Evaluating Factors Influencing Happiness of Preclinical Students

This study aimed to determine factors influencing happiness in preclinical students especially in aspects of teaching and learning, students’ motivation, study habits, and academic achievement. This study was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was validated and approved for clarity, readability, rational analysis, and comprehensiveness by the experts. Questionnaires were sent to all second and/or third-year medical students of the 2018 (328) and 2019 (329) classes, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. Cronbach’s alpha values were 0.886. The data were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Science version 18. From open-ended questions, the top 5 ranking factors increasing students’ happiness were teaching of instructors, content satisfaction, content understanding, free time, and handouts. Factors that had positive influences/associations with happiness of preclinical students were happiness in learning subjects taught in a particular year; satisfaction of content, study outcomes, materials, handouts, teaching motivating desire to learn, and applicability of content to medical profession; high motivation to study medicine, expected score, and the percentage of achievement of study targets; less amount of time spent on recorded-e-lecture study and internet for non-academic use; and low stress. Happiness of preclinical students was influenced by satisfaction in teaching and learning, their attitude, study habits, and academic achievement. Further studies on determining students’ happiness after improvement of teaching and learning environments, augmenting activities that enhance students’ motivation, and promoting good study habits among medical students, are required to prove whether enhancement of these factors could effectively increase students' happiness

Factors Influencing Academic Achievement in Preclinical Students

Academic achievement is a major concern of preclinical students. This study aimed to determine factors influencing academic achievement in preclinical years. Questionnaires were sent to all students of the 2019 class at the 1st (2019/1) and 2nd preclinical years (2019/2) and the 2018 class at the 2nd preclinical year (2018/2) without sampling, with 85.11% (280/328), 86.32% (284/328), and 83.54% (274/328) being returned, respectively. Students were divided into Q1 (lowest)-Q2-Q3-Q4 (highest) according to quartiles of their GPA. Q4 students had higher examination expectation and achievement of study targets in all classes and more time spent on non-recorded-e-lecture study in the 2018/2 and 2019/2 classes; but lower time spent on recorded-e-lecture study in the 2019/1 class and non-academic-internet use in the 2019/2 and 2018/2 classes than other groups. In contrast, Q1 students had higher instances of lateness and absence/year in the 2019/2 and 2018/2 classes but lower happiness scores in the 2018/2 class compared to other groups. Obese and overweight students had significantly lower GPA than normal weight and underweight students of the 2019/2 class (p<0.05 all). The current year GPA had significant positive correlations with the previous year GPA, examination expectation, achievement of study targets, and time spent on non-recorded-e-lecture study; but had significant negative correlations with time spent on recorded-e-lecture study and non-academic internet use, instances of lateness and absence/year, and BMI (p<0.05 all). In conclusion, students with more self-regulation strategies in many aspects of self-regulated learning, including time management, learning strategies, emotion control, motivation, and self-efficacy, had better academic outcomes

Serum Adiponectin, Visfatin, and Omentin Compared between Non-pregnant and Pregnant Women in Overall, Non-obese, and Obese subjects

Objective: This study aimed to compare serum adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin between non-pregnant and pregnant women in overall, non-obese, and obese subjects. Methods: There were 40 pregnant and 33 non-pregnant women classified by body mass index (BMI) into non-obese or obese subjects. Fasting blood samples were collected in the morning for the non-pregnant group and before delivery for the pregnant group. Results: Plasma glucose levels were significantly lower, but plasma insulin levels were significantly higher in pregnant when compared to non-pregnant women in overall, non-obese, and obese women (p<0.05 all). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly higher, but the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) was significantly lower only in obese pregnant when compared to obese non-pregnant women (p<0.01 all). However, in non-obese women, HOMA-IR and QUICKI were comparable between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Serum adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin were significantly lower in pregnant compared to non-pregnant women in overall, non-obese, and obese groups (p<0.05 all). In pregnant women, serum adiponectin and omentin levels were significantly lower in obese compared to non-obese pregnant women while serum visfatin levels were comparable in both groups. Serum adiponectin levels were highest followed by omentin and visfatin, respectively in both non-obese and obese pregnant groups. These results indicated that lower serum adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin in pregnant women might contribute to higher insulin resistance in pregnancy. Furthermore, serum adiponectin and omentin were reduced in increasing adiposity similarly to non-pregnant women. Conclusion: Lower serum adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin in pregnant women might lead to decreased insulin sensitivity in these women

Serum Neuropeptide Y and Leptin Levels compared between Non-pregnant and Pregnant Women in Overall, Non-obese, and Obese Subjects

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare serum NPY and leptin levels between non-pregnant and pregnant women in overall, non-obese, and obese subjects. The secondary objective was to compare these peptides between non-obese and obese pregnant women. Methods: Fasting venous blood was collected from non-pregnant women before open abdominal surgery and from pregnant women when admitted to the delivery room during the latent phase of labor. Results: There were 12 non-obese and 14 obese subjects in the non-pregnant group and 9 non-obese and 30 obese subjects in the pregnant group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was comparable, but heart rate (HR) was higher in pregnant compared to non-pregnant women. Mean±S.E.M serum NPY levels were lower in the pregnant than in the non-pregnant group in overall (0.54±0.02 and 1.34±0.08, respectively), non-obese (0.53±0.05 and 1.23±0.14, respectively), and obese (0.54±0.03 and 1.43±0.09, respectively) subjects (p<0.01 for all), but these were comparable between obese and non- obese pregnant subjects. Serum NPY was positively correlated with SBP (R=0.281, p<0.05), but negatively correlated with HR (R=-0.324, p<0.01). Serum leptin levels were not different between pregnant and non-pregnant groups, but were significantly higher in obese than non-obese pregnant subjects (p<0.001). Serum leptin levels were positively correlated with body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences in overall and pregnant subjects (p<0.001 all). Conclusion: In pregnancy, decreased NPY levels might be associated with inhibition of SBP rising as well as increased HR. Leptin levels might not be associated with pregnancy, but associated mainly with obesity

