Methods: The quantitative study was conducted at Punjab (Pakistan) from July 2018 to October 2018, and comprised final year students from eight medical colleges in Pakistan. Each respondent was given to experience laparoscopy operation in text, video and virtual reality-based learning methodologies. User experience and usefulness was assessed against a pre-validated scale and compared with the three learning methodologies.
RESULTS: Of the 87, students, 50(57.5%) were male and 37(42.5%) were female. The overall mean age was 22.5±4 years. Result of virtual reality was better than others (p<0.05). Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
CONCLUSIONS: Virtual reality-based learning provided better user experience than traditional learning methodologies.
Methods: In this quantitative research 87 medical students of 4th year from three public and five private medical colleges and universities participated. A laparoscopy operation was selected in consultation with senior medical consultants for this experiment. The experimental material was arranged in virtual reality, video and text based learning. At completion of each of which, participants completed a questionnaire about learning motivation and learning competency through the different mediums.
Results: Statistical t-test was selected for the analysis of this study. By comparing the mean values of virtual reality, video, and text based learning methodologies in medical academics; result of virtual reality is at top of others. All performed model are statistically significant (P=0.000) and results can be applied at all population.
Conclusion: Through this research, we contribute to medical students learning methodologies. In medical studies, both theoretical and practical expertise has a vital role, while repetition of hands-on practice can improve young doctors' professional competency. Virtual reality was found best for medical students in both learning motivation and learning competency. Medical students and educationist may select virtual reality as new learning methodology for curriculum learning.
METHODS: A total of 72 Wistar Kyoto rats (with equivalent male and female animals) were recruited in the present study where LVH rat models were treated with H2S and NO individually as well as with both combined. Cardiac and renal physical indices were recorded and relative gene expression were quantified.
RESULTS: Both cardiac and renal physical indices were significantly modified with individual as well as combined H2S + NO treatment in control and LVH rats. Expression analysis revealed, hypertension, vascular remodeling genes ACE, TNFα and IGF1, mRNAs to be significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the myocardia and renal tissues of LVH rats, while individual and combined H2S + NO treatment resulted in lowering the gene expression to normal/near to normal levels. The cardiac remodeling genes MYH7, TGFβ, SMAD4 and BRG1 expression were significantly up-regulated (P ≤ 0.05) in the myocardia of LVH where the combined H2S + NO treatment resulted in normal/near to normal expression more effectively as compared to individual treatments. In addition individual as well as combined H2S and NO treatment significantly decreased PKD1 expression in renal tissue, which was up-regulated in LVH rats (P ≤ 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in hemodynamic parameters and cardiac indices as well as alteration in gene expression on treatment of LVH rat model indicates important therapeutic potential of combined treatment with H2S + NO gasotransmitters in hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy when present as co-morbidity with renal complications.