SCOREview March 2011

IFMSA

International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations

Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011 Official bulletin of the IFMSA Standing Committee on Research Exchange

SCOREview Research exchange experiences from around the world!

iew

SCOREv

www.ifmsa.org medical students worldwide

IFMSA

International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations

IFMSA was founded in May 1951 and us run by medical students, for medical students, on a non-profit basis. IFMSA is officially recognised as a nongovernmental organisation within the United Nations’ system and has official relations with the World Health Organisation. It is the international forum for medical students, and one of the largest student organisations in the world.

Imprint Editors in Chief Jovana Nedeljkovic (Direcotr of Research Exchange, Serbia) Federica Balzarini (LORMA, Italy) Editors Milica Nedejlkovic (Serbia) Tanvir Kahlon (Grenada) Angelika Biernacka (Poland) Special thanks to:

The mission of IFMSA

Prof. Felix A. Ruiz (Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Biomedicine Master Program - University of Cadiz, Spain) IFMSA-Egypt Exchange Team FGMSA(Ghana) Exchange Team Javier Foncubierta Villamañán (Spain)

is to offer future physicians a comprehensive introduction to global health issues. Through our programs and opportunities, we develop culturally sensitive students of medicine, intent on influencing the transnational inequalities that shape the health of our planet.

Design/Layout Tamara Lebedev (Serbia) Proofreading Tanvir Kahlon (Grenada) Publisher International Federation of Medical Students' Associations General Secretariat: IFMSA c/o WMA B.P. 63 01212 Ferney-Voltaire, Franace Phone: +33 450 404 759 Fax: +33 450 405 937 Email: gs@ifmsa.org Homepage: www.ifmsa.org Contacts publications@ifmsa.org Printed in ...

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SCORE

medical students worldwide

Word from the Director and the Liaison Officer

We promote our efforts in the Academic Quality, creating a kit which will be useful during our “special month” attending a Research Exchange…

Dear Medical Students worldwide, We are very honored to present to you the 4th Edition of SCOREview, the publication of the Standing Committee on Research Exchange of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations.

The Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE) was founded in 1991, during the 40th Anniversary of IFMSA. The primary mission of SCORE is to provide intensive and focused research projects, which allow medical students to expand their knowledge of specific scientific areas of their choice, while encouraging the formation of professional and social networks abroad.

As a Director, it's a pleasure to coordinate NOREs all over the world, be their guide for one year and lead the Standing Committee during our meetings.

As a Liaison Officer it's an honor to show our achievements to the externals; IFMSA approached and was approached by several other organizations for collaboration in the field of Professional and Research Exchanges, and the Liaison Officer on Research and Medical Associations has as main function to create, sustain and strengthen the link with the organizations relevant for to the exchange programs. The Liaison Officer also works with groups and organizations focusing on specific topics, whose members are not necessarily doctors, but provide interesting opportunities, and the Director takes care of using this information to give our members the best opportunities.

3 Word from the Director and the Liaison Officer 4 InterVIEW Letter to medical students from Felix A. Ruiz Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Biomedicine Master Program Faculty of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Spain 5 What is SCORE 6 International experience 6 3D visualization of dermal nerves and vessels in Austria Tiago Antunes Duarte PorMSIC (Portugal) 8 Experimental study on hypovolemia in Brasil Ewa Smereczyńska IFMSA-Poland (Poland) 10 Kon'nichiwa to you too!

Saniya Sharafislamova TaMSA-Tatarstan (Tatarstan-Russia) 12 Genetics in Lebanon Wojciech Maruszczyk IFMSA-Poland (Poland)

We help organizing Pre Exchange Training, to raise scientific knowledge, technical skills, motivation and awareness of students thanks to lectures and trainings on the philosophy of science, Research Ethics, Hypothesis Formation Skills, Research Planning, Basic Biostatistics, and Intercultural Learning…

We meet during our General Assemblies, Sub Regional Trainings, Regional Meetings, but most of all…

We meet around the world during our Exchanges!

And what's the best way of sharing our experiences?

SCOREview is our key to promote our program worldwide, to evaluate our exchanges and reinforce the scientific recognition.

This is how we show how proud we are of our SCORE…so why don't you join us?

Help us ExploRE the world!

Fede and Joe Jovana Nedeljkovic IFMSA Director on Research Exchange 2010/2011 Federica Balzarini IFMSA Liaison Officer to Research and Medical Associations 2010/2011

14 GHANA, the shining star in SCOPE.... and the next best thing in SCORE!!!

16 My experience in Mexico Antonia Schulz BVMD (Germany) 18 Try something new... For example paleopathology in BelgradeKleopatra Paparizou HelMSIC (Greece) 20 “Thailand is beautiful...”

Nicolas Wang Vuong Legentil IFMSA-Quebec (Canada-Quebec) 22 Study on heavy metals and lanthanides in Tunisia Fenen Salhi IFMSA-Spain (Spain) 24 Step by step... STEP 2010 Luciana Lepore SISM (Italy) 26 YES Meeting 2011

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InterVIEW

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Letter to medical students “How could I unveil which molecular mechanisms are behind a disease?” If you have felt a similar curiosity more than once, I recommend that you do some reserach in a biomedicine research lab. This is the best way to find out how advanced basic medical research has become.

Our labs, located at the Faculty of Medicine of University of Cádiz and the University Hospital of Cádiz, have received many medical exchange students from different countries. For each one of them, there have been many positive experiences. They have learned various sophisticated methodologies in cellular and molecular biology and practiced great qualities necessary to perform research, such as patience and perseverance. They have

Felix A. Ruiz Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Biomedicine Master Program Faculty of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Spain www.cadrelab.org/felix

also had the opportunity of exploring and living the oldest town in the Iberian Peninsula and possibly in all of Southwestern Europe.

Andalusia, at the south of Spain, offers a complete experience for medical exchange students. Besides the opportunity to

Moreover, visitor interchange students have been a rewarding

interact with relevant and active groups in biomedical research,

experience for our lab. For our advanced PhD students and

our region is the origin of our most famous and vast display

young postdoctoral researchers, it is an exceptional chance to

Spanish culture and gastronomy (including “flamenco”

obtain teaching experience and practice their knowledge of

dancing or “tapas”). And particularly Cádiz, our city, situated at

foreign languages. I spend some of the time explaining the research

the Southwestern Andalousian coast is a place to enjoy

projects to our visitor students, but the real help at the bench

astonishing beaches, wide history, wonderful climate and warm

for the guest students are our graduate students and postdocs

people with a special "joie de vivre".

that teach all the methodologies needed in the research project.

