Counselling of Medical Students a Supportive Tool

Background: Medical education is one ofthe toughestcourse worldwide in the education system. Medical students have academic and non-academic problems that can influence their academic performance, Aim: To study the effect of counselling and guidance on the academic performance of medical students through students’ perceptions. Study design: Cross sectional Method: The study was conducted on 3rd year MBBS students of Azra Naheed Medical College Lahore, medical students were divided into two groups (A&B) on the basis of their academicperformance during the year 2021-2022 in professional and module examination. A Google form was developed by the authors of thisstudy which consisted of 13 questionsregarding the perception of students about the effect of counselling and guidance onmultiple factors affecting their academic performance. The form was posted in two official WhatsApp groups (A&B) of the class. In group A, students with good performance and high achievers were included andin group B average and failed students were included. Results: The findings show that the 40 students from group A and 42 students from group B responded to the questionnaire. A higher percentage of students belonging to both groupsresponded positively regarding the role of faculty counselling and guidance in hectic medical study schedules, preparation of professional exams, time management, social, domestic, attendanceissues and overall academic performance. 97.5% of students from group A & 100% of students from group B responded positively to question 12 about Career Counselling of medical students in medical colleges, 97.50% correlation was found in both groups. The result showed that students belonging to good academic performance and students who were average & with low academic performance responded positively to support the role of faculty members. Practical implication: Student counselling plays an important role in medical education. This study showed that positive response of medical students towards student counselling and academic guidance. Need of career counselling is also highlighted by students which raises the question of development of student counselling department in every medical institute. Conclusion: It has been found that there is an important role of faculty members in solving the academic &non-academic problems of students. In a recent study, students have recognised the supportive role of faculty members in the improvement of their academic performance through theirguidance and counselling. Keywords: Academic performance, counselling, guidance, faculty members, medical education, student perception

Use of Anatomage Virtual Dissection table for Teaching Anatomy in Medical College

Background: Conventional teaching methodology for subject of Anatomy by use of cadaver is becoming obsolete because of unavailability of cadaver to the medical institutes. Anatomy is an important subject in basic medical sciences, thus need to be taught in depth in early year of medical curriculum. As availability of cadavers for teaching Anatomy has become extremely difficult. Aim: To evaluate students’ opinion on the use of the Anatomage 3 D virtual dissection table as an additional teaching tool to cadaver dissection in studying anatomy and understanding the relations of structures. Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was held at the department of Anatomy Azra Naheed Medical College. An electronic questionnaire was given to 2nd year MBBS students in which 6 questions regarding opinion of students who were taught through cadaveric specimen & 3D Anatomage table, regarding use of 3D Anatomage for active learning of anatomy topics. Results: Present study showed that the most of the students preferred using 3D Anatomage for learning anatomy as it enhances active learning. 80.4% responded positively in developing deeper understanding of the topic with use of Anatomage table as compared to conventional teaching. 89.5% responded positively to visualize better the anatomical features of different parts of body with the help of anatomage table. 81.7% responded positively regarding use of Anatomage table in active learning and in developing interest in subject of Anatomy. Conclusion: Students consider the use of the anatomage table, an effective teaching tool for gross anatomy, for visualizing anatomical relation of different parts of the body, for deeper understanding and active learning of Anatomical features, and in developing interest in the subject of Anatomy. Students can incorporate digital anatomy into the learning and teaching of basic medical science. The use of 3DAnatomage table gives the impression to have an important role in Medical education Keywords: Anatomage Virtual dissection table, Traditional dissection, Learning anatomy, 3D interactive anatomage table.

Intersectional Stigma for Autistic People at Work: A Compound Adverse Impact Effect on Labor Force Participation and Experiences of Belonging

Background

Little research addresses the experiences of autistic people at work, yet employment prospects remain bleak. The extant literature takes a largely remedial perspective and does not focus on harnessing this population's considerable talents. In global organizational practice, several programs purposefully target autistic people for their abilities. However, preliminary evidence suggests that such programs are inadvertently attracting mainly White males, to the exclusion of other demographics. Therefore, stigma surrounding autism at work remains, creating potential compound adverse impacts by marginalizing identities, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. We explored the intersection of autism with other marginalizing identities in the context of work. The research focused on labor force participation for autistic people and, for those in employment, perceptions of exclusion and inclusion. We compared the aforementioned variables by gender identity, racial identity, sexuality, socioeconomic background, and geographic origin.

Methods

We undertook a global cross-sectional survey, advertised through various social media platforms and promoted directly to relevant organizations. The survey included a range of validated measures as well as demographic information. We analyzed the data with frequencies, cross tabulations, chi-square tests, and non-parametric, group-wise comparisons.

