Educational Paradigms in Islamic Medical History: A Review.

The rise of Islam in Arabia witnessed a scientific pursuit from 8th CE to 14th CE in its vast dominion. Medicine was one among many disciplines that was reshaped during the golden ages of Islamic world. Physicians and scholars from diverse faiths and background flocked in learning centers of Baghdad, Cordoba, and other cities. A multicultural environment of medical research was evolved with fundings from state. From medical teaching and clinical training to the licensing of physicians, many of the modern attributes of medical education were pioneered in Islamic world. The scholarly transfusion from European territories of Islamic world to the Western world in medieval era laid the foundation of modern medical education.

Role of Living Anatomy in Medical Education: A Narrative Review.

Introduction: There has been a significant change noticed in the way in how anatomy is taught and learned in last two decades. The use of teaching approaches such as body painting, peer physical examination, medical imaging, and virtual anatomy software in the teaching and learning of living anatomy was made possible by advancements in medical technology. This study focuses on a review of the historical context and contemporary developments in teaching and learning of live and surface anatomy with a special emphasis on its pedagogical elements, some opinions of medical educationists, and undergraduates. Conclusions: It is suggested that living anatomy be included as a core subject in the curriculum. Learning about living anatomy will be improved in an integrated and pertinent framework with the inclusion and execution of teaching and learning modalities such as body painting, peer physical examination, medical imaging, and virtual anatomy software.

Medical Faculty Perspectives Toward Cadaveric Dissection as a Learning Tool for Anatomy Education: A Survey Study in India.

Cadaveric dissection, as a learning tool, has been a part of Indian medical education. Worldwide, with reforms in medical education and the introduction of new learning modalities, cadaveric dissection has been complemented with other modalities such as living anatomy and virtual anatomy. This study aims to collect the feedback of faculty members regarding the role of dissection in the present context of medical education. The method of the study involved a 32-item questionnaire to collect responses; they were collected using the 5-point Likert scale along with two open-ended questions. In general, the closed questions covered these sections: learning styles, interpersonal skills, teaching and learning, dissection, and other learning modes. The principal component analysis was used to explore the multivariate relationships among the items' perceptions. The multivariate regression analysis was conducted between the construct and the latent variable to develop the structural equation model. Four themes, PC1 (learning ability with structural orientation), PC2 (interpersonal skill), PC3 (multimedia-virtual tool), and PC5 (associated factors) had positive relation and were treated as a latent variable motivation for dissection, and theme 4 (PC4, safety) had a negative correlation and was treated as a latent variable repulsion for dissection. It was found that the dissection room is an important place for learning clinical and personal skills, along with empathy, in anatomy education. Safety issues and implementation of stress-coping activities during the induction phase are required. There is also a need to use mixed-method approaches that integrate technology-enhanced learning such as virtual anatomy, living anatomy, and radiological anatomy with cadaveric dissection.

A Survey of Treatment Practices in Management of Psoriasis Patients among Dermatologists of Kerala.

INTRODUCTION: The management of psoriasis is a daily challenge for dermatologists as most patients present with varied morphological presentations and exacerbations at every visit. This exerts a heightened responsibility on the dermatologists to tailor their treatments according to each patient. AIMS: This study was conducted to assess the variation in treatment practices in the management of psoriasis patients among dermatologists of Kerala. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among the practicing dermatologists of Kerala, South India. CONCLUSIONS: At the end of this questionnaire-based study, we concluded that there is a wide variation in the treatment practices among practicing dermatologists of Kerala. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is not assessed by majority of dermatologists while planning treatment. Most dermatologists rely on body surface area while planning treatment due to time constraints and did not perform PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) or PGA (Physician Global Assessment) scoring. Satisfaction and challenges related to current therapies also impact treatment rates. Our dermatologists adhered to their own individual guidelines while treating and expressed a dire need for a unified guideline.

Exploring the photochemosensitivity by novel cysteine-based mixed ligand complexes.

A new series of cysteine-based metal(II) complexes with 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline as co-ligand have been prepared and characterized. Their DNA binding and cleavage properties have been studied. The analytical and spectroscopic data of complexes 1-18 reveal that the complexes adopt an octahedral geometry around the central metal ion in which the cysteine is coordinated through NS and NN atoms, respectively. Spectroscopic titration and viscosity measurements reveal that the complexes bind to DNA through an intercalative mode. Electrophoresis measurements exhibit that they cleave pBR322 DNA efficiently in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), probably via hydrolytic mechanism with the involvement of (•)OH. The in vitro anticancer activities indicate that the Cu(II) complexes are active against four selected human tumor cell lines. Furthermore, it is remarkable that all the complexes exhibit significant photocytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) with a potency more than the widely used drugs photofrin and cisplatin indicating that they have the potential to act as effective anticancer drugs in a dose-dependent manner.