Background & Objective:Feedback has been identified as one of the key strategies for learning in the outcome-based curriculum. Students are more interested in their grades paying little attention to the feedback, may not understand the importance of feedback and its effect on their performance because of their perception, and beliefs. Non-constructive feedback will not result in the improvement of the students’ performance. This study aims to explore; student’s perception of useful feedback; the purpose of feedback and believes about written feedback.Methods:This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to January 2018 at Majmaah University. Students studying in clinical phase were recruited. Data were collected from 121 students by self-structured questionnaire using complete enumeration sampling method.Results:Majority of the students (45.5%) disagreed that the feedback should always contain marks; (49.6%) commented that the tutor did not provide enough constructive feedback. While we ask the purpose of feedback (62.8%), agree with two-way nature of feedback, and it is helpful to find there expected performance. Almost two third (67.8%) of the students believe that limited feedback is the reason for frustration and they did not receive comments for improvement.Conclusions:Students are aware of the purpose of feedback. Senior students give more value to feedback and in the opinion that feedback provides useful suggestions for future improvement and limited feedback is the reason for frustration. The results highlight the need for more structured feedback mechanism, and there is a need for faculty engagement in training to fill the existing gapes to create an effective educational alliance.

Objective:To explore the mentoring program on a subset of Pakistani medical students in a private medical college.Method:Total students targeted were 300 MBBS students of 1st Year (group B), 2nd Year (group C) and 3rd Year (group D), of these 256 students filled the self-reported questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on Likert Scale. The statements in the questionnaire are designed in a positive manner so that if the students agree to them the level of satisfaction with the mentoring program was considered significantly good. Open-ended questionnaires were also given so as to have a clearer concept of the students’ perception. This study is a mixed method study catering to both quantitative and qualitative domains.Results :The overall results reported that the junior students of group B and group C showed higher satisfaction in being mentored as compared group D (p-value=0.001). All three groups were compared with each other to check the response of every statement by applying Tukey’s test. Analysis of the result showed that majority of the students considered mentoring program a beneficial tool for their academic and non-academic lives. The students of all three years have reported that the mentor is mostly available and helps to reconcile internal conflicts. They also confirmed that their mentor keeps records but most of the students have reported that communication via email is limited.Conclusion:Majority of students of Bahria University Medical and Dental College are able to carry on with their academic and non-academic routine due to the presence of mentoring. The medical students appreciated the presence of a mentor during thick and thin; they have also accepted that it is due to the presence of this guide that they are able to continue with their difficult studies in these difficult times.

Objective:To assess the hepatoprotective effect provided by fresh garlic on fatty liver induced by high-fat diet.Methods:This experimental study was carried out at BMSI, JPMC from October to November 2008. Thirty adult albino rats, 200-240 gram weight, were divided into three groups. Group A received control diet, Group B received high-fat diet (20 mg butter/100 gm diet) and Group C received high-fat diet with fresh garlic (20 mg butter with 6 gm fresh garlic/100 gm diet). The groups were further divided on the basis of duration of treatment, four weeks and eight weeks respectively. The rats were sacrificed, liver removed, weighed and relative liver weight calculated. Hepatic tissue was processed and tissue slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin.Results:There was significant increase in relative liver weight in group B animals as compared to the control animals, which decreased significantly in group C. Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections revealed ballooned hepatocytes having vesicular appearance with pyknotic nuclei in high-fat group which were preserved to a great extent in group C animals.Conclusion:This study has shown that use of fresh garlic along with high-fat diet prevents its damaging effects on liver to a great extent.

Objective:To determine faculty perception on journal club (JC) presentation at Bahria University Medical and Dental College (BUMDC), Karachi. Pakistan.Methods:It was a cross sectional study conducted from January 2009 to December 2012 to acquire faculty member’s feedback on JC presentations in structured meeting at BUMDC. Feedback was acquired by a self-reported questionnaire on a 3-pt Likert scale with a score of 1= disagree, 2= neutral, 3 = agree. Respondents were divided into Group I; senior faculty (professors, associates and assistants) and Group II of junior faculty (lecturers). Chi square test was applied to compare categorical variables; results considered significant with p value< 0.05.Result:A total of 75JC presentations were made in study period. In Group I, response was acquired by 5 Professors, 3 Associate Professors and 7 Assistant Professors whereas 34 lecturers comprised of Group II. Both groups responded to usefulness of JC equally without any significant difference. JC encouraged literature search in 35(72%), enabled 38(78%) to recall their knowledge and 34(70%) to understand study objectives. The participants 34(70%) were able to comprehend research methodology, 19(38%) understood biostatistics and 29(59%) evaluated the paper critically. The exercise motivated 36(74%) and 30(62%) participants were able to design their research projects.Conclusions:Orientation of research at BUMDC was made possible by JC discussions which encouraged literature review from reputable journals, understanding of research methodology and critical appraisals that facilitated formulation of research plans.