Poliphosphate in a protein

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SCORE

medical students worldwide

What is SCORE? The IFMSA Research Exchange Program is one of the activities initiated and administered entirely by medical students who are members of the Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE).

In 2009, SCORE had over 60 active participating NMOs, offering over 1900 research projects, and has provided over 1700 students opportunities to participate in research exchange.

This program is purely educational for students who are not intended to receive salaries or payment.

The official language of the research exchange program is English. In general, lodging, board, and social program are arranged by the hosting local committee of the National Member Organization (NMO). The academic recognition of the research exchange program varies among the medical schools. Some universities recognize exchange projects as a part of their curricula and award their exchange students with academic credits. The participating student should find out before departure if his/her chosen project meets the criteria given by his/her home university.

Definition of the research exchange project Research exchange projects designed by the program host a foreign medical student for a defined period of time.

A participating student is incorporated into a research team of their choice and participates in research under the direct supervision of a tutor. The student will be guided through the basic principles of research, such as literature studies, collecting information, scientific writing, laboratory work, statistics and ethical aspects related to their discipline. At the end of the project, the student might be expected to write a short essay about his/her results and achievements.

The research exchange projects are specifically defined by their tutor, approved by the SCORE Supervisory Board, formed by a group of experienced committee members who will revise it and decide if the quality and the description is enough to make it a SCORE Research Project.

This allows us to keep a standard academic quality.

Objectives of SCORE

Once the project is approved, it will be uploaded to the database (http://www.ifmsa.net/public/searchredb.php)

SCORE provides medical students from around the world the unique opportunity to participate in exceptionally rewarding and affordable clinical or pre-clinical research in a foreign country.

Most projects on SCORE last 4 weeks, but some last more.

Please ask your local officer for more information.

Application

Research projects organized through SCORE are designed to deepen medical student knowledge in the various fields of medical and clinical research.

The possibility of partaking in research abroad is intended to broaden medical students' body of knowledge, and introduce them to different approaches to clinical investigation, medical education, health care, and ethical research standards.

The maintenance of affordable exchange tuition insures that students from across the world can participate without incurring a financial burden.

You can only apply for a research exchange if the NMO in your country has an active standing committee on research Exchange and has a SCORE contract with a country of your interest. Please contact your Local officer on research exchange and ask him/her about these details. There are many ways to select the outgoing students. It is up to the National Member Organization to decide how they want to carry out the selection. Please ask your local officer on research exchange about the selection procedure and application deadlines in your faculty/country.

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

3D visualization of dermal nerves and vessels in Austria Host country: Austria University of Vienna Project: 3D visualization of dermal nerves and blood vessels. project supervisor: Prof. Dr. WJ Weninger, Mag. SH Geyer, Mag. B Maurer

Tiago Antunes The project Duarte New University of Lisbon, The project I worked on was "The 3-dimensional Portugal visualization of dermal nerves and blood vessels."

We used software called Amira to carry out the visualization of 500 slices of cut dermal tissue samples. All the slices were extrapolated to a system of axes where we could see either the whole 3D piece or a slice by slice rendition. We, then, identified vessels, nerves and glands, while color coding them with red, yellow or purple, respectively. Thus by identifying the structures in each slice, we could make a 3D model by superposition, and produce data for the 3D study of the structures in a simple and relatively interactive way.

I was lucky enough to have another student working with me, which made it easier for me and for him to work with the software and help each other on the project. Since I was in the Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, I also had the opportunity to do some dissections of leg, foot and brain, as well as work with chicken embryos. I enjoy anatomy and this project was great because it was an interconnection between Cell Biology and Anatomy, with the great advantage of using technology for the study.

The language barrier didn't exist between me and the tutors. Despite that they spoke German and I spoke Portuguese, we could understand each other easily by speaking in English.

City and Country During the project, students from my hostel became very close and we were always together. We were 4 Portuguese, 1 Spaniard, 1 Catalan, 1 Greek, 1 Italian and 1 Tunisian.

During the afternoons and the weekends we used to go sightseeing. We used the weekends and the attached Monday or Friday to travel to other cities apart from Vienna. The first weekend we went to Salzburg and Insbruck; the second weekend we went to Bratislava and Budapest; and the third weekend we went to Praha.

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It was an intense month full of museums, palaces, castles, houses, coffee shops and markets.

In Salzburg we spent 2 days. We saw Mozart's house and the castle with a nice and astonishing view from the top that I strongly recommend. We also saw the churches where Bach and Mozart used to play.

In Innsbruck we went to the top of the mountain and we had the opportunity to see snow in the middle of summer. It was delightful.

About Vienna: it is the city of color! We have been in Freud's house which is the place he had lived in, and that makes it magic.

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Preparations, Travel, and Arrival

Stay

I had an easy preparation with just the essentials in the bag and loads of desire to have a great month of research and meet new people. My contact person always answered fast and was very nice. There was no one at the airport because there were a lot of students in Vienna in the same month and they couldn't pick up everyone. But, by using just one train I was in the hostel easily.

The hostel was nice and I had the luck of being in a double room while the roommate was away for the whole month, so I had loads of space. The installations were good and always cleaned. I really enjoyed the hostel and it was quick and easy to reach the city center.

Within 10 minutes, I could be in the Lab. On our arrival, we were given 70â‚Ź to spend on our lunch at the hospital. Dinner was on our own. We tried to cook in the hostel's kitchen since we were 9 and it was much cheaper. Nevertheless, we also ate out in restaurants, but it was really expensive and we could eat 10 times cheaper at home.

We had an intense social program for afternoons, evenings and nights. We went to concerts, discos, barbecues, bowling, museums, palaces, hiking, etc.

Unfortunately, it wasn't well organized and everything was in a hurry.

I am still in contact with my friends from the research since we were always together and did loads of stuff.

Vienna is very beautiful in the evenings, with the streets full of people with ice-cream and live music.

There was Prater, an amusement park, where we experienced some extreme sensations on rollercoasters.

We had an International foods and drinks party where everyone brought something from his/her country and shared with others. We also had the possibility of being on our own and had an excellent panoramic dinner on Danube tower.

