Performance of Pharmacy Students in a Communications Course Delivered Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective. To examine pharmacy student readiness, reception, and performance in a communications course during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare that with the performance of students who completed the same course in person the previous year.Methods. First-year Doctor of Pharmacy students (2020 cohort) enrolled in a professional communications course completed pre- and post-course surveys regarding their readiness for and changes in perception of online learning. Student learning was assessed using midterm and final examination grades. These grades were then compared with those of students who had completed the same course in person (on campus) the previous year (2019 cohort).Results. Students’ preference for face-to-face instruction decreased from the pre-course to the post-course survey as indicated by responses made using a five-point Likert-scale (difference in means = −1.59; p < .05). Their comfort level with online learning increased (difference in means = +0.38, p < .05) by the end of the course. Students did not perceive any appreciable changes in rapport with the instructor by the end of the study. Course performance of students in the online cohort did not differ significantly from that of the 2019 cohort (p>.05).Conclusion. This study demonstrated that first year PharmD students were already somewhat prepared for online learning when they began a communication course, with further adjustment occurring as the quarter progressed. Remote online learning did not seem to impact pharmacy student learning in this communications course conducted during the COVID-19 crisis.     

Prevalence of biliary ascariasis and its relation to biliary lithiasis

Hepatobiliary ultrasound was carried out on 2224 consecutive patients at the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound and at one private diagnostic center in Mymensingh for ultrasound examination of different systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of biliary ascariasis and its association with other biliary diseases, specially biliary lithiasis. Data regarding the presence of stone, worm or other diseases were recorded accordingly in this prospective study. There were 952 male and 1272 female patients with an age range of 5–90 years. Biliary diseases were detected in 305 patients (13.71%), of whom 97 were male (10.19%) and 208 were female (16.35%). The most common biliary disease in both sexes was cholelithiasis (11.87%), which was found in 84 male patients (8.82%) and in 180 female patients (14.15%). Other diseases found were choledocholithiasis in 14 patients (3 males, 11 females), gall bladder mass in 9 patients (3 males, 6 females), common bile duct mass in 7 patients (4 male, 3 female) and biliary ascariasis in 10 patients (3 male, 7 female). Overall prevalence of biliary ascariasis was 0.45% (0.31% in male patients and 0.55% in female patients), and age range of patients with the condition was 6–50 years. No case of biliary ascariasis was associated with cholelithiasis or choledocholithiasis. Acute cholecystitis was associated with 8 cases (80%) of biliary ascariasis. Common sonographic findings in patients with biliary ascariasis were a single long, linear or curved echogenic structure within the bile duct, without acoustic shadowing. Other findings were gall bladder distention with sludge inside, an edematous wall and mildly dilated biliary tree. Prevalence of biliary ascariasis in the study was 0.45%, with incidence being higher in female subjects (0.55%). No correlation was found between biliary ascariasis and biliary lithiasis. Most of the cases of biliary ascariasis were associated with acute cholecystitis. We concluded that a careful search for biliary ascariasis should be considered for patients with acute acalculus cholecystitis, especially in areas in which ascariasis is endemic, such as Bangladesh.     

Contrast arthrography in thumb polydactyly with variable morphological patterns.

Contrast arthrography was performed in 20 patients with duplicated thumbs where the interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, and carpometacarpal joints were involved. Three groups were apparent, those with no joint alteration, those with joint involvement and separate articular impressions, and those with abnormal duplex joints.     

Cellulase from Humicola spp.

The newly isolated Humicola strain secreted cellulases in the culture medium supplemented with 1% water hyacinth as carbon source. Of the nitrogen sources investigated, ammonium sulphate (0.5%) and yeast extract (4%) produced the highest amount of the enzyme complex. Maximal cellulases were synthesized at pH 6.0 and temperature 35 °C. The culture filtrate from this organism was used to study the saccharification of lignocellulosic wastes and adsorption onto avicel. About 48% saccharification was achieved with rice straw after a period of 24 h hydrolysis. The endoglucanase in the culture filtrate was adsorbed onto avicel to the extent of 13%.     

迷迭香酸抗血栓和抗血小板聚集作用

迷迭香酸是丹参水溶性成分之一。大鼠体内实验(iv)表明,它能抑制静脉血栓形成。阻抑胶原诱导的血小板聚集,促进纤维蛋白溶解活性。当剂量为50及100 mg/kg时,血栓形成的抑制率分别为41.9和54.8%(P<0.vv05)。当剂量为100及150mg/kg时,血小板聚集的抑制率分别为30.4%(P<0.05)和46.4%(P<0.01),血浆优球蛋白溶解时间缩短(P<0.05)。纤维蛋白原含量无明显变化。以上结果说明,迷迭香酸有温和的抗血栓作用。其机理可能与抗血小板聚集和增强纤维蛋白溶解活性有关。     

Survival of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 with a common duckweed, Lemna minor, in artificial aquatic ecosystems

Cholera epidemics occur twice a year in Bangladesh. During epidemics, Vibrio cholerae O1 are isolated from patients, as well as from the surface water, but the bacteria disappear during inter-epidemic periods. Their reservoirs or sites of survival and multiplication during inter-epidemic period are still unknown. The present survival study in the laboratory explored the role of an aquatic plant, Lemna minor (duckweed), as a possible reservoir. L. minor was added to sea-salt solution at pH 8.5, containing V. cholerae. Survival of V. cholerae on L. minor, in water on which L. minor was floating, and in control water (without L. minor) was monitored at regular intervals. Survival of both environmental and clinical strains of V. cholerae was assessed by viable counts on thiosulphate-citrate-bile salt-sucrose agar. It was observed that both strains survived better on L. minor than in water on which L. minor was floating or in control water. It is suggested that plants may serve as an effective environmental reservoir for V. cholerae either through a non-specific association or by interaction with V. cholerae in commensal relationship.