In both conditions, findings indicate that the experts' and Year 4 students' performance was not affected by processing focus. The fact that only Year 6 students were affected by processing focus might be explained by the assumption that their diagnostic knowledge and management knowledge are not fully integrated yet, a process that has already taken place in the expert's knowledge structure.

Aims:Endothelial dysfunction is considered a sign of the early vascular changes preceding atherosclerosis. We studied the alteration of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), C -reactive protein (CRP), nitrite and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in a dietary reversal model of hypercholesterolemia in rabbit.Methods: This project was designed in two phases. In phase I, male rabbits (n = 11) were fed a 1% high cholesterol diet for 30 days. Then the diet was replaced with normal rabbit chow for other 30 days (cholesterol withdrawal phase, phase II). To compare the fatty streak formation with normal condition, a control group (n = 6) received normal diet during the study. The serum lipid levels, vWF, CRP, nitrite, and VEGF were measured before the experiment and by the end of each phase. Fatty streak formation in the walls of the aortas in both groups (high cholesterol diet and control group) was determined using intima thickness/media thickness (IMT) ratio.Results: The results indicate that the level of cholesterol, Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), vWF and CRP increased signifi cantly in phase I, and decreased after hypercholesterolemic diet withdrawal (p < 0.05). No statistically signifi cant changes were found in VEGF levels but the serum level of nitrite increased signifi cantly during both phases of the study (p < 0.05). The IMT ratio in the walls of aortas was signifi cantly diff erent between the groups in both phases of studies (p < 0.05). There was a signifi cant correlation between nitrite and cholesterol levels in both phases (r = 0.62 and r = 0.98, p < 0.05). Nitrite concentration also correlated with IMT ratio in both phases of the study (r = 0.75 and r = -0.99, p < 0.05). vWF did not correlate with cholesterol but it correlated with IMT ratio in both phases of the study (r = 0.87 and r = 0.84, p < 0.05). CRP only correlated with cholesterol in the fi rst phase (r = 0.91, p < 0.05).Conclusions: Among the endothelial biomarkers, vWF was found to be a biological marker for identifying the risk of developing atherosclerosis; however a single biomarker may not provide appropriate information.

The experienced physicians' accurate management plans are characterized by a high number of the Mx and Dx items. For sixth-year students the management plans are still incomplete, which leads to generic as well as inaccurate Mx orders. For fourth-year students, the Mx focus is lacking, and hence they seem to treat an Mx task as if it were a Dx task.

Background: The impact of L-arginine on atherogenesis and its ability to prevent endothelial dysfunction have been studied extensively during the past years. L-arginine is a substance for nitric oxide synthesis which involves in apoptosis. Hypercholesterolemia promotes endothelial dysfunction, and it is hypothesized that L-arginine prevents endothelial dysfunction through endothelial cells apoptosis inhibition. To test this hypothesis, thirty rabbits were assigned into two groups. The control group received 1% cholesterol diet for 4 weeks, and the L-arginine group received same diets plus 3% L-arginine in drinking water.