Osteopathic vs. chiropractic education: a student perspective.

This study compares nationwide survey results from 506 second year students of 11 osteopathic schools and 881 students from the first and second academic year (third term/fourth quarter) of eight chiropractic colleges. Each student was given a questionnaire regarding his/her perspective on the education he/she was receiving. Both populations were questioned about whether or not they came from an osteopathic/chiropractic family, their application process, the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT)/chiropractic adjustments, their first year attitude concerning the efficacy of OMT/chiropractic adjustments, the integration of osteopathic/chiropractic principles into the curriculum and the justification for separate health care professions. Osteopathic and chiropractic students entered their respective professions from nonosteopathic/non-chiropractic families. Although both populations selected their profession as a first and primary choice, chiropractic students were more substantially represented. Upon entering their program, osteopathic students were not convinced, but had an open mind concerning the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), and were divided as to whether there is enough of a distinction between DOs and MDs to justify separate professions. Chiropractic students, on the other hand, entered their program convinced that chiropractic adjustments are effective, and saw a clear distinction between the roles of chiropractic physicians and medical doctors.

Chiropractic education: a student survey.

This study surveyed 1296 chiropractic students, 724 (55.9%) of who were in their first term, and 569 (43.9%) who were beginning their second academic year (third term/fourth quarter). From the available students in 12 of the colleges participating in this study, 73.2% responded to the three-page questionnaire. Questions included the extent and specialization of previous education, population demographics, the application process, justification for separate health care professions, attitudes concerning the integration of chiropractic principles into the curriculum, the efficacy of chiropractic adjustments, and exposure to chiropractic prior to entering chiropractic college. Results showed that chiropractic students represent individuals from all walks of life, most of whom selected chiropractic as a first choice. They clearly distinguish between chiropractic physicians and medical doctors and are overwhelmingly convinced that the chiropractic adjustment is effective, especially if they had themselves received chiropractic care. Most entered chiropractic college with a nonchiropractic family background.

Cloning and characterization of recA genes froM Proteus vulgaris, Erwinia carotovora, Shigella flexneri, and Escherichia coli B/r.

The recA genes of Proteus vulgaris, Erwinia carotovora, Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli B/r have been isolated and introduced into Escherichia coli K-12. All the heterologous genes restore resistance to killing by UV irradiation and the mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in RecA- E. coli K-12 hosts. Recombination proficiency is also restored as measured by formation of Lac+ recombinants from duplicated mutant lacZ genes and the ability to propagate phage lambda derivatives requiring host recombination functions for growth (Fec-). The cloned heterologous genes increase the spontaneous induction of lambda prophage in lysogens of a recA strain. Addition of mitomycin C stimulates phage production in cells carrying the E. coli B/r and S. flexneri recA genes, but little or no stimulation is seen in cells carrying the E. carotovora and P. vulgaris recA genes. After treatment with nalidixic acid, the heterologous RecA proteins are synthesized at elevated levels, a result consistent with their regulation by the E. coli K-12 LexA repressor. Southern hybridization and preliminary restriction analysis indicate divergence among the coding sequences, but antibodies prepared against the E. coli K-12 RecA protein cross-react with the heterologous enzymes, indicating structural conservation among these proteins.