Medical student radiology training: What are the objectives for contemporary medical practice?

Rationale and Objectives. The authors attempt to provide a set of objectives for medical student training in radiology for contemporary medical practice. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire containing a list of educational objectives was sent to 32 radiologists in charge of medical student training in radiology at accredited residency programs in Australia and New Zealand. The importance of including each preselected objective in the curriculum was measured by respondents' agreement or disagreement on a scale of 1-6. Opportunity also was given to respondents to suggest objectives other than those presented on the questionnaire. Results. Twenty of the 32 questionnaires were returned, and a set of educational objectives was established based on the responses. The objectives were ranked in importance according to the mean score assigned to each objective by the respondents. Conclusion. This new set of educational objectives for medical student radiology training reflects recent changes in radiologic and medical practice and points to potential future developments.

A comparison of the responses of first and second year veterinary science students to group project work

A change in curriculum permitted a direct and simultaneous comparison between first and second year responses to group project work while assuming similar prior experience with this method of learning. Responses were obtained by a survey form and by meetings with individual groups. Overall, there were no differences between first and second year responses, although analyses of gender responses suggested trends whereby males indicated they had developed greater creativity and felt they had contributed more to the group. The majority of students responded that group project work was a positive experience and a useful learning experience.

Stress in veterinary science students: A study at the University of Queensland

This paper reports on the results of a survey of selected University of Queensland (UQ) veterinary students aimed at elucidating factors causing stress during the five undergraduate years of the program. Students from each of the five years were asked to form six- or seven-member focus groups. Each focus group was then interviewed and their opinions sought on causes of ongoing stress and the ranking of those causes into predetermined categories. They were also asked to give their opinions on counseling services available within the university and what, if any, services they would like to see in place to help students with stress-related problems. Students in the first, third, and fourth years of the program rated academic issues as the most likely causes of ongoing stress, while students in the second and fifth years of the program ranked lifestyle and financial issues as more likely to cause ongoing stress. in most cases, students coped well with these causes of stress and tended not to use counseling services available to all UQ students. When faced with stressful issues, students looked to their classmates or family members for help and not to university counseling services. Students were also happy to approach staff members in the Veterinary School when faced with a problem. The authors nevertheless conclude that mechanisms set in place at the undergraduate level to help veterinary students cope with stress should particularly benefit those students when they become new graduates and are faced with the stresses of veterinary practice.

A comparison of responses to group learning between first-year Asian and first-year Australian veterinary science students

Introduction - Group learning has been used to enhance deep (long-term) learning and promote life skills, such as decision making, communication, and interpersonal skills. However, with increasing multiculturalism in higher education, there is little information available as to the acceptance of this form of learning by Asian students or as to its value to them. Methodology - Group-learning projects, incorporating a seminar presentation, were used in first-year veterinary anatomical science classes over two consecutive years (2003 and 2004) at the School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland. Responses of Australian and Asian students to survey forms evaluating the learning experience were analyzed and compared. Results - All students responded positively to the group learning, indicating that it was a useful learning experience and a great method for meeting colleagues. There were no significant differences between Asian and Australian students in overall responses to the survey evaluating the learning experience, except where Asian students responded significantly higher than Australian students in identifying specific skills that needed improving. Conclusions - Group learning can be successfully used in multicultural teaching to enhance deep learning. This form of learning helps to remove cultural barriers and establish a platform for continued successful group learning throughout the program.

Comparative ultrasonographic investigations of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver in healthy and diseased pigeons

The use of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in birds has been documented for cardiac, urogenital, and liver disease. However, its use in gastrointestinal tract disease is not defined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the ultrasonographic findings of the intestine and liver of six healthy racing pigeons with those of six racing pigeons with gastrointestinal disease. The echogenicity of the liver was significantly different between the two groups. Pigeons with gastrointestinal disease had less homogeneous liver echogenicity with focal heterogeneous areas and the hepatic blood vessels were visible and dilated. The duodenum was visualized and its mean diameter of 7.2 +/- 0.3 mm in the diseased pigeons was significantly wider (P < 0.001) than the 5.7 +/- 0.2 mm in healthy birds. The thickness of the duodenal wall in healthy and diseased pigeons was 1.6 +/- 0.1 and 2.4 +/- 0.1 mm, respectively, and they were significantly different (P < 0.001). We defined baseline measurements for the duodenal loop in pigeons and provided evidence that ultrasound can be a useful diagnostic tool for investigating intestinal disease in pigeons.

Identification of bla(CMY-7) and associated plasmid-mediated resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from dogs at a veterinary teaching hospital in Australia

Objectives: To determine clonality and identify plasmid-mediated resistance genes in 11 multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (MDREC) isolates associated with opportunistic infections in hospitalized dogs in Australia. Methods: Phenotypic (MIC determinations, modified double-disc diffusion and isoelectric focusing) and genotypic methods (PFGE, plasmid analysis, PCR, sequencing, Southern hybridization, bacterial conjugation and transformation) were used to characterize, investigate the genetic relatedness of, and identify selected plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance genes, in the canine MDREC. Results: Canine MDRECs were divided into two clonal groups (CG 1 and 2) with distinct restriction endonuclease digestion and plasmid profiles. All isolates possessed bla(CMY-7) on an similar to 93 kb plasmid. In CG 1 isolates, bla(TEM), catA1 and class 1 integron-associated dfrA17-aadA5 genes were located on an similar to 170 kb plasmid. In CG 2 isolates, a second similar to 93 kb plasmid contained bla(TEM) and unidentified class 1 integron genes, although a single CG 2 strain carried dfrA5. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of E. coli K12 transformed with CG 2 large plasmids confirmed that the bla(CMY-7)-carrying plasmid did not carry any other antimicrobial resistance genes, whereas the bla(TEM)/class 1 integron-carrying plasmid carried genes conferring resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin also. Conclusions: This is the first report on the detection of plasmid-mediated bla(CMY-7) in animal isolates in Australia. MDREC isolated from extraintestinal infections in dogs may be an important reservoir of plasmid-mediated resistance genes.

World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of acaricides against ticks (Ixodidae) on ruminants

These guidelines have been prepared to assist in the planning, conduct and interpretation of studies for the assessment of the efficacy of acaricides (excluding vaccines and other bio-control agents) against single and multi-host ticks (Ixodidae) on ruminants. Information is provided on the selection of animals, dose determination, dose confirmation and field studies, record keeping and result interpretation. The use of pen facilities is advocated for dose determination and confirmation studies for defining therapeutic and persistent efficacy. A minimum of two studies per tick species for which claims are sought is recommended for each dose determination and dose confirmation investigation. If dose confirmation studies demonstrate greater than 95% efficacy the sponsor may proceed to field studies, where a minimum of two studies per geographical location is preferred to confirm the therapeutic and persistent efficacy under field conditions. If dose confirmation studies demonstrate less than 95% efficacy then longer-term field studies can be conducted over two tick seasons with a minimum of two studies per geographical location. These studies can incorporate other control methods such as tick vaccines, to demonstrate stable long-term tick management. Specific advice is also given on conducting studies with paralysis ticks. These guidelines are also intended to assist investigators on how to conduct specific experiments, to provide specific information for registration authorities involved in the decision-making process, to assist in the approval and registration of new acaricides, and to facilitate the worldwide adoption of standard procedures. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.