Search

Introduction: Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) is an effective method for formative and summative assessment of undergraduate students during practical examination. Aim: The aim of the study was to study the effectiveness of OSPE in the subject of Pathology and to evaluate them on the basis of these parameters, provide feedback on performance, evaluate on basis of practical skills and measure minimal competences. Materials and methods: This study was conducted among a total of 120 M.B.B.S. students during their second year of MBBS course. OSPE based practical examination was carried out followed by a close ended questionnaire to evaluate student’s perception regarding the same. Results: OSPE was seen as a useful exercise by 83 % of the students. Feedback from the undergraduate students put forward that 17 % students felt that OSPE was an objective tool in evaluating practical skills. Conclusion: OSPE is a more valid and beneficial learning tool according to the students as well as faculty. Keywords: Objective structured practical examination, Pathology, Medical education, Teaching tool

Background: In this study, we have investigated the binding affinity, ADME, and toxicity analysis of various phytocompounds which are present in Ziziphus jujuba on different receptors related to cardioprotective activity by performing molecular docking studies. Determination of binding affinity of phytocompounds of Z. Jujuba with different receptors involved in the cardioprotective activity. AutoDock Vina, PyMol, Discovery Studio, AutoDock tools, ChemDraw, Swiss ADME, PROTOX-II. Methods: Molecular docking. Results: The binding results of the selected plant compounds and target proteins, namely 108a, 7Q29, 5JMY, 4DLI, 2YCW, and 1CX2, showed that the selected phytochemicals from Z. Jujuba had good binding affinity and good receptor binding mode selected target. However, among all plant compounds, Jujuboside-B has the lowest binding energy with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (binding energy – 11.2 Kcal/mol), ACE and neutral endopeptidase inhibitors (binding energy – 10.9 Kcal/mol). Neprilysin receptor (binding energy – 10.4 Kcal/mol), COX-2 receptor (binding energy – 10.9 Kcal/mol), Spinosyn with β-1 adrenergic receptor (binding energy – 9.3 Kcal/mol), 3-O-methylellagic acid-3'-rhamnoside has superior binding affinity (−9.4 Kcal/mol) to the P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase receptor compared to the standard synthetic compound nebivolol. Conclusions: The present work was an attempt to computationally identify phytocompounds from Z. Jujuba which can bind to the various targets of cardiovascular disease. The docking scores, analysis of the interactions of the compounds suggest that most of the compounds have the ability to bind to multiple targets involved in cardiovascular disease. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity and toxicity prediction showed various phytocompounds such as rutin, jujuboside-A, B, epicatechin could be used as potential candidate against cardiovascular disease.

Autophagy is a contentious issue in leishmaniasis and is emerging as a promising therapeutic regimen. Published research on the impact of autophagic regulation on Leishmania survival is inconclusive, despite numerous pieces of evidence that Leishmania spp. triggers autophagy in a variety of cell types. The mechanistic approach is poorly understood in the Leishmania parasite as autophagy is significant in both Leishmania and the host. Herein, this review discusses the autophagy proteins that are being investigated as potential therapeutic targets, the connection between autophagy and lipid metabolism, and microRNAs that regulate autophagy and lipid metabolism. It also highlights the use of systems biology to develop novel autophagy-dependent therapeutics for leishmaniasis by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), mathematical modeling, network analysis, and other computational methods. Additionally, we have shown many databases for autophagy and metabolism in Leishmania parasites that suggest potential therapeutic targets for intricate signaling in the autophagy system. In a nutshell, the detailed understanding of the dynamics of autophagy in conjunction with lipids and miRNAs unfolds larger dimensions for future research.

