Search

Background: Delivery of quality healthcare to meet societal needs begins with robust medical education training of health professionals. Implementation of Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) was one such step by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in sculpting an Indian Medical Graduate (IMG). India implemented the CBME from its 2019-2020 batch of medical undergraduates. Aim and objectives: This study was to understand and analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) involved in implementing CBME in the middle of the academic year in the Anatomy specialty. Material and Methods: A convenience sample of 95 anatomy faculty members was invited to participate in the study by email from the harvested list of emails from institutional websites. A Google form of a self-structured pre-validated questionnaire was used as the study tool. The perceptions regarding the CBME curriculum and its implementation were obtained. The SWOC of CBME implementation in the anatomy specialty were deduced by mixed method analysis. Results: By voluntary response sampling method, 42 faculty members responded. Initiating the faculty development programs and revising the curriculum were perceived as strengths. A weakness was a need for more understanding of the tools and materials, such as guidebooks and competencies framework. The responders thought that the CBME had provided opportunities for their professional development. Still, the deficiency of the workforce, the poor documentation, and the lack of inter-departmental coordination were voiced as the main challenges that needed to be addressed to implement CBME effectively. Conclusion: The faculty considered implementing the CBME as an avenue for learning and growth. An ethos of collaboration, resource augmentation, and support is required to ensure productive CBME implementation. There is a need for improved quality of training material. Inclusive capacity building and training of all faculty is essential to achieving the intended objectives of CBME implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ethmoid Skull Base (ESB) is an articulation of ethmoid roof with Lateral Lamella of Cribriform plate (LLCP). An increased LLCP height was observed to increase the vulnerability of ESB to surgical injuries. Aim and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to analyze the configuration of the lateral lamella of cribriform plate, the ethmoid roof with respect to Keros type of olfactory fossa. Material and Methods: Aretrospective Computed Tomographic (CT) study was done with 60 Coronal Paranasal Sinuses (PNS) scans and LLCP height was determined by subtracting Medial Ethmoid Roof Point (MERP) from CP heights and classified according to Keros. The difference between Medial Ethmoid Roof Point (MERP) and Lateral Ethmoid Roof Point (LERP) heights in both anterior and posterior planes indicates the direction of ethmoid roof slope. Results: The average height of the LLCP was between 1.53 to 8.55 mm with a mean (SD) of 3.77 mm ± 1.66 and majority belonged to Keros type I. Overall mean difference between LERP and MERP was 5.43 ± 0.74 mm in anterior and 4.43 ± 0.63 mm in posterior planes. In both the planes irrespective of the sides the height of the LERPwas higher in relation to medial side. Conclusion: Keros type I was the most common type and the slope of anterior ethmoid roof is steeper compared to posterior. This preoperative knowledge about the configuration of LLCPas well as the ethmoid roof contour is vital during endonasal ethmoidal surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Myocardial bridges (MB) are congenital anomalies of hearts observed as muscle fibers covering epicardial branches of the coronary artery. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) was found to be commonly showing myocardial bridges (MBs). Clinically, MBs were claimed to cause varied symptomatology. The data on the morphology and prevalence of MBs in fetuses was limited, despite the commonly accepted congenital origin. Material and methods: Fetal hearts obtained from 37 fetuses from the donation program were used. The hearts were dissected out from the thorax by standard dissection procedure. The pericardium and epicardium were dissected. The coronary arteries were delineated, and MBs were observed and noted. The coronary artery segment having MBs, its distance from the ostium as well as the direction and length of the MBs were studied. Results: The MBs were observed in 20 out of 37 fetal hearts studied over the left anterior descending, right coronary, posterior interventricular and circumflex arteries. The mid or distal part of the coronary arteries frequently exhibited MBs. The mean length of the MB was 4.2 mm, with MBs being situated about 1.5 cm away from the coronary ostium. The oblique pattern of MB was more frequently noted. Conclusion: The morphology and prevalence of fetal MBs showed common occurrence in the LAD artery, with a predominant oblique morphological pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Academic dishonesty threatens the environs of medical education, wherein medical graduates are expected to exhibit professional honesty. Despite the efforts of institutions and governing bodies, the implementation of an environment of academic integrity is a challenge. We hypothesized that what medical students perceive as academic dishonesty might be different from the prevalent understanding of academic dishonesty among the teaching fraternity. This exploratory study was done to identify and explore in depth what constitutes cheating in the eyes of a medical student. Methods This qualitative study was planned as a semi-structured interview among undergraduate medical students in the second year of study (n=25). The dimensions studied were the individual perceptions of what constitutes cheating, self-reported responses with underlying reasoning to hypothetical academic cheating scenarios, and responses on instances of self-experienced or self-observed instances of academic dishonesty.  Results The responses indicate the ambiguous interpretation of academic honesty by students and four chief themes of the interpretation of dishonesty, based on student understanding. Our results identify core areas, such as the need for a clear and unambiguous institutional academic integrity policy, an environment of academic honesty, and strict enforcement of penalties for breach of ethical conduct, that need to be addressed to tackle the menace of academic dishonesty. Conclusion Themes derived from our study describe student factors, including trivialization of academic integrity, that lead to academic dishonesty. Advocacy for academic honesty in educational institutions must address these factors to enforce institutional standards., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre Institutional Ethical Committee issued approval CMCH&RC/IEC-149/26.11.2015. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Gugapriya et al.)

