Practicing Medicine in Light of the Gospel.

The impact of an accreditation system on the quality of undergraduate medical education in Saudi Arabia

Influence of photobiomodulation with blue light on the metabolism, proliferation and gene expression of human keratinocytes

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of mechanism, quality, physicochemical properties and active ingredient from making granulized simulation by adding raw herbal medicine powder into Chinese herb medicine (Ma Huang Tang). The four materials of Chinese medicinal herbs are Ephedra sinica(Ma Huang), Armeniacae Semen (Shing Ren), Cinnamomi Ramulusand (Kue Tzu) and Glycyrrhizae Radix (Kan Tsao). The physicochemical properties of granulized simulation sample were studied using Light and Polarized light microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), colormeter. Test the active ingredient of granulized simulation granules were using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed the morphological properties of corn starch granules were like round to oval shape and some particles appeared the polyangular shape. The morphological properties of raw herbal medicine powder showed long bar, irregular shape with rough surface and lower tightness. L value, W.I., bulk density, blue value, total starch and swelling power of granulized simulation sample reduced with increasing the ratio of raw herbal medicine powder added. Crude fiber content, blue value and total starch of granulized simulation sample were effected by adding raw herbal medicine, and there was a high correlation (r2＞0.968) between them. The results of physiological active ingredient study showed the total phenolic content first dropped then rose with increasing the ratio of raw herbal medicine powder added. Tannin contents of granulized simulation sample increased with increasing the ratio of raw herbal medicine powder added. The results of indicia ingredient study indicated ephedrine, cinnamic acid, glycyrrhizin contents of granulized simulation sample increased with increasing the ratio of raw herbal medicine powder added, but amygdalin contents of granulized simulation sample showed the contrary tendency to the others.

Dendrobium huoshanense and Dendrobium nobile are popular temperate orchids commonly marketed as traditional medicinal plants. Although the market demands are high, the resources of D. huoshanense and D. nobile are limited because seed propagation have been beset with problems of poor seed viability due to lack of endosperm. The objectives of this study were to investigate the use of T5 fluorescent light and with its supplementary wavelengths on the tissue culture seedlings of these two orchids. And, to find out suitable light wavelength or combinations which can enhance plant growth and phytochemical accumulation of these two Dendrobium species. Stem nodes of D. huoshanense and plantlets of D. nobile were grown under different light conditions in vitro, namely: T8 tubular white fluorescent lamps (T8), T5 tubular white fluorescent lamps (T5), T5 as the main light source and supplementary by Blue 440 nm (T5 + B440), Red 610 nm (T5 + R610), 658 nm (T5 + R658), Blue 440 nm plus Red 610 nm (T5 + B440 + R610), Blue 440 nm plus Red 658 nm (T5 + B440 + R658) and Red 610 nm plus Red 658 nm (T5 + R610 + R658). The effects of different supplementary light wavelengths on phytochemicals and growth were investigated. Growth characters, soluble sugar content, starch content and percentage of nitrogen were measured after 3 months of culture. Growth and phytochemical concentration of D. huoshanense and D. nobile were significantly affected by supplementary light wavelength treatments. The best results in terms of growth characters for these two Dendrobium species occurred on T5 white light supplemented with red 658 nm (T5+R658). The fresh weight, dry weight, number of nodes, number of leaves, number of roots and number of shoots of D. huoshanense was significantly increased with supplementary red 658 nm. Fresh weight, dry weight, number of roots, root length, number of leaves and plant height and of D. nobile also significantly increased with supplementary red 658 nm as compared to those in the T5 white light control. On other hand, when blue 440nm was supplemented single or combined wavelength, growth characters decreased. T5+B440+R610 treatment was more effective on dry matter accumulation of D. huoshanense and D. nobile. T8 and T5+B440+R658 showed higher plant color rating in D. huoshanense. Plant color rating of D. nobile was the greatest with T5 followed by T5 + R658. Percentage of nitrogen of D. huoshanense increased with supplementary blue 440 nm single or combined wavelength. D. nobile increased only with supplementary blue 440 nm wavelength. Starch content of these two Dendrobium species increased with supplementary blue 440 nm single wavelength as compared to the T5 white light. Soluble sugar content of D. huoshanense was significantly increased when grown under T5+B440+R610. But, soluble sugar content was not significantly affected with supplementary ligth wavelength treatment in D. nobile. This study suggests that T5 + B440 could significantly promote the starch content and percentage of nitrogen and T5 + R658 increased plant growth. Although the mechanisms of changes in phytochemicals under different supplementary light wavelength are not well known, the results demonstrated that supplementary light wavelength could be strategically used to enhance physiological responses and growth of D. huoshanense and D. nobile grown under white light in vitro.

