Using WebQuest Based Instruction to Enhance Students’ Critical Thinking

The study was executed to investigate the effects of teaching via WebQuest Based Instruction on students’ critical thinking in comparison to teaching through traditional mode of instruction. Murthy Critical Thinking Scale (2014) was used to assess students’ critical thinking. The study was carried out with ninth grade science students who were selected from government schools of Chandigarh and were randomly separated into two groups: the control group who received conventional mode of instruction and experimental group exposed to WebQuest based instruction created by the researcher. Both descriptive as well as inferential statistics (t-test) were employed to analyze the data. The findings of the research illustrated a noteworthy variation in critical thinking between two groups where students of experimental group dominated over control group students, hence demonstrating the substantial positive effect of WebQuest based instruction on student’s critical thinking. In view of the acquired results, the researcher recommended the use of WebQuest based instruction during teaching learning process and also proposed to provide proper training to teachers in how to implement the WebQuest in educational practices

Comparative evaluation of strain ratio on sonographic elastography and T2* values on 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating malignant from benign axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer

Background: The study aimed to assess whether strain ratio and T2* values can improve the sensitivity and specificity of differentiating metastatic from benign axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients taking histopathology as reference standard.Methods: The study was done on 43 patients. A multi-echo transverse T2*W MR sequence was obtained with TE = 0.9- 1.5 ms, TR=37.2 ms and flip angle = 25°. Sonographic elastography was done using high frequency linear probe (L3-16 MHz). Manual selection of the region of interest was done on suspicious lymph nodes for calculation of T2* values and strain ratio. ROC curves were obtained for various T2* and strain ratio values in comparison to histopathological findings as gold standard.Results: Correlation with histopathology was better with T2* values than strain ratio. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated using cut off values obtained from ROC curve (31.225 ms for T2* value and 1.85 for SR) and were 70.37%, 68.75% for strain ratio and 96.29%, 93.75% for T2* value respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were also assessed, values being higher for T2* than strain ratio. Comparison of areas under ROC curve was statistically significant with p=0.018.Conclusions: T2* can be used as a potential biomarker for differentiating metastatic from benign axillary lymph nodes owing to its high sensitivity, specificity and relative ease of performance. Quantitative assessment of changes in T2* values may allow more objective analysis of signal changes with significant differences between benign and malignant lymph nodes, even in case of partial infiltration.

Risk factors and clinical profile in patients of acute kidney injury

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an outcome of multiple etiologies and is mostly reversible. This hospital based cross-sectional observational study was aimed to study the risk factors and clinical profile in patients of AKI. Methods: Sixty AKI patients diagnosed by acute kidney injury network criteria as suggested by kidney disease improving global outcomes clinical practice guidelines were enrolled. Patients with preexisting chronic kidney disease were excluded. Relevant data was recorded and analyzed statistically. Data were compiled using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17. Regression analysis was done for determining the association of various variables for mortality. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of patients was 52.63±15.58 years with male:female ratio of 2:1. 20% of cases had co-morbidities, the most common co-morbidity being diabetes mellitus with hypertension in 15% of cases. The most common presenting symptom was vomiting (63.3% of patients); sign was hypotension and tachycardia (46.7% each). sepsis was the most common cause of AKI affecting 38 (63.33%) cases. Majority of the cases were non oliguric 81.7%. Pre-renal variety was found in 41.7% patients in this area. Hence, this study suggested a scope for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with AKI if these preventable factors leading to Pre-Renal AKI and sepsis, being an important risk factor for AKI are controlled and prevented as far as possible. Conclusions: The study concluded that sepsis was the most common cause of AKI.