Austria Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Area

total: 83,870 sq km land: 82,444 sq km water: 1,426 sq km slightly smaller than Maine

Area- comparative Land boundaries

total: 2,562 km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km

Climate

temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

Population

8,205,533 (July 2008 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)

Languages

German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)

Capital

name: Vienna geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.72 (2011)

Exchange rates

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Experimental study on hypovolemia in Brasil Host Country: Brasil, Universidade Estadual do Para, Belem Project: 'Study the effect of hypovolemic shock on small intestinal anastomose in adult rats' Project Supervisors: Dr. Marcus Vinicius Henriques Brito, Dr. Rodrigo Bona Maneschy

Ewa Smereczyńska, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland 3rd year of study Spoken languages: Polish, English, German, Italian

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The project

City and Country

The project I took part in was called 'Study the effect of hypovolemic shock on small intestinalanastomose in adult rats'. It was carried out using surgical methods. We used rats divided into experimental groups such as standard group, control group and various hypovolemic groups.

After performing autopsies, we were sending parts of small intestine for the histopathological examination to measure the level of lesions in each of the experimental groups. I had a chance not only to practice surgical techniques, but also to deepen my knowledge about them.

I am grateful for the basic theoretical-practical course of experimental surgery, performed and sponsored for me and my friend by the Laboratory of Experimental Surgery.

It presented many aspects of surgery such as surgical instruments, anaesthesia, surgical techinques etc.

Furthermore, I really appreciate the time spent with my coworkers. They were very friendly, always well prepared and ready to help me at any time.

It is needless to say that Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I was reallyamazed with Amazonian nature, which is breathtaking. Moreover, spending so much time there enabled me to discover the marvellous Brazilian culture including daily life, celebrations, music, national habits etc. I visited Belem (the city where the project took place), Marajo Island, Salinas by the Atlantic Ocean and Rio de Janeiro. It has left an unforgetable impression in my mind, so that is why I believe I will have a chance to come back there in the future.

Preparations, travel and arrival Concerning my preparations, before going to Brazil I had to take some vaccines against tropical infectious diseases, however I didn't need a visa. Despite the fact my journey was long (almost 40 hours), it was very nice because I was travelling with my friend, who participated in the project with me. We were picked up from the airport by our contact person – Abel, a fantastic guy, smiling all the time.

He made us feel great since our first day in Brazil.

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International experience

Stay To begin with, me and my friend were living at a student's house with his family. It was the best thing that could happen to us. They were very open, smiling and kind.

They treated us like special guests, so we could feel like home. We are truly grateful for their hospitality and time they had for us. Thanks to them, our Brazilian clerkship was an unforgettable experience.When thinking about Brazil before I went there, Rio de Janeiro and Amazonian river were the first things coming to my mind, but now undeniably the most positive thing associated with Brasil for me are the local people. They did their best, so that we could see interesting places, taste the most delicious meals, listen to the Brazilian music, experience the athmosphere, feel the real nature and last but not least spend there only happy hours. I am sure we will stay friends and keep in touch with each other.

The exchange was a great experience for my future career, as well as an unforgettable adventure in my life, and I can strongly recommend participating in Research Exchange, especially in Brasil, to other medical students.

Brasil Location

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Area

total: 8,511,965 sq km land: 8,456,510 sq km water: 55,455 sq km slightly smaller than the US

Area- comparative Land boundaries

total: 16,885 km border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423km, Colombia 1,644km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

Climate

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Population

196,342,592

Religions

Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)

Languages

Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages

Capital

name: Brasilia geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February Brasilian Real (BRL) per US dollar – 1,66 (2011)

Exchange rates

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Kon'nichiwa to you too!

Host country: Japan Chiba University Project: Investigation on the role of RGS5 (regulators of G protein signaling 5) in the cardiovascular system as an oxygen sensor Project supervisor: Sadao Kimura, Kayoko Moroi, Ph.D., Mariko Nishiyama, M.D. Ph.D.

Saniya Sharafislamova The project Kazan Medical University, Russian Federation, Hypoxia is a common pathophysiological phenomenon that Tatarstan has a profound impact on cell properties in cardiovascular disease and tumorogenesis. The purpose of my study was to investigate the role of RGS5 (regulators of G protein signaling 5) in the cardiovascular system as an oxygen sensor. How animal cells sense oxygen is a very important and relevant question. Many efforts have been made over the years to study how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems adjust to low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in tissues and how changes in oxygen levels affect cellular signaling.

However, at present only a small number of molecular sensors in tissues are known. Recently, it has been established that RGS5 protein, a negative regulator of the G protein signaling system through G protein-coupled receptors, is one of oxygen sensors. We used human RSa cells, which are highly sensitive to UV-radiation, in order to study the mechanisms of cell signaling during cell apoptosis.

My tutors took me to different exhibitions of medical and technological equipment. This project had a great impact on my scientific studies and on my future career. It was a good opportunity to get more practical and theoretical skills in the field of genetics.

City and country My exchange was in Japan, Chiba, as many Japanese people call it – Tokyo Bay. Chiba is an amazing and beautiful city, as is the whole Japan. Very clean, with lots of trees and flowers, where you can enjoy the ocean bay, lots of skyscrapers and go to the center of Tokyo just by metro.

On my last weekend I had an exciting trip to Kyoto- an ancient capital of Japan. I can say for sure that Kyoto is a heart of Japan, the only place where you can find old Kabuki theater – Minami-za theater (where all actors are males, and female roles are played by male actors in female costumes), Geisha and many old temples and shrinks (16 of them are World's heritage). During my exchange program in Japan, I was the only foreign student at Chiba University.

So, I made lots of friends among Japanese medical students and my host family. My host family took me to see the museum – Chiba Prefectural Boso-no-Mura – a unique museum that makes visitors learn history through experiencing traditional lifestyle.

Each morning started with a short meeting to discuss the results of the previous day and further plans. After that I obtained information about the purpose and possible methods of experiments that we used in the laboratory.

The main part of the day together with my scientific supervisors: we allocated DNA, grew cell cultures (RSa), investigated the role of UV-irradiation for cancer cells (HELA) and RSa cells, which were first discovered in this laboratory.

There was no language barrier in my laboratory work.

Occasionally I had difficulties with Japanese students, due to their English language practice deficiency. But we did our best to understand each other.

