The Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Teaching Practices in Biomedical Sciences on Students’ Learning Experience: A Systematic Literature Review

The traditional didactic approach to teaching in biomedical sciences falls short of providing students with the 21st century competencies necessary to meet the socioeconomic demands placed upon them. Tertiary biomedical science educators have sought empirical evidence to identify the best practices to meet these demands, each of which have an element of actively involving students in their learning, as opposed to passive and didactic instructional approaches. This review synthesises the literature on evidence-based teaching practices (EBTPs) implemented in biomedical science disciplines and investigates the impact of EBTPs on students’ learning experiences through a systematic review. Seventy-eight studies were analysed, providing a comprehensive review of teaching practices that supported active learning in biomedical science disciplines. The findings revealed that EBTPs had significant impact on students’ academic performance and learning experiences to enhance higher-order thinking skills and self-directed learning, despite the variation in educational setting. A range of instructional strategies and technologies that supported active learning experiences were identified in this review, and the findings provide an evidence base to inform pedagogical decisions regarding the implementation of EBTPs and may serve as an impetus for instructors to implement active learning strategies based on this empirical evidence

Divergent LIN28-mRNA associations result in translational suppression upon the initiation of differentiation

LIN28 function is fundamental to the activity and behavior of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells. Its main roles in these cell types are the regulation of translational efficiency and let-7 miRNA maturation. However, LIN28-associated mRNA cargo shifting and resultant regulation of translational efficiency upon the initiation of differentiation remain unknown. An RNA-immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis protocol, eRIP, that has high specificity and sensitivity was developed to test endogenous LIN28-associated mRNA cargo shifting. A combined eRIP and polysome analysis of early stage differentiation of hESCs with two distinct differentiation cues revealed close similarities between the dynamics of LIN28 association and translational modulation of genes involved in the Wnt signaling, cell cycle, RNA metabolism and proteasomal pathways. Our data demonstrate that change in translational efficiency is a major contributor to early stages of differentiation of hESCs, in which LIN28 plays a central role. This implies that eRIP analysis of LIN28-associated RNA cargoes may be used for rapid functional quality control of pluripotent stem cells under manufacture for therapeutic applications

Collagen matrix deposition is dramatically enhanced in vitro when crowded with charged macromolecules: The biological relevance of the excluded volume effect

10.1016/j.febslet.2007.05.020FEBS Letters581142709-2714FEBL

In vitro antibacterial effects of statins against bacterial pathogens causing skin infections

© 2018 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature With financial considerations impeding research and development of new antibiotics, drug repurposing (finding new indications for old drugs) emerges as a feasible alternative. Statins are extensively prescribed around the world to lower cholesterol, but they also possess inherent antimicrobial properties. This study identifies statins with the greatest potential to be repurposed as topical antibiotics and postulates a mechanism of action for statins’ antibacterial activity. Using broth microdilution, the direct antibacterial effects of all seven parent statins currently registered for human use and three selected statin metabolites were tested against bacterial skin pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens. Simvastatin and pitavastatin lactone exerted the greatest antibacterial effects (minimum inhibitory concentrations of 64 and 128 µg/mL, respectively) against S. aureus. None of the statins tested were effective against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, or S. marcescens, but simvastatin hydroxy acid acid might be active against S. aureus, E. coli, and S. marcescens at drug concentrations > 256 µg/mL. It was found that S. aureus may exhibit a paradoxical growth effect when exposed to simvastatin; thus, treatment failure at high drug concentrations is theoretically probable. Through structure-activity relationship analysis, we postulate that statins’ antibacterial action may involve disrupting the teichoic acid structures or decreasing the number of alanine residues present on Gram-positive bacterial cell surfaces, which could reduce biofilm formation, diminish bacterial adhesion to environmental surfaces, or impede S. aureus cell division