RESUMEN
Hypoglycaemia is the most common life-threatening acute complication in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM]. Approximately 30% of patients with T1DM will suffer from one episode per year of severe hypoglycaemia in which third-party assistance is required, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Islet cell transplantation was approved by the National Commissioning Group [UK] for reducing the frequency of lifethreatening hypoglycaemic attacks in patients with impaired hypoglycaemia awareness. To date, five patients have undergone this procedure in Manchester, UK, since its approval in 2010. We present the case of a 56-year-old man with T1DM for 30 years on approximately 50 units of insulin per day with a glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] of 9% [75 mmol/mol]. He scored 7 on the Gold Score and 6 on the Modified Clarke Scale for hypoglycaemia, making him eligible to undergo islet cell transplantation. He received two islet transplants, one in 2010 and the second in 2011. The patient did not achieve complete insulin independence post-transplant but reduced his daily insulin to approximately 17 U. However, the episodes of severe hypoglycaemia were reduced from approximately 50/year to 0.25/year, and he now has excellent glycaemic control with an HbA1c of 6.8% [51 mmol/mol]. The long-term microvascular complications, especially neuropathy, assessed by the novel technique of corneal confocal microscopy have not shown progression. He developed side effects from the immunosuppressive therapy, which included mouth ulcers, hypertension and moderate deterioration of renal function
RESUMEN
The study aims to evaluate students’ perceptions towards e-Learning Management System (e-LMS) in pharmacy education. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all undergraduates enrolled at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. A pre-validated questionnaire consisting of two domains (demographic characteristics and students’ perception regarding the use of e-LMS) was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the study respondents. Chi Square test was used to measure association between the study variables. All analysis was performed by using Predictive Analytical Software (PASW) v. 18. A total of 315 students completed the survey questionnaire with a response rate of 57.6%. Majority of the students (61.0%) accessed e-LMS to acquire lecture notes for their studies, followed by 53.3% have used e-LMS for the preparation of the assignments. Seventy eight percent of the respondents agreed that e-LMS is very useful and felt that e-LMS is making their studies easier. However, 50% of students claimed that poor network connection at the campus is a major barrier in accessing e-LMS. Moreover, 48% of the respondents disagreed that e-LMS should be taken into account as an assessment criterion for students’ grading. Students are found to be frequently engaged in using e-LMS and believed that online based learning is enhancing their academic performances. Nevertheless, students still prefer hybrid teaching methodologies than choosing traditional system or e-learning as an alone entity.