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Preparations, travel and arrival I can say for sure, that Japanese visa is the most difficult visa in the world to get! I had all documents for the Embassy, but the General Consul asked me twice to have extra documents sent from Japan. With the help of my contact person I got the visa just 2 hours before my departure to Tokyo. That was the only stressful moment of the whole trip! My flight was direct from Moscow to Tokyo, where I was picked up at the airport by my contact person. They did best to make me feel comfortable.

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Stay During the exchange month I was hosted by two incredibly hospitable and kind Japanese married couples. Their houses are located in the countryside; usually it took me about 30 minutes to get to the university. I had my own room with the bathroom. The whole month I was surrounded by comfort and care.

Every day I had breakfast and dinner cooked in Japanese style: meals were always cooked from fresh ingredients and consisted of Japanese salad, rise, fish (tempura or sushi, maki-sushi) or meat (yakitory-chicken) dishes and fruits for desert with Japanese green tea. A very important Japanese tradition – to say words of thankfulness before and after every meal. When I was at the university I ate in the canteen.

I had two contact persons during my exchange. Both of them are medical students in Chiba University. They were very kind towards me and did their best. We corresponded via email before my arrival in Japan. After my arrival they organized a welcome party in my laboratory. My laboratory faculty members and my contact persons gave me a tour of the main streets and historical places in Tokyo. They also arranged a national party, teaching me how to wear a kimono and listen to Koto music. My host family took me to mountain Fuji. On my last week I had farewell parties organized in the laboratory and in my host family's house.

I'm still in touch with my host family and my Japanese friends, waiting for their visit to Russia or for my next visit to Japan.

My first night in Kyoto I decided to find Maiko (the way Geisha's are called nowadays in Japan). So we went to Kamishichi-ken area – the oldest Kyoto's entertainment district. But all festivals with Maiko had already finished and the only chance to see them was to find nearby Japanese restaurants where they look after wealthy guests. But when Maiko saw us, they all ran away, as if we were monsters.

Luckily in the third place that we stopped at we found two of them, who permitted us to make photos.

Japan Location

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan

Area

total: 377,835 sq km land: 374,744 sq km water: 3,091 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Area- comparative

slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries

0 km

Climate

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Population

127,288,416 (July 2008 est.)

Religions

observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Languages

Japanese

Capital

name: Tokyo geographic coordinates: 36º00´ N, 138º00´ E time difference: UTC +9

Exchange rates

yens (JPY) per US dollar – 81,46 (2011)

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Genetics in Lebanon Host country: Lebanon American University of Beirut Project: Genetics of Congenital Heart Disease in Lebanon Project supervisor: Dr. Georges Nemer

Wojciech Maruszczyk The project Medical University of Katowice, Poland The aim of the study was to determine the molecular basis for congenital heart diseases by analysing of sequence of particular patients genes. Due to this we had to extract DNA from blood, amplify specific genes by PCR reaction, run amplified DNA on agarose gel (electrophoresis), extract DNA from gel, purify the amplified DNA, then we had to carry out another PCR reaction, by which we prepared the DNA for sequencing, and finally we performed the sequencing.

It was a very big project so there was not enough time to see the results (many genes, huge amount of patients). I was participating in all lab activities and I was doing a lot on my own (under supervision).

There was around 6 hours of lab work per day. All lab coworkers were very friendly, they were explaining everything (what and for what reason they are doing something). Due to this project I have learned a lot of molecular biology techniques and I suppose that it will benefit my future.

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medical students worldwide

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International experience

City and country Beirut is a very nice place and has a very rich night life (there are a lot of pubs, clubs and restaurants) although it is quite expensive to live there. During my exchange period there were people from almost all Europe. We were organizing short trips around the Lebanon on our own. We have seen a lot of beautiful places (mountains, valleys, towns and seashore as well). When you're in Lebanon you have to visit Jeita Grotto, Qadisha Valley, Byblos, Cedars in Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve - Barouk, Beit Eddin palace complex.

Preparations, travel and arrival I bought a multiple entrance Lebanese visa in Lebanon Embassy in my country. But you can also receive 1 month visa at the airport for free. I was picked up from the airport and transported to lodging place by my contact person.

Contact person was very helpful.

Stay I was lodged in double room in a student hostel near the lab. There was 1 bathroom for each segment (2 rooms, 3 people). There was no air condition in all building.

I received a meal coupons on the beginning of my exchange period. The food was served in the hospital cafeteria, very near the hostel as well as working place. From time to time we went to eat something outside.We had (as a group) a lot of contact persons and some of them were very helpful and always there for us. There was a very nice social program organized by the Local Committee. We had 3 all day long trips around the Lebanon - at north, south and east from Beirut. During my exchange period I made a lot of new friends and I am still in touch with them.

Lebanon Location Area

Area- comparative

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Syria total: 10,400 sq km land: 170 sq km water: 10,230 sq km about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries

total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Climate

Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Population

3,971,941 (July 2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%

Languages

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Capital

name: Beirut geographic coordinates: 33째 52'N 35째 30'E time difference: UTC+2

Exchange rates

1 US Dollar = 1,516.34 Lebanese Pound

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NMO Presentation

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

GHANA, the shining star in SCOPE.... and the next best thing in SCORE!!!

Akwaaba!

Welcome to West Africa! Welcome to Ghana!

Ghana also known as the Gold Coast, a land filled with a rich culture and a fascinating history. A former British colony, Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence in 1957 and has been a front-runner in democracy and peace. A true Black Star of Africa! And as the biggest NMO in Africa when it comes to Professional Exchange She is now looking to become a shining star in Africa in Research Exchange.

Ghana (FGMSA) consists of three but highly active LMOs: School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology located in Kumasi the capital of the legendary Ashanti Empire in the heart of Ghana; University of Ghana Medical School along the beautiful coastal capital city, Accra and School of Medical Sciences, UDS in Tamale, northern Ghana renowned for its intimacy with nature and safari.

FGMSA has had over 100 bilateral professional exchanges year after year. To be modest, we are the biggest NMO in Africa when it comes to Professional Exchange and now looking to do the same and even more in Research Exchange.

PROJECTS The Standing Committee for Research Exchange has been set up and the projects up for possible consideration are: 1.Malaria ( RTS'S Vaccine Trial, Genetics of host resistance and susceptibility to severe malaria and Improvement in treatment of severe malaria) 2.Tuberculosis (Genetics of host resistance and susceptibility to tuberculosis), 3.Entomology (Insect vectors and parasite transmission in malaria, onchocerciasis and elephantiasis), 4.Aflatoxin (Aflatoxin ingestion and health impact in a high ingesion area of Ghana), 5.Filariasis (Anti-symbiotic chemotherapy for elimination of Wolbachia in elephantiasis and onchocerciasis), 6.Buruli Ulcer (Multi disciplinary research for improvement of control in Africa).