Correlation between male and female genital tuberculosis: a prospective analytical study

Background: Genital tuberculosis is an unusual extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis, often seen in middle-aged men with renal or pulmonary disease. The most common male genital sites of tuberculous infection are the epididymis and prostate. It is also an important cause of female infertility in the world, especially in developing countries. Majority of infertility cases are due to involvement of the fallopian tubes. Hardly any study has been done to establish correlation between male and female genital TB. We have evaluated the same in severe oligospermic/ azoospermic males and established a definite correlation. Objective was to establish a definite correlation between female and male genital tuberculosis in patients with male factor infertility.Methods: 100 severe oligozoospermic/azoospermic males presenting with infertility between April 2011 and January 2016 were enrolled and worked up for genital tuberculosis. Their female partners were worked up for female genital TB and correlation established.Results: Out of 100 patients with severe oligospermia or azoospermia who tested positive for TB quantiferon gold test. 18% female partners tested positive for TB quantiferon gold test.Conclusions: Tubercular work up of both partners is desired in couples with male factor infertility especially in long standing infertility to achieve optimum pregnancy outcome with ART

To compare intrapartum cardiotocographic (CTG) recording with conventional intermittent fetal heart auscultation during labor

Standard evaluation of fetal well-being during labor includes the periodic assessment of the fetal heart rate (FHR), its pattern and response to intrapartum stimuli and events. Effective methods of evaluation and meaningful interpretation of FHR data range from non-invasive techniques like Intermittent Auscultation, continuous electronic fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring to invasive techniques of fetal blood gas analysis and fetal ECG

Direct observation of reversible bond homolysis by 2D EXSY NMR

Bond homolysis is one of the most fundamental bond cleavage mechanisms. Thus, understanding of bond homolysis influences the development of a wide range of chemistry. Photolytic bond homolysis and its reverse process have been observed directly using time-resolved spectroscopy. However, direct observation of reversible bond homolysis remains elusive. Here, we report the direct observation of reversible Co–Co bond homolysis using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance exchange spectroscopy (2D EXSY NMR). The characterization of species involved in this homolysis is firmly supported by diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY NMR). The unambiguous characterization of the Co–Co bond homolysis process enabled us to study ligand steric and electronic factors that influence the strength of the Co–Co bond. Understanding of these factors will contribute to rational design of multimetallic complexes with desired physical properties or catalytic activity

Accuracy of smartphone based electrocardiogram for the detection of rhythm abnormalities in limb lead: a cross sectional study, non-randomised, single blinded and single-center study

Background: For the identification of arrhythmia and abnormal instances, researchers are examining the reliability of the interpretation offered by smartphone-based portable ECG monitors. The indicator of an unclear alteration in the electrical activity of the heart is a cardiac abnormality. As a result, its early and accurate identification can avoid myocardial infarction and even sudden cardiac death. Objectives of this study were to evaluate and validate the Spandan 12 lead ECG interpretation for accuracy in detection of the cardiac arrhythmias in comparison to the cardiologist diagnosis, and to evaluate the accuracy of the arrhythmia detection of Spandan ECG in comparison to the 12 lead ECG machine. Methods: This cross-sectional study, non-randomised, single blinded and single-center study was carried out at Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital (SMIH), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India from 1st August 2022 to 31st January 2023. All patients (n=312) visiting the electrocardiogram (ECG) room at the department of cardiology of the SMIH, Dehradun with the prescription of ECG screening during the study period were included in the study were included in the study. Results: In total, 1528 patients with or without a history of cardiovascular disease were enrolled from outpatient and emergency departments of cardiology. A final total of 312 participants considered for accuracy of interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias detected by the standard 12 lead ECG and smartphone ECG in comparison to cardiologists’ diagnosis. Mean age (SD) was 53.90±14.52 years. The male gender (68.78%) showed the maximum frequency than female gender. True Positive cases derived from confusion matrix for 12 lead standard ECG and smartphone ECG in comparison to cardiologist diagnosis was 264 as compared to 273 from 12 lead gold standard. Sensitivity of smartphone Spandan ECG (81.23%) was comparable to gold standard 12 Lead ECG (81.49%). And, specificity, PPV and NPV of smartphone Spandan ECG was recorded to be better than gold standard 12 Lead ECG. Arrhythmia was detected correctly in 403 (70.8%) cases and 431 (61.86%) cases by smartphone ECG and 12 lead gold standards, respectively. Conclusions: Spandan ECG device scored a high accuracy and sensitivity and high specificity. The overall accuracy of smartphone ECG in detecting the rhythm abnormalities increase by 9%, the significance rises in accuracy of computer interpretation when compared to the cardiologist’s diagnosis

