Background:Medical students are expected to master the ability to interpret histopathologic images, a difficult and time-consuming process. A major problem is the issue of transferring information learned from one example of a particular pathology to a new example. Recent advances in cognitive science have identified new approaches to address this problem.Methods:We adapted a new approach for enhancing pattern recognition of basic pathologic processes in skin histopathology images that utilizes perceptual learning techniques, allowing learners to see relevant structure in novel cases along with adaptive learning algorithms that space and sequence different categories (e.g. diagnoses) that appear during a learning session based on each learner's accuracy and response time (RT). We developed a perceptual and adaptive learning module (PALM) that utilized 261 unique images of cell injury, inflammation, neoplasia, or normal histology at low and high magnification. Accuracy and RT were tracked and integrated into a “Score” that reflected students rapid recognition of the pathologies and pre- and post-tests were given to assess the effectiveness.Results:Accuracy, RT and Scores significantly improved from the pre- to post-test with Scores showing much greater improvement than accuracy alone. Delayed post-tests with previously unseen cases, given after 6-7 weeks, showed a decline in accuracy relative to the post-test for 1st-year students, but not significantly so for 2nd-year students. However, the delayed post-test scores maintained a significant and large improvement relative to those of the pre-test for both 1st and 2nd year students suggesting good retention of pattern recognition. Student evaluations were very favorable.Conclusion:A web-based learning module based on the principles of cognitive science showed an evidence for improved recognition of histopathology patterns by medical students.

The Sin3A‐associated proteins SAP30 and SAP30L share 70% sequence identity and are part of the multiprotein Sin3A corepressor complex. They participate in gene repression events by linking members of the complex and stabilizing interactions among the protein members as well as between proteins and DNA. While most organisms have both SAP30 and SAP30L, the zebrafish is exceptional because it only has SAP30L. Here we demonstrate that SAP30L is expressed ubiquitously in embryonic and adult zebrafish tissues. Knockdown of SAP30L using morpholino‐mediated technology resulted in a morphant phenotype manifesting as cardiac insufficiency and defective hemoglobinization of red blood cells. A microarray analysis of gene expression in SAP30L morphant embryos revealed changes in the expression of genes involved in regulation of transcription, TGF‐beta signaling, Wnt‐family transcription factors, and nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. The expression of the heart‐specific nkx2.5 gene was markedly down‐regulated in SAP30L morphants, and the cardiac phenotype could be partially rescued by nkx2.5 mRNA. In addition, changes were detected in the expression of genes known to be important in hemoglobin synthesis and erythropoiesis. Our results demonstrate that SAP30L regulates several transcriptional pathways in zebrafish embryos and is involved in the development of cardiac and hematopoietic systems. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3843–3852, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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