Other areas of research up for consideration are: Schistosomiasis, Filariasis, Diarrhoeal Diseases,HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Food Security, Micronutrients, Parasite Immunopathology, Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, EPI Diseases, Sickle Cell Disease, Plant Medicine, Antioxidants, Environmental Pollution, Infant and Maternal Mortality and Molecular Biology

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NMO Presentation

SOCIAL PROGRAM After hours of research, we will not leave you bored. Ghana has a very active night live with bars and clubs which run till breakfast! You can enjoy Karaoke, Reggae night at the Beach or you can relax by the numerous street pubs which play local hip-life and dancehall.

Firstly as a bonding process you'll experience the International Food and Drinks night where your tongue will be tantalized by tastes from around the World. Then off on our numerous weekend trips to see the beautiful beaches of Cape Coast where the water is crystal clear and the beaches perfect for either just lazing around or playing any game you can think of.

In cape-coast you get to visit the Cape Coast castle, a major landmark in the slave trade recently visited by President Barrack Obama, then take a tour on the 7 part Canopy Walk that hangs high above the African rain forest (no swinging on trees am afraid! ).

The Wli Waterfall in the Volta Region will leave you speechless, especially when you swim under it to discover the hidden cave.

Other beautiful waterfalls are the Begero, Fuller, Kintampo and Tsenku waterfalls.

Mole National Park, where you can wake up to find an elephant at your door, has a great walking safari on which you'll see a wide array of wildlife. During week days, dance and drumming lessons are organised and you get to be involved in making your own drum?

BOARDING AND LODGING Board and lodging is provided in the students hostels, where exchange students get to meet and work with host students. Our local cuisine is quite sophisticated with liberal and adventurous use of exotic ingredients and a wide variety of tastes and spices.

In summary, you'll have the time of a lifetime!!

In Ghana, you never walk alone.

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

My experience in Mexico Host country: Mexico Universidad Aut贸noma de Coahuila, Torre贸n Project: Identification of mutations on genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 on women with diagnosed breast cancer Project supervisor: MD Perla Karina Espino Silva, Q.F.B. Sandra Karina Santuario Facio, MD Lea Alonso Range

Antonia Schulz The project University of Berlin, Germany The goal of the project was to identify special genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 in different samples of breast cancer tumors. Therefore we used PCR to increase the amount of DNA in the samples. After digestion and staining of the DNA we ran a gel to assort the small DNA parts by its size for exact identification of the genes.

I worked most of the time with BRCA2. The result was that in most of the samples we could proof the existence of the gene BRCA2 which seems to cause the cancer in those women.

The project was interesting and my coworkers were very nice and they explained everything very well to me.

However it was a small lab and there was not so much work at all. That is why I decided with the Local Officer to not just work in the lab, but also to visit the hospital and the university. That was a great idea and I enjoyed it.

It was a great experience and everyone I met was so helpful and friendly that I am going to miss this back in Germany. .

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City and country I stayed in the north of Mexico which is in general a little bit dangerous so I could not do much on my own. But this was not a problem at all because I met a lot of people who took very good care of me and showed me the city and the country. The best place to go in the north was definitely the desert with the dunes, but I also enjoyed going on a horseback in the countryside.

Preparations, travel and arrival Travelling to Mexico was very easy because I didn't need a visa. I just took my flight from Germany to Mexico and then I travelled with the bus to my final destination. The Local Officer was so kind to pick me up at the bus station.

For working in a Mexican hospital you have to bring not just your own white coat but also white shoes, trousers and shirts. And if you like to go in the OR you also need your own surgical clothes. I didn't knew that before because normally in Germany the hospitals provide the clothes.

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medical students worldwide

International experience

Stay Lodging in Mexico was just great because I lived in a host family which was a great experience. I got to improve my Spanish very fast and learned a lot about life and working in Mexico and of course about the tasteful Mexican food.

The family was friendly and showed me a lot of the country and during my exchange period it really felt like home there.

I plan to go back there in a couple of years to see my new family again.

In general I ate with my host family at home or we went out to pick up some food or go to a restaurant. But I also got a lot of dinner invitations from other families and friends.

I did a lot of different things with my host sister like go to parties or see the country but I also started to go out with my own friends and coworkers. My highlight of the social program was a weekend- trip to the pacific coast in Puerto Vallarta with the members of the IFMSA Mexico for a national meeting. I made a lot of funny encounters which I can not explain in just 50 words.

Mexico Location

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Area

total: 1,972,550 sq km land: 1,923,040 sq km water: 49,510 sq km

Area- comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries Climate

total: 4,353 km border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km varies from tropical to desert

Population

109,955,400 (July 2008 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)

Languages

Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)

Capital

name: Mexico City geographic coordinates:19°03'N 99°22'W time difference: UTC -6

Exchange rates

Mexican pesos (MXN) per USA dollar – 12,00

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Try something new...

For example paleopathology in Belgrade Host country: Serbia University of Belgrade Project: Variations in the bone external morphology, density and internal architecture related to sex, age & mechanical stress in recent & archaeological pop Project supervisor: M. Djuric, MD, PhD

Kleopatra Paparizou The project University of Thessaloniki, Greece We observed and studied on skeletons from archaeological excavations, macroscopically and microscopically, trying to find any pathological signs due to diseases and illnesses.

It is a very interesting scientific field!!!

I really wanted to participate in this specific research program and I learned many things about paleopathology!

I had to be at the laboratory every morning and I usually stayed there for about 4 hours. I participated in everyday laboratory work where I had an adequate communication and cooperation with the tutor's assistants who helped me very much. I also participated in collecting data. I read papers and many articles relevant to this field.

My knowledge of the project topic was poor, but I managed to learn many things about it.

This project, of course, benefits my future career!

In fact, in my country, there is almost nothing to learn about paleopathology and in Belgrade I finally found out what I can do after my graduation.

City and country Serbia. I loved the country and its capital, Belgrade!!!

