Comparison of power point presentation, transparency overhead projector [TOHP] and black board for undergraduate medical teaching

Use of technology in modern education is inevitable. Nowadays the most common ways of lecture delivery include PowerPoint presentation, transparency overhead projector [TOHP] and black board [chalk and talk] methods. Limited researches are available to compare the effectiveness of these teaching tools in public sector universities of Pakistan. Our Objective was to compare the students' perception regarding these three teaching tools in Dow Medical College Karachi. A cross sectional, questionnaire based study. This study was conducted at Dow Medical College, Karachi from April to September 2010. A cross sectional, questionnaire based, study was done. Questionnaire consists of MCQs, grading and open ended questions. A sample size of 314 subjects was taken including students from all current batches in Dow Medical College, Karachi. Information was collected to compare different features among Power Point presentation, transparency overhead projector [TOHP] and black board [chalk and talk] tools. Our study depicted that student overall preferred the use of PowerPoint presentation in lectures than blackboard and overhead projector. The students have a more favorable response towards PowerPoint presentation than Blackboard and Transparency for better inclusion of content, understanding of text and figures, use of examples and illustrations and for summarizing the lecture. [p=<0.001]. On the other hand, they preferred blackboard over Power Point presentations and transparency for facilitation of interaction between teacher and students, coping with teaching speed and stressing on important and relevant points. [p=<0.001]. The result also indicated that the students considered blackboard and PowerPoint presentation equally effective than transparency to develop interest in learning and to grasp the contents. [p=<0.001]. Our study concluded that PowerPoint presentation and Black Board teachings are equally important and should be used as an instruction tool for their respective aspects of learning. One teaching modality is not enough to cope up with student's level of understanding and thus a combination of modern and traditional style of teaching should be incorporated

Effects of alpha-tocopherol on lipid profile in primary hyperlipidemia

To determine the antihyperlipidemic effects of alpha-tocopherol in primary hyperlipidemia. An analytical cohort study. This study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Sciences Institute of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, from February to April 2001. Newly diagnosed and un-treated primary hyperlipidemic persons of either gender between the ages 17 to 70 years were initially enrolled in the study for a 12 weeks [90 day] trial with fortnightly follow up visits. The selected patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group [Group-I] was treated with diet restriction and exercise only. The second group [Group-II] was treated with diet restriction, exercise and alpha -tocopherol. Results were compared using paired t-test. There were 35 patients in all. After treatment with alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol reduction was highly significant [p<0.01]. Triglyceride reduction was significant [p<0.05]. Increase in HDL-c level was highly significant [p<0.001]. The LDL-c reduction was statistically highly significant [p<0.001]. VLDL reduction was also significant [p<0.01]. When compared between the Groups I and II, the reduction in cholesterol was moderately significant [p<0.01], LDL-c reduction was found to be markedly significant [p<0.01]. HDL and VLDL reduction was also found to be significant [p<0.05]. In comparison there was no significant change in triglyceride level. Diet restriction and exercise had significant beneficial effects on lipid profile. When supplemented with alpha -tocopherol, there was a highly significant beneficial effect on lipid profile

Can fetal mortality be reduced by estimating maternal blood gas levels during intrapartum period?

The purpose of this study was to observe the affect of maternal asphyxia influencing the fetus and compare the maternal arterial blood gases [ABGs] and acid base levels of normal full term females with the full term females showing any subjective signs of fetal asphyxia during intrapartum period. In this case control study maternal ABGs and acid base levels of 40 normal term pregnant ladies were compared with 40 other term pregnant females with subjective signs of fetal asphyxia [i.e. fetal heart rate > 160bpm or< 120bpm, meconium staining of liquor, or Apgar score < 7 at one minute] during intrapartum period. Lactic acid and pH were also estimated to assess the acid base balance. There was considerable difference of lactic acid [LA] and Pco2 levels, which were significantly increased [P<0.025] in asphyxiated mothers [AM] as compared with control mothers [CM]. No significant difference was observed regarding pH values, ,bicarbonate ions [HCO[3]], base excess[BE],carbon dioxide content [CtCO[2]] andpercentage saturation of oxygen [%O[2]SAT] levels in both CM and AM groups. The levels of hemoglobin [Hb], packed cell volume [PCV], partial pressure of oxygen [PO[2]] and oxygen content [O[2]CT] in AM group were found significantly lower [P<0.0001] as compared to CM group. This study reveals a strong correlation between the fetal asphyxia and the mothers suffering from anemia, hypoxia or acidemia which may cause the fetal asphyxia during intrapartum period and need for proper investigations like blood gas and acid base analysis during intrapartum period for intervention in earlier phases of labor to prevent feto-ma-ternal mortality