Well-rounded instruction in occupational medicine as part of family medicine residency training is feasible through a program that balances a longitudinal curriculum of monthly occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) lectures, community-based OEM patient care, and worksite assessment. Such training would help equip family medicine residents to integrate occupational medicine into their practices, which, in light of a shortage of board-certified practitioners in OEM, would help fill community needs. The Intern-Resident Training Committee of Carson City Hospital in rural Michigan established both learner and institutional goals and objectives for such a program of instruction. A learner-needs assessment found appreciable interest among the residents for occupational medicine training. In addition, results of a survey of the occupational health community suggested there is inadequate coverage of OEM in medical schools and residencies. Furthermore, a focus group of occupational health managers revealed that clarity of communication and standardization of reporting were paramount concerns. Instruments for standardized OEM history and for OEM case management were developed for use within the residency continuity clinic. The curriculum was implemented with a variety of teaching strategies, including worksite assessment. Practice-based, case-oriented instruction was subsequently phased into the program as residents assumed responsibility for managing cases under the supervision of family medicine preceptors knowledgeable in OEM. An occupational medicine rotation was developed that included focused clinical exposure to OEM patients and studies that would lead to eligibility for a certificate of additional qualification in occupational medicine. Learner evaluations included chart reviews and patient satisfaction surveys. Program evaluations included interviews with occupational health managers. The residents were judged by their preceptors to have performed well. The responses of the health managers and the patients were positive. This program in occupational medicine was found to be educationally sound with demonstrated community benefit and patient satisfaction. Further, it is cost-effective, requiring no external funding.

This thesis explores how medicine is practiced in a paediatric HIV clinic in outer London. It draws on ethnographic research that took place in the clinic over the course of a year. The significance of the topic is situated in the complexity of the issues presented clinically by children with HIV in London. During practice recurrent associations of confidentiality, stigma, vulnerability, naivety and innocence emerges around the patient cohort that mainly comprises recent African migrants living their lives in complicated urban environments. These associations are contrasted by the uncompromising requirements of antiretroviral medicine which needs almost perfect dosing adherence in order to suppress the virus. The incompatibilities between complex patient lives and medical requirements must be made compatible through clinical practice. Therefore, the thesis emphasises the clinic as the key site where the ‘cultural’ issues presented by patients are consolidated with drug requirements to form a functional medicine. The argument is informed by discussions around Science and Technology Studies (STS), and the Sociology of Childhood (SoC). These discussions highlight practice as ‘enacted’, where objects such as disease, the body or medicine are not ‘given’ but gain their shape through their recurrent enactions (Mol 2002, Mol and Law 2004). I have used these discussions to argue that medicine and protocol do not pre-exist practice but must be enacted by practitioners and (child) patients in the clinic. Clinical practice is shown in the thesis as consolidating protocol, drug requirements, patients, practitioners and representations of HIV in ongoing clinical enactions to make the antiretroviral medicine amongst the paediatric cohort operational. To do this, the research focuses on a set of procedures enacted in the clinic: disclosure, adherence, HIV as chronic illness and transition. These procedures inform practitioners on how to maintain care and make medical requirements explicit to child patients (and their parents), enforcing behaviour that accords with the goals of antiretroviral medicine. In this way practice and protocol are negotiated and renegotiated to ensure their effectiveness between all of the associations involved in participating with the condition, paediatric HIV and the corresponding medicine. Compared to existing STS on the subject of medicine and the clinic, paediatric HIV practice emphasises the clinic’s role to consolidate seemingly incompatible associations around patients such as stigma, vulnerability and innocence into medical requirements. The result is that STS that advertently or inadvertently implies that medical practice is messy or disjointed are questioned in light of two important features of paediatric HIV. Firstly, that practice must necessarily consolidate disparate patient lives into medical requirements if treatment is to be successful, and secondly, that practitioners must employ a logic to generate a coherent, well-organised clinical practice that is flexible and pliable to diverse eventualities. The significance of this argument demonstrates the clinic’s importance in enacting interventions and attuning medicine, displacing a notion of protocol or guidelines as dictating practice without negotiation, or the belief that the ideal course of clinical practice is fully predefined in protocol. Therefore, the implications of this research underline the clinic as a key site in rationalising how medicine is formulated and applied to patients.