There are so many sights that a person can visit. For example, there was the Kalemegdan fortress and a beautiful area around it, which is entirely pedestrian zone with park and stores. It is situated in the center of the city and I liked it very much. There are also many locations with spectacular view to the rivers!!! I visited some museums also, which was very interesting. The nicest experience was when we went to a Serbian trumpet festival where we listened to some great traditional music!

I had a great company and it was really exciting to meet all those people that came from different countries (Mexico, Canada, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Finland, Slovenia etc).

We also had some interesting trips around the country: it is very easy and cheap to travel inside the country, so I did!

I travelled by train and by bus: the last is the best for travelling because the train is a bit slow! For visiting I suggest Zemun, Novi Sad and Guca where the Serbian trumpet festival is held every year.

Preparations, travel and arrival I am from Greece so I did not need a visa. My contact person was very kind and helped me very much, especially during my first days in the city. He came to the railway station to pick me up. I was prepared for everything I could need, so i didn't face any kind of these problems!

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International experience

Stay The lodging facilities were very good in general.

My roommate was cooperative and I had a nice stay.

The student dormitory was 20 minutes away from the city center but there buses were frequent enough to transport us there. My general impression was that the student dormitory is well organized!

The truth is that I got meal coupons from my contact person but we could not eat in the nearest canteen because it was closed for the summer holidays. Open canteen was a bit far, so I didn't use them and I ate outside every day.

My contact person is a sociable, very funny person who helped me a lot. Most of the time I went out with other students who participated in the program and we had great time together. I cannot name the best places because I do not want to do it. In my opinion, the magic in Belgrade is to explore and than you should choose by yourself what you like most!

Serbia Location

Southern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Area

total: 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km slightly smaller than South Carolin

Area- comparative Land boundaries

total: 2,026 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km, Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km

Climate

relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns

Population

10,159,046

Religions

Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)

Languages

Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census)

Capital

name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44°49′14″N 20°27′44″E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar – 75,45 (2011)

Exchange rates

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

“Thailand is beautiful...”

Host country: Thailand Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Project: Characterization of Susceptibility / Disease Modifying Genes and Role of Epigenetic in Immune Mediated Diseases Project supervisor: Assist Prof. Dr. Nattiya Hirankarn, MD, PhD

Nicolas Wang The project Vuong Legentil Université de Montréal, Canada-Quebec The project was done in the Biochemistry department.

The goal of the project was to determine if adenine nucleotides were somehow responsible for the binding affinity of RNA Aptamers to specific targets (Nickel Beads).

We used PCR amplification, RT-PCR, Spectrometry and other lab manipulations. The conclusions were positive.

The schedule was perfect and flexible. I had plenty of time to perform the project and to attend classes, lectures and seminars as well as to visit the country. My colleagues at the lab and tutors were very kind to me and helped me during the entire project. I worked in pair with another student (Master Degree) to perform the experiment in the presence of a supervisor. I must say that my tutor/supervisor was REALLY good. Professor Chatchawan is an excellent professor and supervisor. I was able to get a lot of knowledge although I had no previous experience concerning lab work.

I learned a lot about techniques that I will use in my future career.

City and country Thailand is beautiful. Everyone were kind to me since the first day I arrived and I was surprised to see how everyone was inviting me to visit them or have meal together. I met mostly Thai people but also few exchange students from other universities. My tutors and colleagues brought me to visit other provinces and I had time to travel by myself as well.

Preparations, travel and arrival I needed a VISA in order to stay in Thailand which was easy to obtain in Montreal (it takes 1-2 weeks). I needed also to get some general travelling vaccination. My contact person was amazing and available to answer any of my questions in a short time period. Just before I arrived, there were riots in Bangkok and my contact person was there to reassure me and to give me all the information that I needed.

He picked me up at the airport.

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International experience

Stay The lodging facilities were simply perfect. I had a big room for myself with a magnificent view from my balcony. It was located in a walking distance from the lab and all the other points of interest. The room had an air condition, an easy access to clean toilets and showers on the same floor and also an easy access to Internet. Since I arrived, everyone took care of me. My contact person was in touch with me pretty much everyday of my stay. All the other people I met also made me visit the country. During my entire stay, I ate only once alone! There was always something planned for me: visit, lunch, dinner, special night, karaoke, road trip, restaurants, touristic points of interest, parties, etc. I never got bored since everyone took care of me every minute of my stay. I received pocket money at the end of my trip (3000 THB = approximately 100 USD). I always ate outside like all the other Thai people. Eating was quite cheap and I could get a meal for 1-2 dollars.

Thailand Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Area

total: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km

Area- comparative

lightly more than twice the size of Wyoming total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Land boundaries

Climate

tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Population

65,493,296

Religions

Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages

Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

Capital

name: Bangkok geographic coordinates: 13ยบ 44' N, 100ยบ 30' E time difference: UTC+7

Exchange rates

bahts (THB) per US dollar - 30.88 (2011)

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International experience

SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Study on heavy metals and lanthanides in Tunisia Host country: Tunisia Universite Tunis Manar Project: Microanalysis and intoxication by heavy metals and lanthanides Project supervisor: Tekaya Leila

Fenen Salhi The project Universidad de Mรกlaga, Spain The project was focused on the study of the effects of oral and parenteral administration of salts of heavy metals and lanthanides on the rat. And then we had to study the comportment of these elements, which can be extrapolated on human species. However they gave me the opportunity to see other laboratories at the Pasteur Institute, so that I could learn different techniques and laboratory methods.

In my case there was no language barrier due to the fact that I have a high level knowledge of French and Arabic, the official languages of Tunisia. People who worked in my department at the Pasteur Institute were very kind to me.This research exchange was very important due to the fact that it was about the molecular behaviour, the basis in which medicine stands.

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City and country Tunisia is a very nice place to visit. I met students of medicine from all over the world: England, Egypt, Serbia, Lebanon, Brazil, Hungry, Poland, Spain, France, Russia, Italy...

Every weekend the Standing Committee of Tunisia organized wonderful trips throughout the country. We went to the desert, visited Hammamet, Sousse, Tabarka...

We also did a lot of sightseeing during the week.

Preparations, travel and arrival I didn't need any visa. I have to say that the members of ASSOCIAMED Tunisia were very kind and attentive.

A member of the organization picked me up at the airport and brought me to the hostel.

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International experience

Stay My flat- mates were very nice. The quality of lodging was good. I have a good general impression of the hostel, and it was near the faculty.We had breakfast and lunch from Monday to Friday, dinner and on weekends we ate outside.

