An observational cross-sectional study to evaluate the preference and perspectives of undergraduate MBBS students’ regarding audiovisual aids – Chalk and board versus PowerPoint presentation

Background: Medical education is an extensively evolving field. Not only the medical curriculum keeps changing with time, so does the requirements for the students and teachers. Chalk and board is traditionally the most commonly used method of teaching whereas PowerPoint (PPT) presentation is the new generation most commonly used method. Aim and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the preference and perspectives of the undergraduate MBBS students’ pertaining to the two most commonly used audiovisual teaching aids namely chalk and board verses PPT presentation. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving two batches of MBBS undergraduate students. Results: A total of 144 students participated in the study. Eighty-four students were from 2nd year and 60 students from final year MBBS. In our study, we got favorable responses (Likert scale 4 and 5) for chalk and board method in 84 (58%) and for PPT presentation in 60 (41.9%) of students. One hundred and nineteen (82.6%) students preferred class notes over handouts. Most of the parameters were comparable among the two methods except the statements of lecture being interesting, interactive, better problem-solving, and emphasis on important points being in favor of chalk and board; and those of clarity, better diagrams ad flowcharts, covering more topics, and clinical case demonstration were in favor of PPT. Conclusion: No single aid is perfect in all aspects. Hence, a suitable aid should be chosen depending on the topic, clinical scenario, level of complexity of topics, and understanding that is required.

Exploring the knowledge and perception towards generic medicines among undergraduate medical and nursing students – A questionnaire-based comparative study

Background: Healthcare providers are still hesitant in prescribing generic medicines due to several misconceptions about bioequivalence, efficacy, quality, and safety of generic medicines as compared to their branded counterparts. Proper teaching and training help in positive changes in perception as well as the prescribing and dispensing practices of healthcare providers. Aim and Objectives: The aims of this study were to study the knowledge and perception about the generic medicine among 2nd year MBBS and nursing students and to find out the differences between the student’s responses. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving 83 2nd year MBBS students and 60 2nd year nursing students in Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar (M.P.), India. Assessment of knowledge and perception about generic medicines using the normal 5-point Likert scale and calculation using the independent-samples Mann–Whitney U-Test and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for differences observed among the two groups. Results: Only 33% of MBBS students and 17% of nursing students were select correct answer for bioequivalence limits. Almost 82% of MBBS and 53% of nursing students were agreed toward generic medicines are less expensive than brand name medicines (P = 0.00). Only 45% of MBBS students and 15% of nursing students were disagreed toward generic medicines are of inferior quality to branded drugs (P = 0.001). About 37% of MBBS students and 20% of nursing students were disagreed toward generic medicines are less effective and less safe than brand name medicines (P = 0.01) and only 12% of MBBS students and 7% of nursing students were disagreed toward brand name medicine which are required to meet higher safety standards than generic medicines (P = 0.09). Conclusion: In our study, we found that significant knowledge gap with regard to the regulatory bioequivalence limits for generic medicines and misconceptions about generic drugs is also quite prevalent. Educational interventions are most important tool to improve knowledge and change in perceptions among healthcare students about generic medicines and eventually promote practice of prescribing cost-effective generic drugs.

A cross-sectional study to evaluate the drug prescription pattern of outpatient department patients in tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Prescription pattern monitoring studies are tool for assessing the prescribing, dispensing, and distribution of medicines prevailing in a particular area. The main aim of such studies is to facilitate rational use of medicines. Irrational prescribing leads to increased incidence of adverse effects, drug interactions, and emergence of drug resistance. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate drug prescription pattern of outpatient department patients as per the drug use indicators developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and also the occurrence of different medication errors. Materials and Methods: 662 prescriptions were evaluated. The WHO core drug prescribing indicators analyzed were Average number of medicines prescribed per patient encounter, percentage of medicines prescribed by generic name, percentage of encounters with an antibiotic, injections, or fixed-dose combination (FDC), score of generic prescription, and justification for the use of brand names. The categories of prescription errors which were studied were legibility, absence of doctor identity, diagnosis, drug dosage, and duration. Results: The most common medication error was lack of treatment duration (75.1%) and illegibility of the prescriptions (61.9%). Most of the drugs were prescribed in generics. About 72.5% of the prescriptions had 100% generic score. Although the use of brand names was not justifiable in most cases. The use of injectables, antibiotics, and FDC was 0.9%, 46.5% and 76.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Such studies should be done regularly to evaluate the lacunae in drug prescribing patterns and improve them.

