Facilitating Active Collaborative Learning in Medical Education; a Literature Review of Peer Instruction Method

The call for educational reform by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching marked a pivotal juncture in the trajectory of medical education in the United States. The call underscored the imperative for educational restructuring to equip forthcoming physicians with the requisite skills to engage in lifelong learning. Among the several active teaching methods is the Peer Instruction (PI), a brainchild of Eric Mazur, empowering students to steer their own education and wield knowledge adeptly into real-world scenarios. In this review paper, we delve into the core elements of PI which involves the combination of four dynamic pedagogical approaches which are: Just-in-Time Teaching, ConcepTest, Audience Response System, and Think-Pair-Share technique. PIs effectiveness notwithstanding, it is not exempt from limitations such as its flexible implementation, lengthy time, the level of expertise required for instructional design, among others. While Peer Instruction has become increasingly popular among educators across other disciplines, with proven educational benefits with positive outcomes, PIs footprint in gradate and postgraduate medical education remains inchoate, evidenced by a paucity of scholarly references. This underscores a crucial gap - despite its proven potency in fueling engagement and learning, PI still lacks formal recognition and acknowledgement as a distinct instructional method in medical education. Within these boundaries, the promise of heightened education and amplified engagement beckons further exploration of PI as a medical educational model, warranting more consideration and research.

An Introduction and Brief Overview of Psychoanalysis

The field of psychology has been shaped by the views and perspectives of Sigmund Freud and his former students: Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Erik Erikson, and Karen Horney. These psychologists and their respective schools of thought provide distinct views on psychology and influences on personality and psychosocial development. The foundation for psychoanalysis was laid by Freud, his work on the unconscious mind, and his emphasis on early childhood experiences. His students also made substantial contributions that expanded, sharpened, and challenged his theories. This review will begin by highlighting the work of Sigmund Freud; it will then compare his theories with the theories of his students. This review will introduce and bring attention to the most important figures of psychoanalysis and give a brief overview of their theories.

Illuminating Hope for Mental Health: A Drug Review on Lumateperone

This drug review provides a comprehensive analysis of a novel antipsychotic called lumateperone, marketed as Caplyta. Lumateperone gained FDA approval in 2019 for treating schizophrenia and later, in 2021, for treating bipolar depression. The review begins by delving into lumateperone's mechanism of action, which involves the partial agonism of the dopamine D2 receptor as well as its unique effects on the dopamine transporter, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and serotonin transporter. Additionally, the study examines lumateperone's distinctive pharmacokinetics. Moreover, this review assesses lumateperone's metabolic profile and highlights its favorable outcomes regarding mean body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, surpassing those of other second-generation antipsychotic medications. The study explicitly emphasizes the efficacy and safety of lumateperone in treating schizophrenia and bipolar depression associated with bipolar I and II disorders. An extensive investigation of multiple clinical trials provides compelling evidence of lumateperone's advantages over existing antipsychotic medications. The review also acknowledges the limitations of lumateperone compared to other antipsychotics. In conclusion, this drug review underscores the importance of further research to uncover the additional limitations of lumateperone while acknowledging its promising benefits and potential for advancing treatment options.

Cariprazine for Treating Schizophrenia, Mania, Bipolar Depression, and Unipolar Depression: A Review of Its Efficacy

This drug review presents a comprehensive review of Cariprazine, a medication that received FDA approval in 2015 for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The paper begins by exploring Cariprazine's mechanism of action, which involves modulating dopamine and serotonin receptors. Additionally, the review assesses Cariprazine's metabolic profile and notes its low potential for weight gain and metabolic side effects. The study examines Cariprazine's efficacy and safety in treating various psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar maintenance, mania, and bipolar depression. A meticulous analysis of clinical trials is included, demonstrating Cariprazine's potential advantages over existing medications used for these disorders. Additionally, the review covers Cariprazine's recent approval as an adjuvant treatment for unipolar depression. Furthermore, the paper examines the limitations of Cariprazine, such as the absence of head-to-head trials comparing it to other commonly used medications for these disorders. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for more research to establish Cariprazine's position in treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and determine its comparative effectiveness with other available treatments.

Lurasidone for Treating Schizophrenia and Bipolar Depression: A Review of Its Efficacy

Lurasidone is an antipsychotic medication that blocks dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT)_2A receptors and affects other serotoninergic and noradrenergic receptors. It has rapid absorption and linear pharmacokinetics. The rates of metabolic syndrome for patients taking lurasidone are comparable to placebo groups. Lurasidone is a safe and effective treatment for patients with acute schizophrenia and bipolar depression. It has been found to improve the brief psychiatric rating scale and other secondary measures in schizophrenic patients and reduce depressive symptoms in bipolar I depression. The once-daily administration of lurasidone is generally well-tolerated and does not cause clinically significant differences in extrapyramidal symptoms, adverse effects, or weight gain compared to a placebo. However, lurasidone's effectiveness in combination with lithium or valproate has been mixed. Further research is needed to determine optimal dosing, treatment duration, and combination with other mood stabilizers. Long-term safety and effectiveness and its use in different subpopulations should also be evaluated.

Multiple Gastrointestinal Vascular Variations in a Male Cadaver: A Case Report and Literature Review of Embryonic, Genetic, and Clinicosurgical Implications of Pathogenicity

BACKGROUND: To be acquainted with gastrointestinal vasculature variations is of utmost importance for establishing proper surgical management, improving safety, and decreasing the frequency of iatrogenic errors or complications arising in operational and post-operational settings. CASE REPORT: The subject of the present publication involves a unique case of an 80-year-old Caucasian male who presented with various vascular variations during routine cadaveric dissection. Key variations presented in this report include unique findings such as an abnormal trifurcation of the celiac trunk, a bifurcation of the superior mesenteric artery, and its associated branches; an unusual portocaval system communication; and various renal variations. These variations are examined in an anatomical and clinical context. We further discuss the possible embryologic and genetic mechanisms which may lead to such vascular abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Furthermore, with this report, we aim to demonstrate the strong need for adequate knowledge of vascular variations as well as the important role of pre-operative imaging in the identification of vascular variations and the elimination of iatrogenic errors during surgical procedures.