Neuropoly: An Educational Board Game to Facilitate Neurology Learning.

Introduction: Neurology is arguably one of the most difficult subjects to teach and study in the medical curriculum. Educational games (EG) may be a valid option to enhance motivation in neurology residents. Methods: We developed an educational board game (Neuropoly) to assist in teaching neurology. We present here an overview of the game, as well as the results of a pilot study aimed at determining: (a) the efficacy of the game in teaching certain neurological concepts; and (b) student compliance and satisfaction with the EG. Results: The pre- and post-play questionnaire scores differed significantly (3.2 ± 1.7 vs. 7.8 ± 1.6, p < 0.001). Our group of residents, showing an overwhelmingly positive response, very well received the game. The questions were rated as above average regarding difficulty. Conclusion: The "Neuropoly" educational board game has been shown to be interesting, efficient, and motivational among first- and second-year neurology residents. Novel educational methods for complex medical disciplines should be developed, with board games being a viable and inexpensive approach.

Spatial structure of peptides determined by residual dipolar couplings analysis.

The gated decoupled (13)C NMR spectra of a dipeptide (Glu-Trp) and a tetrapeptide (NAc-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly-OMe) were recorded in D(2)O and in a lyotropic alignment medium (pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether/n-hexanol). The residual dipolar couplings were extracted as the differences between the observed couplings for the magnetic nuclei dissolved in the latter and former media. Using a computational optimization, the spatial structures of the compounds were calculated starting from their respective low energy conformations obtained on a semiempirical basis. The uniformity of each conformation was confirmed by the solid-state (13)C NMR spectra of powder samples. Differences between the starting structures and final ones, optimized when employing residual dipolar couplings, are discussed.

Determination of the spatial structure of glutathione by residual dipolar coupling analysis.

The approach based on analysis of the residual 1H-13C dipolar couplings in molecules partially aligned in a lyotropic liquid crystalline medium was used in the NMR investigation of the reduced glutathione (Glu-Cys-Gly; GSH) structure in a lyotropic medium (cetylpyridinium chloride-n-hexanol). The spatial structure of GSH in solution was established on the basis of the experimental data for observed couplings only.