Association of Kinesthetic and Read-Write Learner with Deep Approach Learning and Academic Achievement

Background: The main purpose of the present study was to further investigate study processes, learning styles, and academic achievement in medical students.Methods: A total of 214 (mean age 22.5 years) first and second year students - preclinical years - at the Asian Institute of Medical Science and Technology (AIMST) University School of Medicine, in Malaysia participated.  There were 119 women (55.6%) and 95 men (44.4%).   Biggs questionnaire for determining learning approaches and the VARK questionnaire for determining learning styles were used.  These were compared to the student’s performance in the assessment examinations.Results: The major findings were 1) the majority of students prefer to study alone, 2) most students employ a superficial study approach, and 3) students with high kinesthetic and read-write scores performed better on examinations and approached the subject by deep approach method compared to students with low scores.  Furthermore, there was a correlation between superficial approach scores and visual learner’s scores.Discussion: Read-write and kinesthetic learners who adopt a deep approach learning strategy perform better academically than do the auditory, visual learners that employ superficial study strategies.   Perhaps visual and auditory learners can be encouraged to adopt kinesthetic and read-write styles to enhance their performance in the exams

Incidence, risk factors and clinical epidemiology of melioidosis: a complex socio-ecological emerging infectious disease in the Alor Setar region of Kedah, Malaysia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Melioidosis, a severe and fatal infectious disease caused by <it>Burkholderia pseudomallei</it>, is believed to an emerging global threat. However, data on the natural history, risk factors, and geographic epidemiology of the disease are still limited.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We undertook a retrospective analysis of 145 confirmed cases extracted from a hospital-based Melioidosis Registry set up from 2005 in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah state, Malaysia, in order to provide a first description of the contemporary incidence, risk factors, and clinical epidemiology of the disease in this putatively high risk region of the country.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The incidence of melioidosis in Alor Setar is remarkably high at 16.35 per 100,000 population per year. The mean age of patients was 50.40 years, with infection varying nonlinearly with age. Males (75.2%; <it>P </it>< 0.0001) predominated and the majority of cases were Malays (88.9%). The overall, crude mortality rate among the study patients was 33.8%. The proportions of cases and deaths were significantly greater among patients involved in farming, forestry and fishing and the unemployed (χ²= 30.57, <it>P </it>< 0.0001). A majority of cases (62.75%) were culture positive, with mortality in these patients being 45.05%. A large proportion (83.0%) of culture positives was also bacteremic. Pneumonia accounted for 42.06% of primary diagnoses followed in importance by soft tissue abscess. In patients with pneumonia and who were culture positive, the mortality rate was as high as 65.00%. Diabetes mellitus constituted the major underlying risk factor for developing and dying from melioidosis, occurring in 57% of all diagnosed cases. The age distribution of diabetes paralleled that of melioidosis cases. There were linear associations between cases and deaths with monthly rainfall.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Melioidosis represents a complex socio-ecological public health problem in Kedah, being strongly related with age, occupation, rainfall and predisposing chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Among cases, bacteremic patients were associated with significantly high mortality despite provision of the recommended antibacterial therapy. The burden of this disease is likely to grow in this region unless better informed interventions targeted at high-risk groups and associated diseases are urgently implemented.</p

Microsoft Word - SEAJME2009[1]final.15.9.09_ver2003_gaew.doc

Abstract Introduction: An assortment of learning styles is adopted by medical students. Some like to learn by seeing, some by hearing and some by demonstration. Understanding their preferred learning styles as visual, auditory, read-write or kinesthetic learners will help improve the teaching methods adopted. Objective and Goal: role of the educator necessitates making the most of each teaching opportunity by understanding the characteristics of the learning audience and incorporating demonstrated principles of adult educational design, with a focus on collaborative learning and variety in presentation techniques. The goal is to provide student oriented education, producing efficient doctors. Design and participants: A cross-sectional study among 214 medical students of the AIMST University, conducted in 2008. Main outcome measures were: 1. Learning style {visual (V), auditory (A), readwrite(R), kinesthetic (K)} 2. Preferred study practice (alone, in pairs or in groups). Results and Discussion: Preference for different learning styles were, visual (V) 9%, auditory (A) 28%, reading/writing (R) 38% and kinesthetic (K) 35%. 51.4 % of the total 214 students preferred a single mode of information presentation (either V, A, R, or K). Of the 104 students (48.6 % of the total 214 ) who preferred multiple modes of information presentation, some preferred two modes (bimodal, 25%), some preferred three modes (tri-modal, 12%), and some preferred four modes (quadri-modal, 67%). Practical implications: With growing interest in learning styles, an awareness of students&apos; preferences will be of particular value in designing course delivery strategies which combine an appropriate mix of lectures, Problem based learning (PBL) sessions and practical hours. Originality/value: Multiplicity exists in the learning styles of students and the accomplishment of teaching goals is based on the ability to understand the complexity and to use the knowledge of these differences to balance these disparities among the students in a class

Expression of γ-tubulin in non-small cell lung cancer and effect on patient survival

Introduction. It has been reported that overexpression and altered compartmentalization of γ-tubulin may contribute to tumorigenesis and tumor aggressiveness in a variety of human malignancies. We have shown that γ-tubulin expression and cellular distribution pattern is also altered in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Histol. Histopathol. 2012; 27: 1183-1194). In the present study we examined the relationship between γ-tubulin expression and patient overall survival (OS). Material and methods. Immunohistochemistry was performed, with well-characterized anti-γ-tubulin antibodies, on 109 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSCLC specimens (p-TNM stage I-III). γ-Tubulin labeling indexes (LIs) were determined, and the association of γ-tubulin expression with clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. To analyze OS rates according to γ-tubulin LIs, patients were categorized into three groups: those with low (0-30%), intermediate (31-69%) or high (70-100%) γ-tubulin LI. Association of clinicopathological parameters and γ-tubulin with survival were examined using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results. No statistically significant association was seen between γ-tubulin overexpression and histological type, tumor differentiation, p-TNM stage and adenocarcinoma subtyping. Longer survival was observed in the high γ-tubulin LI group of patients with p-TNM stages II+III when compared to intermediate or low γ-tubulin LI groups, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.066). On the other hand, when combined low and intermediate γ-tubulin LI groups (p-TNM stages II+III) where compared to high γ-tubulin LI group, statistically significant longer survival was observed in high γ-tubulin group (p=0.021). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that level of γ-tubulin expression may have an impact on patient survival at more advanced NSCLC stages. © 2018, Histology and Histopathology. All rights reserved

Malaysia Venipuncture versus heel prick for blood glucose monitoring in neonates

ABSTRACT Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in the pain indicators and effectiveness between venipuncture (VP) and heel prick (HP) for bloo