Improving process aspect of oral examination as assessment tool in undergraduate biochemistry by introducing structured oral examination: an observational study in India based on a survey among stakeholders.

Purpose: The traditional method of oral examination, though a good tool for assessing the depth and breadth of student's knowledge, has its shortcomings. A variable number of questions with variable difficulty levels by different examiners with different expectations can introduce bias in scores. The process aspect of oral examinations of first-year undergraduate medical students was improved by structuring them and by creating uniformity in the number, time, and difficulty level of questions for assessment, and feedback was taken regarding its acceptance as an improved tool of assessment.

Exposure to a high selenium environment in Punjab, India: Biomarkers and health conditions.

Seleniferous areas have been identified and described in many parts of the world. Despite the interest in selenium as a trace element of considerable toxicologic and nutritional relevance, however, only a few studies have been carried out on human health effects of such high selenium environments. We collected blood, hair and nail samples from 680 adult volunteers (267 men and 413 women) living in seven villages located in the seleniferous area of Punjab, India.

Exposure to a high selenium environment in Punjab, India: Effects on blood chemistry.

Many studies have shown that overexposure to environmental selenium may exert a wide pattern of adverse effects on human health, but much uncertainty still surrounds some of them as well as the exact amounts of exposure involved. In particular, very few studies have addressed the possible changes in blood chemistry following high selenium exposure. In a Northeastern part of Punjab, India, very high soil selenium content has been documented, with a value exceeding 2 mg/kg (up to 5) as compared with the <0.

Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) - A Marker of Glycaemic Control and Vascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) has emerged as a marker for ischemic injury and oxidative damage, particularly in myocardial infarction. There are very few studies on the significance of IMA in other conditions associated with ischemia. The complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) arising out of poor glycaemic control have an underlying ischemic aetiology.

δ-ALA levels in serum and urine-A diagnostic tool for possible lead poisoning.

We present 2 cases of lead poisoning, the first of a child playing with painted toys and the second of an adult on local medicine. The former presented with acute abdomen and the latter with peripheral muscle weakness. We propose that raised serum δ-amino leavulinic acid (δ-ALA) levels strongly point towards the possibility of lead poisoning.