Comparison of Outcomes of Clinical Teaching Station and Traditional Bedside Teaching among the Final Year Medical Students

Background: Teaching clinical skills is generally done by bedside teaching (BT). Clinical teaching stations (CTSs) are specially designed for the final year medics. Methods: The aim was to evaluate and compare the impact of CTS with BT on the final year medical undergraduates. Evaluation of the effectiveness of CTS among the participants was the primary objective with a % change in academic performance. A teaching program was conducted in two phases with each phase having two sessions, covering respiratory system (RS), gastrointestinal tract (GIT), cardiovascular system (CVS), and central nervous system (CNS). In the first phase, RS and GIT and in the second phase CVS and CNS were taught by TS and BT methods. Each session lasted for 2 weeks. Results: Thirty participants were grouped into two. The total mean ± SD score was 22.57 (±3.86) and 24.4 (±4.32) for BT and TS, respectively. Mean scores were higher in students who were taught by CTS but were statistically not significant (p>0.05) in both phases. There was no significant gender difference in the impact of the two teaching methodologies. The number of students who excelled was more with TS whereas, the scores were moderate with BT. All (100%) participants unanimously agreed that CTS is more effective and interactive and helped in better understanding of the subject. Conclusion: TS as a teaching tool is realistic with repeatable clinical scenarios and objective assessment. BT provides students with the required clinical skills, TS can enhance the knowledge and application. TS can be used as a supplementary tool along with BT.

Effect of Mirtazapine Pre-treatment on Haloperidol, Ergometrine and Fluoxetine Induced Behaviours in Albino Rats.

Background: Central 5-HT and 5-HT serotonergic 2A 2Creceptors are mainly involved in the control ofnigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic neuronalactivity has been well proved and established. 5-HThas facilitatory effect on stimulated dopamine releaseby stimulating central 5-HT receptors and inhibitory 2Aeffect by stimulating 5-HT receptors. Aim and 2CObjectives: To evaluate 5-HT and 5-HT receptor 2A 2Cblocking activity of Mirtazapine (MIR) and the effectof mirtazapine pre-treatment on Ergometrine (ERG)induced behaviours, Fluoxetine (FLU) induced penileerections and Haloperidol (HAL) induced catalepsy inrats. Material and Methods: Each group wassubdivided into different subgroups consisting 6animals in each. Control group received DimethylSulfoxide (DMSO) and other groups received differentdoses of mirtazapine one hour before ERG/FLU/HAL.Values obtained from control group were comparedwith all remaining groups pre-treatment with differentdoses of MIR. Results: MIR (MIR) at 2.5, 5, 10 and 20mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p) did not produce any per seeffects. Pre-treatment with 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg i.p. MIRsignificantly antagonised ERG induced behaviours. 5mg/kg i.p. MIR significantly antagonised whereas 10and 20 mg/kg i.p. MIR abolished FLU (10 mg/kg)induced penile erections in rats. MIR 5 and 20 mg/kgi.p. significantly antagonised HAL (1mg/kg) inducedcatalepsy at 1 hr testing time interval while 10 and 20mg/kg MIR significantly antagonised HAL (1 mg/kg)induced catalepsy at 2 hr testing time interval.Conclusion: Our results indicate that MIR at 5, 10 and20 mg/kg possesses 5-HT and 5-HT receptors 2A 2Cblocking activity. At 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg MIR, byblocking central 5-HT receptors predominantly, 2Ccauses release of dopamine from nigrostriataldopaminergic neurons and therefore antagonizes HALinduced catalepsy

An Unusual Branching Pattern of the Median Cubital Vein and its Relations with Lateral Cutaneous Nerve of Forearm in the Upper Extremity: Anatomicoclinical Notes

Cubital fossa is the usual site for performing venepuncture in the clinical settings for health screenings and diagnostic purposes. This procedure is simple and uncomplicated but occasionally can lead to bleeding and pain in the form of complex regional pain syndrome. Superficial veins of the upper limb are often used for venepuncture for transfusion purposes and for obtaining blood samples. These veins are also used for cardiac catheterisation and giving intravenous injections. During routine cadaveric dissection, a cubital venous variation was observed in a 45-yr –old, male cadaver. The median cubital vein initiated from cephalic vein passed upwards and laterally superficial to posterior branch of medial cutaneous nerve of forearm. In the middle of its course, it gave off an ascending channel which further divided into medial and lateral tributaries. The medial tributary terminated into the basilic vein, whereas the lateral tributary ascended laterally superficial to a branch of lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm and drained into cephalic vein at the level of elbow joint. Various patterns of superficial cubital veins have been mentioned in literature. Awareness of such anatomical variations is crucial while performing venepuncture in clinical settings as well as for creating arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis purpose.