Background: FNAC is a simple, safe and cost-effective method and is one of the triple diagnostic triads along with clinical breast examination and radiology methods (mammography/ ultrasonography).Cytological diagnosis is very beneficial for the preoperative assessment of various breast lesions. The application of LBC technique along with conventional smear can strengthen the efficacy of diagnosing various breast lesions on FNAC. Aim: Comparison of liquid-based cytology versus conventional smears in fine needle aspiration cytology of breast lesions. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of 50 cases conducted over a period of 16 months included all female patients referred to the cytology department for FNAC. Two different passes were given, the first pass was used to prepare conventional smears and second pass was used for LBC smears. Results: Among 50 cases, 38 (76%) were benign and 12 (24%) were malignant. The commonest benign lesion was fibroadenoma and malignant lesion was Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. The difference between LBC and conventional smears was statistically significant pertaining to background blood debris (p < 0.00001), informative background (p = 0.0004) and cellular architecture (p = 0.0075) while it was not statistically significant for cellularity, mono layering, nuclear and cytoplasmic details The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in both LBC and conventional smears were similar, being 80%, 100%, 100%, 95.23% and 96% respectively. Conclusion: LBC cannot replace conventional cytology but can be used as a supplement with the conventional method to minimize false negative cytology rate and to increase the diagnostic accuracy of breast lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safe water and hygiene intervention was evaluated to assess its impact on students’ health, hygiene practices and reduction in illness absenteeism in primary school students. Method: After evaluatingprimary schools of Amravati district; 50 students with high enteric illness absenteeism were selected for study. Families with problem of in-house water contamination were provided earthen pot with tap for water storage and soap for hand washing at school and home. Household drinking waters (before and after intervention) were analyzed for potability. Results: By adopting correct water storage (water container with tap), handling and hand washing practices found to improve health and reduction in 20% illness absenteeism in school. Promoting these interventions and improvement in water-behavioral practices prevented in-house-water contamination. Conclusion: These low cost intervention (water storage container with tap) promises to reducing school absenteeism by minimizing risk of transmission of enteric infections by promoting water and student hygiene.

School and household lacked safe drinking water and thus school absenteeism rates were high among students with poor water quality. So we assessed fecal contamination of drinking water in households of students with high illness absenteeism and evaluate the factors for non-potability. Method: Drinking water samples (100) were collected from household water container of 50 students for fecal contamination. Results: A total of 40 (80%) family’s water was potable before use, out of which 40% became non-potable after use. Factors responsible for reduction in potability were water withdrawal without handwashing up to (56%), poor domestic hygiene (56%), dipping hands in water (55%), placing water dipper on lid (52%) and no washing of container (0%). Socio-economic condition also had impact on water potability. Conclusion: Water quality deterioration occurs by multiple factors like improper storage, unhygienic habits of water handling and circumstances. Results focused on the need for further protocols for safe and hygienic storage of water.

A total of five hand towels were collected from 5 different restaurants and taken to the laboratory in a sterile container. Nutrient agar, Macconkey agar, and Sabouraud dextrose agar media were prepared for the isolation of heterotrophic bacteria, coliforms, and fungi respectively. The total heterotrophic bacteria count for the various samples was (8.7x105 cfu/ml) with the highest total bacterial count, while (1.0x105 cfu/ml) had the lowest bacterial count. The mean values for the total coliform count showed (7.4x105 cfu/ml) as the highest coliform count, whereas (2.4x105 cfu/ml) was the lowest coliform count. Also, the mean total fungal count from the restaurants showed that the highest fungal count occurred (8.6x105cfu/ml), and (1.2x105 cfu/ml) lowest fungal count. The bacteria species identified and their prevalence include Staphylococcus sp 10 (4.4%), E. coli 22 (9.6%), Sarratia sp, 23 (10%), Proteus sp 14 (6.1%), Pseudomonas sp 21 (9.2%), Shigella sp 3 (1.3%), Bacillus sp 85 (37.1%), Micrococcus sp 14 (6.1%), and Salmonella sp 37 (16.2%). Fungi species identified were Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp, Mucor sp, Aspergillus tarmani, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium sp. Hand towels used in public restaurants contain different species of bacteria and fungi, which can be a source of infection to other users or customers. It is recommended that restaurant owners and their staff should regularly wash their hand towels, and ensure that sanitizers and disinfectants are made available to customers to prevent the spread of potentially harmful microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we have investigated the binding affinity, ADME, and toxicity analysis of various phytocompounds which are present in Ziziphus jujuba on different receptors related to cardioprotective activity by performing molecular docking studies. Determination of binding affinity of phytocompounds of Z. Jujuba with different receptors involved in the cardioprotective activity. AutoDock Vina, PyMol, Discovery Studio, AutoDock tools, ChemDraw, Swiss ADME, PROTOX-II. Methods: Molecular docking. Results: The binding results of the selected plant compounds and target proteins, namely 108a, 7Q29, 5JMY, 4DLI, 2YCW, and 1CX2, showed that the selected phytochemicals from Z. Jujuba had good binding affinity and good receptor binding mode selected target. However, among all plant compounds, Jujuboside-B has the lowest binding energy with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (binding energy - 11.2 Kcal/mol), ACE and neutral endopeptidase inhibitors (binding energy - 10.9 Kcal/mol). Neprilysin receptor (binding energy - 10.4 Kcal/mol), COX-2 receptor (binding energy - 10.9 Kcal/mol), Spinosyn with β-1 adrenergic receptor (binding energy - 9.3 Kcal/mol), 3-O-methylellagic acid-3'-rhamnoside has superior binding affinity (-9.4 Kcal/mol) to the P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase receptor compared to the standard synthetic compound nebivolol. Conclusions: The present work was an attempt to computationally identify phytocompounds from Z. Jujuba which can bind to the various targets of cardiovascular disease. The docking scores, analysis of the interactions of the compounds suggest that most of the compounds have the ability to bind to multiple targets involved in cardiovascular disease. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity and toxicity prediction showed various phytocompounds such as rutin, jujuboside-A, B, epicatechin could be used as potential candidate against cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy samples of groundwater were collected from different parts of Yavatmal District, India and analyzed. The results of this analysis were compared with the WHO water quality standards. The groundwater quality in this district showed slightly seasonal variation while the data computed in Water Quality Index (WQI) calculator. The WQI was varied from 73.0 to 80.2 during pre monsoon and 68.7 to 72.4 in post monsoon season, which showed slightly seasonal variation. This may be attributed to surface runoff and percolation process. The results showed that, the water in these areas are bacteriologically not safe and need treatment before it is used for drinking.