The social program was EXCELLENT. During the weekends Standing Committee organized trips and parties for all the medical students who are doing a clerkship (70 people approximately) and some members of ASSOCIAMED Tunis (20 people). We enjoyed our trips a lot, they were just wonderful. And during the week after working in the lab I went out with 15 students of medicine in clerkship and other people from ASSOCIAMED. We spent some very good moments together. I'm still in contact with Tunisian students of medicine of IFMSA and students of medicine in clerkship, we talk every day and we're organizing a trip for next summer.

Tunisia Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Area

total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km slightly larger than Georgia

Area- comparative Land boundaries

total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Climate

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Population

10,383,577 (July 2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Languages

Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)

Capital

name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinar (TND) per US dollar – 1,42 (2011)

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SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Step by step...

Sudan Tropical Exchange Project S T E P 2010

Luciana Lepore Last November I attended the Second Step: word by 6th year medical student word, I would like to explain to you what it meant Università degli Studi di for me.

Bari “Aldo Moro” Bari, Italy Sudan It is the largest country in Africa that has the Nile crossing it. It is hot in summer as well as in winter.

Last January, people from Southern Sudan voted for a separation from the North of Sudan. I had the chance to visit this country before this significant change in their history. I stayed in Khartoum, the capital: a big city, crowded with people, cars, tuc-tuc as well as donkeys. Most of Sudan’s population is Islamic: just in a few days I was very familiar with the voice Going to the Medical Mission of the muezzin calling out to people to pray five times per day. Since it is an Islamic country, as a woman, I Tropical had to pay attention to my way of dressing by wearing shirts with sleeves and long skirts or trousers. I was not obliged to cover my head as the African people have a The weather was the very first tropical thing I great attitude and are very open-minded: they let you experienced: hot in every moment of the day, and feel at home and so it was not so difficult to follow never wet. There was no rain or clouds even in these simple rules. It began to feel as if I had always November, and I didn't miss them! But, Tropical worn long trousers in 40 degree Celsius weather!

Medicine was the real tropical aspect of my exchange.

Everything became spontaneous and normal!

During those 4 weeks I had a chance to study the most There was obviously no alcohol! important and common tropical diseases in Sudan and I had to use my camera carefully because it was much more than that. In fact, considering the large forbidden to take pictures of some places, like the number of migrations of people all over the world, it's military ones, so I was forced to delete some of them not so rare to have cases of tuberculosis, malaria, but there were many landscapes that were far more leishmaniosis in our Western countries too. interesting than those places that were forbidden.

Since the subject of Migration Medicine is not considered thoroughly in my medical curriculum, it was a great opportunity to widen my medical knowledge thanks to STEP. STEP’s approach to the subject was a good one.

There were lectures given by professors and students (a marvelous example of peer education). There were tutorials to discuss and analyze some clinical cases.

There was lab work, and last but not least, there were clinical rounds to do clinical examination and to understand how to make a good diagnosis considering that in tropical diseases you often face similar symptoms like hepato-splenomegaly, fever, jaundiced, abdominal tenderness, and so on.

I also saw a Mycetoma: this fungal and bacterial infection is really common in Sudan but it was my first time seeing it and I hope the last one too!

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Health Education by Jan Viktorin

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medical students worldwide

Project

Exchange

The aim of the project, for me, was the days we spent in the rural areas and everything we learned there.

It was not the first exchange I had but surely it was the best ever.

We were involved in this medical mission with other Sudanese students. We were divided into smaller groups and directed to different villages. In each village we were again divided into clinic, lab, pharmacy and medical education group.

Sudanese committee did a great job with the social program as well. They were very kind by inviting us to their families’ homes, and to their typical and fascinating wedding parties. They were really patient waiting for us during our shopping trip to the souks.

They were always helpful when we had some language problems or misunderstandings with local people.

They were really fun and spirited on the way back from our excursion to the pyramids; they were also really fun while dancing, singing and trying to play the guitar.

They provided us with all the information we needed before the exchange started, like the invitation letter for the Visa and instructions on how to pay the fee since in Khartoum, there's no possibility of money withdrawal.

They provided us with Sudanese SIM cards as well as picked us up at the airport. I was in a group of 16 people, many of them were from Holland, and a few from Czech Republic, Croatia, Canada, Germany and Italy.

We lived all together in a house with a kitchen, many rooms, toilets and a little homely garden were all for us.

All the girls were downstairs and the two guys were upstairs. Our everyday life was really easy in the STEP house as the Sudanese committee provided for food, water and everything we needed. We were never alone and even at night they stayed with us just to make sure that the day after we were ready at 8 o'clock, when the bus arrived. We had a private bus for all of our time there, the only thing which was never late in Sudan!

Tropical Hospital in Khartoum by Annemarie Louise

The Right to Health was the purpose, so every kind of examination, investigation and drug received by the patients was completely free. The efforts of all the medical participants, despite their tiredness, went towards making difficult diagnosis with the use of anamnesis, clinical signs, and simple laboratory investigations only.

Everything that was done in the clinical setting was always explained to us, ans since the mail language in the villages is Arabic, all the patients' anamnesis were translated for us. In Khartoum, communication was easier because English was very common in the universities and hospitals.

Our experience ended with the final exam and the graduation party! Even if my body was a little bit distressed because of antimalarial prophylaxis and antibiotics, due to troubles with Nile water; my mind, on the contrary, came out stronger and more aware after this experience.

The Sudanese idea of time is different, everything is slower. Sometimes we were waiting for a long while because something was not ready but, at the end, I realized that this was part of the exchange too; now, I miss those “pauses and waits” in my everyday life. I don't know how, but by the end of the day, we had done everything which had been planned for us and our day ended at 11 p.m. when Khartoum turned off its lights and everything closed!

Graduation Party

I just want to thank all the Sudanese committee as well as all the other STEPpers. I, also, hope that you will attend the third STEP… STEP 2010

Inshallah!

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SCOREview Volume 4 - Number 1 - March 2011

Yes meeting 2011 Dear friends, The 6th Young European Scientist Meeting - YES Meeting 2011 is an international conference build up by a group of students and friends in Porto, Portugal and its major purpose is to provide you and biomedical students all over the world a global platform of scientific and cultural exchange. The four main goals we have aimed since our first edition are now established features in our meeting.

