Does the Teaching Modality and Exam Proctoring Setting Influence Pre-Clinical Medical Students' Performance? A Retrospective Cohort Study of Student Performance in Remote Versus Face-to-Face Setting, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Objectives: The intent of this study is to compare the academic performance of pre-clinical medical students in online teaching with online proctoring settings versus face-to-face (F2F) teaching with traditional F2F exam proctoring settings.

Introduction: In 2019, the world was faced with a rapidly progressive pandemic of COVID-19. Consequently, numerous institutions have opted to transform from the traditional F2F teaching method to an online modality, ensuring the safety of their students and maintaining the effectiveness of their educational programs.

Single-cell transcriptome identifies molecular subtype of autism spectrum disorder impacted by de novo loss-of-function variants regulating glial cells.

Background: In recent years, several hundred autism spectrum disorder (ASD) implicated genes have been discovered impacting a wide range of molecular pathways. However, the molecular underpinning of ASD, particularly from the point of view of 'brain to behaviour' pathogenic mechanisms, remains largely unknown.

Methods: We undertook a study to investigate patterns of spatiotemporal and cell type expression of ASD-implicated genes by integrating large-scale brain single-cell transcriptomes (> million cells) and de novo loss-of-function (LOF) ASD variants (impacting 852 genes from 40,122 cases).

Introducing the 4Ps Model of Transitioning to Distance Learning: A convergent mixed methods study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Significant concern has been raised regarding the effect of COVID-19 on medical education. This study aimed to shed light on the distance learning experiences of medical students and their instructors at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A convergent mixed methods approach was utilized.

Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities worldwide to immediately transition to distance-learning. Although numerous studies have investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on universities in the Middle East, none have reflected on the process through which medical education programs for health professions underwent this transition. This study aimed to elucidate the rapid transition to distance-learning of an undergraduate medical program at the College of Medicine, Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Challenges of Establishing a de novo Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service in a Tertiary Hospital: Practical considerations and challenges.

Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP), also known as psychosomatic medicine, is a subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the care of patients with mental health disorders and general medical/surgical conditions. Integrating CLP services facilitates diagnosis and management of patients with complex comorbidities. This article aimed to report the practical considerations and challenges associated with establishing a CLP service in a tertiary hospital in the Gulf region.

Effective removal of anionic textile dyes using adsorbent synthesized from coffee waste.

Adsorption of Reactive Black 5 and Congo Red from aqueous solution by coffee waste modified with polyethylenimine was investigated. The removal percentages of both dyes increased with amount of polyethyleneimine in the modified adsorbent. Characterization revealed that polyethyleneimine modification improved the adsorbent surface chemistry, while slight improvement of adsorbent textural properties was also observed.

Renal and myocardial histopathology and morphometry in rats with adenine - induced chronic renal failure: influence of gum acacia.

Background/aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased occurrence of cardiovascular system dysfunction. Previous studies have revealed a number of alterations in the kidneys and heart during CKD. However, unbiased quantitative studies on these structures in this disease have so far not been addressed.

Interprofessional Education (IPE) Activity amongst Health Sciences Students at Sultan Qaboos University: The time is now!

Historically, health professionals have been educated in profession-specific institutions which provide limited opportunities for learning interprofessional (IP) skills. Many qualified practitioners are therefore poorly prepared for the challenges of IP practice (IPP). Patients today have complex needs and typically require more than one professional to address their medical issues and effective IP care relies upon health care professionals' abilities to communicate with one another.

Perceptions and Attitudes of First-Year Medical Students on a Modified Team-Based Learning (TBL) Strategy in Anatomy.

Objectives: Although team-based learning (TBL) is widely used in medical education, its evaluation from the perspectives of the students exposed to it has been limited. This paper reports on a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of perceptions of first year medical students towards TBL.

Methods: Lectures in an anatomy course were transformed into a series of TBL sessions for two cohorts of first-year medical students.

Implementing a modified team-based learning strategy in the first phase of an outcome-based curriculum--challenges and prospects.

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) is an innovative form of collaborative learning. The aim of TBL is to create a motivational context in which students become accountable for their learning.

Aim: Student attendance at didactic lecture sessions in our school is usually poor.

Long-term ingestion of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract enhances myocardial capillarization in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

The effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) in lowering blood pressure in human and animal hypertension have been documented. This study investigated the effect of the water extract of the dried calyx of HS and Hibiscus anthocyanins (HAs) on left ventricular myocardial capillary length and surface area in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Twelve-week-old male SHRs were divided into eight groups (six rats in each group).

"Between a Rock and a Hard Place": The discordant views among medical teachers about anatomy content in the undergraduate medical curriculum.

The last two decades of medical education have been marked by a persistent push towards curricular reform. Anatomy as a discipline, the unshakable foundation of medical teaching for hundreds of years, has been at the centre of this development. Although it is widely agreed that for doctors to be competent, they need an adequate knowledge of anatomy underpinning medicine, there is much less agreement over the quantity required, and who should decide and define it.

Perceptions and Attitudes of Medical Students towards Two Methods of Assessing Practical Anatomy Knowledge.

Objectives: Traditionally, summative practical examination in anatomy takes the form of 'spotters' consisting of a stream of prosections, radiological images and dissections with pins indicating specific structures. Recently, we have started to administer similar examinations online using the quiz facility in Moodle™ (a free, open-source web application for producing modular internet-based courses) in addition to the traditional format. This paper reports on an investigation into students' perceptions of each assessment environment.

Anatomy practical examinations: how does student performance on computerized evaluation compare with the traditional format?

Practical examinations in anatomy are usually conducted on specimens in the anatomy laboratory (referred to here as the "traditional" method). Recently, we have started to administer similar examinations online using the quiz facility in Moodle™. In this study, we compare student scores between two assessment environments viz.

Anatomy "steeplechase" online: necessity sometimes is the catalyst for innovation.

In most medical schools, summative practical examination in Anatomy usually takes the format of a "steeplechase" ("spotters" or "bell ringers") conducted in the gross anatomy laboratory using cadaveric material and prosected specimens. Recently, we have started to administer similar examinations online using the quiz facility in WebCT™ and Moodle™. This article chronicles how we conceived and developed this method within the peculiar nature of our medical school setting.

Eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis shows altered ultrastructure and glycosylation compared to that from healthy controls--a pilot observational study.

Endometrial curettings from a cohort of 24 women with endometriosis were compared with matched biopsies from 14 healthy, fertile women and examined for ultrastructural changes and the secretion of glycans bound by the lectin from Dolichos biflorus. Ultrastructural analysis of glandular endometrial tissue from women with stages I to III endometriosis showed heterogeneous responses to the disease, biopsies often showing a mixture of features, combining delays in the maturation sequence with characteristics of later phenotypes particularly in the mid-late secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Expression of glycans bound by Dolichos biflorus agglutinin was very variable in these cases but generally matched the observed ultrastructure.

Diesel exhaust particles in blood trigger systemic and pulmonary morphological alterations.

Short-term exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter is associated with increased respiratory and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are still unclear. Recent studies have suggested that inhaled ultrafine particles are able to translocate into the bloodstream.

Long-term exercise training and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition differentially enhance myocardial capillarization in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Objectives: To investigate whether combined treatment with lisinopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and exercise training would have an additive effect in enhancing the capillary supply of the left ventricular (LV) myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Design: Twelve-week-old male SHR were divided into four groups (10-12 each): sedentary, sedentary treated with lisinopril (15-20 mg/kg per day by gavage), exercise trained, and exercise trained while treated with lisinopril. Exercise training consisted of 1 h a day/5 days a week of running on a treadmill.