Objective To investigate the preventive effect of traditional Chinese medicine Bushen Tiaochong Recipe in premature ovarian failure rats on the regulation of ovarian function and prevention mechanism through regulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Methods A total of 60 female rats were randomly selected to set up a blank, model and prevent the low-, medium- and high-dose groups and Western medicine group. Ten rats in each group. The rats in blank group were given free drinking water, and then given Tripterygium model for 14 d. Three Chinese medicine groups were given low-, medium- and high-dose Bushen Tiaochong Recipe for 36 d, and then given Tripterygium model for 14 d; Western medicine group was given estrogen for 36 d, then given tripterygium glycosides tablet for 14 d. The ovarian index and rat uterus index were observed after the end of the experiment; the number of the rats ovarian follicles was observed in light microscopy. Serum follicular stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen (E2), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) were detected by ELISA. Expressions of VEGF and bFGF protein were detected by immunohistochemistry; expressions of VEGF and bFGF mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence PCR method. Results The ovarian index and uterus index of rat were significantly lower than those in the control and the treatment group (P<0.01). Ovarian indexes in low-dose Chinese medicine group and Western medicine group were significantly different (P<0.05).Compared with the model group, the number of rat primordial follicles, preantral and antral follicles in each treatment group and blank control group increased significantly, while the number of atretic follicles significantly reduced (P<0.01). The number of rat primordial follicles, preantral and antral follicle in low-dose Chinese medicine group and Western medicine group significantly reduced, while the number of atretic follicles increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum FSH and LH in each treatment group and blank control group decreased significantly (P<0.01), while serum E2 and AMH levels increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, VEGF and bFGF protein and mRNA expression in each treatment group and blank control group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the expressions of bFGF protein and mRNA in low-dose Chinese medicine group and Western medicine group were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion Bushen Tiaochon Recipe has an obvious protective effect on ovary. Its mechanism may relate with some of the traditional Chinese medicine of Bushen Tiaochon Recipe which can increase the expression of VEGF and bFGF. Bushen Tiaochon Recipe can provide a basis for follicular development, the recovery of follicles before apoptosis and enhance the function of ovary. Key words: Bushen Tiaochon Recipe; Premature ovarian failure (POF); Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)

The identification of Chinese medicinal plants was conducted to rely on ampelographic manual assessment by experts. More recently, machine learning algorithms for pattern recognition have been successfully applied to leaf recognition in other plant species. These new tools make the classification of Chinese medicinal plants easier, more efficient and cost effective. This study showed comparative results between machine learning models obtained from two methods: i) a morpho-colorimetric method and ii) a visible (VIS)/Near Infrared (NIR) spectral analysis from sampled leaves of 20 different Chinese medicinal plants. Specifically, the automated image analysis and VIS/NIR spectral based parameters obtained from leaves were used separately as inputs to construct customized artificial neural network (ANN) models. Results showed that the ANN model developed using the morpho-colorimetric parameters as inputs (Model A) had an accuracy of 98.3% in the classification of leaves for the 20 medicinal plants studied. In the case of the model based on spectral data from leaves (Model B), the ANN model obtained using the averaged VIS/NIR spectra per leaf as inputs showed 92.5% accuracy for the classification of all medicinal plants used. Model A has the advantage of being cost effective, requiring only a normal document scanner as measuring instrument. This method can be adapted for non-destructive assessment of leaves in-situ by using portable wireless scanners. Model B combines the fast, non-destructive advantages of VIS/NIR spectroscopy, which can be used for rapid and non-invasive identification of Chinese medicinal plants and other applications by analyzing specific light spectra overtones from leaves to assess concentration of pigments such as chlorophyll, anthocyanins and others that are related active compounds from the medicinal plants. Keywords: ampelography, computer vision, artificial neural networks, pattern recognition, Chinese medicinal plants DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20191202.4637 Citation: Xue J R, Fuentes S, Poblete-Echeverria C, Viejo C G, Tongson E, Du H J, et al. Automated Chinese medicinal plants classification based on machine learning using leaf morpho-colorimetry, fractal dimension and visible/near infrared spectroscopy. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2019; 12(2): 123–131.