Firstly, we will bring to Porto world-class scientists that will present top discoveries in Bone Marrow, NOTES (Surgery), Aging, Integrins, Cardiac Arrhythmias, Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and Neuroscience. You will have the opportunity to discuss with these experts in an informal manner, learning deeply and experiencing science in a unique way.

Secondly, biomedical projects developed by students will have the main stage. Starting in March you will be able to submit your abstract and present your research work, either in oral or poster presentation, which will be judged by a renowned Scientific Committee, awarding the best ones.

This year's themes are: Neuroscience, Oncology & Molecular Biology, Physiology & Immunology, Internal Medicine and Surgery.

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Thirdly, workshops will be a plenty this year. Come and train your diagnostic and practical skills in workshops, such as "Is Dr. House a Surgeon?", "Basic Life Support", "Laporoscopy" or "Invasive Hemodynamic Evaluation". Lastly, our exclusive Social Programme will be an excellent way for you to get the most of our beautiful city of Porto, by making city tours, sight-seeing, rabelo boat trips, cultural dinners, attending traditional musical groups' performances and other great experiences.

The 2010 edition was a great success. We received 360 students from 44 different countries and leading experts in fields ranging from neuroscience to robotic medicine or even evolutionary biology, including Nobel Prize winner Prof. Aaron Ciechanover. This year YES Meeting will also be official partner of IFMSA and is expecting a special guest‌ You! Come and visit us on the 16th, 17th and 18th of September 2011 in Porto, Portugal.

Please visit our website at www.yesmeeting.org.

You can't miss this unforgettable scientific experience!

See you next September, The 6th YES Meeting OC

Do you want to be published in the next issue?

Take a chance!

Just fill out your evaluation form and send it!

RESEARCH BULLETIN SUBMISSION FORM Original Title Introduction 1. Name 2. Country of origin 3. Spoken languages 4. Your university and city 5. Year of medical school

Research Project 1. Host country 2. Host university/hospital and city 3. Name of project 4. Project supervisor 5. Short description of project - objective (optional, 50 words): purpose, methods, results, conclusion 6. Comments - subjective (100 words) Ideas: schedule, language barrier, responsibilities, did you do any clinical work, coworkers, how this project benefits your studies or future career

City and country 1. Comments (200 words) Ideas: from which countries were the people you met, sightseeing, trips inside the country

Preparations, travel and arrival 1. Comments (50 words) Ideas: Did you need a visa, how was your contact person (general impression), did someone pick you up at the airport, extra things you should have brought from home

Stay 1. Lodging (50 words) Ideas: roommates or flat-mates, location, quality of stay, general impression 2. Boarding (50 words): Ideas: did you get any money or meal coupons, did you cook or eat outside 3. Social program (100 words) Ideas: How did you find your contact person, who did you go out with, best places to go out, are you still in contact with the people you met

Pictures Please attach maximum 3 pictures in jpeg format - University/hospital - Lodging - Social/sightseeing

IFMSA International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations

Algeria (Le Souk) Argentina (IFMSA-Argentina) Armenia ((AMSP) Australia (AMSA) Austria (AMSA) Azerbaijan (AzerMDS) Bahrain (IFMSA-BH) Bangladesh (BMSS) Bolivia (IFMSA Bolivia) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BoHeMSA) Bosnia and Herzegovina – Rep. of Srpska (SaMSIC) Brazil (DENEM) Brazil (IFMSA Brazil) Bulgaria (AMSB) Burkina Faso (AEM) Burundi (ABEM) Canada (CFMS) Canada-Quebec (IFMSA-Quebec) Catalonia – Spain (AECS) Chile (IFMSA-Chile) China (IFMSA-China) Colombia (ACOME) Colombia (ASCEMCOL) Costa Rica (ACEM) Croatia (CroMSIC) Czech Republic (IFMSA CZ) Denmark (IMCC) Ecuador (IFMSA-Ecuador) Egypt (IFMSA-Egypt) El Salvador (IFMSA El Salvador) Estonia (EstMSA) Ethiopia (EMSA) Finland (FiMSIC) France (ANEMF) Georgia (GYMU) Germany (BVMD) Ghana (FGMSA) Greece (HelMSIC) Grenada (IFMSA-Grenada) Hong Kong (AMSAHK) Hungary (HuMSIRC) Iceland (IMSIC) Indonesia (CIMSA-ISMKI) Iran (IFMSA-Iran) Israel (FIMS) Italy (SISM) Jamaica (JAMSA) Japan (IFMSA-Japan) Jordan (IFMSA-Jo) Kenya (MSAKE) Korea (KMSA)

Kurdistan - Iraq (IFMSA-Kurdistan/Iraq) Kuwait (KuMSA) Kyrgzstan (MPSA Kyrgyzstan) Latvia (LaMSA Latvia) Lebanon (LeMSIC) Libya (LMSA) Lithuania (LiMSA) Luxembourg (ALEM) Malta (MMSA) Mexico (IFMSA-Mexico) Mongolia (MMLA) Montenegro (MoMSIC Montenegro) Mozambique (IFMSA-Mozambique) Nepal (NMSS) New Zealand (NZMSA) Nigeria (NiMSA) Norway (NMSA) Oman (SQU-MSG) Pakistan (IFMSA-Pakistan) Palestine (IFMSA-Palestine) Panama (IFMSA-Panama) Peru (APEMH) Peru (IFMSA Peru) Philippines (AMSA-Philippines) Poland (IFMSA-Poland) Portugal (PorMSIC) Romania (FASMR) Russian Federation (HCCM) Rwanda (MEDSAR) Saudi Arabia (IFMSA-Saudi Arabia) Serbia (IFMSA-Serbia) Sierra Leone (MSA) Slovakia (SloMSA) Slovenia (SloMSIC) South Africa (SAMSA) Spain (IFMSA-Spain) Sudan (MedSIN-Sudan) Sweden (IFMSA-Sweden) Switzerland (SwiMSA) Taiwan (IFMSA-Taiwan) Tatarstan-Russia (TaMSA-Tatarstan) Thailand (IFMSA Thailand) The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MMSA-Macedonia) The Netherlands (IFMSA-The Netherlands) Tunisia (ASSOCIA-MED) Turkey (TurkMSIC) Uganda (FUMSA) United Arab Emirates (EMSS) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Medsin-UK) United States of America (AMSA-USA) Venezuela (FEVESOCEM)

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