Distance-learning increasingly forms part of many academic and professional courses. OxPal, a collaboration between University of Oxford medical students and doctors and their counterparts in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), sought to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of interactive online distance-learning through a pre-established international partnership as a method for rapid knowledge sharing during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response. Two interactive online lectures for medical students and clinicians in the oPt on the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted. The first lecture was an 'Introduction to COVID-19' and the second focused on 'Data-sharing during the pandemic'. 212 and 174 attended each lecture, respectively. Feedback was via an online questionnaire. >95% of respondents indicated the lectures covered a gap in their medical education. 87% and 77% of respondents rated lecture quality 'Good' or 'Excellent' for the two lectures respectively. Qualitative feedback elicited requests for more clinically focused lectures, which have since been provided. Online lectures are feasible and effective for rapid education of medical students and clinicians in the oPt in a public health emergency. We hope this encourages other institutions to provide similar support in the oPt and other 'tutor-deplete' regions facing specific geopolitical challenges to local medical education.
  The relationship between caregiving and cognition remains unclear. We investigate this association comparing four cognitive tasks and exploring the role of potential explanatory pathways such as healthy behaviours (healthy caregiver hypothesis) and depression (stress process model).
 
  Respondents were from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) (
   = 8910). Cognitive tasks included immediate and delayed word recall, verbal fluency and serial 7 subtraction. Series of hierarchical linear regressions were performed. Adjustments included socio-demographics, health related variables, health behaviours and depression.
 
  Being a caregiver was positively associated with immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency but not with serial 7. For immediate and delayed recall, these associations were partially attenuated when adjusting for health behaviours, and depression. For verbal fluency, associations were partially attenuated when adjusting for depression but fully attenuated when adjusting for health behaviourpecifically cognitive function but other areas as the promotion of healthy behaviours and psychological adjustment such as preventing depression and promoting physical activity in caregivers.Parasites resembling Neospora caninum or Toxoplasma gondii were detected by cytologic examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a dog with neurologic disease. The dog became severely ill and was euthanized. Canine tissue homogenates were used for direct parasite isolation in cell culture, bioassay in 2 mouse lineages, and PCR. T. gondii was isolated in monkey kidney cells, and species identity was confirmed by PCR. Inoculated parasites were highly virulent for mice, which developed clinical signs and were euthanized immediately. PCR-RFLP for T. gondii using the cultured isolate (TgDgBA22) was conducted with 12 genetic markers, and a unique recombinant strain was identified. Detection of T. gondii by CSF cytology, although described in humans, had not been reported previously in dogs, to our knowledge, and was crucial for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in the examined dog.Plant-derived molecules are excellent alternatives to antibiotics as anti-infective agents owing to their minimal cytotoxicity. Herein, the anti-infective property of the hydroxyflavone baicalin, was investigated against biofilms of the key dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans. Baicalin inhibited sucrose-dependent biofilm formation at a concentration of 500 µg ml-1 without affecting bacterial growth. It significantly inhibited acid production for an extended period of 8 h. Microscopic analysis revealed a 6-fold reduction in the number of adhered cells with baicalin treatment. Transcriptomic analysis of the mid-log phase and biofilm cells showed marked downregulation of the virulence genes required for biofilm formation and acid production. This study sheds significant new light on the potential for baicalin to be developed into an anti-caries agent.Depression, anxiety and stress are the most prevalent mental health problems among health professions' students. The study was aimed to explore the socio-demographic and educational factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress among health professions' students. Using non-random purposeful sampling, 366 health professions' students studied in 2018/19 were surveyed via a self-reported questionnaire that included Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and questions on sociodemographic and educational characteristics. The majority of respondents were from the School of Medicine (59.8%), with 116 males and 250 females. Sleep duration, communication problems with teaching staff, feelings of inferiority to friends and family problems were determined to be independent predictors of depression in the current study. Communication problems with teaching staff, feelings of inferiority to friends and family problems were important predictors of anxiety. Further, we found that feelings of inferiority to friends and family problems were found to be important risk factors for stress. Our results suggest that the overall prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among health professions' students were considerably high. All students having a severe mental health issues should be supported by the student counselling centre and expert clinicians in order to confirm the diagnosis and implement subsequent treatment strategies.This study evaluates Brazilians medical students' Quality of Life and verified associated factors, according to graduation medical cycles basic (two first years), theoretical-practical (third and fourth years) and clinical (fifth and sixth years). Data were obtained from QualiMed study, conducted at Medical School of Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, using WHOQOL-Bref. Analyses were performed using ANOVA and multiple logistic regressions. A total of 1470 medical students participated and were more satisfied than dissatisfied with their quality of life. Psychological Domain obtained the worst assessment (60.64) and Environment Domain the best one (68.14). The perception of quality of life improved over the course, being worse in the basic cycle and better in the clinical cycle, statistically different for all domains (p-value less then 0.05). Most variables were negatively associated with quality of life, indicating that their absence reduces the chances of a better perception.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/rituximab.html  Absence of regular physical activity and having depression symptoms were negatively associated with all WHOQOL-Bref Domains.