Quality in Higher Education through the lens of National Education Policy-2020

Quality Higher Education refers to the personal accomplishment and enlightenment, constructive public engagement and productive contribution to the society and prepare students for more meaningful and satisfying lives and work roles to enable economic independence. The purpose of quality higher education is not merely the creation of greater opportunities for individual employment but it is the key to more vibrant, socially engaged, cooperative communities and a happier, cohesive, cultured, productive, innovative, progressive, and prosperous nation. There is need for the formulation of expected learning outcomes for all higher education programmes for which National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) has been formulated in synchronisation with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). To build on the various elements in a synergistic manner, there is also a need to grow and catalyse quality research through National Research Foundation (NRF).  Therefore, the present paper is aimed to study various domains, learning outcomes and objectives as recommended by NSQF, NHEQF and NRF respectively to ensure quality higher education in accordance to National Education Policy (NEP)- 2020

Factors Leading to Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Neonates

Background: To determine the factors leading to meconium aspiration syndrome in neonates Methods: In this descriptive study 100 neonates, with complaint of meconium staining of body, vocal cords and / or respiratory distress, whether delivered at home or at hospital, were included. Babies were first diagnosed as a case of meconium aspiration syndrome by meconium staining of body and vocal cords, and / or tachypnea and respiratory distress. They were examined for crepitations in chest on auscultation. Chest X-rays were done of all patients to see infiltrates and hyperinflation. Results: The most frequent factor was birth asphyxia which was predicted by poor APGAR score (40% cases). The other factor was post term pregnancy(30%).  Males constituted 58%and 42% were females. One patient (1%) case was preterm and IUGR. While 30% cases were post-term and 69% cases were born by appropriate age.  60% cases were delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery.  Commonest complications observed were  pneumothorax (15%) and sepsis. Chest X-Ray findings  showed infiltrates and hyper expansion in 50% cases. Conclusion: Factors which lead to meconium aspiration syndrome are birth asphyxia, post term pregnancy, maternal diseases, prolong labour and IUG

Expression of MUC5AC in normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma by immunohistochemistry

Background: Carcinomas of the stomach are a heterogeneous group of lesions in terms of architecture, pattern of growth, cell differentiation, and histogenesis. Altered MUC5AC expression patterns have been reported previously in intestinal metaplasia as well as in gastric cancer. The aim of the study was to analyse the expression pattern of MUC5AC in normal, pre-neoplastic and neoplastic gastric epithelium.Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections of sixty cases which include twenty cases of each normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma were taken up for the study and subjected to immunohistochemistry using MUC5AC.Results: The intensity of MUC5AC immunostaining in normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma was evaluated. Immunoreactivity was graded as 0 (negative), ± (trace positive), + (positive) or ++ (strongly positive). Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-Square test and significant differences were noted between these 3 groups (p value <0.05).Conclusions: Authors concluded that MUC5AC expression rates might be good parameters in progression of intestinal metaplasia to gastric carcinoma and might be a good prognostic marker for gastric carcinoma as it is very well implicated in understanding of gastric carcinogenesis

Bone marrow involvement as a rare manifestation of relapsed choroidal melanoma

Choroidal Melanoma is the most common primary intra-ocular malignancy. Incidence of primary choroidal melanoma is about 6 cases per 1 million population. It disseminates hematogenously. The most common site of metastasis is liver. Metastatic melanoma involving the bone marrow is rare, occurring in 5% of patients with disseminated disease. However, Choroid melanoma with bone marrow involvement is very rare. Only a few case reports are published in literature.  Authors present a case of bone marrow metastasis from choroid melanoma in 55 years old female who has been treated for primary choroidal melanoma by enucleation of left eye three years back. In the evaluation of symptomatic anemia, features suggestive of bone marrow infiltration by choroidal melanoma were observed on bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. The diagnosis was confirmed by positivity of immune-histochemistry markers HMB-45 and Melana

Correlation of bronchial biopsy with bronchoalveolar lavage in lung malignancies

Background: Lung cancer is currently the most frequently diagnosed major cancer in the world and the most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. It comprises about 17% of the total new cancer cases in males and 23% of the total cancer deaths. The objectives of this study were to compare bronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology and in the diagnosis of carcinoma lung. Study design was comparative study.Methods: The study was done in the Department of Pathology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), Srinagar, Kashmir. All patients clinically/radiologically suspected of lung malignancies who presented between April 2004 and May 2012 and underwent both bronchial biopsy and BAL were included in the study.Results: Out of a total of 902 clinically suspected cases of lung cancer tumor was found in 760 cases (84.25%) by biopsy   and in 301 cases (33.37%) by BAL. The total number of false positive cases was 31 and false negative cases were 490.Sensitivity of BAL was found to be 35.5% and specificity 78.16%.Conclusions: In the present study yield of diagnosis was highest with the bronchoscopic biopsies and in maximum number of cases, specific histologic diagnosis was made by biopsies only. Though BAL was inferior to bronchial biopsy in diagnosing lung malignancies but it was effective for peripheral lung malignancies and when the patient was at risk of hemorrhage.