Role of Inositols and Inositol Phosphates in Energy Metabolism

Recently, inositols, especially myo-inositol and inositol hexakisphosphate, also known as phytic acid or IP6, with their biological activities received much attention for their role in multiple health beneficial effects. Although their roles in cancer treatment and prevention have been extensively reported, interestingly, they may also have distinctive properties in energy metabolism and metabolic disorders. We review inositols and inositol phosphate metabolism in mammalian cells to establish their biological activities and highlight their potential roles in energy metabolism. These molecules are known to decrease insulin resistance, increase insulin sensitivity, and have diverse properties with importance from cell signaling to metabolism. Evidence showed that inositol phosphates might enhance the browning of white adipocytes and directly improve insulin sensitivity through adipocytes. In addition, inositol pyrophosphates containing high-energy phosphate bonds are considered in increasing cellular energetics. Despite all recent advances, many aspects of the bioactivity of inositol phosphates are still not clear, especially their effects on insulin resistance and alteration of metabolism, so more research is needed

Changes in the VARK Learning Style from the First to the Second Preclinical Year of Medical Students: A Follow-up Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study in a Thai Medical School

Objective: This study aimed to determine percentage of students who changed (change group) and did not change (no-change group) in the visual (V)–aural (A)–reading/writing (R)–kinesthetic (K) learning style from the first (Preclinic1) to the second (Preclinic2) preclinical year; and compare academic performance (GPA, percentile of GPA, and achievement of study targets) and stress levels between these groups. Materials and Methods: The VARK and research questionnaires were sent to students of the 2019 class at the end of Preclinic1 and again at Preclinic2. GPA and percentile of GPA were obtained from academic records while achievement of study targets and stress levels were from the research questionnaires. Results: Most students were multimodal learners (65.03% in Preclinic1 and 69.51% in Preclinic2). From Preclinic1 to Preclinic2, 69.3% of students changed and 30.7% of students did not change their learning preference. In Preclinic1 and Preclinic2, GPA and percentile of GPA were higher in the no-change compared with the change group (p<0.01 all). GPA in the change group was lower in Preclinic2 than that in Preclinic1 (p<0.001). Achievement of study targets and stress levels of the change group in Preclinic2 were lower than theirs in Preclinic1 and those of the no-change group in Preclinic2 (p<0.05 all). The students who changed their learning preference might need to adapt to their new learning preference probably leading to lower academic capability but less stress. Conclusion: Students changed their learning preference around 70% from Preclinic1 to Preclinic2. The change group exhibited lower academic capability but less stress

A Longitudinal Study of the Relationship of Adiponectin with Reproduction in Infertile Women Undergoing IVF/ICSI Treatment, and an Experimental Study in Human Granulosa Cells

This study investigated the roles of adiponectin in IVF treatment during Phase I (the basal stage before gonadotropin administration), Phase II (approximately 8 days after gonadotropin administration), and Phase III (on the ovum pick-up day), as well as the effects of adiponectin on CYP19A1 and the FSH receptor (FSHR) mRNA expression in a human granulosa-like tumor cell line (KGN). In human subjects (a longitudinal study, n = 30), blood samples were collected in all phases, while follicular fluid (FF) was only collected in Phase III. The participants were classified into successful and unsuccessful groups based on the determination of fetal heartbeats. KGN cells were treated with adiponectin/FSH/IGF-1 (an experimental study, n = 3). There was no difference in the adiponectin levels between successful and unsuccessful pregnancies in the FF (Phase III) and in serum (all phases), as well as among the three phases in both groups. Serum FSH (Phase I) was positively associated with serum adiponectin in the unsuccessful group, but it had a negative association in the successful group (all phases). Serum adiponectin and serum FSH (Phase I) were positively correlated in the unsuccessful group, whereas they were negatively correlated (all phases) in the successful group. The serum adiponectin levels (Phase III) were significantly higher than in the FF in unsuccessful pregnancies, but there was no difference in successful pregnancies. FF adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with serum LH in successful subjects. In KGN cells, adiponectin had no influence on CYP19A1 and FSHR mRNA expression. High adiponectin levels in serum compared to FF (Phase III) in unsuccessful subjects might negatively impact IVF treatment

Insulin Sensitivity and Clinical Profiles in CPP Girls Compared to Controls

Objective: This study aimed to compare obesity, insulin sensitivity, clinical, and metabolic parameters between CPP and age-matched control girls, with or without obese girls and to determine correlations between these factors. Methods: CPP and control girls were recruited and were allocated into obese and non-obese groups. There were 3 groups of comparison including non-obese control girls (n=29), non-obese CPP girls (n=20), and obese CPP girls (n=6), because obese controls could not be recruited. Results: Body mass index (BMI), body weight, and height percentiles were higher in obese CPP and non-obese CPP girls compared to control girls. Lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were not different between all groups. Insulin and the HOMA-IR were positively but the QUICKI was negatively correlated with metabolic and anthropometric parameters mainly in the control group, while these parameters were significantly correlated with LH and FSH in the CPP group. From multivariate regression, insulin and the HOMA-IR were associated with reproductive indices in CPP and with fat mass in controls. Conclusion: Insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance were related to metabolic factors in prepubertal stage, but were more associated with the reproductive status during pubertal advancement