Teaching anatomy at undergraduate level -- a survey amongst students comparing use of powerpoint and blackboard

To find out a more effective method for teaching anatomy at undergraduate level by comparing PowerPoint and Blackboard-Chalk modes. Comparative study. This study was conducted at the departments of anatomy at Army Medical College, Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad Medical and Dental College in Rawalpindi/Islamabad from March to May 2010. 130 students who were exposed to both the PowerPoint and Blackboard-Chalk based lectures in three medical and dental colleges, were selected at random from class nominal roll. A specially designed questionnaire was sent to them. 82% [106] of the students returned the survey form with the response. Various advantages and disadvantages of both the PowerPoint and Blackboard-Chalk method were highlighted in the students' response. 65%, 62% and 60% of the students recommended that a combination based upon Blackboard as main format, and supplemented by PowerPoint should be used in lectures [embryology, histology and gross anatomy], gross anatomy demonstrations and histology practical respectively. The PowerPoint was recommended to be used in the beginning to outline the lecture and summarize the things at the end with picture showing wherever needed. A strategy based upon mixing PowerPoint with Blackboard as main format is preferred by undergraduate students in anatomy

Abdominal tuberculosis the surgical audit of its presentations

Two hundred and thirty cases of abdominal Tuberculosis were studied to evaluate the mode of presentation of the disease at surgical department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan. The main clinical features were pain abdomen, weight loss, fever with night sweats, vomiting, alternating diarrhoea and constipation and intestinal obstruction. Clinical diagnosis of the disease could be made in 72 patients. Twenty percent patients had mass in right iliac fossa and 28% had radiographic evidence of Intestinal obstruction. Laparotomy was performed in 170 cases and hislopathological examination of resected intestine or lymphnodes was undertaken to confirm the diagnosis. 142 cases were diagnosed at Laparotomy and 20 cases turned out as histopathological surprise. Ileocaecal tuberculosis was the commonest finding on laparotomy in 93 cases, 38 cases had miltiple ileal strictures and 32 patients had tuberculous peritonitis. Laparotomy is recommended as safe and effective procedure for diagnosing and managing tuberculous abdomen particularly when more sophisticated facilities are not available. The prominent features different from Western studies are : 1. Tuberculosis is more prevalent in young females. 2. The intestinal tuberculosis is more common than peritonitis. 3. Due to late presentation major surgical procedures are more commonly performed. 4. A proportion of the patients responding to A.T.T gets fibrosing strictures and presents with acute intestinal obstructions

Review of fifty cases of hepatocellular carcinoma

Data regarding fifty cases of hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed to study the mode of presentation, role of diagnostic modalities, association of the Hepatitis B virus antigen and to compare the results of management by chemotherapy and surgery. Sixty eight percent patients of hepato-cellular carcinoma were positive for Hepatitis B virus [HBV] antigen. Ultrasonography, radionuclide scanning and needle or open biopsy established the diagnosis. Alpha Feto Protein [AFP] levels were of diagnostic and prognostic importance. The results of the chemotherapy were not satisfactory. Surgical resection produced excellent results by increasing the survival rate and improving the quality of life. This mode of management is strongly recommended