Results

We found preliminary evidence of reduced rates of employment participation by race and geographic location. Females and non-binary people had lower perceptions of inclusion and belonging at work. The perception of accommodation provision had a strong association with inclusion and belonging; more so than incidental provision of flexibility in environment and scheduling not framed as a specific accommodation.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the relational aspects of accommodation and a more universal inclusion perspective. We urge practitioners and researchers to monitor employment participation and levels of inclusion/exclusion using intersectional demographic identification. We appeal for cross-cultural collaboration with academic institutions outside the anglosphere to improve our knowledge of global programs and their impact.

Effect of Clomiphene Citrate and Letrozole on Body Weight of female Albino Rat for Consecutive 1-4 Estrous Cycles

Background: Ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate in women with infertility has been practiced more than 40% years but in infertile patients this treatment plan proved to be ineffective with multiple complication. Body weight plays an important role modulating reproductive development and functioning. Aim: To observe the effects on body weight of female albino rat after use of clomiphene citrate and letrozole for consecutive 1-4 estrous cycles Method: Eighty four adult female Albino rats were equally divided into three groups for this research. Body weight of each rat was measured before and after the experiment. Vaginal smear cytology of each rat was performed to study different phases of estrous cycle. Control group A was given normal saline orally , In Experimental group B rats were given letrozole (Femara) at dose 5mg/kg orally and in Experimental group C rats were given clomiphene citrate at dose 100ug/kg orally. Results: Significant weight gain is observed in rats taking clomiphene citrate as compared to letrozole Conclusion : Comiphene citrate directly affects the body weight which indirectly reduces the ovulation induction and pregnancy rate. Letrozole is good alternate for ovulation induction and for CC resistant patients. Keywords: Estrous cycle, body weight, citrate and letrozole

Anti-inflammatory activity of acacia catechu-bark aqueous solution in aspirin induced gastric ulcer in rodents

Background: Aspirin is amongst the most widely used drugs and has many adverse effects on gastric mucosa. Anti-inflammatory properties of Acacia catechu have been established already. Objective was to evaluate the histopathological changes induced by aspirin in the stomach of albino rats and to assess the protective effect of different doses of Acacia catechu.Methods: Experimental study Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore for 21 days. Forty-eight adult albino rats, both males and female, were divided into four groups A, B, C and D randomly; each comprising of 12 rats. Group A was control, group B was given aspirin 100 mg/kg and group C and D were given aspirin 100 mg/kg along with Acacia catechu 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively by oral route. The rats from individual group were sacrificed on 3rd day, 7th day and 14th day and stomachs were examined under light microscope to observe the inflammatory cells infiltration.Results: Gross and microscopic findings on days 3, 7 and 14 were similar. Control groups A1, A2 and A3 showed normal healthy gastric mucosa and the least number of inflammatory cells. In group B, aspirin produced ulcerations and linear breaks; with highest inflammatory infiltrates. On microscopic examination, numerous inflammatory cells were noted. Group C and D rats had minimum ulcer index and fewer inflammatory cells.Conclusions: Acacia catechu has protective role against gastric injury by inhibiting inflammation. 

Gastroprotective effects of plants extracts: Acacia catechu on gastric mucosal injury in experimental albino rats model

Background: Around the globe acid peptic disease and its potential complications are among the major cause of morbidity and is a significant burden on health system. Till now the main stay of treatment are the pharmaceutical agents which decrease the secretion of acid. But these have potential complications and tolerability issues. Among such plants one is Acacia catechu commonly available in India and Pakistan.Methods: This experimental study involved 48 albino rats that were divided into four groups. Group A, B, C, and D were given water, 100mg aspirin, 100 mg aspirin+ 250 mg Acacia catechu and 100 mg aspirin+500 mg Aacacia catechu respectively, and were sacrificed on day 3, 7 and 14th day of study and observed for changes.Results: Difference between blood vessels in subgroup B1 and subgroup C1 with subgroup D1 was statistically significant (p=0.05) and (p=0.001). Group C1 and D1 had normal vessels in mucosa and submucosa. However, dilatation of blood vessels was noted in both groups receiving Acacia catechu along with ASA.Conclusions: Aqueous extracts of Acacia catechu stem and bark showed significant anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory activities by increasing blood flow to the stomach.

Fungal degradation of an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in soil

Owing to reported phytotoxicity of some sulfonylurea class of herbicides in number of sensitive crops and higher persistence in soil, present study was conducted to isolate and identify pyrazosulfuron-ethyl degrading fungi from soil of rice field. Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger, were isolated and identified from rhizospere soil of rice field, as potent pyrazosulfuron-ethyl degrading fungi. Degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl by P. chrysogenum and A. niger, yielded transformation products/metabolites which were identified and characterized by LC/MS/MS. The rate of dissipation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl was found higher in soil of rice field and soil inoculated with P. chrysogenum. This showed important route of degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl by microbes apart from chemical degradation.