Intraoperative squash cytology and histopathological correlation of primary temporal lobe lesions: a 6 year study at tertiary care centre of Kashmir, India

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors constitute about 1-2% of all the tumors. They are the 6th most common tumors in adults and 2nd most common among childhood tumors. Gliomas are the most common CNS neoplasms. In addition to gliomas temporal lobe has predilection for some peculiar tumor subtypes having good prognosis, including pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), low grade astrocytic tumors and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET) in children.Methods: Study was conducted in the department of pathology Sher-e-Kashmir institute of medical sciences (SKIMS) Soura, Srinagar Kashmir India. This was six-year study.Results: Temporal lobe tumors were commonly seen in 3rd to 4th decade of life accounting for 37.9% of the cases followed by 4th to 5th decade (27.5%). The mean age of presentation being 40±10 yrs. Males outnumbered females with a male: female ratio of 1.7:1. Intraoperative squash smears were mostly reported as High grade gliomas (WHO Grade III-IV) accounting to a total of 42 cases (36.2%). On histopathology frequent temporal lobe tumor seen was Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) 17.4%, followed by pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma and oligodendroglioma accounting for 14.6% of cases each. On comparing the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative squash smears to that of Histopathological diagnosis an overall accuracy of 86.2% was observed.Conclusions: Intra operative squash technique in CNS tumors is universally accepted method. In temporal lobe lesions, on adequate sampling and careful examination, squash cytology has fairly good diagnostic accuracy rate of 86.2% when compared to histopathology

Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and its Risk Factors among Pakistani Females:

Background: A severe form of&nbsp;clinical depression&nbsp;is related to&nbsp;pregnancy&nbsp;and childbirth. As a new mom, a lot of challenges are encountered in getting used to life with a&nbsp;newborn including lack of&nbsp;sleep. Hormonal changes and fatigue may lead towards psychological maladjustment towards motherhood. Low socioeconomic status, family system, mode of delivery, ill health of infant may be the reasons behind postpartum depression. Objective: To study the prevalence of postpartum depression among females. Method: This Cross sectional study was conducted after ethical approval on a sample of 200 females of reproductive age (20-45years). Participants were selected through convenient random sampling on the basis of predefined eligibility criteria. Data were collected from primary and secondary healthcare facilities of district Sialkot using Edinburg postnatal depression screening tool. Results: The mean age±Std Dev of the participants was 28.09±5.346 years ranging from 20 to 45. Mean±SD of total score EPDS was found 3.53±5.72 with 87.50% participants with score below 13. Out of 200, 25(12.50%) females were candidates for postpartum depression. Conclusion: Postpartum depression screening helps recognition of the disorder. Postpartum depression among females of the target population is not negligible

Correlation of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time with serum immunoglobulin and M-band in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients

Background: Multiple myeloma is the second most frequent malignancy which constitute 13% of hematologic cancers. Thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications have been frequently observed in multiple myeloma patients. Methods: The study was conducted in the department of pathology, Government medical college Srinagar. A total of fifty (50) patients were recruited for the study. The patients were advised coagulation profile and complete myeloma profile. Results: Our findings indicate that prolonged PT is associated with high serum IgG levels. A mild to moderate correlation was seen with kappa-free light chains and an inverse correlation was seen between PT and lmbda-free light chains. Conclusions: Screening of multiple myeloma for hemostatic abnormalities at the diagnosis should improve prognosis in such cases

mHealth based interventions for the assessment and treatment of psychotic disorders: a systematic review

The relative burden of mental health disorders is increasing globally, in terms of prevalence and disability. There is limited data available to guide treatment choices for clinicians in low resourced settings, with mHealth technologies being a potentially beneficial avenue to bridging the large mental health treatment gap globally. The aim of the review was to search the literature systematically for studies of mHealth interventions for psychosis globally, and to examine whether mHealth for psychosis has been investigated. A systematic literature search was completed in Embase, Medline, PsychINFO and Evidence Based Medicine Reviews databases from inception to May 2016. Only studies with a randomised controlled trial design that investigated an mHealth intervention for psychosis were included. A total of 5690 records were identified with 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of included studies, were conducted across Europe and the United Sates with one being conducted in China. The 7 included studies examined different parameters, such as Experiential Sampling Methodology (ESM), medication adherence, cognitive impairment, social functioning and suicidal ideation in veterans with schizophrenia. Considering the increasing access to mobile devices globally, mHealth may potentially increase access to appropriate mental health care. The results of this review show promise in bridging the global mental health treatment gap, by enabling individuals to receive treatment via their mobile phones, particularly for those individuals who live in remote or rural areas, areas of high deprivation and for those from low resourced settings