ABSTRACT
Background: Due to lack of consensus of teaching learning methods during undergraduate period, intern doctors face many challenges in clinical settings. Knowledge gaps related to clinical application of laboratory medicine leads to poor case management. Active learner centered training with real clinical cases is a need to help the interns to link their basic science knowledge into a practical context. Aims and Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the effect of case based learning (CBL) on the interns’ knowledge and clinical decision-making skill of interpretation of laboratory investigation reports and to assess perception of participants about CBL. Materials and Methods: CBL method was used to train the interns in clinical application microbiology reports. This is a pre- and post-test type study, carried out for 2 months with 43 Medical interns, willing to participate. The process included evaluation of CBL by pre-validated questionnaires by multiple choice questions, clinical case scenarios before, immediately after and 10 days after the intervention and perception toward CBL was assessed. Statistical analysis was done using Student’s t-test and SPSS 17 software. The value of P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: A significant improvement in the interns’ knowledge and problem solving following CBL sessions had been observed in present study. The post-test scores of all the CBL sessions were significantly higher than pre-test scores (P < 0.05). The perception of interns toward CBL was assessed and it was responded positively. It helped in strengthening the critical skills of interns such as problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. Conclusion: The present study proved that interns during internship require to be trained in laboratory medicine. CBL is an effective teaching method to train interns in enhancing their problem solving skill with correct use of laboratory test results and strengthening critical thinking, teamwork, and time management skills.
ABSTRACT
The role of divalent cations like magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) was irrvestigated on energy distribution process of Hydril/a verticil/ata thylakoids. Effect of these cations was tested on relative quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II catalyzed electron transport activity, room and liquid nitrogen temperature fluorescence emission properties and thylakoid light scattering characteristics. The electron transport activity was found to be stimulated in the presence of these cations in a light intensity independent manner. The concentration of cation required for maximum stimulation was nearly 10-12 mM. Comparatively, Ca2+ was more effective than Mg2+. Cation induced stimulation in electron transport activity was not accompanied by increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence intensity either at room (25°C) or liquid nitrogen (77°K) temperatures. Furthermore, 540 nm absorption and 90° light scattering properties of thylakoids remained insensitive towards divalent cations. These facts together suggest that divalent cations in Hydril/a thylakoids are not effective in supporting the excitation distribution between the interacting photosystem complexes.
ABSTRACT
Calcium ion-dependent reactivation of O2 evolution activity has been investigated in Hydrilla verticillata thylakoid preparations. Washing the thylakoids in calcium-free buffer or calcium-free buffer containing 1.5 M NaCl or 1.5 M NaCl plus 20% methanol, reversibly inhibited O2 evolution activity. The activity was restored on addition of calcium as calcium chloride and partially by strontium chloride. Immobilization of thylakoids with glutaraldehyde (GA) arrested the loss in O2 evolution activity caused by calcium-free high salt washing. However, calcium sensitivity was discernible in GA immobilized thylakoids subjected to calcium-free high salt washing. Since glutaraldehyde checks the loss of extrinsic thylakoid polypeptides due to washing, it is assumed that the calcium ion has regulatory functions in the photosynthetic electron transport, besides its interaction with thylakoid proteins.
Subject(s)
Calcium/pharmacology , Membranes/drug effects , Oxygen/metabolism , Plant Stems/drug effectsABSTRACT
Electron transport activity of beet spinach thylakoids was enhanced in the presence of aliphatic amine, DABCO (1,4-diazobicyclo (2,2,2) octane), a hydrophilic proton trapping agent. The extent of stimulation was pH-dependent and similar to the effect of the uncoupler ammonium chloride on electron transport. The stimulation of whole-chain (H2O-->MV) electron transport activity was observed only at high (rate-saturating) light intensity. The light-induced proton uptake coupled to electron transport of thylakoid was also arrested by DABCO, suggesting that DABCO uncouples thylakoid phosphorylation by proton trapping.