Teleconferencing in Medical Education

Education and healthcare are basic needs for human development. Technological innovation has broadened the access to higher quality healthcare and education without regard to time, distance or geopolitical boundaries. Distance learning has gained popularity as a means of learning in recent years due to widely distributed learners, busy schedules and rising travel costs. Teleconferencing is also a very useful tool as a distance learning method.Teleconferencing is a real-time and live interactive programme in which one set of participants are at one or more locations and the other set of participants are at another. The teleconference allows for interaction, including audio and/or video, and possibly other modalities, between at least two sites. Various methods are available for setting up a teleconferencing unit.  A detailed review of the trend in the use of teleconferencing in medical education was conducted using Medline and a literature search. Teleconferencing was found to be a very useful tool in continuing medical education (CME), postgraduate medical education, undergraduate medical education, telementoring and many other situations. The use of teleconferencing in medical education has many advantages including savings in terms of travel costs and time. It gives access to the best educational resources and experience without any limitations of boundaries of distance and time. It encourages two-way interactions and facilitates learning in adults. Despite having some pitfalls in its implementation it is now being seen as an important tool in facilitating learning in medicine and many medical schools and institutions are adapting this novel tool

Ethanobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. F.): A Review

Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. F.), Family: Rhamnaceae, is widely distributed in dry regions of India. It is a bushy weed used as folk medicine. The plant is valued for its nutritional edible fruits. Traditionally, it is used in mental retardation, fever, diarrhea, dysentery. The plant has been evaluated for various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifertility activity. Present review discusses phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of the drug

Novel forms of Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2): Generation by alternative translation initiation and mRNA splicing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Members of the <it>Paired</it>-like homeodomain transcription factor (<it>PITX</it>) gene family, particularly <it>PITX1 </it>and <it>PITX2</it>, play important roles in normal development and in differentiated cell functions. Three major isoforms of PITX2 were previously reported to be produced through both alternative mRNA splicing (<it>PITX2A </it>and <it>PITX2B</it>) and alternative promoter usage (<it>PITX2C</it>). The proteins derived from these mRNAs contain identical homeodomain and carboxyl termini. Differences in the amino-termini of the proteins may confer functional differences in some contexts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we report the identification of two novel PITX2 isoforms. First, we demonstrate that the <it>Pitx2c </it>mRNA generates two protein products, PITX2Cα and PITX2Cβ, via alternative translation initiation. Second, we identified a novel mRNA splice variant, <it>Pitx2b2</it>, which uses the same 5' splice donor in intron 2 as <it>Pitx2b </it>(hereafter referred to as <it>Pitx2b1</it>), but employs an alternative 3' splice acceptor, leading to an in-frame deletion of 39 base pairs relative to <it>Pitx2b1</it>. <it>Pitx2b2 </it>mRNA is expressed in both murine and human pituitary. The data show that in a murine gonadotrope cell line and adult murine pituitary what was previously thought to be PITX2B1 is actually PITX2Cβ, or perhaps PITX2B2. PITX2B1 is expressed at lower levels than previously thought. PITX2Cβ and PITX2B2 activate gonadotrope-specific gene promoter-reporters similarly to known PITX2 isoforms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have identified and characterized two novel isoforms of PITX2, generated by alternative translation initiation (PITX2Cβ) and alternative mRNA splicing (PITX2B2). These proteins show similar DNA binding and <it>trans</it>-activation functions as other PITX2 isoforms <it>in vitro</it>, though their conservation across species suggests that they may play distinct, as yet unidentified, roles <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Analysis of the New Labour Code in India

Economic expansion requires jobs and safe, dignified workplaces. India’s growth story has remained incomplete due to a lack of required employment growth. The new law consolidates 44 primary labour laws into four main labour codes: pay, industrial relations, occupational safety, working conditions and social security. It was a conniving move on the part of the government to completely overhaul our labour laws. Given that we typically lack mean labourers by a significant margin, the question that remains is whether or not this can attract investors. There are several challenges that must be overcome before the economy can reach $5 trillion in 2025

Physico-Chemical, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Evaluation of Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. F.) Stem Bark

Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. F.) (Family: Rhamnaceae) used as a folk medicine. The study was designed to lay down the various physicochemical and phytochemical standards which will be helpful to ensure the purity, safety, and efficacy of this medicinal plant. In the lime light of fewer and less potent antioxidant extracts, it is screened for antioxidant potency also. All physico-chemical properties were found within the measurable amount. Preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and steroids. Total phenolic content and flavonoid content was found to be 10.7±0.1 and 2.57±0.1 respectively. Extract also found to posses significant antioxidant activity which can be correlated with phenolic content. IC50 of 0.042 mg/mL was found during DPPH radical scavenging activity. 2.75 mmol AA/ mg extract was found to be as total antioxidant capacity along with a concentration of 383.4 µg/ml during reducing power activity. The study would help in the authentication stem bark useful for laying down pharmacopoeial standards and help in finding improved antioxidant agents from the extract. It is found to be posse’s significant antioxidant property, possibly by adsorbing and neutralizing free radicals

Workplace learning: learning experiences of pre-clerkship students in their clinical learning environment at a medical university in UAE

Objective: To explore how students in the pre-clerkship phase perceive the workplace clinical learning environment based on their experiential learning and social participation. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gulf Medical University, United Arab Emirates in June 2019 and comprised 2nd and 3rd year medical students. Data was collected using the undergraduate clinical education environment measure tool which is a valid and reliable instrument to measure clinical learning environment for undergraduate medical students. Results: There were 858 students, and 70.3% of the students expressed satisfaction with clinical learning environment categories. Conclusion: The average satisfaction level of the students regarding the quality of supervision was better than that of workplace environment and learning opportunities provided. Key Words: Clinical learning environment, UCEEM, Medical students, Clinical workplace, Supervision quality, Learning opportunities, Feedback

Caesalpinia crista seeds-in vivo screening of hepatoprotective efficacy against CCL4 induced hepatotoxicity

Ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia crista(commonly known as Latakaranja) seeds, belonging to family Caesalpiniaceae, was evaluated for hepatoprotective efficacy in Wistar rats against hepatic injury carbon induced tetrachloride. The toxicant CCl4(1:1 mixture in olive oil)was administered to rats (3 mL/kg)i.p., twice a week for 4 weeks to induce liver toxicity. The ethanolic extract of seeds of Caesalpinia cristawas administered at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg p.o., daily for 4weeks and Silymarin (100 mg/kg p.o.) was used as a standard drug. Biochemical parameters such as serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin were assessed and histopathological studies of the liver were performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective efficacy of the extract. Treatment of rats administered with C. crista seed extract showed a significant decrease in CCl4-induced elevated serum enzyme levels as well as a significant increase in total protein levels that was lowered by the hepatotoxic compound used and the results were comparable to Silymarin