To Evaluate the Efficacy of Biomarkers as Monitoring Tool in Patients with Fascial Space Infections of Odontogenic Origin: A Clinical Study.

Introduction: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of biochemical markers (WBC, CRP and fibrinogen) and the course of odontogenic space infections in 50 patients.

Material And Methods: Blood samples were taken preoperatively and postoperatively at day 0, day 4, day 8 and day 12 for measuring the levels of all three biomarkers. The trends of the biomarkers were observed and compared with assessment parameters such as dental etiology, number of teeth involved, number of spaces involved, mouth opening and pain.

Delivering Electives the Clerkship Way: Consolidating the Student Doctor Method of Training.

Student doctor method of clinical training or clinical clerkship provides students with exposure to the entire longitudinal illness of the patient. The students participate in patient care as a part of treating team and can refine their clinical, communication and procedural skills. It provides them with an opportunity to work with the faculty and experience the future workplace.

Stages of Concern of Medical Faculty toward Adoption of Competency-based Medical Education in India: A Multicentric Survey.

Context: Currently, a major curricular reform in the form of competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum is being rolled out across all medical colleges in India. However, it is important to find out and address the concerns of faculty regarding various aspects of this new curriculum.

Aim: To analyze the concerns of the faculty members of medical colleges in India in response to the changes emerging from the adoption and implementation of the new curriculum through the concerns-based adoption model by applying the stages of concern (SoC) questionnaire.

How to Improve the Efficacy of Student Feedback.

Context: Feedback processes are intricate, generally misunderstood, hard to execute efficiently, and often fail in their goals to influence students learning. Research highlights that students usually do not value the benefits of feedback. This paper reviews the literature on the definition, purpose, and models of feedback; and on exploring why some students do not value feedback, what factors are influencing the effectiveness of feedback, and how to improve the efficacy of feedback.

Multimedia Instructional Design Principles: Moving from Theoretical Rationale to Practical Applications.

Since the introduction of cognitive theory of multimedia learning more than a decade back much empirical evidence has substantiated the theoretical rationale of multimedia instructional design principles. Medical educators use multimedia mostly for delivering lectures in the form of power-point presentations. Abundant literature is available giving instructions on the appropriate use of font type and size etc.

Risk Factor Analysis for Breast Cancer in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women of Punjab, India.

Objective: Amritsar, the second largest town of agrarian state of Punjab, India reports high number of breast cancer cases every year. The present study investigated the etiology of breast cancer using various obesity indices and other epidemiological factors among breast cancer patients residing in and around Amritsar city.

Methods: In this case control study, risk factors for breast cancer were analyzed in 542 female subjects: 271 females with breast cancer patients and 271 unrelated healthy females matched for age as control females.

Study of adrenal function in patients with tuberculosis.

Background: Although subclinical adrenal insufficiency has been documented in tuberculosis but it has been neglected in mainstream management of TB due to inconclusive data on its prevalence in TB. The fact that adrenal insufficiency may result not only in poor general condition of the patient but also sudden death due to adrenal crisis, makes it all the more important to address this issue seriously. In this non-randomized interventional study comprising of 100 cases of TB, our aim was to assess the adreno-cortical functions in patients with pulmonary TB (50 cases) and extra-pulmonary TB (50 cases) in an attempt to determine if there is any compromise of adrenal function.

Team-based Learning Strategy in Biochemistry: Perceptions and Attitudes of Faculty and 1-Year Medical Students.

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) strategy has been widely adapted by medical schools all over the world, but the reports regarding the perceptions and the attitudes of faculty and undergraduate medical students towards TBL approach have been conflicting.

Aim: The study aimed to introduce TBL strategy in curriculum of Biochemistry after evaluating its effectiveness through perceptions and attitudes of faculty and 1-year medical students.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and fifty students of first professional M.

Introducing Mentoring to 1-year Medical Students of a Private Medical College in North India: A Pilot Study.

Background: The stress of complex medical course, emotional immaturity, and adaptations to new surroundings are the challenges faced by the new medical entrants. Therefore, mentorship program was introduced to support them for their academic and personal development.

Aim And Objectives: The aim of this study is to introduce and to assess the perception of mentors and mentees on mentorship program.

Evaluation of nested polymerase chain reaction for rapid diagnosis of clinically suspected tuberculous pleurisy.

Background: Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is important in its control. The conventional techniques like smear microscopy and culture suffer from low sensitivity for diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis like Pleural Tuberculosis (PTB) due to paucibacillary nature of the fluid. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is presently seen as a promising alternative to conventional techniques.

Correlation of the serum insulin and the serum uric Acid levels with the glycated haemoglobin levels in the patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heterogeneous disease which is characterized by variable degrees of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the body's use of glucose. The present study was undertaken to find the correlation of the serum uric acid levels in the patients of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

The oxidative stress in cataract patients.

Background: The recent studies on cataract formation focus on the primary role of the systemic oxidative stress which is generated outside the lens. Our research was directed to assess the oxidative stress by measuring the lipid peroxidation products in the form of the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) and the antioxidant enzyme levels in the blood. The antioxidant therapy may have a role to play in delaying the onset and the progression of age related cataracts.