6 research outputs found
Tip of the iceberg: Routine thyroid ultrasound reveals large compressive aotric arch aneurysm impacting brachiocephalic vein and thrombus in left internal jugular vein
No full textNavigating undergraduate medical education: a comparative evaluation of a fully online versus a hybrid model
No full textAbstract Background The evaluation of undergraduate medical curricula plays a crucial role in ensuring effectiveness and helps in continuous improvement of the learning process. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of online and hybrid teaching models of the first-year MBBS curriculum in the COVID-19 era (2019–20) and the para-COVID-19 pandemic (2020–21). Study methodology Mixed methods study with CIPP model was used. Data was collected by administering a survey and focus group discussions (FGDs) with first-year students from the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 cohorts, faculty and administrators, which were recorded for analysis. Recorded lectures, guidebooks, planners, and question papers were also scrutinized for quality and adequacy. Furthermore, admission merit, module assessments, and professional examination results were compared and correlated. The learning environment was evaluated through the questionnaire (validated and used by Pakistan Medical and Dental council for inspections of medical schools) and the facilities provided in both years were juxtaposed. The study utilized NVIVO for qualitative and SPSS version 23 for quantitative data analysis. Results Contextual analysis underscored the critical need for online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, with provided resources being deemed sufficient. Notably, the student-faculty ratio stood at 4:1, and essential resources were readily available. The fully online batch outperformed the hybrid teaching class in 2020–21. Process analysis revealed successful session delivery in hybrid and online through webinars and Zoom, accompanied by timely provision of study guides and punctual assessments. Moreover, examination papers demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.61) in core subjects. Product analysis indicated that the 2020–21 cohort performed better in modular and professional examinations across all subjects (P < 0.01) despite their lower admission merit compared to the 2019–20 batch. Conclusions The study revealed challenges faced during total online teaching, highlighting knowledge and skills gaps in students. While students favored hybrid teaching for interaction, faculty preferred online strategies and suggested blended learning. The administration recognized faculty’s swift transition but stressed the need for blended learning workshops and strengthening the medical education department. Recommendations include implementing blended learning strategies, conducting faculty workshops, equipping the medical education department for online teaching, and gathering student feedback after each module to enhance the curriculum
Endocardiogram chararcteristics and outcome in patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to ICU
No full textUltrasonic actuation of a fine-needle improves biopsy yield
Get PDFFunding Information: We thank Mr. Matti Mikkola, M.Sc., Mr. Yohann Le Bourlout, M.Sc., Mr. Pauli Tuovinen, B.Sc. Nallannan Bal-asubramanian, Ph.D. and Adjunct Prof. Gösta Ehnholm, Ph.D., for constructive discussions related to the topic, and Dr. Nick Hayward, MBBS, Ph.D. for linguistic review of the manuscript. We thank Jyrki Kreula, MD, Ph.D. for guidance and providing us extensive information related to the FNAB procedure. We also would like to thank Prof. Kari Eklund, MD, Ph.D. for support in histological experimentation. We thank the Tissue Preparation and Histochemistry Unit in the Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki. Histology images were generated using the 3DHISTECH Pannoramic 250 FLASH II digital slide scanner at Genome Biology Unit supported by HiLIFE and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and BioCenter Finland. The Academy of Finland is acknowledged for financial support (grants 314286 and 311586). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Despite the ubiquitous use over the past 150 years, the functions of the current medical needle are facilitated only by mechanical shear and cutting by the needle tip, i.e. the lancet. In this study, we demonstrate how nonlinear ultrasonics (NLU) extends the functionality of the medical needle far beyond its present capability. The NLU actions were found to be localized to the proximity of the needle tip, the SonoLancet, but the effects extend to several millimeters from the physical needle boundary. The observed nonlinear phenomena, transient cavitation, fluid streams, translation of micro- and nanoparticles and atomization, were quantitatively characterized. In the fine-needle biopsy application, the SonoLancet contributed to obtaining tissue cores with an increase in tissue yield by 3–6× in different tissue types compared to conventional needle biopsy technique using the same 21G needle. In conclusion, the SonoLancet could be of interest to several other medical applications, including drug or gene delivery, cell modulation, and minimally invasive surgical procedures.Peer reviewe