Growth supression of plant pathogenic fungi using bryophite extracts / Supressão de crescimento de fungos patogênicos de plantas usando extratos de briófitas

Chemicals are often used in attempts to control diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi during food production. However, chemicals can have adverse effects not just on food, but they also remain active for a long time within ecosystems, and thus are not environmentally friendly. Therefore,development of bio-treatment and avoiding use of chemicals are urgently needed. With the aim of studying and developing new environmentally-friendly treatments, we tested extracts from selected bryophyte species(Porella platyphylla, Cinclidotus fontinaloides and Anomodon viticulosus) on five plant pathogenic fungi under controlled conditions. The fungi (Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis viticola, Calosphaeria sp., Colletotrichum acutatum and Monilinia laxa) were selected based on common diseases they cause on fruits and grapevine. They were isolated in cultures and treated with bryophyte extracts. Bryophyte extracts were shown to be effective in suppression of certain plant pathogenic fungi growth and to have a huge potential in development of novel biotechnological treatments and biofungicides. The best results were achieved in inhibition of B. dothidea, P. viticola and Calosphaeria sp.

Fungos fitopatogênicos são controlados com produtos químicos para combater doenças causadas por eles durante a produção de alimentos. Tais produtos são ruins não apenas para a alimentação, mas também podem permanecer por muito tempo nos ecossistemas, portanto, não são ecologicamente corretos. Desta forma, os biotratamentos e a prevenção de usos químicos são urgentemente necessários no futuro próximo. Com o objetivo de estudar e desenvolver nova alternative decontrole de doenças de plantas, testamos os extratos de espécies de briófitas selecionadas (Porella platyphylla, Cinclidotus fontinaloides e Anomodon viticulosus) em cinco fungos fitopatogênicos (Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis viticola, Calosphaeria sp., Colletotrichum acutatum e Monilinia laxa) em condição controlada. Estes fungos, selecionados com base nas doenças que causam em frutos e videiras, foram isolados em culturas puras e tratados com os respectivos extratos de briófitas. Os extratos de briófitas demonstraram ser eficazes na supressão de certos fungos fitopatogênicos e têm um enorme potencial no desenvolvimento de novos biofungicidas e tratamentos biotecnológicos. Os mais interessantes resultados foram obtidos na inibição de B. dothidea, P. viticola eCalosphaeria sp.

In vitro micropropagation of rare and endangered moss Entosthodon hungaricus (Funariaceae) / Micropropagação in vitro do musgo raro Entosthodon hungaricus, ameaçado de extinção (Funariaceae)

The moss Entosthodon hungaricus (Boros) Loeske is an European endemic species typical of dry and saline soils extending from the Iberian Peninsula to Aral-Caspian steppes, similarly to some other xerothermic bryophytes. However, the distribution range is fragmented and localities are quite scattered and the species is considered as rare and vulnerable because of its ephemeral characteristics and specialized ecology. With the aim to develop an active protection plan for this species, the ex situ conservation requirements of E. hungaricus were developed. The axenic culture in in vitro conditions were established, and the optimal growth parameters were adjusted to achieve fully developed gametophytes ready to be reintroduced to its native range and other potentially native areas, where this species was once reported but has not been collected in recent times, suggesting its local extinction (i.e. some areas in Vojvodina, N. Serbia). Starting materials were derived from recent herbarium specimens and from fresh materials collected from Hungarian populations. Several means for sterilization of stating material and growing nutritive media were assayed in different regimes of light and temperature. Here we describe the conditions to achieve full plant development and for its micropropagation. Such materials are adequate for ex situ conservation purposes and for experimental introductions in native and potentially native areas. The first axenical culture of E. hungaricus was successfully established, and the first in vitro micropropagation of this rare and endangered species was achieved. Our study contributes to the conservation biology as well as for the potential use of this moss species in biotechnological research.

O musgo Entosthodon hungaricus (Boros) Loeske é uma espécie endêmica Européia típica de solos secos e salinos que se estendem da Península Ibérica até as estepes Aral-Cáspias, similar a outras briófitas de clima seco. Entretanto, a distribuição é bastante dispersa e fragmentada e a espécie é considerada muito rara e vulnerável devido às suas características efêmeras e ecologia especializada. Com o intuito de desenvolver um plano de proteção a essa espécie, foram elaborados os requisitos de preservação ex situ das E. hungaricus. As condições para a cultura axênica in vitro foram estabelecidas e os parâmetros ideais de crescimento foram atingidos para conseguir gametófitos completamente desenvolvidos, prontos para serem reintroduzidos em suas áreas nativas e em outras áreas potencialmente nativas, onde essa espécie já foi relatada. Porém, não houve coleta da mesma nos últimos anos, o que sugere uma extinção local (por exemplo, algumas áreas em Voivodina, Norte da Sérvia). Os materiais iniciais foram derivados de espécies recentes de herbários e de materiais frescos coletados de populações Húngaras. Várias formas de assepsia do material inicial e dos meios de crescimento nutritivo foram ensaiadas em diferentes regimes de luz e temperatura. No trabalho descrevemos as condições para obter desenvolvimento completo da planta e sua micropropagação. Os materiais são adequados para os fins de conservação ex situ e para as introduções experimentais em áreas nativas e/ou potencialmente nativas. O estudo contribui para a conservação biológica bem como para o potencial uso dessa espécie de musgo em pesquisas biotecnológicas.