Team based learning in pathology: effect on test scores and student satisfaction

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of team based learning [TBL] on student's test scores in comparison with didactic lectures. We also wanted to assess to the level of students satisfaction regarding TBL as a teaching methodology

Study Design: Quasi experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, University Medical and Dental College Faisalabad, from May to July 2013

Material and Methods: Fourth year undergraduate medical students attending Pathology course at University Medical and Dental College [UMDC], Faisalabad in year 2013 involved the portion of Haematology were divided into two halves. The first half [H-1] was covered in two TBL sessions of two hours and 15 minutes duration each

The second half [H-2] was covered in 8 lectures of 45 minutes duration each

After completion of the course, students took test comprising of problem based SEQs regarding Hematology. The test comprised of two segments with questions of equal difficulty, representing the two halves of the topic

Students scores in these two segments were compared by using paired sample t-test

The students were given a validated questionnaire. This data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20

Results: The test scores were highly significant [p=0.000] in TBL as compared to lecture group. In addition to positive significant relationship, majority of students also agreed that TBL motivated them to learn Pathology [71.72%], promoted better understanding of the subject matter [68.92%], helped to gain in depth knowledge of the subject [62.06%] and helped to remove misconceptions about the topic [65.51%]. Sixty two percent students preferred TBL to didactic lectures

Conclusion: Our study proved to have a significant impact of TBL on student test scores as compared to didactic lectures. Majority of the students were satisfied with TBL as a teaching methodology in Pathology and preferred it to didactic lectures

Efficacy and safety of simvastatin in chronic plaque psoriasis

To determine the efficacy and safety of simvastatin in chronic plaque psoriasis. Sixty patients of either sex, aged between 18 and 70 years were included in the study. Efficacy was determined by percentage reduction in psoriasis area and severity index [PASI] score from baseline. Safety of simvastatin was evaluated by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT], creatinine phosphokinase [CPK] and bilirubin at baseline, 4[th], 8[th] and 12[th] week. The data were analyzed for variables like age, sex and percentage reduction in PASI score. There was >50% reduction in PASI score in 20% patients. Out of these, 8 patients had moderate plaque psoriasis and 4 patients had severe psoriasis. In remaining 80% cases simvastatin did not prove to be efficacious. The drug was safe and well-tolerated. Simvastatin can be affective in patients with moderate disease as compared to cases with severe plaque psoriasis. The drug was safe and well-tolerated.

Correlation of fine needle aspiration cytology, smear and culture in tuberculous lymphadenitis: a retrospective study

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the commonest form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] is a simple out-patient diagnostic procedure used for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Over the last two decades, fine needle aspiration cytology has emerged as a simple outpatient diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of tuberculous lymphadenitis. This has replaced excision biopsy of lymph node. In this study, FNAC was complemented with smear examination and culture for AFB. It was observed that out of the 100 reported cases of tuberculosis on FNAC direct smear positivity on ZN staining was 3/100[3%]. After the inoculation of residual aspirated material on LJ medium the culture yield was 27/100[27%]. Thus FNAC had greater diagnostic efficacy, proved to be a rapid, less time consuming and non-invasive screening test for evaluation of tuberculous lymphadenitis

Settings and Design: A retrospective laboratory based study at, Meezan lab Faisalabad. Material and Methods: 100 patients of lymphadenitis which were diagnosed as cases of granulomatous inflammation on FNAC were included in this study. These cases were reported on cytology by using the Giemsa stain, H and E stain, Gram and Ziehl Neelsen stain. After the smear preparation the part of left over aspirated material was inoculated on LJ medium and were reported on the basis of morphological features by concerned microbiologist

Results: Out of these 100 selected reported cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis culture revealed growth of Mycobacterium on 27 of them. While direct microscopic examination of the ZN stained smears from these aspirates revealed the presence of AFB in only 3 out of 100 cases

Prevalence of dysmenorrhea in young women [16-25 years]: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To determine the frequency of dysmenorrhea among women in the 16-25 age groups in Ajman

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done in 300 female students from two universities in Ajman United Arab Emirates. The data was collected using a pilot tested, self administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS-19 and is presented mainly as tables and graphs. To verify associations the Chi square test was done

Result: The study found that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among women within the age group of 16-25 years was 75%. Females with heavy menstrual flow with clots have higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea [91.7%] than women with slight and moderate menstrual flow [69.7%]. The most common symptoms reported by females suffering from dysmenorrhea are mild fatigue, moderate cramps, moderate back pain and mild premenstrual tension. Most common remedies taken for dysmenorrhea were taking rest [13%] and taking over the counter painkillers [41%]

Conclusion: The frequency of dysmenorrhea among women of age group 16-25 was high with three fourth of the study subjects reporting dysmenorrhea. Most common symptoms suffered were cramps followed by back pain and fatigue. Mostly dysmenorrhea was managed with over the counter pain killers

Prevalence of dysmenorrhea in young women [16-25 years]: a cross-sectional study

To determine the frequency of dysmenorrhea among women in the 16-25 age groups in Ajman. A cross-sectional survey was done in 300 female students from two universities in Ajman United Arab Emirates. The data was collected using a pilot tested, self administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS-19 and is presented mainly as tables and graphs. To verify associations the Chi square test was done. The study found that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among women within the age group of 16-25 years was 75%. Females with heavy menstrual flow with clots have higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea [91.7%] than women with slight and moderate menstrual flow [69.7%]. The most common symptoms reported by females suffering from dysmenorrhea are mild fatigue, moderate cramps, moderate back pain and mild premenstrual tension. Most common remedies taken for dysmenorrhea were taking rest [13%] and taking over the counter painkillers [41%]. The frequency of dysmenorrhea among women of age group 16-25 was high with three fourth of the study subjects reporting dysmenorrhea. Most common symptoms suffered were cramps followed by back pain and fatigue. Mostly dysmenorrhea was managed with over the counter pain killers