Imperialism loomed over the entire East Asia in the first half of the 20th century, with Japan being the major colonial empire in Asia Pacific. Soaking up all networks of its colonies, Imperial Japan established its predominant status and imposed stringent regulations on interflow among its colonies in the region, with Taiwan and Korea being no exception. In other words, strict colonial rule of the Japanese had severed mutual interaction and free flow of population between Taiwan and Korea. The seemingly active interchange of people within the Japanese empire was mainly ”the flow of administrators under colonial bureaucracy”. There was no direct transportation route between Taiwan and Korea. Apart from the few openings for overseas studies or industrial colonization offered by the imperial empire, there was no interflow of people among the colonies. Hence, one could hardly find Taiwanese in Colonial Korea or Koreans in Colonial Taiwan; and this situation persisted till the end of Japanese colonial rule.Nevertheless, beginning from the 1930s, a small number of Taiwanese were found pursuing medical studies at the Keijo Medical College, Heijo Medical College, Daikyu Medical College and Keijo Imperial University in Colonial Korea. Though these Taiwanese medical students were few, never more than a hundred, they were indeed rare and exceptional cases in the medical education system under the Japanese Colonial Government of Korea. These Taiwanese medical students were also the only group who had first-hand experience of life in Colonial Korea in that era.This research aims to explore why and how these Taiwanese chose to pursue medical studies in Colonial Korea. Depicting their life and experience in this foreign land also shed light on the encounter of Taiwanese in another East Asian colony during that time. In addition, by examining how these Taiwanese medical students got involved with Korea in the postwar era, we can catch a glimpse of how imperialism and colonialism penetrated and assumed control over and beyond the colonial era.

Active illumination systems use a controllable light source and a light sensor to measure properties of a scene. For such a system to work reliably across a wide range of environments it must be able to handle the effects of global light transport, bright ambient light, interference from other active illumination devices, defocus, and scene motion. The goal of this thesis is to develop computational techniques and hardware arrangements to make active illumination devices based on commodity-grade components that work under real world conditions. We aim to combine the robustness of a scanning laser rangefinder with the speed, measurement density, compactness, and economy of a consumer depth camera. Towards this end, we have made four contributions. The first is a computational technique for compensating for the effects of motion while separating the direct and global components of illumination. The second is a method that combines triangulation and depth from illumination defocus cues to increase the working range of a projector-camera system. The third is a new active illumination device that can efficiently image the epipolar component of light transport between a source and sensor. The device can measure depth using active stereo or structured light and is robust to many global light transport effects. Most importantly, it works outdoors in bright sunlight despite using a low power source. Finally, we extend the proposed epipolar-only imaging technique to time-of-flight sensing and build a low-power sensor that is robust to sunlight, global illumination, multi-device interference, and camera shake. We believe that the algorithms and sensors proposed and developed in this thesis could find applications in a diverse set of fields including mobile robotics, medical imaging, gesture recognition, and agriculture.

