Introduction of vertical integration and case-based learning in anatomy for undergraduate physical therapy and occupational therapy students

The purpose of the present pilot study was to evaluate the benefits of innovative teaching methodologies introduced to final year occupational and physical therapy students in Christian Medical College in India. Students' satisfactions along the long-term retention of knowledge and clinical application of the respiratory anatomy have been assessed. The final year undergraduate physical therapy and occupational therapy students had respiratory anatomy teaching over two sessions. The teaching involved case-based learning and integrated anatomy lectures (vertical integration) with the Anatomy department. Pretest and immediate and follow-up post-tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the innovative methods. A feedback questionnaire was marked to grade case-based learning. The method of integrated and case-based teaching was appreciated and found to be useful in imparting knowledge to the students. Students retained the gained knowledge adequately and the same was inferred by statistically significant improvement in both post-test scores. Vertical integration of anatomy in the final year reinforces their existing knowledge of anatomy. Case-based learning may facilitate the development of effective and clinically sound therapists.     

Rapid Detection of Mutation in RRDR of <Emphasis Type="Italic">rpo B</Emphasis> Gene for Rifampicin Resistance in MDR-Pulmonary Tuberculosis by DNA Sequencing

To detect the site of mutation in RRDR of rpo B gene for rifampicin resistance in MDR-TB by DNA sequencing. 50 MDR-TB patients were enrolled in our study after informed written consent. Mycobacterial DNA was extracted from sputum samples by Universal Sample Processing (USP) method and RRDR of rpo B gene was amplified by PCR using primers RP4T and RP8T and then sequenced by automated DNA sequencing. The nucleotide sequences of RRDR of rpo B gene were compared with the reference sequence. We observed three different types of mutation in the RRDR of rpo B gene. The frequency of mutation in codon 531 (TCG → TTG), 526 (CAC → TAC) and 516 (GAC → GTC) are 60, 26.6 and 6.6% respectively. Of the total cases studied, 6.6% cases, although resistant to rifampicin, did not show any mutation in the RRDR of rpo B gene. Codon 531 (TCG → TTG) is the most common site of mutation in RRDR of rpo B gene for rifampicin resistance in MDR-pulmonary tuberculosis followed by codon 526 (CAC → TAC) and codon 516 (GAC → GTC).     

浅谈研究生思想政治教育创新

在分析当前研究生思想现状及特点的基础上,对研究生思想政治教育工作中存在的主要问题进行思考,提出了研究生思想政治教育的创新措施,这对于加强和改进研究生思想政治教育具有积极意义。     

虚拟机在Linux操作系统教学中的应用

随着计算机技术的迅猛发展,在教学中越来越多地利用虚拟机来辅助计算机教学。在Linux操作系统课程实验中,利用虚拟机软件提供模拟的计算机硬件系统和网络环境,不仅可以满足实验环境要求,还可确保系统的安全性和可管理性。     

高等教育的全球化

导言全球化不是一个新的现象。过去的几十年以来,它就以某种形式存在,然而这是事实：它在过去10年中得到了巨大的促进,这主要是因为信息技术领域取得了惊人的发展。全球化的意思是国家之间人力资源、物质资源、资本和信息的自由流动,整个世界已成为一个无国界的社会……这个全球社会拥有全球公民（WichitSrisa－An,1997）。全球化面对的是国家之间更多的信息交换,更多的地区和国家合作。过去10年中,许多发展中国家,民族经济的经济自由化已证明促进了高等教育全球化的发展,信息技术的迅猛发展巩固了这一成就。过去10年,高等教育…     

幼儿园如何对幼儿进行德育教育

幼儿期是对幼儿进行思想品德教育的关键期,幼儿养成良好的思想品德行为习惯对幼儿健全人格的形成起着重要的作用。以下是我园幼儿德育教育的系列主题活动和一些集体活动。     

Effects of Long Term Ethanol Consumption on Cell Death in Liver

Apoptosis plays an important role in cellular homeostasis. In this study we have investigated whether apoptosis is a contributory factor to alcohol induced liver damage. Long term ethanol (1.6 g/kg body weight/day) exposure augmented liver apoptosis as reflected by high frequency of positive TUNEL staining nuclei and by an increased activity of caspase-3 and -8. Our study provides evidence that long-term ethanol consumption triggers apoptotic process in the liver.     

Study of Oxidative Stress in Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an idiopathic, acquired, circumscribed, hypomelanotic skin disorder, characterized by milky white patches of different sizes and shapes. It is due to the destruction of melanocytes resulting in the absence of pigment production of the skin and mucosal surfaces. Oxidative stress has been implicated in pathophysiology of vitiligo. To study the activity of blood Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in vitiligo patients. A case–control study was conducted in which 100 patients were enrolled after written consent. 50 cases were of active vitiligo and 50 served as control (25 healthy control and 25 with stable vitiligo). SOD—In our study, among the active vitiligo cases 90% had high level of SOD and 10% had normal level of SOD. Among the stable vitiligo controls, 92% had normal level of SOD and 8% had low levels of SOD.The difference between active vitiligo cases and stable vitiligo control as well as with healthy control was statistically significant (P value < 0.05). GPx—Among the active vitiligo cases 74% had normal GPx levels, 22% had low and only 4% had high levels of GPx. Among the stable vitiligo controls, 64% had normal GPx levels, 16% had low, and 20% had high levels of GPx. The difference between active vitiligo cases and stable vitiligo control as well as with healthy control was statistically not significant (P value > 0.05). Our study shows that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of vitiligo, as indicated by the high levels of serum superoxide dismutase activity.     

Correlation of Adiponectin and Leptin with Insulin Resistance: A Pilot Study in Healthy North Indian Population

The increasing incidence of obesity, leading to metabolic complications is now recognized as a major public-health problem. Insulin resistance is a central abnormality of the metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, originally hypothesized by Reaven Insulin resistance is more strongly linked to intra abdominal fat than to fat in other depots. Adipose tissue secretes numerous factors (adipokines) known to markedly influence lipid and glucose/insulin metabolism, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular integrity. Some of these adipokines have been shown to directly or indirectly affect insulin sensitivity through modulation of insulin signaling and the molecules involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. A pilot study was conducted with 80 healthy subjects who were non diabetic, non hypertensive and having no family history of hypertension, the aim was to evaluate the correlation of adiponectin and leptin levels with obesity and insulin resistance markers in healthy north Indian adult population. Serum leptin, adiponectin and insulin was estimated by sandwich ELISA method. In our study, Leptin correlated significantly with BMI (P value of 0.0000), WC (P value = 0.007), and HC (P value = 0.000). leptin showed significant positive correlation with fasting insulin (P value 0.002), post prandial insulin (P value = 0.000) and HOMA-IR (P value = 0.002). Adiponectin showed significant positive correlation with triglycerides (P value = 0.038), strong negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol (P value = 0.017). Serum concentrations of leptin are associated with central body fat distribution. Insulin resistance and adiponectin is associated with dyslipidemia and these all disorders may ultimately lead to metabolic syndrome.