Utility of the case-method approach for the integration of clinical and basic science in surgical education.

Background: Although students develop experience in integrating clinical and basic scientific knowledge, it may be difficult for them to do so in patient management. Formalized instructions using case discussions that involve the integration of basic science concepts may facilitate their incorporation into practice.

Methods: Third-year surgical clerkship students were pretested for baseline knowledge of information relevant to the case being discussed.

Potassium channel agonists cause penile erection in cats.

Using a feline model, erections caused by a new class of vasodilator agents that specifically activate potassium (K-ATP) channels (lemakalim, nicorandil, and pinacidil) were compared to baseline and maximal erections induced by a standard drug combination (1.65 mg papaverine, 25 μg phentolamine and 0.5 μg PGE) injected intracavernosally.