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Background and Aims Medical students are responsible to learn and practice in the internal wards (including rheumatology) according to the designed evidence based standard of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. It is Important to assess how much they have learnt. The aim of this study was to assess the interns' knowledge, attitude and the skills during their 7-day rheumatology ward education period. Methods The current study is a cross sectional one conducted since 2014 to 2016, among interns of the Imam Reza Teaching hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The students were to answer to the questions “What Did You Learn during Your rheumatology Period?” and “What Issue Was More Interesting and Useful?” Their writings were classified according to the national standard guideline of educational program, which contained 24 items; 9 for knowledge, 7 for skills, 4 for attitude and 4 major issues of rheumatology. The data were transferred to the analysis software of SPSS. Results The statistics indicated that the interns' knowledge was scored for clinical findings, history, psychological effects and treatment of patients as 53.84%, 3.84%, 11.54% and 76.92%, respectively. Also their skills in physical examination, diagnosis, diagnostic arrangements, and medical recordings were scored as 100%, 88.46%, 76.92% and 53.84% respectively. For the attitude assessments, 34.61% and 38.46% of the interns had learnt active listening (patient value) and ethical behaving during their 7-day ward period. According to the assumed program for the major issues of rheumatology, arthritis and back pain was learned as well in 11.53% and 26.92% of interns. Conclusion The findings indicated that this strategy can be an effective way for medical students' assessment. They assess themselves while reviewing their learning and writing them down. It can also be useful for the professors. Assessments should be according to the evidence based logbook; to consider how it is being taught. Through the current strategy, the common cases of the rheumatology ward and clinic get distinguished. Thus, if any change is needed to be conducted on the content of the evidence based logbook, it can be done.

Background and Aims Medical students are responsible to learn and practice in the internal wards (including rheumatology) according to the designed evidence based standard of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. It is Important to assess how much they have learnt. The aim of this study was to assess the interns' knowledge, attitude and the skills during their 7-day rheumatology clinics education period. Methods The current study is a cross sectional one conducted since 2014 to 2016, among interns of the Imam Reza Teaching hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The students were to answer to the questions “What Did You Learn during Your rheumatology Period?” and “What Issue Was More Interesting and Useful?” Their writings were classified according to the national standard guideline of educational program, which contained 24 items; 9 for knowledge, 7 for skills, 4 for attitude and 4 major issues of rheumatology. The data were transferred to the analysis software of SPSS. Results The statistics indicated that the interns' knowledge was scored for clinical findings, history, psychological effects and treatment of patients as 70.58%, 0%, 35.29% and 52.94%, respectively. Also their skills in physical examination, diagnosis and diagnostic arrangements were scored as 88.23%, 82.35%, and 58.82% respectively. For the attitude assessments, 47.05% and 58.82% of the interns had learnt active listening (patient value) and ethical behaving during their 7-day ward period. According to the assumed program for the major issues of rheumatology, arthritis and back pain was learned as well in 21.44% and 41.17% of interns. Conclusion The findings indicated that this strategy can be an effective way for medical students' assessment. They assess themselves while reviewing their learning and writing them down. It can also be useful for the professors. Assessments should be according to the evidence based logbook; to consider how it is being taught. Through the current strategy, the common cases of the rheumatology ward and clinic get distinguished. Thus, if any change is needed to be conducted on the content of the evidence based logbook, it can be done.

Background & Aims: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is one of the common autoimmune diseases with unknown etiology. It has been suggested that antioxidant supplements may play a role in inflammation perpetuating process. This study examined the influence of combined antioxidant supplementation on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as inflammatory markers in RA patients. Materials & Methods: A three-month pre-post study was conducted on 40 female RA patients receiving one Selenplus capsule (Selenium 50μg, Zinc 8 mg, vitamin A 400 μg, vitamin C 125 mg and vitamin E 40 mg) daily. 5 ml venous blood samples were taken from all the participants before and after the administration period. The serum levels of ADMA, VEGF and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured by standard methods. Results: 39 out of 40 patients completed the study. In comparison with the baseline, we did not find any significant differences between serum ADMA and VEGF values before and after the intervention. The 3-month use of SelenPlus supplementation resulted in decreasing hs-CRP level (p< 0.003). Conclusion: The combined antioxidant supplements for 3 months decreased serum hs-CRP levels in RA patients that may be helpful in RA treatment. The hs-CRP reduction may due to the anti-inflammatory effects of Zinc and Selenium in SelenPlus supplement. Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License.

Introduction: Journal clubs are known as the teaching methods in most of the medical training centers. In journal club (JC) participants discuss about articles in recent medical papers and finally, written scientific results are accepted or rejected. The aim of this study was to compare the traditional and evidence based medicine (EBM) type of JCs. Methods: The present study was conducted in Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of medical sciences from January to March 2010. Forty participants were enrolled in our study: 16 stagers, 11 interns and 13 internal medicine residents. We held 3 journal clubs with 14 participants in the first session and 13 participants in the other sessions. Journal club was held at the end of each week. The first paper was presented by one of the attending physicians of rheumatology ward. The second paper was presented by another attendant of rheumatology ward who was a member of EBM group of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Then the results were compared. Results: The comparison of the sums of participants’ scores didn’t show any meaningful difference between traditional and EBM journal club in topic, purpose, and methods & material part of papers, but in the results section of the papers, the difference was remarkable. Conclusions: Our study showed that in the EBM journal clubs, participants learnt more about the results part of the papers.but in the results section of the papers., Research and Development in Medical Education; eISSN 2322-2719

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and secondary inflammation of the synovial membrane. Studies have shown that mud therapy may influence serum levels of several cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of OA and chondrocyte metabolism. The main targets of our research were to make use of Lake Urmia mud for topical gel formulation, evaluation of the possible therapeutic effects of this gel on symptoms of patients with knee OA and the evaluation of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level after mud therapy in comparison with the application of a placebo.Fifty (50) patients suffering from knee OA participated in this study and randomized into two groups: case group and control group. Patients in the case group received mud therapy and the placebo was applied to patients in the control group. Three (3) parameters including pain, morning stiffness, and joint functionality were assessed in all patients. Visual analogue scale and Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) were the employed scales for pain assessment. Functional capacity was evaluated by using WOMAC functional capacity and WOMAC global index. All the mentioned steps were done before and after treatment. Blood samples, in both groups, were collected for measuring tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha serum level.All the differences (for three parameters), in the case group, were statistically significant. TNF-alpha serum level reduction in both groups were detected: 19.41% in the case group and 1.76% in the control group.Mud therapy using formulated gel is an effective method in knee OA treatment and pain reduction. Further studies may be needed for the evaluation of possible synergism between pharmacological treatment and mud therapy.