The Many Therapeutic Applications of Nigella sativa - A Review of Literature.

Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times as therapeutic agents for treatment of various diseases and ailments. Description of medicinal uses of plants are found abundantly in ancient papyrus writings from various civilizations. Indigenous cultures even today use herbs in their healing rituals. Medicinal plants are considered as rich sources of phytochemical ingredients which play a vital role for the development of new drugs.Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is commonly known as Black seed or Kalongi, sometimes also referred to as miracle herb has been studied extensively for its various medicinal benefits. Apart from being used as a spice it is also used in various traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda due to its healing properties in the treatment of various diseases. The seeds of Nigella sativa and their oil have been widely used for centuries in the treatment of various ailments throughout the world. And it is an important drug in the Indian traditional system of medicine like Unani and Ayurveda. It has been extensively studied for its biological activities and therapeutic potential and has been shown to possess wide spectrum of activities like diuretic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, analgesic, antiinflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, renal protective and antioxidant properties. Most of the therapeutic properties of this plant are due to the presence of thymoquinone (TQ) which is a major active chemical component of the essential oil.Research into its therapeutic potential has highlighted its use due to its efficacy as an antioxidant, for glycaemic control, anticancer, antimicrobial and for its various other potential health benefits. Experimental studies have reported that Nigella sativa Oil and Nigella sativa extracts have anti-microbial activity against a wide range of microbes, especially multiple-antibiotic resistant bacteria. The current article tries to present a comprehensive and yet short review of this miraculous herb and its various applications in medicine especially in the backdrop of emerging antibiotic resistant superbugs.

Does use of multi-source feedback [MSF] affect the attitudes of postgraduate trainees: experience of a teaching hospital

Objective: To explore the affects of multi source feedback [MSF] on the attitudes of post-graduate trainees

Study Design: Prospective mixed method study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Lahore General Hospital [LGH] and Postgraduate Medical Institute [PGMI] Lahore, from Jul 2012 to Jun 2013

Material and Methods: This prospective mixed method study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, LGH and PGMI, Lahore from July 2012 to June 2013. Participants were FCPS trainees and raters were the consultants, postgraduate trainees, house officers, nursing and paramedical staff. Modified mini-PAT Questionnaire was used. Survey I was followed by Survey II conducted after three months to determine any change. SPSS version 20 was used and paired sample t-test was applied to compare residents' mean scores. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant

Results: Mean score for question 1-12 was 4.00 +/- 0.16 and 4.43 +/- 0.14 for survey I [before intervention] and survey II [post intervention] respectively. Mean difference in overall score from two surveys was 0.43 +/- 0.06, which was statistically significant [p-value=0.000] showing overall improvement in scores from survey I to survey II. The highest mean score was awarded to question number 7 i.e. trainee respects patient's confidentiality and lowest to question 4 i.e. ability to manage time effectively, in both surveys

Conclusion: There was improvement in practice if MSF was delivered in accurate and timely manner with maintenance of the confidentiality and facilitative feedback

Supervisors' perspective on electronic logbook system for postgraduate medical residents of CPSP

Objective: To find out the perspective of the supervisors about the role of electronic logbook [E-Logbook] of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan [CPSP] in monitoring the training of postgraduate medical residents of CPSP

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan [CPSP], Karachi, from May to October 2015

Methodology: An electronic computer-based questionnaire designed in Hypertext Preprocessor [PHP] language was distributed to the registered CPSP supervisors through the e-log system. The questionnaire comprised of seven close ended questions. The data were entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were determined

Results: A total of 1,825 supervisors responded to the questionnaire. Fifteen hundred and ninety-eight [87.6%] supervisors gave regular feedback for their trainees, 88.2% considered it a better monitoring tool than conventional logbook, 92.5% responded that e-logbook helped in the regular assessment of the trainees, 87.8% believe that quality of training will improve after introduction of e-logbook, 89.2% found e-logbook useful in implementation of outcome-based learning and 88.4% considered e-logbook user-friendly. The main reasons for not providing regular feedback included the supervisors not familiar to e-logbook interface, internet access problems, and busy schedules of supervisors

Conclusion: There was a wide acceptability of the e-log system among the supervisors with positive perception about its usefulness. The common reasons that hinder the provision of regular feedback include not being familiar to e-log interface, internet access problem, busy schedule and some consider using e-logbook a cumbersome task. These reasons can be alleviated to provide a better training monitoring system for the residents