Study of risk factors and perinatal outcome in meconium stained deliveries from a district of Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: The objective is to identify the risk factors of Meconium stained deliveries and evaluate the perinatal outcomes in Meconium Stained deliveries.Methods: This prospective observational study included those pregnant women who had completed 37 weeks of gestation, with singleton pregnancies with cephalic presentations and with no known fetal congenital anomalies. Among these, we selected 110 cases with Meconium stained amniotic fluid and they were compared with 110 randomly selected controls.Results: Regular antenatal visits were seen in 22.73 % of the cases while 77.27% cases had no previous visit. Majority of cases were primigravida and gestational ages of >40 weeks was seen in 55.45 % cases. 19.09% cases had meconium staining among pregnancies complicated with pregnancy induced hypertension, as compared to those among controls (5.45%). Fetal heart rate abnormalities were seen in 29.09% cases, and statistically significant fetal bradycardia was seen in cases. Caesarean section rates were nearly double in cases (54.55%). Poor perinatal outcome was found in cases as seen in results by low Apgar score (40 weeks, pregnancy induced hypertension and fetal bradycardia, increased cesarean section rates, low APGAR score and higher incidence of birth asphyxia and NICU admissions. Meconium aspiration syndrome was associated with early neonatal death

Comparison between the conventional method and molecular line probe assay for identification and drug sensitivity of mycobacteria tuberculosis from clinical specimens

Rapid susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains is imperative for therapy selection but traditional drug susceptibility tests take weeks or are expensive. Classical drug susceptibility (DST) may take up to 2 to 4 months. The line probe assay is a commercially available line-probe assay that rapidly detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex, as well as the most common mutations associated with rifampicin and isoniazid. In this study we assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid molecular method in comparison with the conventional method

A prospective evaluation of breast thermography enhanced by a novel machine learning technique for screening breast abnormalities in a general population of women presenting to a secondary care hospital

Artificial intelligence-enhanced breast thermography is being evaluated as an ancillary modality in the evaluation of breast disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of Thermalytix, a CE-marked, AI-based thermal imaging test, with respect to conventional mammography. Methods: A prospective, comparative study performed between 15 December 2018 and 06 January 2020 evaluated the performance of Thermalytix in 459 women with both dense and nondense breast tissue. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic women, aged 30–80 years, presenting to the hospital underwent Thermalytix followed by 2-D mammography and appropriate confirmatory investigations to confirm malignancy. The radiologist interpreting the mammograms and the technician using the Thermalytix tool were blinded to the others' findings. The statistical analysis was performed by a third party. Results: A total of 687 women were recruited, of whom 459 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty-one malignancies were detected (21/459, 4.6%). The overall sensitivity of Thermalytix was 95.24% (95% CI, 76.18–99.88), and the specificity was 88.58% (95% CI, 85.23–91.41). In women with dense breasts (n = 168, 36.6%), the sensitivity was 100% (95% CI, 69.15–100), and the specificity was 81.65% (95% CI, 74.72–87.35). Among these 168 women, 37 women (22%) were reported as BI-RADS 0 on mammography; in this subset, the sensitivity of Thermalytix was 100% (95% CI, 69.15–100), and the specificity was 77.22% (95% CI, 69.88–83.50). Conclusion: Thermalytix showed acceptable sensitivity and specificity with respect to mammography in the overall patient population. Thermalytix outperformed mammography in women with dense breasts and those reported as BI-RADS 0