Adipo-myokine Irisin, a Promising Antioxidant against Nicotine Induced Oxidative Stress in BALB/c mice.

Objectives: To determine the role of r-irisin in attenuating nicotine-induced oxidative stress by estimating serum oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes in BALB/c mice.

Method: This 18 month experimental study was carried out at Foundation University Islamabad and National Institute of Health starting in 2020. Thirty healthy BALB/c mice were divided into three groups.

Feasibility of video assessment of operative skills in FCPS vascular surgery.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of assessment of operative skills of FCPS vascular surgery trainees based on video recordings of the surgical procedures with a view to introduce it in the curriculum.

Methods: This qualitative study was carried out from 9 April 2021 - 15 July 2021 at Shifa Tameer e Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan. It is a qualitative study based on constructivist grounded theory.

Role of r-irisin in Nicotine-induced Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction in BALB/c mice.

Objective: To determine the protective role of irisin in attenuating nicotine-induced oxidative stress in vascular tissue in mice.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Foundation University, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January 2019 to June 2020.

Student led outreach workshops to promote basic life support.

Objective: To provide basic life support training to the staff, students and faculty of higher educational institutions in urban areas through pre-trained medical students, and to record the qualitative impact of community training on student facilitators.

Methods: The mixed-method quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Foundation University, Islamabad, Pakistan, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan from 2015 to 2018. Trained volunteer medical students were divided into teams to visit and provide hands-on basic life support training to 15 educational institutions in Rawalpindi and Islamabad with each batch having 45-50 participants.

Self-evaluation of ethical review committees functioning at Foundation University Medical College (FUMC) through structured constitution-practice-outcome (CPO) assessment model.

Objective: To assess the operational efficiency of the ethical review committee of a medical college.

Methods: This study was conducted at the Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan, from 2012 to 2014. On the basis of literature review, methods for assessment of various features of ethical review committee were studied.

Medical electives: Students perspective.

Objective: To identify possible learning targets of undergraduates who opted for local and foreign medical electives and to quantify their level of achievement.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, in February 2014, and apprised undergraduates of either gender from second to final year MBBS who had already done medical electives in local or foreign hospitals for 2-4 weeks. Data collection tool was an anonymous questionnaire with four possible intended learning areas; career choice, learning from advanced system, career enhancement and peer pressure.

Reciprocal benefit to senior and junior peers: An outcome of a pilot research workshop at medical university.

A study was planned to explore and evaluate the role of senior peers in the learning process of their juniors during a Research Methodology workshop, and to assess educational advantages for seniors in leading roles. Twenty medical students participated with 15 juniors (1st to 3rd year) and 5 seniors (final/fourth year) divided into 5 groups with one senior student each at Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan. The seniors supervised and engaged the groups to develop research questions, formulate objectives, review literature, outline study designs, develop study tools/questionnaire and finally shape their projects in synopsis.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare providers towards deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in five teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi.

Background: Prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is underutilised in Pakistan. This cross-sectional survey was designed to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare providers towards DVT prophylaxis in teaching hospitals in and around Rawalpindi.

Methods: Knowledge, attitude and practices was assessed by a 12-item questionnaire filled-in by healthcare providers in five teaching hospitals.

PBL wrap up sessions: an approach to enhance generic skills in medical students.

Background: Problem based learning (PBL) tutorials are being used in various medical schools world wide. Students' active participation is a must for the success of a teaching program. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PBL Wrap-up sessions in an integrated modular medical curriculum in enhancing the generic skills of medical students.

Clinical and endocrinological changes after electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Neurobiological mechanisms invoking the release of endogenous opioids and depression of stress hormone release are believed to be the basis of acupuncture analgesia. This study compared plasma beta-endorphin and cortisol levels with self assessment scores of intensity of pain, before and after 10 days of electro-acupuncture treatment in patients suffering from chronic pain as a result of osteoarthritis knees. Forty patients of either sex over 40 years with primary osteoarthritis knee were recruited into a single-blinded, sham-controlled study.