BACKGROUND Regular monitoring of serum iron parameters is helpful for assessing the severity of alcoholic liver disease. Assessment of serum iron parameters are used for screening hereditary haemochromatosis in chronic liver disease. Serum iron parameters in chronic liver disease have not been clearly described in most of the studies. The aim of this study was to assess the serum iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation and ferritin levels in common chronic liver disease like alcoholic cirrhosis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C and chronic hepatitis B. MATERIALS AND METHODS 110 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease admitted to the Gastroenterology Department, Government Medical College, Kozhikode were selected for the study. The categories of chronic liver disease included in our study were alcoholic cirrhosis (Group I, n = 40), cryptogenic cirrhosis (Group II, n = 30), chronic hepatitis C (Group III, n = 20) and chronic hepatitis B (Group IV, n = 20). Serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation were estimated in the fasting sample. Statistical Analysis-Analysis was performed using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni test to assess statistical significance of difference of continuous variables among and between groups, respectively. The results were considered statistically significant at the level of p <0.05. RESULTS The serum iron level was normal and total iron binding capacity was low in all the four groups of chronic liver disease. Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were significantly higher in alcoholic cirrhosis in comparison with cryptogenic cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B, but was not statistically significant in comparison with chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSION We observed irregularities in iron status in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C and chronic hepatitis B.
Introduction: Fasting blood glucose is one of the major tests in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Diabetes Mellitus. Researchers have found the racial/ethnic differences in reference interval of common biochemical and haematological laboratory tests. Reference Intervals denotes normative values related to laboratory parameters/analytes used by diagnostic centres for clinical diagnosis. An appropriate reference value is essential for effective clinical decision making. Aim: To establish reference intervals for fasting blood glucose in healthy adult population of Ambalapuzha, North Grama Panchayath, Kerala, India. Materials And Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Govt. T.D. Medical College, Ambalapuzha, Alappuzha, Kerala, India, from February 2018 to August 2018. A total of 420 healthy individuals were included in the study. After random selection of subjects, fasting blood samples were collected and all the samples were analysed for fasting blood glucose levels. Data was analysed statistically by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. Mean, standard deviation, reference interval and comparison between both sexes and different age groups was done. Results: Out of 420 individuals 166 (39.5%) were males and 254 (60.5%) were females. The mean level of glucose was 80.97±10.113 mg% and the standard error of means was 0.493. The study population were categorised into 20-29 years, 30- 39 years, 40-49 years and 50-59 years age groups. When compared those age groups, the mean blood glucose level was highest (83.81 mg%) for the age group 50-59 years. Significant difference in mean was seen when 30-39 years and 40-49 years was compared with 50-59 years age category. Conclusion: The study concluded that there was no difference in the reference range established between males and females. There was a significant difference in the mean fasting blood glucose among different age groups.
BACKGROUND Traditional lecture is the most common type of teaching learning method used in professional colleges of India. Interactive lecture seems to be an important and feasible teaching learning method to increase the effect of learning in medical education. MATERIALS & METHODS The study was performed from July 2015 to October 2015 among first year medical students in Government Medical College, Idukki. All fifty first year MBBS students of 2014 batch were divided into group A and group B by simple random method. Two topics of translation were taken to both groups by two different lecture methods. The first topic was taught by interactive lecture to group A and traditional lecture to group B on the first day. Pre-test and post-test were done to assess gain in knowledge by two lecture methods. Second topic was taken to both groups on the second day by exchanging lecture methods. Their increase in knowledge was assessed by pre-test and post-test. On the second day, their feedback regarding perceptions and preferences were taken. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Mean scores of pre and post-test were analysed by paired t test. Level of knowledge gained among two lecture methods was compared by independent t test and qualitative data on feedback was analysed using Chi square test. RESULTS The level of knowledge gained by interactive lectures was significantly higher than traditional lectures. Students agreed that interactive lectures motivated them for self-learning and increased their confidence regarding study materials. It also helped them in the recollection of lecture content and clearing doubt than traditional lectures. CONCLUSIONS Interactive lectures were accepted and considered to be more useful than traditional lectures for teaching biochemistry at Government Medical College, Idukki.
Background: Locally advanced carcinoma oral tongue (stage III and IVa) is treated with surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. Induction chemotherapy (IC) has shown a reduction in mandible resection without compromising locoregional control (LRC) or overall survival (OS). This study is intended to evaluate the role of IC in locally advanced oral tongue retrospectively.Methods: Patients with oral tongue cancers stage III and stage IVa who received IC either with cisplatin+5-FU (PF) or docetaxel+cisplatin+5-FU (TPF) from January 1st, 2013 to Dec 31st, 2015 were included. All patients subsequently underwent surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. The primary endpoint was LRC and the secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS), OS, and patterns of relapse. The data was captured using structured proforma and followed up till April 30th, 2020. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan Meier curves. The difference in survival tested using Log-rank test.Results: Fifty-four patients were included in the study with a mean age of 46 years and the majority were males. Stage IVa patients were 57.4%, and 42.5% were stage III. The majority of patients received TPF (59.3%). All the patients completed the planned treatment. At a median follow-up of 58.9 months, 4-year LRC was 88.8%. The 4-year OS and DFS were 66.5% and 63.8%, respectively. Clinical downstaging was noticed in 55%, pathological downstaging in 68.5% of patients. One patient achieved a pathological complete response. A statistically significant difference was seen in DFS when compared among stage III and IVa (82.6% for stage III and 48.9% for stage IVa, p¼0.009). There was no significant difference in OS, DFS, or LRC. The median time to recurrence was 8.5months with 6 locoregional, 4 local, and 5 systemic recurrences.Conclusions: This study shows significant downstaging of tumors and a possibility for less extensive surgery. Induction chemotherapy in operable oral tongue cancers did not interfere with survival.Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors.
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