Crossword puzzle: a tool for enhancing medical students' learning in microbiology and immunology

Background: Incorporation of active-learning methods into classroom allows students to be motivated and enhances their learning experience. Crossword puzzles are found to be an interesting educational tool for teaching medical students as it evokes interest, motivates, enhances their critical thinking, allows a better understanding of concepts, and helps in reinforcing the material acquired during lecture. Aims and Objectives of the research work was intended to implement and evaluate the use of crossword puzzle as a tool in effective learning of Microbiology and Immunology.Methods: Using free online resources, crossword puzzles were created and provided to the students during microbiology and immunology lectures. Students’ perceptions of the crossword puzzle activity were assessed through an 8-item questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale. The data was collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed.Results: More than 85% of the students indicated that crossword puzzles enhanced their learning, oriented them to the important topics, and served as good tool in effective learning of microbiology and immunology.Conclusions: Students perceived that crossword puzzles enhanced their learning of microbiology and immunology. Use of crossword puzzles provides a simple, creative, and effective means to incorporate active learning of microbiology and immunology in the classroom

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis of the Nucleotide Excision Repair Genes XPC, XPA, and XPG in the Indian Population

We have analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the XPC, XPA, and XPG genes of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway in the Indian population. In the XPC gene we observed nine polymorphisms in the coding region, four polymorphisms in the intronic region, and two polymorphisms in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR). In the XPA gene we observed one frequent SNP (allele frequency 0.48) within the 5′ UTR at the 1665 position in a large proportion of the sample. In addition, we observed three novel heterozygous polymorphisms (a C to A transversion at position 1523 and a G to A transition at positions 1418 and 1458, with an allele frequency of 0.004) within the promoter region. In silico PCR analysis demonstrated that all three novel polymorphisms lie within a putative CpG island and that the variation at position 1418 falls within the potential GATA1/2/3 transcription factor(s) binding site and also within the negative control element.We performed a gel retardation assay with HeLa cell nuclear extract with an oligonucleotide encompassing this region. One of the alleles found at position 1458 of the XPA gene showed a significant change in protein-DNA interaction. In the XPG gene we found five polymorphisms in the coding region and one each in the 5′ UTR of exon 1 and in intron 13

A review on laboratory liver function tests

Laboratory liver tests are broadly defined as tests useful in the evaluation and treatment of patients with hepatic dysfunction. The liver carries out metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and fats. Some of the enzymes and the end products of the metabolic pathway which are very sensitive for the abnormality occurred may be considered as biochemical marker of liver dysfunction. Some of the biochemical markers such as serum bilirubin, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, ratio of aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, 5 ’ nucleotidase, ceruloplasmin, α-fetoprotein are considered in this article. An isolated or conjugated alteration of biochemical markers of liver damage in patients can challenge the clinicians during the diagnosis of disease related to liver directly or with some other organs. The term “liver chemistry tests ” is a frequently used but poorly defined phrase that encompasses the numerous serum chemistries that can be assayed to assess hepatic function and/or injury. Key words: Laboratory liver test, bilirubin, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, ratio of aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, 5 ’ nucleotidase, ceruloplasmin, α-fetoprotein 1 Page numbers not for citation purposesLaboratory Liver Test

Amplification, cloning and sequencing of Enterococcus feacalis enolase gene

307-312α-Enolase, a key glycolytic enzyme, belongs to a novel class of surface proteins, which do not possess classical machinery for surface transport and transported on the cell surface through an unknown mechanism. It is a multifunctional protein and its ability to serve as a plasminogen receptor on the surface of a variety of hematopoetic, epithelial and endothelial cells suggest that it may play an important role in the intravascular and pericellular fibrinolytic system. Authors have amplified and cloned α-enolase gene of Enterococcus feacalis in a prokaryotic cloning vector, and then transferred it into Escherichia coli. The recombinant enolase vector (r-pBEnol) was isolated and sequenced. The sequence of the cloned enolase from E. feacalis was found identical to that of the E. feacalis V583. The sequence was submitted to NCBI nucleotide data bank and accession number (AM279410) was obtained