Faculty experience during transition to new Competency Based Medical Education Curriculum” – A nationwide survey from India

Background: CBME was introduced in 2019 for medical students with various new teaching learning methods and assessment of competencies using skill certifications, formative and summative assessments. However, imparting knowledge and skills could be challenging with current curriculum due to various factors. Objective: This study was undertaken to understand the progress and various current challenges faced by faculty for appropriate implementation of CBME curriculum. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among teaching faculty from various medical colleges across India. A structured questionnaire was prepared considering various parameters that have been implemented as a part of CBME curriculum. The questionnaire was uploaded as Google forms and the link was sent to medical teachers through electronic platforms. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 165 responses collected from teaching faculties from various medical colleges. 82% of the faculty had undergone FDP programme. 53% of faculty responded that allotted time was sufficient to complete the syllabus, 60% of the teachers felt that there were enough resources for skill certification and CBL was accepted as a more useful learning tool for students by 78% of the faculty followed by SGD (56%), SDL (55%) & AETCOM (55%). Conclusion: Even though faculty supported CBME, regular and frequent FDP, improving student to staff ration and ensuring sufficient resources will help in overcoming the lacunae for successful and uniform nationwide implementation of curriculum

Solvothermal synthesis and thermoelectric properties of indium telluride nanostring-cluster hierarchical structures

A simple solvothermal approach has been developed to successfully synthesize n-type α-In2Te3 thermoelectric nanomaterials. The nanostring-cluster hierarchical structures were prepared using In(NO3)3 and Na2TeO3 as the reactants in a mixed solvent of ethylenediamine and ethylene glycol at 200°C for 24 h. A diffusion-limited reaction mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of the hierarchical structures. The Seebeck coefficient of the bulk pellet pressed by the obtained samples exhibits 43% enhancement over that of the corresponding thin film at room temperature. The electrical conductivity of the bulk pellet is one to four orders of magnitude higher than that of the corresponding thin film or p-type bulk sample. The synthetic route can be applied to obtain other low-dimensional semiconducting telluride nanostructures

Application of medical and analytical methods in Lyme borreliosis monitoring

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is one of the most common tick-borne diseases in the northern hemisphere. It is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi. In its early stages, pathological skin lesions, namely erythema chronicum migrans, appear. The lesions, usually localised at the site of the bite, may become visible from a few weeks up to 3 months after the infection. Predominant clinical symptoms of the disease also involve joint malfunctions and neurological or cardiac disorders. Lyme disease, in all its stages, may be successfully treated with antibiotics. The best results, however, are obtained in its early stages. In order to diagnose the disease, numerous medical or laboratory techniques have been developed. They are applied to confirm the presence of intact spirochaetes or spirochaete components such as DNA or proteins in tick vectors, reservoir hosts or patients. The methods used for the determination of LB biomarkers have also been reviewed. These biomarkers are formed during the lipid peroxidation process. The formation of peroxidation products generated by human organisms is directly associated with oxidative stress. Apart from aldehydes (malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal), many other unsaturated components such as isoprostenes and neuroprostane are obtained. The fast determination of these compounds in encephalic fluid, urine or plasma, especially in early stages of the disease, enables its treatment. Various analytical techniques which allow the determination of the aforementioned biomarkers have been reported. These include spectrophotometry as well as liquid and gas chromatography. The analytical procedure also requires the application of a derivatization step by the use of selected reagents

