Exploring faculty perspectives on competency-based medical education: A report from India.

Introduction: Medical education in India is experiencing a paradigm shift from traditional curriculum to competency-based medical education (CBME). It de-emphasizes time-based training and promises greater accountability, flexibility, and learner centeredness. Faculty development is integral in the context of CBME.

Role of Zinc in Neonatal Sepsis.

Sepsis emerges as a complex clinical syndrome with activation of an innate host response to infections. Despite advancement in therapeutic approaches, infants with sepsis remain hospitalized for longer durations and it remains to be a major health problem in today's world. Zinc as a trace element, has the potential to improve the host's defence mechanism against various pathogenic diseases.

Effect of zinc supplementation on relative expression of immune response genes in neonates with sepsis: A preliminary study.

Background & Objectives: Zinc alters gene expression mainly by binding to a site on the transcription factor. Genome-wide expression studies have shown early repression of genes related to zinc and immunity in adult patients with sepsis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of zinc supplementation on relative expression of immune response genes in neonatal sepsis.

Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D Levels in Diabetic Foot Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Center in South India.

Background: The impact of diabetic foot infections is enormous in India. Studies on vitamin D levels in diabetes mellitus foot infections are scarce. The primary objective of the present study was to compare the serum vitamin D level between diabetics with foot infections and those without foot infections and the secondary objective was to assess the association between the vitamin D level and the severity of foot infections and outcomes.

Irisin and Visfatin Predicts Severity of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Although the roles of irisin and visfatin have been well established in diabetes mellitus, there are limited studies about their association in diabetic nephropathy. The present study was designed to assess the levels of irisin and visfatin and their association with the severity of diabetic nephropathy. 43 diabetic nephropathy cases and 43 diabetic subjects without nephropathy were enrolled in the study.

WITHDRAWN: Soy isoflavones (from Glycine max) preserves hepatocellular free radical defense system potential and ameliorates inflammatory response in high fat fed ovariectomised Wistar rats: The molecular mechanisms.

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CA 125 is a better marker to differentiate endometrial cancer and abnormal uterine bleeding.

Background: Incidence of endometrial cancer in India is increasing due to lifestyle changes and obesity. As 5 year survival rate of cancer confined to uterus is good, there is need for serum tumor marker for early diagnosis. This study was designed to identify a tumor marker which differentiate endometrial carcinoma and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) because common presentation of endometrial carcinoma is AUB.

Exploring circulatory shock and mortality in viper envenomation: a prospective observational study from India.

Background: Viper envenomation contributes to nearly 50% of snake-bite deaths in India, chiefly due to circulatory shock. The mechanisms leading to circulatory shock include bleeding, capillary leak syndrome (CLS) and myocardial depression. Pituitary-adrenal axis involvement in circulatory shock, though described, has not been fully elucidated.

Clomiphene citrate increases nitric oxide, interleukin-10 and reduces matrix metalloproteinase-9 in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Nitric oxide and inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Even though these parameters are altered in PCOS, the effect of clomiphene citrate on them has not been studied till date. The present study was done to assess the effect of clomiphene citrate on matrix metalloproteinase-9, nitric oxide and interleukin-10 levels in women with PCOS.

Effect of 12 Weeks of Yoga Therapy on Quality of Life and Indian Diabetes Risk Score in Normotensive Indian Young Adult Prediabetics and Diabetics: Randomized Control Trial.

Introduction: India has become the epicentre for diabetes, a stress-related disorder affecting the working skills and day-to-day lifestyle management of younger population. Most of the studies have reported the effect of yoga on improving Quality of Life (QoL) in diabetic patients with other comorbidities. Till date, no randomized control trial reports are available to show the effect of yoga therapy on QoL and Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) in normotensive prediabetic and diabetic young individuals.

Short Term Oral Zinc Supplementation among Babies with Neonatal Sepsis for Reducing Mortality and Improving Outcome - A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of short term zinc supplementation on the mortality rate and neurodevelopment outcome in neonates with sepsis at 12 mo corrected age.

Methods: The clinical trial was undertaken in the neonatal intensive care unit of JIPMER during the time period from September 2013 through December 2016. Neonates with clinical manifestations of sepsis who exhibited two positive screening tests (microESR, C- reactive protein, band cell count) were included and randomized into no zinc and zinc group.

The Serological and Biochemical Markers of Adrenal Cortex and Endocrine Pancreas Dysfunction in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Hospital-based Pilot Study.

Background: The prevalence of both islet cell and adrenal autoimmunity among Asian Indian hypothyroidism patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is lacking in literature.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the proportion of Addison's disease (AD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in patients with HT.

Materials And Methods: The patients with hypothyroidism due to HT were included in this study over 2 years.

