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Biomedical subjects

M Pradham

Publications and source records attributed to M Pradham.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Conceptual change and computer-assisted instruction.

We conducted a study to determine whether a computer-assisted instruction program in neuroanatomy helped first-year medical students to form biomedical concepts, and to correct their misconceptions. Using questionnaires and interviews, we elicited concepts and misconceptions held by the students, in the domain of cranial nerve anatomy. The computer program exposed the students to the information they required to answer the scenario-based questions. Our study found that the students' number and types of misconceptions did not decrease after use of the computer-assisted instruction program. Our findings suggest that designers of computer-assisted instruction programs should determine the common misconceptions that student hold, and should target the programs to correct these misconceptions.

California↗

A simple functional protein S assay using PROTAC.

Protein S is the co-factor of the enzymic action of protein C on FV and FVIII. A functional assay for protein S is not readily available for clinical use; however, we have developed a functional protein S assay based on the prolongation of Russell viper venom (RVV) plasma clotting time by protein C activated by PROTAC. Based on this assay, median functional protein S (5-95th percentile) of 46 healthy individuals was 82% (60-120%). Median functional protein S of 15 cord blood samples was 58% (35-71%). Unexpectedly, we found relatively high levels of functional protein S in a group of patients on long-term warfarin therapy whose INR ranged from 1.1 to 3.9. The median functional protein S of these patients was 71% (40-101%). We demonstrated that the protein S was not decarboxylated, as was the case with protein C, in these warfarin plasmas.

Fetal Blood↗