RESUMO
The Indian Medical Council introduced the Competency based medical education (CBME) in the academic year 2019-20. One of the many new changes in the undergraduate medical curriculum, was the Foundation course (FC) of one month duration, introduced at the beginning of the medical course. The purpose of FC was to prepare the entrant medical students to medical education and profession. Program evaluation is essential to analyse the utility and also for continuous remodelling of of any educational program, so that the primary objectives are achieved. The study hypothesis was that the students would find the foundation course vital and beneficial. This was a mixed method study including quantitative and qualitative methods. Following the conduct of FC, we collected feedback from diverse group of first professional medical students (n= 719) of academic year 2019-20 by administering pre-validated standardized questionnaires using google forms. Majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that the FC experience was educative, interesting, and an enabling experience. Qualitative responses revealed, that the students were pleased to be introduced to the most salient aspects of medical education and profession. The most significant suggestions for improvement were reduction of duration of FC, conducting FC after completing the entire admission process, reduce redundancy in topics and to deliver it more interactively. Our study is unique to have evaluated perception on FC from a large number of students across various government, private and deemed medical institutions in South India. Insights from this study will help to guide effective implementation of FC.
RESUMO
Among the chemical hazards, heavy metal like nickel (Ni) is considered to be a serious one. It induces severe liver and kidney damage by altering several marker enzymes and ascorbate-cholesterol metabolism. The objective of the study was to investigate the possible protective role of α-tocopherol on NiSO4 (Ni II) exposed alteration of hematological parameters, markers of liver and kidney functions, hepatic and renal antioxidant defense system in male albino rats. We have studied the effects of α-tocopherol supplementation on nickel sulfate induced alteration of body weight, hematology, liver and kidney toxicity markers (SGOT, SGPT, total protein, urea, creatinine) and hepatic and renal antioxidant defense system of male albino rats. Nickel toxicity results in decreased body weight gain and relative liver and kidney weight. Nickel treatment also resulted in alteration of hematological parameters along with increased liver and kidney toxicity markers. Nickel sulfate administration significantly increased the level of lipid peroxides and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in hepatic and renal tissue. Simultaneous treatment with á-tocopherol exhibited a possible protective role on the toxic effect of nickel on body and organ weights, hematological parameters, SGPT activity and improved tissue antioxidant defense system. α-tocopherol, may partially prevent nickel induced alteration of hematological and biochemical parameters as well as have amelioratic effects on nickel induced alteration of antioxidant status of liver and kidney.
RESUMO
Heavy metals are stable environmental contaminants, causing various alterations in target tissues. Garlic has some beneficial effect in preventing heavy metal induced various alteration. The objective was to investigate the possible protective role of fresh aqueous homogenate of garlic on hematology, erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in male albino rats treated with NiSO4 and K2Cr2O7. Rats were divided into six groups. Group I was untreated control. Group II was given aqueous homogenate of garlic (orally). Group III was administered with nickel sulfate (i.p). Group IV was given NiSO4 and garlic simultaneously. Group V was administered with K2Cr2O7 (i.p). Group VI were treated simultaneously with K2Cr2O7 and garlic. RBC, WBC, platelet count, PCV%, hemoglobin concentration decreased significantly and clotting time increased significantly after nickel treatment. After chromium treatment all the values decreased except clotting time. Increased malondialdehyde and glutathione level after nickel and chromium treatment was observed. Also erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities significantly increased after nickel and chromium treatment. Simultaneous garlic supplementation exhibited protective role to combat nickel toxicity, whereas no such beneficial effects were observed for chromium (VI). Garlic may partially prevent nickel and chromium induced alteration but such ameliorated effects as an antioxidant is only restricted on nickel induced alteration.
RESUMO
The optimal availability of immune cells in the peripheral blood stream of women plays a critical role in their response to disease and therapeutic interventions. Interaction between the reproductive and immune system plays an important immunoregulatory role. This study was designed to examine the impact of different phases of menstrual cycle on the blood leukocytes. Twenty-four healthy women in their reproductive age group and having regular menstrual cycle were studied during menstrual, proliferative and secretary phases of menstrual cycle. Total leukocyte count, absolute and differential counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes and mixed cells (includes eosinophils, basophils and monocytes) were analyzed. Results showed that the variations in the different types of leukocytes during different phases of menstrual cycle were not statistically significant. No significant inter group difference, except for the significant decrease in differential lymphocyte percentage in proliferative phase as compared to menses were observed.