Association of lamina cribrosa morphometry with retinal nerve fiber layer loss and visual field defects in primary open angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVES: To calculate the anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALCD) and lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT) in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and controls and to correlate lamina cribrosa (LC) parameters to retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and visual field (VF) defects. METHODS: The study was conducted from November 2018 to March 2019. A total of 60 correspondents (30 cases and 30 controls) were assessed for general ophthalmological investigations including intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length AXL, ophthalmoscopy, visual field (VF) testing and spectral domain ocular computed tomography (SDOCT). RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 62 years (Cases 67.30±1.2, controls 57.32±1.1) with more male participants. Intraocular pressure [IOP (19.85 ±1.4)], AXL (22.85 ± 1.6), VF defects (8.30 ± 4.5), RNFLT (72.58 ± 13.2) and LCT (162.51 ± 64.62) were statistically significant in POAG patients as compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: A thinner LC in POAG correlated significantly with the RNFLT and VF defects. LC anatomical parameters can be estimated with precision using SDOCT with enhanced depth imaging (EDI).

Students' perceptions of usefulness of Anatomy demonstrations in traditional and hybrid undergraduate medical education curricula.

A cross-sectional study was carried out to study students' perceptions on the usefulness of Anatomy demonstrations (AD) in the undergraduate medical education by comparing the Conventional Medical College (CMC) and problem-based learning as hybrid curriculum (HMC). Purposive sampling technique was used and all students were included. The completed questionnaire responses were returned by 92 CMC and 87 HMC students. CMC cohort understood the structural relationship more than HMC (p=0.03). AD helped 50 students (54%) of CMC to get through the theory examination, however 73 (84%) students of HMC found them useful in preparation for theory examinations (p<0.001). The importance of AD as a major content delivery strategy cannot be overemphasized in the anatomy curriculum and useful teaching strategies from various undergraduate medical curricula, such as the use of the plastic and plastinated models and the session handouts.

Intellectual wellness awareness: a neglected area in medical universities of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the presence of intellectual wellness awareness in students of public and private sector medical colleges in a metropolitan city. METHODS: The cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted from March to November 2011 at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, and overall covered five private and 3 public sector medical colleges of the city.The study randomly selected 800 medical students.The responses - never, sometimes, mostly and always (numbered 0-4)--were analysed in terms of frequency, proportion and percentages using Predictive Analysis Software version 18. RESULTS: Of the 800 forms distributed, 736 (92%) completed forms were analysed. Among the respondents, 526 (71.5%) were females. Besides, 450 (61%) belonged to private medical colleges and 236 (39) were from public medical colleges. The participants of private medical colleges had taken part in intellectual discussions actively compared to those from public colleges (p < 0.001). Habit of reading books to acquire knowledge was found in 126 (44%) private college students compared to 149 (33%) in public colleges (p < 0.004). The importance of creative mental activities (p = 0.954) and current information about local and international affairs (p < 0.564) was deficient in both sets of students. CONCLUSION: Students of private medical colleges were better in terms of presence of intellectual wellness awareness, took active participation in class discussions, had good reading habits and carefully selected television programmes and movies.

Medical students' endeavour to make use of their mental capabilities.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare awareness of intellectual wellness in male and female medical students of Karachi. METHODS: The cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey comprised randomly selected 800 medical students of both gender. It was conducted from January to December 2010 in 8 medical colleges of Karachi. Responses--never, sometimes, mostly and always (numbered 0-4)--were analysed in terms of frequency, proportion and percentages by Predictive Analysis Software version 18. Chi square test was applied for comparison of intellectual wellness in both genders. Results were considered significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 800 questionnaires distributed, 736 (92%) were received fully completed; 526 (71.5% of them from females. Intellectual wellness was significantly higher in females due to an increasing aptitude towards book reading (p < 0.0001), selection of movies (p < 0.03) and analytical thinking (p < 0.002). Male students derived help from mentors (p < 0.03) CONCLUSION: Females were found to be better in terms of intellectual wellness compared to the males. However, males used mentorship support to acquire intellectual wellness.