A Comparison of Real and Virtual Laboratories for Pharmacy Teaching.

New approaches to teaching and learning in the tertiary setting offer students flexibility for learning and, in a pandemic, suggests ways to provide learning when face-to-face delivery cannot be conducted. Courses that contain a hands-on laboratory component can be resource intensive in terms of equipment, staff, and facilities, thus more difficult to deliver when hands-on laboratory work is precluded. This study developed two virtual laboratories that could be completed online and, using a crossover design, evaluated student learning outcomes from virtual and real laboratory activities for 57 students.

Student Acceptance of Using Augmented Reality Applications for Learning in Pharmacy: A Pilot Study.

Creating engaging learning experiences that are easy to use and support the different learning requirements of university students is challenging. However, improvements in simulation technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are making such changes possible. The aim of this study is to use a mobile-based AR technology to develop an interactive learning module about contraceptive devices and medicines and to measure its acceptability and usability by undergraduate pharmacy students.

Introducing Augmented Reality Technology to Enhance Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Pilot Study.

There is increasing use of augmented reality (AR) technology, which combines the virtual and real world, in the tertiary education sector. AR enables flexibility in student learning, since this technology may be used in the face to face setting and may also be accessed by students at any time outside of this setting. The purpose of this study was to develop an AR tool and investigate its effectiveness for learning about the medication naloxone using AR in a MagicBook; and determine student opinions on its acceptability and usability.

Using Continuing Professional Development with Portfolio in a Pharmaceutics Course.

The introduction of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to encourage individual life-long learning as a way of maintaining professional competency in pharmacy has faced resistance. To investigate ways to address this barrier we included CPD with portfolio in a university Pharmaceutics course. Underpinning knowledge for the course was delivered using a flipped classroom approach and students used the CPD model to address clinical scenarios presented in a simulated pharmacy setting.

Dietary supplementation with long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and weight loss in obese adults.

Background: Obesity is associated with elevated levels of inflammation and metabolic abnormalities, with increased risk of developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, stroke and CVD. Nutrients that can assist in weight loss may also reduce the risk of obesity related co-morbidities.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether LCn-3PUFA, combined with a reduced energy diet, facilitated weight loss and improvements in blood lipids and inflammatory mediators.

Prior supplementation with long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids promotes weight loss in obese adults: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

Obesity has been linked with low levels of ω-3 fatty acids. Generally, intervention studies have failed to establish benefits of supplementation with ω-3PUFA in reducing body weight or fat mass in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supplementation with LCω-3PUFA alone, then consumed concomitantly with a very low energy diet (VLED), facilitated weight loss, improvements in blood lipids and positive changes to inflammatory mediators.

Dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFA does not promote weight loss when combined with a very-low-energy diet.

Obesity is associated with elevated levels of inflammation and metabolic abnormalities which are linked to CVD. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether long-chain n-3 PUFA (LCn-3PUFA), combined with a very-low-energy diet (VLED), facilitated weight loss and weight maintenance, and improvements in blood lipids and inflammatory mediators. This was a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial with two parallel groups.

Using personality as a predictor of diet induced weight loss and weight management.

Background: A major challenge for successful weight management is tailoring weight loss programs to individual needs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether personality traits could be used to match individuals to a compatible weight loss program that would maximize weight loss.

Method: Two different weight loss trials were conducted, both with a weight loss greater than 5% the measure of success.

Weight loss and metabolic profiles in obese individuals using two different approaches.

Intentional weight loss with a reduction in adipose tissue is associated with an improvement in medical complications linked to obesity. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two different weight loss diets on obese individuals (BMI 30-40 kg m(-2)) for improvements in anthropometric measurements and blood biomarkers. Study 1 comprised a low energy diet (LED) of 5000-6000 kJ d(-1) for a slow but steady weight loss over 12 weeks.

Plasma n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids are negatively associated with obesity.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between plasma n-3 PUFA composition and weight status. A total of 124 adults, stratified by weight status: healthy weight (n 21), overweight (n 40) and obese (n 63) were recruited. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measures and body composition were collected.