Detection of Metallo-Beta-Lactamase (MBL) producing pseudomonas aeruginosa and acinetobacter Spp. from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background & Aims:  Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli [NFGNB] which are considered as environmental contaminants have emerged as multidrug-resistant bacteria and are of serious concern to the treating physician. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of metallo-beta-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species in clinical samples received in the Microbiology Laboratory and to study the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing strains. Materials & Methods:  Various samples (pus, sputum, urine, blood and body fluids, etc.) were processed according to standard protocols. P.aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp were isolated and identified with the help of various culture media, staining methods and biochemical reactions. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done by using Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method. MBL producers were identified using CLSI guidelines. Results:  Out of 600 positive culture isolates from various samples, 65 (10.8%) were non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli, 40 (61.53%) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 25 (38.47%) were Acinetobacter species. The overall incidence of MBL positive isolates in our study was 12.3% (8 of 65). All the isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacterspecies were 100% sensitive to Colistin and Tigecycline. Conclusion:  The study helps in understanding the antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates causing nosocomial infections, helping clinicians in making appropriate antibiotic choices as an empirical therapy and the policy-makers to bring out the measures in controlling the superbugs

NDM-1 gene detection from Metallobeta lactamase (MBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A pilot study from a teritiary care centre

Multidrug resistant bacteria always remain a great challenge. The latest threat being New Delhi Metallobetalactamase-1 (NDM-1) a superbug has brought notoriety to Indian Health care. NDM-1 refers to the transmissible genetic element encoding multiple resistant genes, first isolated from a strain of Klebsiella spp. in New Delhi, India, which has the ability to hydrolyse beta lactams and carbapenams. Detection of NDM-1 gene in multidrug resistant Pseudomonas isolates from various clinical samples. 200 Pseudomonas species were isolated in Microbiology laboratory during one year period were included in the study. Samples were processed as per Standard operating procedures. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The results were interpreted as per CLSI guidelines. MBL detection was done, by using EDTA Double Disc Synergy Test and Imipenem [I]-EDTA Combined Disc Test. MBL positive isolates were subjected to conventional PCR for genotyping & detection of NDM-1. A cross sectional descriptive study. Out of 12545 samples that were received in microbiology laboratory, 299 Non-Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli [NFGNB] were isolated of which 200 were speciated as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 20/200 [10%] were resistant to imipenem and 24/200 [12%] to meropenem. 10% of isolates showed MBL positive. NDM-1 gene was not detected in any of the 20 MBL positive isolates. NDM-1 gene since its origin has caused chaos in the health care facility with its ability to cause various infections. Detection is possible only with molecular methods. Thus gene detection plays a pivotal role in patient treatment and reduction of hospital stay. (Pseudomonas, multidrug resistant, New Delhi Metallobetalactamase-1, super bugs). published by the International journal of Microbiology and Mycology (IJMM

Carbonate xenoliths hosted by the Mesoproterozoic Siddanpalli Kimberlite Cluster (Eastern Dharwar craton): Implications for the geodynamic evolution of southern India and its diamond and uranium metallogenesis

A number of limestone and metasomatised carbonate xenoliths occur in the 1,090 Ma Siddanpalli kimberlite cluster, Raichur kimberlite Field, Eastern Dharwar craton, southern India. These xenoliths are inferred to have been derived from the carbonate horizons of the Kurnool (Palnad) and Bhima Proterozoic basins and provide evidence for a connection between these basins in the geological past. A revised Mesoproterozoic age is proposed for the Bhima and Kurnool (Palnad) basins based on this kimberlite association and is in agreement with similar proposals made recently for the Chattisgarh and Upper Vindhyan sediments in Central India. The observed Bhima–Kurnool interbasinal uplift may have been caused by: (1) extension- or plume-related mafic alkaline magmatism that included the emplacement of the southern Indian kimberlites at *1.1 Ga, (2) mantle plume-related doming of the peninsular India during the Cretaceous, or (3) Quaternary differential uplift in this region. It is not possible, with the currently available geological information to constrain the exact timing of this uplift. The deep erosion of primary diamond sources in the Raichur kimberlite Field in the upper reaches of the Krishna River caused by this uplift could be the elusive source of the alluvial diamonds of the Krishna valley. Mesoproterozoic sedimentary basins can host world class unconformity-type uranium deposits. In light of its inferred Mesoproterozoic age, a more detailed stratigraphic and metallogenic analysis of the Kurnool basin is suggested for uranium exploration