = 33 participants (n = 18 female) have been enrolled in the SPICE trial. Recruitment is expected to commence at Site B in May 2018. Conclusions: The trial is designed to meet research gaps and could provide evidence to recommend specific dosing regimens as an adjuvant for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting prevention and management.No Full Tex

Therapeutic health effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale): updated narrative review exploring the mechanisms of action

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been investigated for its potentially therapeutic effect on a range of chronic conditions and symptoms in humans. However, a simplified and easily understandable examination of the mechanisms behind these effects is lacking and, in turn, hinders interpretation and translation to practice, and contributes to overall clinical heterogeneity confounding the results. Therefore, drawing on data from nonhuman trials, the objective for this narrative review was to comprehensively describe the current knowledge on the proposed mechanisms of action of ginger on conferring therapeutic health effects in humans. Mechanistic studies support the findings from human clinical trials that ginger may assist in improving symptoms and biomarkers of pain, metabolic chronic disease, and gastrointestinal conditions. Bioactive ginger compounds reduce inflammation, which contributes to pain; promote vasodilation, which lowers blood pressure; obstruct cholesterol production, which regulates blood lipid profile; translocate glucose transporter type 4 molecules to plasma membranes to assist in glycemic control; stimulate fatty acid breakdown to aid weight management; and inhibit serotonin, muscarinic, and histaminergic receptor activation to reduce nausea and vomiting. Additional human trials are required to confirm the antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antineoplastic, and liver- and kidney-protecting effects of ginger. Interpretation of the mechanisms of action will help clinicians and researchers better understand how and for whom ginger may render therapeutic effects and highlight priority areas for future research.</p