ICMR(INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH) - SHORT TERM STUDENTSHIP (STS) Awards
The Indian Council of Medical Research initiated the Short Term Studentship Program in 1979 in order to promote interest and aptitude for research among medical undergraduates. The main objective of this program is to provide an opportunity to undergraduate medical students to familiarize themselves with research methodology and techniques by being associated for a short duration with their seniors on ongoing research program or by undertaking independent projects. This may serve as an incentive for the students to take up research as a career in the future.
I have three projects (listed below), which were selected under this Short Term Studentship program, done during my II, III and IV year of medical school under the Departments of Biochemistry, Pathology and General Medicine respectively.
2013 STS: Smart health: Smart phones in clinical practice: A Review
ABSTRACT:
Recent years have seen an increased adoption of smartphones worldwide. New data from the India's 2011 census shows a shocking result that 59% of Indian households have a mobile phone but only 47% have a toilet. This vast mobile penetration, must be taken advantage, for the welfare of the people.
According to latest report, there are 27 million smartphone users in urban india, however there is no data regarding its distribution among Indian doctors and medical students. Many studies abroad have assessed their use, applicability and reliability in clinics. In US, FDA has started regulating the medical apps. To my knowledge, this is the first article to do a review cum survery in India.
Smartphones have the advantage of portability, continuous uninterrupted data stream and economic benefits, which have been reported where mobile communication is employed in remote healthcare services and telemedicine.
This paper aims to survey the prevalence and awareness of smartphones among doctors and also provides a brief overview of medicine and health-related smartphone apps on the market today.
The full article can be viewed here.
STS 2012: Histopathology-Without Xylene, A Safer Alternative?
ABSTRACT:
The basic material for the bulk of daily diagnostic work is the paraffin tissue section usually stained with hemotoxylin and eosin. Xylene, an important clearing agent employed in this routine method is a potent bio-hazard and dermo and neurotoxic. Therefore any technique that minimizes the use of xylene by using non-biohazardous substitutes, reduces staining time, and does not compromise the staining quality will be very valuable for diagnostic reasons as well as for maintaining a healthy laboratory environment thereby minimizing the risk of laboratory
personell.
1.7 % liquid dish washing soap(Vim lemon liquid dishwashing soap), has been used as a replacement for xylene in this innovative study.
THIS STUDY HAS BEEN PRESENTED IN:
LEIDEN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL STUDENT CONFERENCE 2013 and won THE BEST PAPER IN PATHOLOGY SECTION. The video of the presentation is available here.
STS 2011:Alterations in glycemic status, serum potassium, magnesium and uric acid levels in non-diabetic stroke patients
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
Stroke is an acute stress condition which leads to derangement in glucose metabolism, electrolyte imbalance (K and Mg) and metabolite accumulation (urea and uric acid) which may be toxic/non-toxic.
Hyperglycemia always remained as a valuable prognostic factor. However, there is a pressing need to identify additional treatable risk factors that are easily measured and highly prevalent in the general population. Hence, less investigated electrolytes and uric acid were included in this study.
METHODOLOGY:
Study design: Epidemiological case control study.
Study population: 30 patients each in acute stroke(admitted in-ward), history of stroke(attending the review clinic) and age and sex matched controls.
The samples collected were immediately analysed for Fasting Blood Glucose(FBS) and routine parameters using standard enzymatic kits in Autoanalyser. Electrolytes were analysed using flame photometer. Student’s t test and spearmann’s rank correlation was used.(p<0.050 is significant).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
All the parameters included in the study showed significant correlation between 3 groups (p=0.000 for FBS, Uric Acid, Mg and p=0.009 for potassium), with fasting blood glucose (p=.027), Mg (p=.000) and uric acid(p=.010) showing greatest significance with Barthel Index. Glucose exhibits inverse correlation, whereas Mg and uric acid have positive correlation withBarthel Index. With the help of MLR (Multiple Logistic Regression), Uric acid and FBS stand out as independent predictors of stroke severity, Uric Acid(p=0.07) more significant than FBS(p=0.16)
SUMMARY:
Hyperglycemia either at admission or if persistent in stroke patients predict stroke outcome is proved in the current study. In addition, the study revealed comparative hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia and hyperuricemia in acute stroke cases predicting worse prognosis. By Multiple Logistic Regression (MLR), FBS and Uric Acid are independent predictors of stroke.