Development Of Curriculum Of Anatomy For BDS Students In UZ, Harare: A Survey-Based Study

Objective: To evaluate and optimize the anatomy curriculum for BDS students in UZ. Study design: It is a survey-based study. Place and duration of study: A six-month study was carried out in the Anatomy Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare (March to August 2020). Material and Methods: A survey-based study was conducted in UZ, College of Health Sciences.  To collect the data, two separate structured questionnaires were prepared. The structured questionnaires were then administered to medical faculty, BDS students of 3rd, 4th & 5th yr and practising dentists & internees, respectively.  The sample size of the study was 70. Results: The data collected via the two structured questionnaires was analyzed.  Analysis showed that all the stakeholders thought that the core dentistry subjects should be introduced earlier to the BDS students.  Moreover, it was recommended that CBL/PBL be added to the curriculum to make the overall BDS curriculum more effective. Conclusion: The majority of the faculty members, BDS students, dentists and internees thought that the content of Anatomy for BDS students should be concise, specific and pertinent. The respondents supported the incorporation of CBL/PBL in the existing curriculum to make it more worthwhile

Defining critical habitat requirements for a Canadian \u27species at risk\u27 Opuntia humifusa.

Critical habitat is defined in the Species at Risk Act as any habitat in which a species at risk is capable of maintaining self-sustaining populations. Growth and survival of endangered O. humifusa, the Eastern Prickly pear cactus, was compared in field and glasshouse experiments. Conditions (light, soil organic matter, moisture, pH, and macronutrients) differed significantly among habitats at Point Pelee National Park (PPNP). The survival of transplanted seedlings in four habitats at PPNP (back beach, primary successional savanna, secondary successional savanna and deciduous forest) indicated that only two of these habitats (the savannas) would be suitable for O. humifusa over the longer term. Shading and macronutrient treatments in the greenhouse indicated growth was favoured by partial shade; nutrient enrichment enhanced growth, but in the field nutrient supplementation would accelerate secondary succession, to the detriment of O. humifusa.Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2006 .M64. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-01, page: 0217. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2006

Pedicle Dimensions of the Thoracic Vertebrae in the Zimbabwean Adult Male Population: A Cadaveric Study

Objective:   To record the dimensions of thoracic-vertebrae pedicles in the grown-up community of Zimbabwe. Study design:   A cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and duration of study:  A six-month study carried out in the Anatomy Department (Gross Anatomy Laboratory), University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare (from May 2019 to November 2019). Material and Methods:.  The thoracic vertebrae from 15 adult male cadavers were dissected out and Pedicle External Sagittal Diameter (PESD), Pedicle External Transverse Diameter (PETD) and chord length were measured using a vernier caliper and compared (on right and left sides). The statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23, with data expressed as means, standard deviation and ranges. Student’s t-test was used to estimate the difference in pedicle dimensions of the right and left sides of the thoracic vertebrae. Results:  There was a significant difference between the right and left pedicle dimensions in chord length at the level of T9, PESD at levels T6 and T7, and PETD at levels T2, T6, T7 and T11. PESD values were noted to be increasing from thoracic vertebrae T1 to T12 with a plateau phase noted from T2-T7.  PETD values decreased from T1-T5 and then gradually increased to T12.  Chord length increased gradually from T1-T12. Conclusion:  Pedicle dimensions differ between the Zimbabwean population and other ethnic groups of earlier investigations.  Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the right and left pedicles in terms of PETD, PESD and Chord length

A silver lining in the dark clouds: Medical Marijuana, in the Neurological disorders and its future in Pakistan.

Marijuana has been included in the list of illicit drugs for a long time despite its use as a remedy for several medical problems. However this use has been on the basis of the individual experiences with no concrete scientific evidence. Its positive effects have been mostly overshadowed by its recreational use worldwide. It has recently become the topic of hot debate due to several studies showing its role in various medical and especially neurological disorders. These new findings have created a controversy and world is still divided on its legalization for medicinal purpose. Several countries and states have legalized it recently, but many experts have raised concerns about its misuse and long term legal, ethical, financial and health implication, that need to be answered yet. Pakistan is considered as one of the largest cannabis producing country and with increasing evidence for potential medicinal benefits; we need to develop a consensus on this topic, considering health, legal and ethical perspectives linked to its medical uses in our society

Study of placental changes in pregnancy induced hypertension

Background: Study of histopathological changes in placenta in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).Methods: Post delivery placentas of 130 cases were examined and findings correlated with severity of PIH.Results: The mean placental weight was 438.9 gms, 374 gms and 333.86 gms and the mean fetal weight to placental weight ratio was 6.003:1, 5.6:1 and 5.27:1 in cases of mild, moderate and severe PIH respectively. Infarction was seen in 10.25%, 33.3% and 59% and calcification was present in 15.38%, 30% and 50% of the cases of mild, moderate and severe PIH respectively. Retroplacental clot was seen in 36.4% of severe PIH cases. The mean numbers of syncytial knots were 20.4 (mild PIH), 35.97 (moderate PIH) and 59.77 (severe PIH) and 77.27% of severe cases of PIH had >40% areas showing trophoblastic hyperplasia.Conclusion: PIH adversely influences the placental morphology and histopathological examination post deliveryhelps investigate the mechanism of placental dysfunction in detail

The Covid-19 Pandemic and its Effect on the Elderly: A Review

In 2019, the world experienced a global public health concern when the novel coronavirus originated from China and affected around fifty-seven thousand people around the world by March 2020. The quick rise in the number of cases and the death toll overwhelmed the scientific and medical community. While all the focus was driven towards finding the epidemiology, the treatment and the management, the mental health aspect of the quarantine was being overlooked. The purpose of this review is to create awareness about the long-term consequences of quarantine, with the focus on the elderly community in Pakistan.

Interventions for trichomoniasis in pregnancy

Background: Vaginitis due to Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common of sexually transmitted diseases. Trichomoniasis affects women during pregnancy as well but it is not clearly established whether it causes preterm birth and other pregnancy complications.Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of various treatments for trichomoniasis during pregnancy.Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group\u27s Trials Register ( 14 January 2011).Selection criteria: Randomized trials comparing anti-trichomonas agents during pregnancy. Trials including symptomatic or asymptomatic women with trichomoniasis were eligible.Data collection and analysis: Two review authors assessed eligibility and trial quality.Main results: We included two trials with 842 pregnant women. In both trials around 90% of women were cleared of trichomonas in the vagina after treatment. In the US trial, women with asymptomatic trichomoniasis between 16 and 23 weeks were treated with metronidazole on two occasions at least two weeks apart. The trial was stopped before reaching its target recruitment because metronidazole was not effective in reducing preterm birth and there was a likelihood of harm (risk ratio 1.78, 95% confidence interval 1.19 to 2.66). The South African trial recruited women later in pregnancy and did not have the design and power to address adverse clinical outcomes. We excluded two recent studies, identified for the current update, because they did not address the primary question.Authors\u27 Conclusion: Metronidazole, given as a single dose, is likely to provide parasitological cure for trichomoniasis, but it is not known whether this treatment will have any effect on pregnancy outcomes. The cure rate could probably be higher if more partners used the treatment

Medicolegal issues in neurology Practice in Pakistan

Neurology despite its challenges have made tremendous improvement in past few decades. At the same time, the rapid advancement of media and internet has changed the traditional doctor-patient relationship into one of a service provider-consumer relationship1. The health service is now considered a commodity, and has become prone to lack of trust and litigation. Medical professionalism is challenged by increasing commercialism and influence of legal syste