Objective:To analyze the psychometric indices of Anatomy question items in modular system assessment.Methods:A quantitative study was done to determine the quality of MCQs and to analyze the performance of 1st year 100 MBBS students. Each module covers different subjects of MBBS curriculum but psychometric analysis was done on the subject of Anatomy only. The assessment results of 3 modules were taken and checked by item analysis to see the mean differences between the modules using ANOVA. Post hoc analysis was determined by using Tukey HSD test.Results:A total of 140 one best (OB) Anatomy MCQ items were calculated for difficulty index, discriminatory index and reliability. Difficulty index was found to be higher in module I when compared with module II and III. Discriminatory index comparatively showed higher results in module II whereas reliability of module III was significantly higher than the other modules. Results were considered to be significant with p value≤ 0.05.Conclusions:The psychometric analysis of Anatomy MCQs showed average difficulty, good discrimination and reliability.

Objective: To determine the incidence of anatomical variants of sinonasal region and its correlation with symptoms of sinusitis. Methods: The study was conducted from January-June 2020 at Radiology Department of PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi. The study involved 50 symptomatic subjects of sinusitis with age ranges from 18-60 years which were prepared for computed tomography of paranasal sinuses. The scans were reviewed for nasal-septum, turbinates, uncinate process, ethmoid air-cells along with other anatomical variants and were correlated with symptoms of sinusitis. Results: Out of 50 subjects, 34 were males and 16 were females with mean age of 42.68±18.22 years. Most common anatomical variants observed were agger nasi cells (64%), deviated nasal septum (56%), and concha-bullosa (46%). Statistically significant correlation existed between bilateral agger nasi cells and nasal obstruction (p=0.017, ρ=-0.336). Conclusion: The anatomy of sinonasal region is highly complex. However, anatomical variants can disturb the sinus mucociliary drainage pathway resulting in patient suffering. Therefore, considering the variable anatomy of sinonasal region, CT-PNS is recommended for every subject in order to avoid surgical hazards. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.1.3260 How to cite this:Qureshi MF, Usmani A. A CT-Scan review of anatomical variants of sinonasal region and its correlation with symptoms of sinusitis (nasal obstruction, facial pain and rhinorrhea). Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(1):195-200. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.1.3260 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is worldwide prevalent ailment, affecting millions, and leading irreversible cause of blindness. The treatment strategies revolve around one modifiable factor, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), despite POAG presenting with normal IOP. Emphasis is put forth in recent past detecting structural elements of glaucoma; lamina cribrosa (LC) is found to be a promising prospect. Morphological alterations of LC are implicated as early sign before onset of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON). In this review, the authors explored scientific works from 1976 till 2018 through Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, HEC Digital Library, Springerlink, and PakMedinet in four months’ time, extracted structural features of LC, its measurable attributes, fresh innovations employed for in-vivo visualization and clinical signs aiding in establishing diagnosis of glaucoma which will assist as a prophylactic measure against GON. No such work has ever been done in South-East Asia including our country. So LC opens a new horizon for research in Pakistan.

Anatomical variations are not diseases and can be found in every individual. Due to the anatomical variations, the structural changes occur in nearby anatomical relations. By keeping in mind, the vast range of anatomical variations in nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses (PNS), every case of sinusitis must be planned carefully to avoid dreadful complications of surgical procedures. Sinus anatomical variations have been associated with the etiology of sinusitis. In this regard computed tomography (CT) imaging has become an important diagnostic tool. CT Scan imaging of nose and para nasal sinuses is mandatory in patients with history of sinusitis in order to evaluate the detailed anatomy which includes normal anatomy, anatomical variations, bony details and the extent of the disease pathology. Certain anatomical variants are supposed to be a causative factor for development of sinus pathology and hence it becomes compulsory for the radiologist to be aware of the anatomical variants of nasal cavity and PNS especially if the subject is considered for surgical intervention.