Student perceptions and learning outcome on a “fishbowl” strategy-based pharmacology seminar on drug dependence

Background: In traditional seminars usually the participants (speakers) study a topic and the non-speakers remain passive. The present study was done by using a novel “fishbowl” strategy for conducting a pharmacology seminar.Methods: A novel method based on “fishbowl” principle was applied to a drug dependence seminar in pharmacology, wherein every student was actively involved in the process. Learning outcome was assessed by comparing pre-test and post-test scores. Perceptions of students were assessed by a comprehensive questionnaire inquiring about the novel “fishbowl” method as well as seminars in general as a teaching-learning tool.Results: The novel, “fishbowl” method showed a better learning outcome on a paired t test (p<0.0001) as well as positive student perceptions. The students preferred seminars rather than lectures; however, they felt that traditional seminars are beneficial only to the speakers, and that in general seminar was a difficult and time consuming task. Majority of students expressed that the seminars were useful in preparing for medical examinations, and that seminar may be a part of evaluation in MBBS examination system.Conclusions: Use of the “fishbowl” technique produced better learning outcome through a pharmacology seminar on drug dependence. The newly designed method did involve each participant in the class, facilitated active learning, benefited to the speakers as well as non-speakers, and helped build the team spirit. “Fishbowl” principle highlights the importance of individual and small-group learning, and thus makes pharmacology learning more effective and interesting

The impact of COVID-19 on the practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology in the United States and Canada

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the delivery of healthcare, including oral healthcare services. The restrictions imposed for mitigating spread of the virus forced dental practitioners to adopt significant changes in their workflow pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology in two countries in regard to educational activities, and clinical and diagnostic pathology services

Sferični kristali celekoksiba za poboljšanje topljivosti, oslobađanja i mikromeričnih svojstava

Celecoxib spherical agglomerates were prepared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using acetone, water and chloroform as solvent, non-solvent and bridging liquid, respectively. The agglomerates were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopic studies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The IR spectroscopy and DSC results indicated the absence of any interactions between drug and additives. XRD studies showed a decrease in crystallinity in agglomerates. The crystals exhibited significantly improved micromeritic properties compared to pure drug. The loading efficiency (% or mg drug per 100 mg crystals) was in the range of 93.9 ± 2.3 and 97.3 ± 1.3% (n = 3), with all formulations. The aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of the drug from crystals was significantly (p < 0.05) increased (nearly two times). The solubility and in vitro drug release rates increased with an increase in PVP concentration (from 2.5 to 10%). The SEM studies showed that the crystal possesses a good spherical shape with smooth and regular surface.U radu je opisana priprava sferičnih aglomerata sa celekoksibom koristeći polivinilpirolidon (PVP), aceton, vodu i kloroform. Aglomerati su karakterizirani diferencijalnom pretražnom kalorimetrijom (DSC), rentgenskom difrakcijom (XRD), IR spektroskopijom i pretražnom elektronskom mikroskopijom (SEM). IR i DSC su pokazale odsutnost bilo kakvih interakcija između ljekovite tvari i aditiva. XRD je pokazala smanjenje kristaliničnosti u aglomeratima. Aglomerati su pokazali značajno poboljšana mikromerična svojstva u odnosu na čisti lijek. Udio lijeka u njima bio je između 93.89 ± 2.26 i 97.32 ± 1.29%. Topljivost u vodi i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari iz aglomerata povećalo se skoro dva puta. Topljivost i in vitro oslobađanje se povećava s povećanjem koncentracije PVP (od 2,5 do 10%). SEM studije su pokazale da kristali imaju pravilan sferični oblik te glatku i pravilnu površinu

Variability of small bowel length: Correlation with height, waist circumference, and gender

First year medical students are always under impression that the small bowel length is almost 6 meters or more, as they have studied it in their textbooks; and when they try to measure, it does not always correspond with it. Knowledge of variable lengths of small bowel is important not just for an academic interest but it has implications in different surgical and other procedures related with small bowel length. In the present study, the height, waist circumference, and small bowel length was measured in 111 formalin-fixed cadavers (73 males and 38 females) from Indian population, and correlation of small bowel length to height, waist circumference and gender was searched, which showed small bowel length of 218-500 cm with a mean of 336.54 cm; the small bowel was significantly longer in males than that in females ((p&lt;0.05). Height and small bowel length showed moderately positive correlation with each other while waist circumference and small bowel length showed a strong positive reciprocal correlation. Linear regression analysis showed statistically significant relationship for both. Central obesity showed no correlation with small bowel length in males (R=0.049) and weak correlation in females (R=0.281). Small bowel length/height ratio as well as small bowel length/waist circumference ratio did not show statistically significant differences in either gender. Small bowel length in Indian population was found to be less than that reported in western studies or medical textbooks - a relevant finding - to be considered in application of different procedures and surgery of small intestine in Indian individuals