Residency educational climate in a pakistani postgraduate medical institute

Objective: To determine the postgraduate residents perception of their educational environment. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute [AFPGMI] Rawalpindi, in October 2014. The postgraduate training [residency] is being imparted in two military teaching hospitals and nine armed forces clinical institutes affiliated with AFPGMI

Material and Methods: Fifty-six residents enrolled with AFPGMI in various postgraduate training programs were included in this study. Twenty-nine residents were from medical and allied [general medicine, psychiatry, dermatology, rehabilitation medicine, military medicine] and twenty-seven from surgical and allied [general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, ENT, pathology, radiology] disciplines. An established instrument Dutch Residency Educational Climate Test [D-RECT] was administered to determine residents' perspective on their learning environment. The survey form of each resident was analyzed to determine overall perception of educational climate addition to detailed analyses of perceptions regarding supervision, coaching and assessment, feedback, teamwork, peer collaboration, professional relation between consultants, adaptation of work to residents' competence, role of consultants, formal education, role of specialty tutor/supervisor and patient sign-out. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied on the data to draw interpretations using SPSS Version 20.0

Results: Overall 64% of residents had positive perception of learning environment. Except 'feedback that was perceived more negative [50%] than positive [32%], other elements perceived positively but having notable negative perception [mean score of less than 3.6 on Likert scale] included work adaptation to residents' competence [25%], coaching and assessment [23%], role of specialty tutor/supervisor [23%] and patients' sign-out [21%]

Educational climate perception by residents in [medical and allied] versus [surgical and allied] disciplines did not reveal any statistically significant difference [p-value > 0.05]

Conclusion: The study highlights an overall positive learning climate at Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute, but finds a need to provide regular structured feedback to residents during their training. To accomplish this end, periodic use of workplace based assessment tools is suggested

CPSP/HSE postgraduate overseas rotational programme: residents' perspective

Objective: to get direct upward feedback from the residents of first batch of CPSP/HSE Postgraduate Scholarship Programme

Study Design: mixed methods qualitative research study

Place and Duration of Study: CPSP, Regional Office, Lahore, in June 2015

Methodology: it is a mixed-method study that was conducted in June, 2015. Data was collected through an email survey with 33 medical residents doing their rotation in Ireland; and focus group discussions were carried out with 8 residents, who had successfully completed their rotation. Data were collected through pre-designed questionnaires comprising of open- and close-ended questions. The data were entered into SPSS version 21 and analyzed

Results: the mean age of residents was 29.9 +/- 1.1 years, 7 [21.2%] were females and 24 [72.7%] respondents were males. Residents agreed that HSE programme has improved their evidence-based decision making [mean score of 3.3 +/- 1.2] and enhanced professionalism [mean score of 3.6 +/- 1.1]. They disagreed that training has polished their procedural skills [mean score 2.4 +/- 1.2]. The identified strengths of the programme are: adopting a systematic approach towards patients, evidence-based decision making, better exposure and opportunities, financial stability and development of communication skills. The weaknesses are: less exposure to procedural skills, difficulty in synopsis and dissertation writing and difficulty in adjustment with rotational schedules

Conclusion: residents of CPSP/HSE Programme believed that CPSP/HSE has improved their professionalism, communication skills and increased their future opportunities for career growth. Better communication between CPSP focal person and residents will help sort out many minor but important issues

E-Log system in monitoring of residency program: trainees' perspective

To record residents' perspective about the utility of newly introduced E-Log system at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan [CPSP]. Sequential mixed method design using survey questionnaire and in-depth interviews. CPSP, Regional Center, Lahore, from March to June 2014. Data was collected from registered trainees through a web-based survey questionnaire on a scale of 1 to 7 about the utility of E-log system. In-depth interviews were conducted with 7 students using non-probability purposive sampling. The interviews were tape recorded and subsequently transcribed. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 and qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis by identifying themes and patterns. A total of 4399 responses were received. Motivation was 4.61 +/- 1.98; 4.33 +/- 2.00 remained acknowledgment of control of one's training by the new system. Ease of use got a mean score of 4.56 +/- 2.15. The overall acceptance of the students regarding E-Log system was high. Scheduling IT workshop at the start of training will add to the student satisfaction regarding utility of E-Log system