Dead space of three types of insulin syringes produced in Iran using atomic absorption of calcium ions

Error in the process of diluting the drugs can lead to administration of inappropriate amount of drugs. Therefore, awareness to the dead space of insulin syringes, which are commonly used for diluting the drugs, is important. In this descriptive study, the dead space volumes of 86 samples from three different syringes made in Iran were measured by using atomic absorption of calcium ions in atomic absorption spectroscopy Varian model Specter AA.200. The dead space of SOHA-syringes[R] [non removable needle 1 ml insulin syringe] was 5.3 +/- 2.2 micro l, which was significantly less than its counterparts in V MED-syringe[R] [removable needle 1 ml insulin syringe with T-shape plunger seal] with dead space of 21.05 +/- 9.17 micro l and Atlas-syringes[R] [removable needle 1 ml insulin syringe] with dead space of 54.85 +/- 13.15 micro l. SOHA-syringes with non removable needles are the best for medication dilution in neonatology wards. Among syringes with removable needles, V MED-syringes are preferable to Atlas-syringes because of the smaller dead space

Clinical skill center: a review of present situation and importance in medical education curriculum

Clinical skill centers were designed in 1960, offers innovative, more effective clinical health care and treatment curriculum. Clinical skill center [CSC] can provide a special facility for clinical and communication skills practice in a setting outside hospital wards in order to train students with enough confidence of confronting real patients. Learning clinical skills in these centers are not patient-dependent and by practicing on manikins and simulated models errors in real patients can be prevented. Moreover, possible feedback of this method can be used for evaluation and can improve quality and quantity of the education. This review intends to determine the purpose, undertaking, and structure of CSC. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating the clinical skill centers into the teaching curriculum of medical universities. Apprarently, organizing clinical skill centers can play an important role for improving the quality and quantity of the educational system and consequently post-graduate performance. The authors recommend this program can be a solution for having both the knowledge and skill of diagnosis treatment seasonal and rare diseases