Introduction: Recall and understanding of basic science knowledge is considered background for studying the clinical sciences but does not directly affect clinical knowledge. Our aim was to evaluate the basic medical sciences recall and explore the association between the knowledge of basic and clinical sciences concepts. Methods: The current descriptive study was conducted during the academic year 2009-10. It included 183 medical students (48.6% male, 51.4% female) from among 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th year students of Taibah University College of Medicine in AL-Madinah AL-Munawarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Response rate was 73%. We administered an anonymous knowledge test with 15 basic and clinical pairs of questions. Results: There was a statistical significant overall effect of the study year when the second basic year students score compared with the clinical year's scores for basic questions (6.4 ±1.9 and 5.68 ±1.7, F = 12.51, p<0.001) and for clinical questions (4.0 ± 2.5 and 4.5 ± 1.8, F = 14.73, p<0.001) respectively. Conclusions: We would recommend modification of basic knowledge education to correlate with clinical training such that the student would be able to assimilate concepts of disease at an integrative level.

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Teaching of Anatomy and the use of dissection in undergraduate teaching is witnessing a major change in medical colleges of India. Undergraduate medical students in India go through an extensive Anatomy teaching by dissection. There has been much debate about use of dissection or prossected part Anatomy teaching and both sides of argument are significant. Many issues have been debated about variety of responses of undergraduate medical students to human cadaver, problems faced by students who are taught by dissection or by prossected part teaching and relative costs and educational merits of using cadaver with alternative methods. The present study is an attempt to express our views in this ongoing debate based on the views of undergraduate students gathered by their participation in this questionnaire based study. It was noted that both MBBS and BDS students found dissection as a tool that helps them in better understanding of Anatomy and provides to visualize different organs of human body and their relationship.

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Aim: To estimate the burden of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Libya. Methods: This is a retrospective and descriptive study of pulmonary TB cases gathered from the TB National Center in Tripoli. Results: Pulmonary TB cases represented (50.9%) of total TB cases. The majority of pulmonary TB cases (86.8%) were from five out of twenty one TB Subcenters distributed all over the country, namely (Tripoli, Benghazi, Sebha, Misurata, and Zawia Sub-centers). Estimated incidence & prevalence of total (Libyans and non-Libyans) pulmonary TB cases per 100,000 of total population were (0.08) & (0.09) respectively. Estimated incidence & prevalence of pulmonary TB among Libyans were (0.06 Libyan pulmonary TB cases/ 100,000 of Libyan population), and (0.08 Libyan Pulmonary TB cases/ 100,000 of Libyan population) respectively. Libyans represented (66.6%) of the total number of pulmonary TB cases. Among Libyans the most frequent age group affected was between 25-34 years old (35%) followed by 15-24 years old (21%) and most gender affected was males 70.3% versus females 29.7% (P<0.0001). Immigrant males represented (92%) of non-Libyan cases. The most frequent nationalities among immigrant cases were Sudanese (38%), Chadian (17.6%) and Nigerian (15.3%). Among immigrants; most age group affected was between 25-34 years old (45%) followed by 35-44 years old (32%). Total treatment success rate of pulmonary TB cases was (61.1%), with Libyans exhibiting a higher treatment success rate than their immigrant counterparts (68.1% and 48.6% respectively, P<0.009).

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Differentiating intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease may pose as a diagnostic challenge in general and particularly in parts of the world with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. The presentation, course and outcome of a 13 year old female patient, exemplifying this clinical challenge, are presented and the learning points reviewed. We present the case of a 13 year old female from the United Arab Emirates where TB happens to be prevalent. Her case serves as a prime example of the clinical challenge in differentiating Crohn's disease from intestinal TB.

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In dextro-transposition of great arteries (d-TGA), especially in an adult who has undergone both Mustard operation and superior vena cava (SVC) baffle stenting, permanent pacemaker lead placement can prove to be challenging. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be utilized for procedural planning and locating optimal anatomical sites for lead placement. In this report, we demonstrate dualchamber permanent pacemaker (PPM) lead placement through a stented SVC baffle to the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). This was done after an MRI demonstrated stent patency and anatomical locations within the LA for potential pacing. Knowledge of SVC patency and less-thanoptimal anatomy of adults with congenital heart defects are imperative in PPM.

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