Implementation of Integrated Learning Program in neurosciences during first year of traditional medical course: Perception of students and faculty

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our college introduced an integrated learning program (ILP) for first year undergraduates with an aim to develop, implement and evaluate a module for CNS in basic sciences and to assess the feasibility of an ILP in phase I of medical education in a college following traditional medical curriculum.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The idea of implementing ILP for Central Nervous System (CNS) in phase one was conceived by curriculum development committee drawn from faculty of all phases. After a series of meetings of curriculum development committee, inputs from basic science and clinical departments, a time table was constructed. Various teaching learning methods, themes for integrated didactic lectures, case based learning and clinical exposure were decided. Basic science faculty were made to participate actively in both case based learning and hospital visits along with clinical experts. The completed program was evaluated based on structured questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty percent students rated the program good to excellent with reference to appreciation, understanding and application of basic science knowledge in health and disease. Seventy eight percent felt that this program will help them perform better in later days of clinical training. However sixty percent students felt that ILP will not help them perform better at the first professional examination. Seventy two per cent of faculty agreed that this program improved understanding and application of basic science knowledge of students. Ninety percent of faculty felt that this program will help them perform better in later days of clinical training.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The adoption of present integrated module for CNS and the use of multiple teaching learning methods have been proven to be useful in acquisition of knowledge from the student satisfaction point of view. Students and faculty expressed an overall satisfaction towards ILP for CNS. The study showed that it is possible to adopt an integrated learning module in the first year of medical course under a conventional curriculum.</p

Nephrotic presentation in hydatid cyst disease with predominant tubulointerstital disease

Feroz Aziz1, Tanmay Pandya1, Himanshu V Patel1, Paladugu Ramakrishna1, Kamal R Goplani1, Manoj Gumber1, Aruna V Vanikar2,&amp;nbsp; Kamal Kanodia2, Pankaj R Shah1, Hargovind L Trivedi11Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine; 2Department of Pathology, Lab Medicine, Transfusion Services and Immunohematology, G.R. Doshi and K.M. Mehta Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, IndiaAbstract: Renal involvement, which can rarely occur in echinococcosis, more commonly manifests as hydatid cyst of the kidney. Scattered case reports of nephrotic syndrome secondary to hydatid cyst in the liver or lung have been reported for over two decades. The glomerular picture varied from minimal change lesion to mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. We report a case of predominantly tubulointerstitial nephritis with mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in a patient with hepatic hydatid cyst which responded to cyst resection alone. Keywords: echinococcosis, hydatid cyst, kidney, nephrotic syndrome, tubulointerstitial nephriti

An overview of tobacco related cancers in Patan district, Gujarat state

ABSTRACT: Tobacco is the single most important cause of avoidable morbidity and early mortality in many countries. In India approximately 700,000-900,000 new cancers are diagnosed every year. Nearly half of all cancers in men and one fifth of cancers in women are tobacco related cancers. The present study was conducted to examine the proportion of tobacco related cancers, their age distribution and geographical variations in Patan district, Gujarat. All new cases of tobacco related cancers diagnosed during the year 2011 were included in the study. Apart from Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, cancer data were also obtained from government hospitals, private hospitals& consultants, pathology laboratories and death registration units of Patan district and other districts. During the year 2011, a total of 472 new cases (Males: 310; Females: 162) were registered. Among them 214 cases were tobacco related cancers with a male preponderance (189 cases). Majority of the cases were in the age group of 35-64 years. Tongue Cancer was the commonest site in both sexes. Patan taluka had highest tobacco related cancers. This study implies an urgent need for tobacco control among the population of Patan district as tobacco is the most common risk factor of cancer occurrence

Prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends in anaemia burden by severity and cause, 1990–2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Anaemia is a major health problem worldwide. Global estimates of anaemia burden are crucial for developing appropriate interventions to meet current international targets for disease mitigation. We describe the prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends of anaemia and its underlying causes in 204 countries and territories. Methods: We estimated population-level distributions of haemoglobin concentration by age and sex for each location from 1990 to 2021. We then calculated anaemia burden by severity and associated years lived with disability (YLDs). With data on prevalence of the causes of anaemia and associated cause-specific shifts in haemoglobin concentrations, we modelled the proportion of anaemia attributed to 37 underlying causes for all locations, years, and demographics in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Findings: In 2021, the global prevalence of anaemia across all ages was 24·3% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 23·9–24·7), corresponding to 1·92 billion (1·89–1·95) prevalent cases, compared with a prevalence of 28·2% (27·8–28·5) and 1·50 billion (1·48–1·52) prevalent cases in 1990. Large variations were observed in anaemia burden by age, sex, and geography, with children younger than 5 years, women, and countries in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia being particularly affected. Anaemia caused 52·0 million (35·1–75·1) YLDs in 2021, and the YLD rate due to anaemia declined with increasing Socio-demographic Index. The most common causes of anaemia YLDs in 2021 were dietary iron deficiency (cause-specific anaemia YLD rate per 100 000 population: 422·4 [95% UI 286·1–612·9]), haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias (89·0 [58·2–123·7]), and other neglected tropical diseases (36·3 [24·4–52·8]), collectively accounting for 84·7% (84·1–85·2) of anaemia YLDs. Interpretation: Anaemia remains a substantial global health challenge, with persistent disparities according to age, sex, and geography. Estimates of cause-specific anaemia burden can be used to design locally relevant health interventions aimed at improving anaemia management and prevention. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation