Mixed Reality as a Teaching Tool for Medical Students in Neurosurgery.

Background and Objectives: Simulation-based learning within neurosurgery provides valuable and realistic educational experiences in a safe environment, enhancing the current teaching model. Mixed reality (MR) simulation can deliver a highly immersive experience through head-mounted displays and has become one of the most promising teaching tools in medical education. We aimed to identify whether an MR neurosurgical simulation module within the setting of an undergraduate neurosurgical hands-on course could improve the satisfaction of medical students. Materials and Methods: The quasi-experimental study with 223 medical students [120 in the conventional group (CG) and 103 in the MR-group (MRG)] was conducted at the University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. An MR simulation module was presented to the intervention group during an undergraduate neurosurgical hands-on course. Images of a skull fracture were reconstructed into 3D formats compatible with the MR-Viewer (Brainlab, Munich, Germany). Participants could interact virtually with the model and plan a surgical strategy using Magic Leap goggles. The experience was assessed by rating the course on a visual analog scale ranging from 1 (very poor) to 100 (very good) and an additional Likert-scale questionnaire. Results: The satisfaction score for CG and MRG were 89.3 ± 13.3 and 94.2 ± 7.5, respectively. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test showed that MR users (Mdn = 97.0, IQR = 4, n = 103) were significantly more satisfied than CG users (Mdn = 93.0, IQR = 10, n = 120; ln(W) = 8.99, p < 0.001) with moderate effect size (r^biserial = 0.30, CI95 [0.15, 0.43]), thus indicating that the utilization of MR-simulation is associated with greater satisfaction. Conclusions: This study reports a positive response from medical students towards MR as an educational tool. Feedback from the medical students encourages the adoption of disruptive technologies into medical school curricula.

De la presentación a la publicación en el pregrado. Una oportunidad en Latinoamérica / From presentation to publication at the undergraduate level. An opportunity in Latin America

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Protective effect of aspirin treatment on mouse behavior in the acute phase of experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas disease is a potentially fatal disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which can in some cases affect the central nervous system. The objective was to evaluate the effect of aspirin (ASA) in the behavior of mice infected with T. cruzi during the acute phase. This was an experimental study with random assignation. Twenty four BALB/c mice were divided into four groups of six animals each as follows: only ASA (OA), ASA before infection (BI), ASA after infection (AI) and only infection (OI). The strain used for infection was M/HOM/Bra/53/Y. An ASA dose of 100 mg/kg per day was administered 72 h before infection to BI group and the same dose 48 h after infection to AI group. Mice behavior in the open field test, mortality, and brain histopathology was evaluated. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, chi square test, and Kaplan-Meier with long-rank for survival analysis. In the open field test, the OA group has similar results with the BI group, in the variables of immobility and escape. Also, the OA group displayed significantly higher rates of micturition (p < 0.001) and defecation (p < 0.001) compared to infected groups. Mortality was higher in BI group (p = 0.02). The presence of T. cruzi amastigotes were higher in brain tissues of the AI and OI groups (p = 0.008). In conclusion, the administration of ASA before infection seemed to prevent behavioral changes induced by the acute infection, but it led to accelerated mortality. The study highlighted the potential importance of the pathways inhibited by ASA in the early hours of acute infection with T. cruzi.

[Acute toxicity of Xanthium spinosum leaves in BALB/C mice]. / Toxicidad aguda de las hojas de Xanthium spinosum en ratones BALB/C.

The leaves of the Xanthium spinosum plant have been used culturally in Paraguay for their medicinal properties. Acute toxicity of mature leaf extract was evaluated. For the study, 35 Balb/c mice were selected and allocated into 7 groups, 6 test groups and 1 control group. The extract was prepared in concentrations of 6% and 9% (g/dL). The 6% concentration was administrated to 3 test groups and 9% concentration to the remaining 3 groups, with doses between 200 and 1000 mg/kg per mouse. After 14 days of observation, blood samples were taken for laboratory studies of urea and transaminases and organs were examined for pathological studies. There were increased levels of GOT and urea in the test groups compared to the control group. In conclusion, the consumption of mature leaf extract of Xanthium spinosum can cause hepatic damage.

Toxicidad aguda de las hojas de Xanthium spinosum en ratones BALB/C / Acute toxicity of Xanthium spinosum leaves in BALB/C mice

Las hojas de la planta Xanthium spinosum se utilizan culturalmente en Paraguay por sus propiedades medicinales. Se evaluó la toxicidad aguda del extracto de hojas maduras; para el estudio se seleccionaron 35 ratones BALB/C machos que fueron distribuidos en 7 grupos, 6 de ensayo y 1 de control. El extracto fue preparado en concentraciones de 6 y 9% (g/dL); se administró la solución 6% a tres grupos y la solución 9% a los otros tres grupos, con dosis entre 200 y 1000 mg/kg. Al final de 14 días de observación, se extrajeron muestras de sangre para estudios laboratoriales de urea y transaminasas, además de órganos para estudios anatomopatológicos. Se determinaron aumentos en los niveles de GOT y urea en comparación al grupo control. Se concluye que el consumo del extracto de hojas maduras de Xanthium spinosum puede causar daño hepático...

The leaves of the Xanthium spinosum plant have been used culturally in Paraguay for their medicinal properties. Acute toxicity of mature leaf extract was evaluated. For the study, 35 Balb/c mice were selected and allocated into 7 groups, 6 test groups and 1 control group. The extract was prepared in concentrations of 6% and 9% (g/dL). The 6% concentration was administrated to 3 test groups and 9% concentration to the remaining 3 groups, with doses between 200 and 1000 mg/kg per mouse. After 14 days of observation, blood samples were taken for laboratory studies of urea and transaminases and organs were examined for pathological studies. There were increased levels of GOT and urea in the test groups compared to the control group. In conclusion, the consumption of mature leaf extract of Xanthium spinosum can cause hepatic damage...