I investigated the use of surveys of medical students attending Osaka Medical College for evaluating education. Questionnaires were distributed to fourth-year students twice, in 2001 and 2002. Both signed and anonymous questionnaires were used each time. The recovery rates for the signed questionnaires were 100% in 2001 and 2002, and those for anonymous questionnaires were 93.1% and 81.5%, respectively. The students believed that the lectures had good points but could be improved. Evaluation scores were higher for 63.3% of items on the second questionnaire, a finding that suggests lectures have improved. Free opinions were offered by 30% to 40% of respondents and included concrete suggestions for improving lectures. These results suggest that evaluation of medical education by students is useful for teaching-staff development and, in particular, for improving lectures at Osaka Medical College.

Effects of intracellular Na+, K+ and Cl- on Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis activated by 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh) were studied in guinea-pig antral mucous cells which are permeabilized by nystatin treatment. Ca(2+)-regulated exocytotic events were modulated by [Na+]i, [K+]i and [Cl-]i via mediation of PTX-sensitive G proteins. Increases in [Na+]i and PTX inhibit G protein (G(Na)), which suppressed the exocytosis. Increases in [K+]i caused the exchange of G proteins (from G(Na) to G(K)) to increase, and GK evoked activation of the exocytosis and was inhibited by PTX. Increases in [Cl-]i and PTX inhibit G protein (G(Cl)), which stimulates exocytotic events. Based on these observations, the exocytosis in antral mucous cells were modulated by intracellular ions, concentration of which were increased or decreased by cell volume changes caused by Ach.
Acetylcholine/pharmacology ; Animal ; Cell Membrane Permeability/drug effects ; Exocytosis/physiology* ; Exocytosis/drug effects ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism ; Gastric Mucosa/cytology ; Guinea Pigs ; Hypertonic Solutions/pharmacology ; Ionophores/pharmacology ; Nystatin/pharmacology ; Pertussis Toxins/pharmacology ; Potassium/pharmacokinetics* ; Pyloric Antrum/metabolism* ; Pyloric Antrum/cytology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacokinetics* ; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology