Virtual microscopy as a teaching-learning tool for histology in a competency-based medical curriculum.

Background: Histology forms an important component of first-year medical education. Unfortunately, it is limited to the practical laboratory due to the need for a microscope and good quality slides. Virtual microscopy is a recent advancement, which uses computers as an alternative to microscopes. The aim of the study was to compare virtual microscopy (VM)-based practical classes with traditional microscopy (TM)-based practical classes for two cohorts of first-year medical students, by comparing learning achieved using two different test scores as well as a qualitative assessment of student and faculty perspectives regarding the feasibility and usefulness of VM. Methods: Each cohort of students was divided into two equal batches and each batch underwent eight histology modules of which, four utilised traditional microscopes and four utilised virtual microscopes. Quantitative analysis was performed using a theory test (which assessed preparation, theory knowledge and understanding) as well as a spotter test (which assessed identification skills, reasoning, and recall). Qualitative analysis was performed using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. Results: Modules using VM were better when compared with those using TM, showing statistically significant and better grades. Qualitative analysis performed, yielded important information as to how this technology can serve as a good adjunct to traditional histology classes in the competency-based curriculum by increasing student interest, enabling self-study, and reducing students dependence on the tutor. Conclusions: VM forms a good adjunct as well as a standalone modality of learning to TM, as it improves accessibility to slides and promotes self-learning.

Factors influencing to study medicine: a survey of first-year medical students from India.

PURPOSE: Students joining medical studies may be motivated by many factors. However, there may also be some factors which may concern them. Although, it can be assumed that those joining medical studies would have largely been influenced positively, how the factors interact in different groups of students has not been studied adequately. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey in first-year medical students. Besides the demographics and intentions about their future career plans, students rated a list of positively influencing items and a list of negatively affecting items relevant to our context that influenced their decision. We performed factor analysis followed by clustering of study participants. RESULTS: Ninety-seven students participated in the survey which comprised of 59% females with mean age of 18.6 years. The factors extracted were named as 'personal growth factor,' 'professional calling factor,' 'personal concerns factor,' and 'professional concerns factor.' Four distinct clusters of participants differing in their average ratings to each of the above factors were identified. CONCLUSION: This study provides information on the factors that influence students to join medical studies from an Indian context. The motivational patterns were varied in different sub-groups of students. The data obtained from this study may provide pointers to educators to plan training of students, changes in curricular structure that takes into account the expansion of medical education into specialties and beyond.

Factors influencing the career preferences of medical students and interns: a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey from India / 보건의료교육평가

Purpose@#The study aimed to identify the motivational factors and demographic variables influencing the career preferences of medical students in India. @*Methods@#We conducted a questionnaire-based survey at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. The participants were 368 of the 460 medical students and interns enrolled at the institution from October 2015 to August 2016. We designed the questionnaire to collect demographic data, students’ preferences for career specialties, and the motivational factors influencing them. Then, we analyzed the influence of these factors and demographic variables on career preferences using regression analysis. @*Results@#Of the 368 respondents, 356 (96.7%) expressed their intention to pursue a residency program after the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, and about two-thirds indicated their preference to do so in India. The specialties most preferred by students were general surgery, general medicine (internal medicine), and pediatrics, while the least preferred were anatomy, obstetrics and gynecology, and community medicine. Factor analysis yielded three motivational factors, which we named ‘personal growth,’ ‘professional growth,’ and ‘personal satisfaction’ based on the items loaded in each. The motivational factors were predicted by demographic variables (gender, geographical background, current stage in the MBBS program, and the presence of relatives in the health professions). Demographic variables and the motivational factors also had significant influences on career preferences. @*Conclusion@#This study provides insights into the motivational factors that influence the career preferences of Indian medical students and interns. A robust longitudinal study would be required to study intra-individual variations in preferences and the persistence of choices.

Cell cycle activation in p21 dependent pathway: An alternative mechanism of organophosphate induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

In the previous study, we demonstrated that dichlorvos induces oxidative stress in dopaminergic neuronal cells and subsequent caspase activation mediates apoptosis. In the present study, we evaluated the effect and mechanism of dichlorvos induced oxidative stress on cell cycle activation in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells. Dichlorvos exposure resulted in oxidative DNA damage along with activation of cell cycle machinery in differentiated PC12 cells. Dichlorvos exposed cells exhibited an increased expression of p53, cyclin-D1, pRb and decreased expression of p21suggesting a re-entry of differentiated cells into the cell cycle. Cell cycle analysis of dichlorvos exposed cells revealed a reduction of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle (25%), and a concomitant increase of cells in S phase (30%) and G2/M phase (43.3%) compared to control PC12 cells. Further, immunoblotting of cytochrome c, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 revealed that dichlorvos induces a caspase-dependent cell death in PC12 cells. These results suggest that Dichlorvos exposure has the potential to generate oxidative stress which evokes activation of cell cycle machinery leading to apoptotic cell death via cytochrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent caspase-3 activation in differentiated PC12 cells.