approach for developing integrated undergraduate medical curriculum

Background and Objectives: Medical schools are to develop integrated medical curricula because the term ''integrated curriculum'' has grown up and flourished globally and it has become mandatory to align the medical education with the global concept in Pakistan. This paper aims to present a guideline to design an undergraduate integrated medical curriculum

Methods: Various themes are used to develop integrated curriculum which are basic medical science, simulation skills, clinical science, personality development, research, entrepreneurship and pre specialization. Each theme is subdivided, termed a module and its contents primarily focus on particular aspect

Results: Knowledge, skill and attitude, embodied in themes or modules, are planted in specific way that they have horizontal as well as vertical integration. There is no boundary of various traditional disciplines in template of five year curriculum. For example, diagnosis is a theme which carries contents from medicine, surgery, orthopedics etc

Conclusion: The blueprint introduced in this paper would help medical educators to draft integrated medical curricula for those institutions which intend to switch their medical programs from traditional to integrated one

Respiratory and general health complaints in subjects exposed to sandstorm at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objective: Sandstorms are metrological events and frequently occur in many regions throughout the world. Sandstorms are a main source of long-distance transport of dust, air pollution and cause various health problems. This study aimed to investigate the acute respiratory and general health complaints in subjects exposed to sandstorm at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Methodology: The present descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the period March 2011- June 2012. We selected 517 [308 males, 59.58%] and [209 females, 40.42%], apparently healthy volunteers with mean age 28.6+/-3.14 years, who had single outside exposure to sandstorm for the period of 24+/-2.68 minutes. The acute respiratory and general health complaints were recorded through a comprehensive questionnaire

Results: A large proportion of the subjects who were exposed to sandstorm had complaints of cough 247 [47.77%], runny nose 264[51.06%], wheeze 173[33.46%], acute asthmatic attack 108 [20.88%], eye irritation / redness 252[48.74%], headache 179 [34.62%], body ache 199 [38.5%], sleep disturbance 157[30.36%] and psychological disturbances 194 [37.52%]

Conclusion: Exposure to sandstorm causes cough, runny nose, wheeze, acute asthmatic attack, eye irritation / redness, headache, body ache, sleep and psychological disturbances. These results indicate that sandstorm is a prolific source of respiratory and general ailments. It is therefore, suggested that an unnecessary exposure to sandstorm must be avoided

Effects of mobile phone radiations on brain

Use of mobile phone has increased markedly in recent years. The debate regarding health effects of low intensity electromagnetic field radiation generated from mobile phones has dramatically influenced the lifestyle of all age group populations. Widespread concern continues in the community about the harmful effects of radiofrequency radiations on various human body tissues. Long term use of mobile phone can cause various hazardous effects on the human health including brain. The most frequent health problems due to the use of mobile phone on the brain reported worldwide are headache, dizziness, tension, sleep disturbance, loss of memory and the brain tumor. The aim of this review is to emphasize the different studies concerning the effects of mobile phone on brain. Keeping in view the effects of mobile phone radiation on the brain, it is suggested that long-term and unnecessary use of mobile phone should be avoided

Spirometric evaluation of lung function [maximal voluntary ventilation] in welding workers

The present study was designed to study the effects of welding fumes on maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV] and to determine its severity in relation to duration of exposure. Additional objective was to reduce the potential health risks of welding workers by providing them with information concerning the hazards of welding fumes. This study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan in 1999. In this study, the MVV was studied in 50 male control subjects and 50 male arc welding workers and all participants were non-smokers with an age range of 20-60 years. The subjects were matched for age, height, weight and socio-economic status. Maximal voluntary ventilation test was performed by using an electronic spirometer and results were compared by a paired t-test. Welding workers showed a significant reduction in MVV relative to controls. We conclude that MVV in welding workers is significantly decreased as compared to their matched controls. Stratification of results by years of welding shows a dose-response effect of years of welding on lung function