Project description:Health tsars: spin or substance?: Eight health directors (“tsars”) were appointed from 1999 to 2002. Katherine Burke asked them to summarise their achievements and other people to assess their work. A ninth “tsar”, Dr Sue Roberts, was appointed in March 2003 to cover diabetes. The full text is accessible at www.bmj.com
Project description:The role of gamification and active learning has been common topics of conversation in higher education for many years. These learning tools have been correlated with a multitude of positive effects, including increased student engagement, collaboration, and motivation to learn. This article explores the role of gamification and active learning in a virtual setting using a gamified Harry Potter-themed final examination review session for first-year osteopathic medical students. We also discuss how gamification can be used to improve the connectivity and wellness of students as they attend classes almost entirely online during the COVID-19 global pandemic.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-022-01501-4.
Project description:The model of the unopposed rodent molar was used to study the morphologic and genetic mechanisms of tooth eruption.Left maxillary molar teeth of 12-day-old Swiss-Webster mice were extracted under anesthesia, and mandibular molars were allowed to supererupt. To trace areas of tissue remodeling and to determine areas of new tissue formation, mice were injected with fluorescent dyes, tetracycline, alizarin red, and calcein blue. Subsequent to sacrifice, mandibular tissue blocks were prepared for ultrathin ground sections, fluorescent microscopy, and von Kossa's mineral detection procedure. A second set of specimens was prepared for RNA extraction and microarray analysis.The data established significant eruption of first and second mandibular mouse molars 12 days after complete extraction of antagonists, exceeding the control side by 0.13 mm. Labeled tissue sections revealed significant amounts of new bone and cementum apposition on the unopposed side compared to the control side, as revealed by fluorescent markers and ultrathin ground sections. Microarray transcript level comparisons between the experimental and the control groups demonstrated significant (more than twofold) increase in gene expression of elastin and tenascin C extracellular matrix proteins; brevican, lumican, and biglycan proteoglycans; as well as fibroblast growth factor 9.In this study, the authors have established the unopposed mouse molar as a model to study tissue dynamics during the axial movement of teeth. The data indicated significant new formation of bone and cementum in tandem with increased expression of extracellular matrix-related genes.