Introduction: The placenta is an important organ of pregnancy. A multitude of physiological and pathological factors influence blood flow in the placenta during pregnancy. However, the fetal effects of maternal psychological stress were inconclusive. The recent COVID-19 pandemic had unprecedented economic, social, and psychological effects. The effect of COVID-19-induced psychological stress in antenatal women and its resultant fetal impact were studied by observing the Doppler waveforms of the uterine and umbilical arteries., Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 26 healthy third-trimester antenatal women who satisfied pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria. A pandemic-related pregnancy stress scale (PREPS) was used to evaluate the stress in pregnant women and categorize it into mild, moderate, and severe levels. The Doppler ultrasound of the uterine and umbilical vessels was done along with a routine growth scan in the third trimester of pregnancy. The arterial waveforms, Pulsatility index (PI) of uterine and umbilical arteries, umbilical vein blood flow, and biometric parameters of the fetus were recorded and analyzed., Results: Seventeen of the 26 participants were found to be moderately stressed. Among the three dimensions of the PREPS tool, the perinatal infection stress dimension was expressed predominantly. A strong expression of the positive affirmation dimension was seen in antenatal women. The mean Pulsatility index in the mild, moderate, and severe groups was 0.74, 0.93, and 0.63, respectively. The association between the PREPS score and the Pulsatility index of the umbilical artery alone was found to be significant at p=0.02., Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic caused moderate to severe levels of psychological stress in pregnant women. The statistically significant association between the PREPS score and the umbilical artery PI indicates possible fetoplacental compromise, suggesting the need for cognitive therapy to manage psychological stress in antenatal women., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Gowtham et al.)

The ligand-activated transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) has become a major target for type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, which controls the expression of proteins involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, and insulin sensitivity. Ocimum tenuiflorum , often known as Krishna tulsi, is the most sacred herb in India. It was utilized for a variety of medicinal purposes. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis data of PARγ modulators from Ocimum tenuiflorum . Four of the twenty substances (rosmarinic acid, permethrin, luteolin, and isosakuranetin) have a considerable binding affinity for the PPARγ. These phytochemicals are a source of potential anti-diabetic medicines., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest from any of the authors., (© 2021 Biomedical Informatics.)

Cissampelos pareira Linn. is a climbing herb known in Indian traditional medicine as laghupatha. It belongs to the Menispermaceae family. The enzyme glycogen phosphorylase (GP) is a promising target for the treatment of type-2 diabetes (T2DM). A variety of natural product inhibitors with both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential have been reported in the search for powerful, selective and drug-like GP inhibitors that could lead to hypoglycemic medicines. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis data of glycogen phosphorylase with compounds from Cissampelos pareira Linn. We report the optimal binding features of 4 compounds namely Trans-N-feruloyltyramine, Coclaurine, Magnoflorine, and Curine with the target protein for further consideration in the context of T2DM., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest from any of the authors., (© 2021 Biomedical Informatics.)

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the metabolic syndromes prevalent worldwide, with more concentration in the Asian region. Many studies have been conducted in order to understand the complex pathogenesis of this disease. Yet, there exists a lacuna in our knowledge about DM. This study aims at establishing the reason for glycemic variation in menstruating Type-2 diabetic women by estimation of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker that exhibits significant association with changes in blood glucose levels., Methodology: A prospective study was undertaken in Type-2 diabetic women of reproductive age group to assess the variability of glycemic control during different phases of menstrual cycle using high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) as the biomarker. Fifty women were enrolled after satisfying a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The fasting blood glucose, hs-CRP concentration and endogenous female hormones were assayed in follicular and luteal phases of the cycle. The observed parameters were analyzed statistically for significant correlation. Observation and Result: The result showed that hs-CRP level significantly correlates with increasing levels of fasting blood glucose level in both the phases of menstrual cycle in Type-2 diabetic women. The significance is statistically stronger during luteal phase of the cycle (r = 0.807; p<0.05). The correlation observed between hs-CRP and Estrodiol in follicular phase (r = -0.311; p < 0.05) was not statistically significant. The hs-CRP level increased significantly with progesterone level during luteal phase (r = 0.826; p <0.05)., Conclusion: This study concludes that Type-2 diabetic women of reproductive age group encounter a period of poor glycemic control during luteal phase, as shown by statistically high hs-CRP level mediated by endogenous progesterone hormone. Therefore, this study advocates careful monitoring, life style adjustments and drug regime to reduce the fluctuation in glycemic level experienced by Type-2 diabetic premenopausal women in the luteal phase.