ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The curriculum at medical school at Arabian Gulf University is centered on small group learning and real-life problems provided to students and guiding students to learn actively. In microbiology, laboratory skills are taught in an innovative manner using mini cases and different lab sessions and are integrated with other basic sciences. This article describes the format and pattern of laboratory skills sessions conducted using PBL methods at Arabian Gulf University and discusses the perception of students towards PBL in laboratory skill learning and way forward for the same. METHODS: The study sample size was 110. The students' perception of the laboratory skills teaching methods was assessed through an exit survey at the end of each session. A semi-structured self-administered survey instrument was prepared, and the questions were arranged in two sessions and focused on identifying the relevance, timing, strengths, and weaknesses of the teaching method and recommendations to improve the same. RESULTS: We observed that more than 50% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that the time given for PBL was adequate, topics discussed were relevant, presentations were clear, pre-session briefing and Case-Based Studies (team-based learning (TBL)) helped in their learning. The participants identified the demonstration of experiments and hands-on experience provided in the laboratory were most helpful. When enquired about the difficulty, among 48% of the participants, 80% observed that the slides used in the learning/teaching were lengthy. CONCLUSION: The use of PBL in a lab setting promotes active learning. In the heart of PBL, TBL is a powerful tool in the educational process offering the students deep comprehension and allowing them to gain practical and intellectual skills.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To detect the presence of specific CTX-M class of extended spectyum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) in a collection of cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates from Bahrain. METHODS: A subset of 80 cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae collected from Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, were characterized further for the presence of specific genogroups of CTX-M ß-lactamases by multiplex- and monoplex- PCRs. The primers used for the multiplex and monoplex PCRs were of genogroups- 1, 2, 8, 9 and 25. Sequencing of the representative isolates was performed to find the circulating CTX-M-types. RESULTS: A total of 93.8% (75/80) isolates showed the amplicons corresponding to any of the genogroups (1, 2, 8, 9, 25) and the remaining 6.2% isolates turned out negative in multiplex PCR. Some of the isolates demonstrated multiple bands corresponding to the sizes of different genogroups. Further confirmation with respective monoplex PCR on these 75 isolates demonstrated that 93.3% (70/75) harbored CTX-M genogroup-1 and 6.7% (5/75) harbored genogroup-9. We did not find the presence of genogroups 2, 8, and 25 in these isolates by monoplex PCR. Sequencing results of genogroup-1 isolates demonstrated the presence of CTX-M-15-like ESBL, however, discrepant results were noticed in genogroup-9 isolates, sequencing showed them as CTX-M-55-like ESBL. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report from Bahrain characterizing the CTX-M genogroups of ESBLs and reporting the emergence of blaCTX-M-55-like gene in this region.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the kinetic ability of embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells to express messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA for various cytokines and chemokines in response to Campylobacter jejuni C. jejuni stimulation. METHODS: In an experimental single-blind study, cultured embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells were treated with different concentrations of viable C. jejuni, its sonicated, and filtered supernatant. A modified non-radioactive in situ hybridization using probe cocktails was used to measure mRNA levels for the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-1beta, IL-6, interferon-gamma IFN-gamma, tumour necrosis factor TNF-alpha, transforming growth factor TGF-beta1, and IL-8, and the anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10. The study was carried out from September 2005 to March 2007 at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain. RESULTS: Viable C. jejuni, sonicated bacteria and filtered supernatant induced high mRNA expression for the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, and IL-8, which peaked at the 12 hours post stimulation. Anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression were induced maximally at 3 hours post stimulation mainly by sonicated bacteria and filtrated supernatant, however, not with living bacteria. Untreated embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells expressed low amount of mRNA for the various cytokines and chemokines at all time points. For each cytokine, 4 samples were used per time hour. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells in response to viable C. jejuni or its cytotoxins can alter cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression patterns and kinetics suggesting a potential role for theses mediators in the immunopathogenesis of the infection caused by this pathogen, which might be relevant for future immunotherapeutic interventions during severe bacterial infections.
