Effectiveness of instructor-guided independent learning in comparison to traditional didactic lecture in the preclinical medical curriculum: A retrospective cohort study.

To create time for learner-centered forms of active learning in the classroom, didactic lectures are being replaced with instructor-guided independent learning (IGIL) assignments that students complete on their own outside of the formal educational setting. The effectiveness of IGIL assignments in supporting learning across the preclinical medical curriculum when applied to all learners in the same class of students has not been examined. Further, we have examined this performance across three class cohorts.

Exocyst complex protein expression in the human placenta.

Introduction: Protein production and secretion are essential to syncytiotrophoblast function and are associated with cytotrophoblast cell fusion and differentiation. Syncytiotrophoblast hormone secretion is a crucial determinant of maternal-fetal health, and can be misregulated in pathological pregnancies. Although, polarized secretion is a key component of placental function, the mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood.

Cell fusion mediates dramatic alterations in the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesions, and E-cadherin in trophoblastic cells.

The syncytiotrophoblast of the human placenta is a unique epithelia structure with millions of nuclei sharing a common cytoplasm. The syncytiotrophoblast forms by cell-cell fusion of cytotrophoblasts (CTB), the mononuclear precursor cells. The trophoblastic BeWo cell line has been used as a surrogate for CTB since they can be induced to fuse, and subsequently display numerous syncytiotrophoblast differentiation markers following syncytial formation.

Trophoblast cell fusion and differentiation are mediated by both the protein kinase C and a pathways.

The syncytiotrophoblast of the human placenta is an epithelial barrier that interacts with maternal blood and is a key for the transfer of nutrients and other solutes to the developing fetus. The syncytiotrophoblast is a true syncytium and fusion of progenitor cytotrophoblasts is the cardinal event leading to the formation of this layer. BeWo cells are often used as a surrogate for cytotrophoblasts, since they can be induced to fuse, and then express certain differentiation markers associated with trophoblast syncytialization.

The impact of lecture attendance and other variables on how medical students evaluate faculty in a preclinical program.

Purpose: High-quality audiovisual recording technology enables medical students to listen to didactic lectures without actually attending them. The authors wondered whether in-person attendance affects how students evaluate lecturers.

Method: This is a retrospective review of faculty evaluations completed by first- and second-year medical students at the Ohio State University College of Medicine during 2009-2010.