Abnormal Excitability of Oblique Dendrites Implicated in Early Alzheimer's: A Computational Study

The integrative properties of cortical pyramidal dendrites are essential to the neural basis of cognitive function, but the impact of amyloid beta protein (aβ) on these properties in early Alzheimer's is poorly understood. In animal models, electrophysiological studies of proximal dendrites have shown that aβ induces hyperexcitability by blocking A-type K+ currents (IA), disrupting signal integration. The present study uses a computational approach to analyze the hyperexcitability induced in distal dendrites beyond the experimental recording sites. The results show that back-propagating action potentials in the dendrites induce hyperexcitability and excessive calcium concentrations not only in the main apical trunk of pyramidal cell dendrites, but also in their oblique dendrites. Evidence is provided that these thin branches are particularly sensitive to local reductions in IA. The results suggest the hypothesis that the oblique branches may be most vulnerable to disruptions of IA by early exposure to aβ, and point the way to further experimental analysis of these actions as factors in the neural basis of the early decline of cognitive function in Alzheimer's

Enhanced production of amidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis MTCC 1526 by medium optimisation using a statistical experimental design

In the present work, statistical experimental methodology was used to enhance the production of amidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis MTCC 1526. R. erythropolis MTCC 1526 was selected through screening of seven strains of Rhodococcus species. The Placket-Burman screening experiments suggested that sorbitol as carbon source, yeast extract and meat peptone as nitrogen sources, and acetamide as amidase inducer are the most influential media components. The concentrations of these four media components were optimised using a face-centred design of response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum medium composition for amidase production was found to contain sorbitol (5 g/L), yeast extract (4 g/L), meat peptone (2.5 g/L), and acetamide (12.25 mM). Amidase activities before and after optimisation were 157.85 units/g dry cells and 1,086.57 units/g dry cells, respectively. Thus, use of RSM increased production of amidase from R. erythropolis MTCC 1526 by 6.88-fold

Production of Biodiesel using waste temple oil from Shani Shingnapur temple (Dist. Ahmednagar), Maharashtra, India using chemical and biological methods

In India, due to various mythological and religious reasons hundreds of devotees pour oil over the idols in Hanuman or Maruti and Shani temples. The oil once poured cannot be reutilized and was ultimately wasted. These waste temple oil from Shani Shingnapurwas used to produce biodiesel. Immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used to catalyze transesterification of waste temple oil. The cells of P.aeruginosa were immobilized within the sodium alginate. Biodiesel production and its applications were gaining popularity in recent years due to decreased petroleum based reserves. Biodiesel cost formed from waste temple oil was higher than that of fossil fuel, because of high raw material cost.To decrease the cost of biofuel, waste temple oil was used as alternative as feedstock. It has lower emission of pollutants; it is biodegradable and enhances engine lubricity. Waste temple oil contains triglycerides that were used for biodiesel production by chemical and biological method.Transesterification reaction of oil produces methyl esters that are substitutes for fatty acid alkyl biodiesel fuel. Characteristics of oil were studied such as specific gravity, viscosity, acid number, saponification number.Parameters such as temperature,oil: methanol ratio were studied and 88%, 96% of biodiesel yield was obtained with effect of temperature and oil: methanol ratio on transesterification reaction. Withaddition ofNaOH or KOH to fatty acids which formed salt known as soap,which is excellent emulsifying and cleaning agents

Red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and haemoglobin variants among ten endogamous groups of Maharashtra and West Bengal

Over 900 individuals from ten endogamous groups in the Indian states of Maharashtra and West Bengal were studied for G-6-PD deficiency and haemoglobin variants. The incidence of G-6-PD varied from nil to 17.3%, while that of Hb-S varied from nil to 22.3%. In general, the tribal populations of Maharashtra are characterized by the presence of a high incidence of both Hb-S and G-6-PD deficiency. The caste Hindus showed an absence of Hb-S and rather low G-6-PD deficiency. Immigrant Parsis possessed the highest incidence of G-6-PD deficiency (17.3%)

Using synthetic biological parts and microbioreactors to explore the protein expression characteristics of Escherichia coli

Synthetic biology has developed numerous parts for the precise control of protein expression. However, relatively little is known about the burden these place on a host, or their reliability under varying environmental conditions. To address this, we made use of synthetic transcriptional and translational elements to create a combinatorial library of constructs that modulated expression strength of a green fluorescent protein. Combining this library with a microbioreactor platform, we were able to perform a detailed large-scale assessment of transient expression and growth characteristics of two <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains across several temperatures. This revealed significant differences in the robustness of both strains to differing types of protein expression, and a complex response of transcriptional and translational elements to differing temperatures. This study supports the development of reliable synthetic biological systems capable of working across different hosts and environmental contexts. Plasmids developed during this work have been made publicly available to act as a reference set for future research