Online teaching of undergraduates in pathology during COVID-19 pandemic: An opportunity to grab or dismiss?

Introduction: Covid 19 pandemic has brought human life one on one with the pace of growth. The indispensable lockdown and social distancing norms have posed challenges to continue education in various fields. Distance learning via online teaching has emerged as a savior in the pandemic. In the current scenario, it is very important to keep learners in the loop and obtain feedback from students at the end of online teaching, for understanding its strength and weaknesses which will eventually assist in developing strategies to improve its quality. We intend to share our experience with the online teaching. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from March 2020 to Feb 2021, which includes 8 months of online teaching classes and practicals, one online examination (mid term exam), and 1 offline examination (final professional exam). The marks obtained by the students who attended online classes (batch II) in 2020-21 session was compared with previous batch i.e 2019-20 (batch I). Also the marks obtained by batch I during online exam (mid-term exam) were compared with their marks during offline exam (final professional exam). Results: Batch II scored higher marks than batch I in theory and practical (p-value < 0.05). However, the marks of viva for both batches were equitable. Conclusions: We feel that the online teaching is a reasonable alternative to conventional teaching in the current scenario.

A Cross sectional study of Quality of Life of Cancer patients attending Palliative Care OPD.

Abstracts: Background: In India there are 2-2.5 million estimated cancer patients at any given point of time. ‘Palliative care’ approach improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problem associated with life-threatening illness. Quality of life (QOL) is multidimensional construct. Objectives: To assess their quality of life and factors associated with it. This is an attempt to collect baseline data to help improve palliative care services. Materials and Methods: selected patients for the study (total=108) were interviewed with the help of FACT-G Scale for Measuring the Health-related QOL (Sub scores-Physical, Social, Emotional & Functional well-being). The total scores ranged from 0-108 (0-47 poor, 48-63 average, 64-108 good). Statistical Analysis: Chi square test. Results: Out of total 108 patients, 72.22% were females. Mean age was 50.91 years (SD± 2.02). 78.70% were married, 29.63% illiterate, 43.52% belonged to Middle Socio-economic class, 89.81% had Stage 2 and 3 cancer. Mean total FACT-G scale QOL score was 54.61 (SD ±8.18). Relation between marital status and socio-economic status with total QOL score was statistically significant. Conclusions: The median of all sub-scores worsened with progress of stage of cancer. Patients with better socio-economic status and were married had better QOL scores. Counselling will improve their QOL through palliative care services.

An Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability Study of Ferrous Ascorbate and Folic Acid (Phosfomin-XT) in Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Aim: This study was aimed to assess efficacy, safety and tolerability of combination of ferrous ascorbate and folic acid (Phosfomin-XT) in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Settings and design: A total of 56 patients, who were between 18-55 years of age, with hemoglobin (Hb) 6-9 g/dl and serum ferritin <15 mg/l also complying with the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the protocol were enrolled in the study after obtaining necessary approvals and informed consent. All were dispensed with Phosfomin-XT fixed-dose combination (FDC) of ferrous ascorbate (equivalent to elemental iron 100 mg) + folic acid 1.5 mg tablet once-daily after food for eight weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline and Weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8 for change in Hb level, clinical evaluation and target Hb achievement. Results: Baseline mean Hb was 08.39 ± 0.75 g/dl, which significantly increased to 9.76 ± 0.70 g/dl (16.3%) at Week 2 and further increased to 10.70 ± 0.70 g/dl (27.53%) at Week 4. At Week 6, it increased to 11.55 ± 0.67 g/dl (37.7%) and at Week 8, it increased to 12.53 ± 1.09 g/dl. Conclusions: The present study concludes that Phosfomin-XT (ferrous ascorbate, equivalent to elemental iron 100 mg + folic acid 1.5 mg) tablet should be preferred as first choice of oral iron salts to treat IDA due to positive effect on Hb value and superior tolerability.

Comparative assessment of the bioavailability, efficacy and safety of a modified-release (MR) carbonyl iron tablet and oral conventional iron preparation in adult Indian patients with nutritional iron deficiency anaemia.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the bioavailability, efficacy and safety of a new modified-release (MR) formulation of carbonyl iron (45 mg) relative to a commercially available conventional formulation of ferrous fumarate (300 mg) in adult Indian patients with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of nutritional iron deficiency anaemia. This prospective, comparative, randomised, double-blind study was carried out among 60 patients received a single daily dose of either MR carbonyl iron or ferrous fumarate for 12 weeks. The effect of therapy on haematological parameters and iron status and estimation of bioavailability were the main efficacy outcomes. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in mean haemoglobin levels, reticulocyte counts, haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume in MR carbonyl iron group compared to ferrous fumarate group. There was also an increase in mean serum iron and ferritin levels and a corresponding decrease in total iron binding capacity in MR carbonyl iron group compared to ferrous fumarate group at the end of 12 weeks therapy. The estimated overall bioavailability of MR carbonyl iron was about 147% that of ferrous fumarate. Both the formulations were equally well-tolerated and adverse events were mainly gastrointestinal in nature. The prevalence of adverse events was slightly more in the ferrous fumarate group. It can be concluded that the MR formulation of carbonyl iron was more efficacious than ferrous fumarate in correcting haematologic abnormalities and improving iron status in patients with nutritional iron deficiency anaemia. In conditions where efficacy is an important consideration, the higher bioavailability of MR carbonyl iron may make it the treatment of choice for nutritional iron deficiency anaemia.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of iron polymaltose complex and folic acid (Mumfer) vs iron formulation (ferrous fumarate) in female patients with anaemia.

Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia with conventional oral preparations is handicapped by unpredictable haematological response in addition to potential for irritating gastrointestinal adverse events. Iron polymaltose complex (IPC), a novel oral iron formulation with better absorbability, predictable haematinic response and less side effects was compared with oral ferrous fumarate in 100 female patients with documented iron deficiency anaemia. Clinical parameters (pallor, weakness) as well as biochemical parameters (Hb, serum iron, total iron binding capacity) show favourable changes with IPC; the physician and patient assessment also favour IPC over ferrous fumarate.