To evaluate the effect of endoscopy assisted pars plana vitrectomy for severe ocular trauma with no light perception. A retrospective case-series study. Medical records of 6 eyes of 6 patients undergoing endoscopy assisted vitrectomy for severe ocular trauma with no light perception from December 2006 to August 2009 were studied. Four patients were male and 2 patients were female. Their age ranged from 6 to 67 years old with an mean age of 38 years. History of trauma, visual acuity prior to vitrectomy and at final follow-up, bacterial culture results and surgical approaches were recorded. Visual acuity prior to vitrectomy was no light perception in all the 6 patients with a mean intraocular pressure of 3 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) . All the patients had diffuse corneal edema along with opacities caused by corneal perforation from trauma in 3 patients, blood staining of cornea in 2 patients and endophthalmitis in 1 patient. B-scan ultrasound echography carried out before surgery showing that all the patients had retinal detachment. Three patients' vitreous samples were sent for bacterial culture. Bacillus cereus, S.epidermidis and Aeromonas Hydrophila were identified respectively. Patients were followed up for 18 to 36 months. Postoperatively, 5 of the patients' visual acuity was better than light perception, ranging from light perception to 0.04. The retina was reattached in 4 patients. Endoscopy assisted vitrectomy is a safe and effective option for the treatment of severe traumatic eye with no light perception.

Introduction: Sexual misconceptions have been around in India for a very long time. Growing liberal attitudes toward sex and sexual permissiveness can be expected to occur in the context of improved sexual knowledge among people. However, sexual myths continue to remain rampant. Therefore, the present study was planned with the aim to assess the level of sexual misconceptions regarding semen loss prevalent among male medical interns. Participants and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among unmarried male medical students doing an internship. Eighty-one interns were recruited after fulfilling predecided inclusion/exclusion criteria and were asked to complete a specially made questionnaire to assess their sexual beliefs anonymously in complete privacy. Responses were analyzed using frequency distribution. Results: Seventy-nine percent of the participants believed that loss of semen can lead to reduction in the size of the penis, while 44.44% (n = 36) believed that it leads to sexual weakness, 56.8% (n = 46) believed it can lead to physical weakness, and 56.8% (n = 46) believed that excess masturbation can decrease sexual prowess. Discussion: This study helps bring to light the prevalence of sexual misconceptions among medical interns in spite of reaching a stage where they are expected to have sound conceptual, theoretical, and practical knowledge about sexual health and wellbeing. There is a dearth of national and international studies exploring the sociocultural aspects of sexuality specifically among medical students. The findings from this study are expected to stimulate researchers and academicians into further exploring the aspect of sexuality among the young medical fraternity.

Within the framework of translator’s subjectivity, this paper explores professor Fang-Tingyu’s philosophy in translating traditional Chinese medicine terms by taking four medical terms (miaoqiao, rouci, hexifeng, qihengli) as examples and referring to previously published interviews. The terms were chosen from his book New Chinese-English Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Second Edition). We summarized his translation philosophy as follows: to put the purpose of translation first; to trace the source and understand the source text correctly; to apply translation strategies and methods in a flexible manner; to take readers’s expectations into account; to keep abreast of the progress in traditional Chinese medicine translation studies. It is conducive that traditional Chinese medicine translator’s translation philosophy is from the perspective of translator’s subjectivity to grasping the nature of translation and may shed light on both translation practices and studies of traditional Chinese medical texts. Key words: Translating; Translator’s subjectivity; Fang-Tingyu; Terminology on traditional Chinese medicine

The present article introduced the current medical education of the Feinberg School of Medicine in Northwestern University. Through the comparisons on education system and curriculums design between United States of America and China, advices were made to the medical education in China. The article shed light on the current reform of medical education in China. Key words: United States of America; Medical education; Compare

In light of the fact that the incidence of revocation of physician licenses is on the rise, a survey was sent to 118 allopathic and 16 osteopathic medical schools in the United States to assist in appraising the current resources of US medical schools training in bioethics. The author contends that, in view of the statistics on increasing actions against postgraduate physicians, the time has come to determine what constitutes an effective experience for our students. It is hoped that the details of this investigative process will give educators and researchers insight into the current state of medical school ethics curriculum and increase awareness of the need to address the problems.