Medical students' perceptions of supporting pharmacology learning in english by key information prepared in arabic

We explored medical students' perceptions of supporting pharmacology self-learning in English by focused materials prepared in Arabic. This study targeted third-year medical students at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain (n= 183). During the endocrine and metabolism subunit, which is taught in English, slides containing focused information in Arabic preceded detailed English ones. At the end of the subunit, students' perceptions were explored by a questionnaire and focus group discussions. Most participants reported that this intervention made pharmacology learning easier, improved confidence in drug selection, knowledge of adverse drug reactions, detection of response to medications and occurrence of adverse reactions. Most respondents thought that this intervention would help them during the clinical phase of their study and in communicating drug therapy to patients in Arabic. Supporting pharmacology learning in a foreign language with instructional materials prepared in a native language improved students self-reported learning and satisfaction.Scopu

Gender-based treatment outcomes in diabetic hypertension

Background: In developing countries, gender-based treatment disparities in cardiovascular preventive therapy have received little attention. Aims: To evaluate the gender-based differences in cardiovascular disease risk profile, drug prescribing pattern, and blood pressure (BP) and glycemic control rates in diabetic hypertensives treated at primary care setting in Bahrain. Settings and Design: A retrospective study at primary care setting. Materials and Methods: An audit of the medical records of 392 diabetic hypertensives (127 men, 265 women). Results: BP and glycemic targets were achieved in < 10% and < 13% of diabetic hypertensives, respectively. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors monotherapy was more often prescribed in males. Apart from this, no significant differences in prescribing pattern were observed between male and female diabetic hypertensives treated with either antihypertensive mono or multidrug therapies. With the exception of insulin which was more often prescribed to females, a similar prescribing pattern and rank order of antidiabetics, either as monotherapy or combinations, was observed in both genders. The majority of diabetic hypertensives were at high cardiovascular risk. The body mass index and total cholesterol level were greater in females. Prescribing lipid-lowering drugs and aspirin were suboptimal; aspirin was more often prescribed to males. There was no gender-based difference with regard to the use of lipid-lowering drugs. Conclusions: BP and glycemic controls were suboptimal in both male and female diabetic hypertensives treated by primary care physicians. Cardiovascular disease preventive strategies have received little attention regardless of gender or other risk factors. Gender-based treatment inequities also need to be addressed

Pulmonary, microbiological and hematological changes in Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes, Viperidae) parasitized by nematodes of the genus Rhabdias (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae) Alterações Pulmonares, microbiológicas e hematológicas em Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes, Viperidae) parasitadas pelos nematódeos do gênero Rhabdias (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae)

This study reported the pulmonary, microbiological, and hematological alterations in Crotalus durissus terrificus parasitized by nematodes of the genus Rhabdias. Histological, microbiological, and hematological analysis were performed on parasitized (n=6) and non-parasitized (n=6) snakes. Granulocytic and mononuclear cell infiltrates in the pulmonary parenchyma and epithelium were also observed during the histological analysis of parasitized snakes. Microbiological analysis of parasitized animals revealed the following Gram-negative bacteria: Citrobacter divergens, Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter sakazakii, Enterobacter ammnigenus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pantoea sp. and Providencia rettgeri. In non-parasitized snakes, the following species were identified: B. cepacia, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Acinetobacter baumanii. Increased levels of plasmatic protein, decreased lymphocyte counts, and normal red blood cell values were observed in parasitized animals.<br>Este trabalho relata as alterações pulmonares, microbiológicas e hematológicas em Crotalus durissus terrificus parasitadas pelo nematódeo do gênero Rhabdias. As análises histológicas, microbiológicas e hematológicas foram realizadas em serpentes parasitadas (n=6) e não parasitadas (n=6). Foram observados infiltrados de células granulocíticas e mononucleares no parênquima pulmonar durante a análise histopatológica das serpentes parasitadas. A análise microbiológica revelou as seguintes bactérias Gram-negativas; Citrobacter divergens, Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter sakazakii, Enterobacter ammnigenus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pantoea sp. e Providencia rettgeri. Nas serpentes não parasitadas foram identificadas: B. cepacia, Pseudomonas fluorescens e Acinetobacter baumanii. Nos animais parasitados observaram-se: aumento da concentração de proteína plasmática, diminuição da contagem de linfócitos, e valores normais de hematimetria

Chemical characterization of wet precipitation events and deposition of pollutants in coal mining region, India

The present study investigated the chemical composition of wet atmospheric precipitation in India’s richest coal mining belt. Total 418 samples were collected on event basis at six sites from July to October in 2003 and May to October in 2004 and analysed for pH, EC, F−, Cl−, SO2_ 4 , NO_3 , Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and NHþ4 . The average pH value (5.7) of the rainwater of the investigated area is alkaline in nature. However, the temporal pH variation showed the alkaline nature during the early phase of monsoonal rainfall but it trends towards acidic during the late and high rainfall periods. The rainwater chemistry of the region showed high contribution of Ca2+ (47%) and NHþ4 (21%) in cations and SO24_ (55%) and Cl− (23%) in anionic abundance. The high non seas salt fraction (nss) of Ca2+ (99%) and Mg2+ (96%) suggests crustal source of the ions, while the high nss SO24_ (96%) and high SO2_ 4 _ NO_3 _ þ C1__ratio signifying the impact of anthropogenic sources and the source of the acidity. The ratio of SO2_ 4 þ NO_3 _ NHþ4 _ þ Ca2þ_varies from 0.03 to 3.23 with the average value of 0.84 suggesting that Ca2+ and NHþ4 play a major role in neutralization processes. The assessment of the wet ionic deposition rates shows no any specific trend, however Ca2+ deposition rate was highest followed by SO2_ 4 and NH4