ABSTRACT
Context: Recently, non‑communicable diseases have snatched the lead from infectious diseases in causing mortality. Of these, oral cancer accounts for a significant proportion of deaths. Every year in India significant percentage of newly diagnosed malignancy is oral cancer attributed to various reasons. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of oxidative stress and its effect on modification of DNA by urinary nucleoside 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in oral cancer subjects. To see the relationship between the nucleoside 8‑OHdG and antioxidant capacity ferric reducing ability plasma (FRAP) in oral cancer subjects. Settings and Design: Case–control study included three groups with 60 volunteers, who were divided into 30 controls, and equal number of clinically diagnosed oral cancer male patients: (Subdivided into newly diagnosed [n = 15] and 1‑year treatment follow‑up oral cancer subjects [n = 15]). Materials and Methods: A random urine sample was used for analysis of 8‑OHdG concentration. Serum triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, protein thiols, and FRAP assay were performed by spectrophotometric technique. Statistical Analysis Used: Student’s t‑test and one‑way analysis of variance were performed for group comparison and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used. A P < 0.05 was considered the optimum level of significance. Results: The urinary 8‑OHdG and serum malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated in newly diagnosed oral cancer subjects in their 1‑year treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between urinary 8‑OHdG and FRAP in both groups of oral cancer subjects. Conclusions: Urinary 8‑OHdG can be a useful diagnostic marker of oxidative DNA damage in oral cancer subjects.
ABSTRACT
Background. Graduate medical students often get less opportunity for clarifying their doubts and to reinforce their concepts after lecture classes. The Medical Council of India (MCI) encourages group discussions among students. We evaluated the effect of identifying mistakes in a given set of wrong statements and their correction by a small group discussion by graduate medical students as a revision exercise. Methods. At the end of a module, a pre-test consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) was conducted. Later, a set of incorrect statements related to the topic was given to the students and they were asked to identify the mistakes and correct them in a small group discussion. The effects on low, medium and high achievers were evaluated by a post-test and delayed post-tests with the same set of MCQs. Results. The mean post-test marks were significantly higher among all the three groups compared to the pre-test marks. The gain from the small group discussion was equal among low, medium and high achievers. The gain from the exercise was retained among low, medium and high achievers after 15 days. Conclusion. Identification of mistakes in statements and their correction by a small group discussion is an effective, but unconventional revision exercise in biochemistry.