Introduction and Aim: Early exposure to clinical skills teaching (CST) helps medical students to apply their knowledge in basic sciences in a real situation. One of the big challenges that always needs to be considered is their ability to examine a patient appropriately and pick up physical signs, as well as the analysis and interpretation of the physical signs. Due to the lack of existing research in this area, this study is aimed at understanding medical students’ perceptions towards delivered CST courses at the College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences (CMNHS), Fiji National University (FNU). Methodology: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree students in year 4 and 5 who have done internal medicine rotations in 2014 and also to the year 6 students who were doing their clinical attachments at Lautoka hospital in 2014. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect the data. Five-point Likert scaled questions were used to measure the medical students’ attitudes and perceptions towards delivered CST sessions. An information sheet and written consent form were used before the collection of the data. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tests. Results: Eighty one students participated in this study; the majority of them were aged 23-24 years (48.2%). More than sixty one percent were females and over thirty-eight percent were males. Forty percent of the participants were MBBS year 4. The majority of the participants believed that the CST was well organized (72.9%) and was clear (79%). The majority of participants (92.6%) believed that the clinical content was relevant and 85.24% of the participants believed that they were able to apply what they learned from the clinical skills sessions during the clinical years. Overall, 75.4% of the respondents believed that the clinical skills teaching sessions were effective while 3.6% disagreed. Conclusion The results of this study showed high positive perceptions of medical students towards the organization, clarity, the relevance of the content, and the effectiveness of CST sessions. This study will help the School of Medical Sciences to examine other methods of CST to promote students’ clinical skills.

A broad range of disorders are present with eosinophilia and these include infectious, allergic, rheumatic, neoplastic, endocrine and idiopathic disorders which range from benign to life-threatening illnesses. All these conditions create a heterogeneous list of clinical presentation that patients may display, thus creating a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We present a patient with a broad range of clinical features and hematological counts that fit into the diagnosis of Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES). He was investigated reasonably to rule the various possible differentials and subsequently started on Prednisone therapy.

Skin wound closure occurs when keratinocytes migrate from the edge of the wound and re-epithelialize the epidermis. Their migration takes place primarily before any vascularization is established, that is, under hypoxia, but relatively little is known regarding the factors that stimulate this migration. Hypoxia and an acidic environment are well-established stimuli for cancer cell migration. The carbonic anhydrases (CAs) contribute to tumor cell migration by generating an acidic environment through the conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and a proton. On this basis, we explored the possible role of CAs in tissue regeneration using mouse skin wound models. We show that the expression of mRNAs encoding CA isoforms IV and IX are increased (~25 × and 4 ×, respectively) during the wound hypoxic period (days 2–5) and that cells expressing CAs form a band-like structure beneath the migrating epidermis. RNA-Seq analysis suggested that the CA IV-specific signal in the wound is mainly derived from neutrophils. Due to the high level of induction of CA IV in the wound, we treated skin wounds locally with recombinant human CA IV enzyme. Recombinant CA IV significantly accelerated wound re-epithelialization. Thus, CA IV could contribute to wound healing by providing an acidic environment in which the migrating epidermis and neutrophils can survive and may offer novel opportunities to accelerate wound healing under compromised conditions.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon* ; Carbonic Anhydrases* ; Cell Movement ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Mice ; Neutrophils ; Protein Isoforms ; Protons ; Re-Epithelialization ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Background: There is an increasing trend of obesity in the Philippines with approximately 28.8% of adults considered overweight and 9.6% obese. This is presumably due to a shift in eating patterns towards dining out in restaurants and fast food chains for their convenience. Excess fast food consumption results in diets that are calorie dense yet nutritionally deficient due to their high levels of fat, sugar, and salt leading to increased prevalence of associated diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Objective: The researchers determined the effect of presenting the caloric information of fast food items on the total calories ordered among college students in private and public higher education institutions in Quezon City. Methodology: A double-blind experimental research was performed with 179 students by convenience sampling. The participants were randomly assigned to a control group (without caloric labels) and an experimental group (with caloric labels). An online questionnaire was sent to each subject containing their menu and order form along with questions on their demographical data (age, sex, food allowance, BMI, physical activity). Results: Using single linear regression, none of the demographic characteristics were found to be confounding variables. Using multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that the experimental group ordered significantly less calories (p-value = 0.013). Conclusion The results of the study conclude that those presented with calorie labels ordered less calories than the control.
Fast Foods

Background: The benefits of infant massage in hospital and community settings have been documented in literature: better weight gain of preterm and low birthweight infants, shortened hospital stay, slightly better scores on developmental tests, fewer postnatal complications, and effects on physical and mental health. Objectives: This study described the perceptions and experiences of infant massage among caregivers of infants 2-6 months old consulting in two public health centers in Quezon City before and after infant massage training. Methods: This qualitative study assessed perceptions and experiences at baseline and after infant massage training of mothers and caregivers taking care of infants 2-6 months old. Pre-training interviews were conducted, as well as immediately after, and seven days after training on infant massage delivered by the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives, Inc. (PLGPMI). Training consisted of lectures and demonstrations, after which mothers/caregivers gave their babies the massage under the trainer's supervision. Post-training interviews were conducted immediately after the training and seven days after. Responses to the interviews were transcribed. The transcripts and interview notes were analyzed independently by two research team members. Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) was done. Disagreements were settled by discussion. Results: The infant’s mother was identified as the best person to perform infant massage. Infant massage was a new concept to many participants before the training. In general, the perception was positive. It was believed to promote the baby's physical development and bonding with the mother/caregiver. These same benefits were reported after the training. Post-training, all 11 participants who returned for follow-up interviews reported having massaged their babies at home. They were also able to describe the process and timing of massage as taught to them. The participants’ responses centered on seven (7) identified themes, identified at baseline and after training: 1) general concepts of infant massage, 2) benefits of infant massage, 3) methodologies, materials, and considerations, 4) persons credible to perform infant massage, 5) application/performance of infant massage, 6) intentions and 7) infant massage as a public health measure. Conclusion There was a positive perception of infant massage among mothers and caregivers of infants 2-6 months old, whether or not they had prior knowledge. The sharing of information and the training given enhanced this. Participants showed good reception and retention of infant massage's basic concepts and process and improved their confidence in handling their babies and massaging them.
Mother-Child Relations ; Caregivers ; Health Education ; Community Health Centers