In Ayurveda, various herbal preparations are clinically used to prevent or cure infectious diseases. Herbal preparations such as Triphala churna, Hareetaki churna, Dashmula churna, Manjistadi churna, Sukhsarak churna, Ajmodadi churna, Shivkshar pachan churna, Mahasudarshan churna, Swadist Virechan churna and Pipramool churna were investigated by preparing their organic solvent extract for antibacterial potential against enteric bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella typhimurium and Proteus vulgaris, respectively. In the present study, Triphala churna, Hareetaki churna, Dashmula churna were potent antibacterial agents against S. epidermidis, P. vulgaris, S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi. The study supports the use of these herbal preparations not only as dietary supplements but also as agents to prevent or control enteric bacterial infections.

Water quality index (WQI) has been calculated for different groundwater sources i.e. dug wells, bore wells and tube wells at Khaperkheda region, Maharashtra (India). Twenty two different sites were selected in post monsoon, winter and summer season. And water quality index was calculated using water quality index calculator given by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) information system. The calculated WQI showed fair water quality rating in post monsoon season which then changed to medium in summer and winter seasons for dug wells, but the bore wells and hand pumps showed medium water quality rating in all seasons where the quality was slightly differs in summer and winter season than post monsoon season, so the reasons to import water quality change and measures to be taken up in terms of groundwater quality management are required.

Objective: Safe water and hygiene intervention was evaluated to assess its impact on students’ health, hygiene practices and reduction in illness absenteeism in primary school students. Method: After evaluatingprimary schools of Amravati district; 50 students with high enteric illness absenteeism were selected for study. Families with problem of in-house water contamination were provided earthen pot with tap for water storage and soap for hand washing at school and home. Household drinking waters (before and after intervention) were analyzed for potability. Results: By adopting correct water storage (water container with tap), handling and hand washing practices found to improve health and reduction in 20% illness absenteeism in school. Promoting these interventions and improvement in water-behavioral practices prevented in-house-water contamination. Conclusion: These low cost intervention (water storage container with tap) promises to reducing school absenteeism by minimizing risk of transmission of enteric infections by promoting water and student hygiene.

Objective: School and household lacked safe drinking water and thus school absenteeism rates were high among students with poor water quality. So we assessed fecal contamination of drinking water in households of students with high illness absenteeism and evaluate the factors for non-potability. Method: Drinking water samples (100) were collected from household water container of 50 students for fecal contamination. Results: A total of 40 (80%) family’s water was potable before use, out of which 40% became non-potable after use. Factors responsible for reduction in potability were water withdrawal without handwashing up to (56%), poor domestic hygiene (56%), dipping hands in water (55%), placing water dipper on lid (52%) and no washing of container (0%). Socio-economic condition also had impact on water potability. Conclusion: Water quality deterioration occurs by multiple factors like improper storage, unhygienic habits of water handling and circumstances. Results focused on the need for further protocols for safe and hygienic storage of water.