A Study Of Incidence Of Neural Tube Defects And Their Pattern In A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Gurugram

Objective: The study was undertaken to determine the proportion and pattern of Neural Tube Defects (NTD)reported at tertiary care teaching hospital in Gurugram. The incidence of NTDs were determined and comparedwith other studies done in India and other countries.Material and methods: The study was carried out in SGT Medical College Hospital and Research Institute,Gurugram. The total number of deliveries was recorded from 2017- 2019.The aborted fetuses with NTDs wereobserved in detail externally for the sex, type of NTD and other associated anomalies after obtaining ethicalclearance and written informed consent of the parents.Results: The number of deliveries conducted between 2017-2019 at SGT Medical College Hospital and ResearchInstitute, Gurugram was 2500. There were 8 babies born with NTDs (5 female and 4 male). Overall incidence ofNTDs in the present study was 3.2/1000 births with female preponderance. The incidence of fetuses withanencephaly, myelocele, meningomyelocele, craniorachischisis and encephalocele were 0.8, 1.2, 0.4, 0.4, and0.4 per 1000 births respectively.Conclusion: Birth defects like Neural Tube Defects are easily detected by routine screening tests like USG in firstand second trimester of pregnancy. Public health measures like preconception folic acid supplements andincreasing awareness about maternal care during pregnancy needs to be highlighted to decrease the incidenceof congenital anomalies and their comorbidities.

Bipartite Atlas –A Rare Entity, a Study of Its Incidence in North Indians

Background:Combined anterior and posterior C1 bifidityi.e BIPARTITE ATLAS or SPLIT ATLAS is a rare entity Our goal in this study was to examine the incidence of this anomaly in North India. review the literature and the clinical implications of this cleft defects.. Methods:It is retrospective study ofNCCT evaluation in 1735 patients who underwent CECT neck[900 patients] NCCTwith spine evaluation[835patients]in Pankaj diagnostic set up between jan 2012 to December 2016, and department of radiodignosis Sarojini Naidu Medical college Agra during the time interval between dec 2016 to july 2017 the images were reviewed retrospectively to identify patients with BIPARTITE ATLAS defects . Posterior arch defects of the atlas were grouped in accordance with the classification of Currarino et al ,anomalies were subsequently grouped. Results: We found only 4(4/1735) patients of bipartite atlas i.e .2% of total . anterior ach defects were midline and have a reported width ranging from 1-5 mm The type A posterior arch defect was found in 3 patients and the type B posterior arch defect was found in one patients. No type C, D, or E defects were observed in these bipartite atlas defect The CT scans of the patients show midline clefts of the anterior and the posterior arches of C1 with similar imaging features:smooth margins lined by cortical bone and no lateral offset. The patients had no neurological symptoms relating to the C1 abnormality, and no follow-up was performed.Conclusion:Bipartite atlas is a rare entity as it’s incidence was found to be just .2% . knowledge is essential as it can predispose to certain neurological compressive disorders.awareness helps in clinicoradiological diagnosis, management in patient of trauma as appearance of cleft simulate Jefferson fracture.

Investigating inspection practices of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in selected Arab countries: views of inspectors and pharmaceutical industry employees

There are few studies that explore inspection practices of pharmaceutical facilities from the viewpoint of inspectors and industry employees. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, inspectors and quality assurance staff from 4 Arab countries - the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan - were surveyed about their inspection practices and views. There was considerable variation in inspection practices across countries and between the inspectorate and quality assurance staff within countries. Divergence was found in views associated with payment mechanisms. There was mutual agreement by both groups that inspectors were in short supply and that they needed to be better trained. Inspectors appeared to have less authority than expected in order to control pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing activities. Compounding this was a dearth of policy which would support a more uniform and systematic approach to the inspection process within and across countries

Portfolio based approach for teaching Community Medicine among medical undergraduates and assessment of their learning in a medical college in rural India

Objective: The study was undertaken to explore what and how first year medical undergraduates could learn about Community Medicine using a portfolio-based learning approach during the period of Social Service Camp in the village Pulai.  Methods: Study participants were 65 first year medical undergraduates participating in Social Service Camp in the village Pulai, during 10 - 24 October 2008. The first step was to set Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time bound (SMART) learning goals focused on Community Medicine. These learning goals were to be achieved during the fifteen days and within the existing curriculum, using existing resources and opportunities. The portfolio based records of students who accomplished their learning objectives were subjected to qualitative content analysis.  Results: Of 65 students, 41 (63.1%) completed and reflected on their portfolios. Methods adopted for learning were; interaction with community based groups (48.8%), interaction with allotted family members (43.9%), lectures series, role plays and demonstrations (36.6%), interactions with village level healthcare providers (31.7%) and journal exercises (26.8%). The portfolio based exercises were useful to 30 (46.2%) students to understand the social, economic and health problems of the villagers and their life style. Twenty four (36.9%) students said that it improved their communication skills. This exercise helped 11 (16.9%) students to explore weaknesses such as poor communication skills, poor knowledge of local language, inability to adjust in new environment.  Conclusion: The Social Service Camp in the village Pulai offered opportunities for portfolio based leaning to medical undergraduates. The students learned about the major topics of primary health care through self-directed learning.