An exploratory study of immune markers in acute and transient psychosis.

The aim of this study was to look into the balance of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-β) cytokines and their association with stress, alterations in HPA axis activity and the disease severity in acute psychosis. Socio-demographic and clinical details were collected from 41 in-patients with a diagnosis of Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder. Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale for stress in the preceding year, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale at baseline and follow up (4-12 weeks) for psychopathology were applied.

Insulin Plant () Extract Restores Thyroid Hormone Levels in Experimental Hypothyroidism.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of leaf extract in experimental hypothyroidism.

Materials And Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups with ten rats in each group: Control (C), hypothyroid (H), control+extract (C+E), and hypothyroid+extract (H+E). Rats in C group did not receive any intervention throughout the experimental period.

Decreased baroreflex sensitivity is linked to sympathovagal imbalance, low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) has been reported as a cardiovascular (CV) risk. We assessed the sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) and the association of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) with CV risks in PIH. A total of 125 pregnant women having a risk factor for PIH were followed till term and the incidence of PIH was observed.

Soy isoflavones (Glycine max) ameliorate hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis in high fat-fed ovariectomized Wistar rats (an experimental model of postmenopausal obesity).

Obesity emerged as the major risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Postmenopausal women are more prone to develop obesity than premenopausal women. The absence of safe and effective conventional treatments for postmenopausal obesity has changed the focus to natural products as alternative remedy.

Efficacy of zinc supplementation on serum calprotectin, inflammatory cytokines and outcome in neonatal sepsis - a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To find out the efficacy of zinc supplementation in decreasing the levels of serum calprotectin and inflammatory cytokines with improvement in outcome in neonatal sepsis.

Methods: Neonates with clinical signs suggestive of sepsis and at least two screening tests positive were randomized into two groups - zinc group and control group. The zinc group received 3 mg/kg of zinc sulfate monohydrate twice a day orally for 10 days along with antibiotics.

Association of Serum Vitamin D Levels with Bacterial Load in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients.

Background: Vitamin D is known to have diverse effects on various systems in the body. There is evidence to suggest that a link exists between the serum vitamin D status and tuberculosis. The present study was designed to assess the alterations in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in newly diagnosed sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and to study the association, if any, between serum vitamin D levels and different levels of sputum smear positivity.

Predicting Severity of Acute Kidney Injury in Term Neonates with Perinatal Asphyxia Using Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a biomarker for predicting Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and its severity among neonates with perinatal asphyxia.

Methods: This descriptive study included 120 term neonates with perinatal asphyxia. Renal parameters of neonates were monitored and AKI was ascertained as per Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria.

Curcumin inhibits hyperlipidemia and hepatic fat accumulation in high-fructose-fed male Wistar rats.

Context: Curcumin, an active principal of Curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae), has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of curcumin on hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in high-fructose-fed Wistar rats.

Hydroxycitric acid ameliorates high-fructose-induced redox imbalance and activation of stress sensitive kinases in male Wistar rats.

Background: Excess fructose consumption causes dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and various complications. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), one of the principal components of the fruit Garcinia cambogia, has been shown to possess antiobesity properties. The objective was to investigate the effects of HCA on redox imbalance and activation of stress sensitive kinases in high fructose-fed rats.

Preventive effect of curcumin on inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in high-fat fed obese rats.

Background: The present study investigated the beneficial effects of curcumin on inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in high-fat fed male Wistar rats.

Methods: Five-month-old male Wistar rats (n=20) were divided into two groups (10 rats in each group). Among the two groups, one group received 30 % high-fat diet (HFD) and another group received 30 % HFD with curcumin (200 mg/kg body weight).

Curcumin Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Activation of Redox-Sensitive Kinases in High Fructose- and High-Fat-Fed Male Wistar Rats.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of curcumin on oxidative stress and redox-sensitive kinases in high fructose- and high-fat-fed rats. Sixty rats were randomly divided into six groups with ten animals each. Rats were fed with a standard rodent diet, high fructose diet (60%), and high-fat diet (30%).

Curcumin prevents inflammatory response, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in high fructose fed male Wistar rats: Potential role of serine kinases.

Emerging evidence suggests that high fructose consumption may be a potentially important factor responsible for the rising incidence of insulin resistance and diabetes worldwide. The present study investigated the preventive effect of curcumin on inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in high fructose fed male Wistar rats at the molecular level. Fructose feeding for 10 weeks caused oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance.

Antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of Garcinia cambogia on high fat diet-fed rats.

Background: The study investigated the antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of Garcinia cambogia on high fat diet-fed rats.

Methods: The phytochemical constituents, total polyphenol content and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were estimated in the G. cambogia extract (GE).