Peer Assessment of Student Presentations: Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned.

Background Students' presentations are a teaching-learning tool where students not only study and understand a topic but also teach their peers, thereby learning the art and skill of effective presentation. Aims The study aimed to evaluate peer assessments in students' presentations and find their role and application in improving presentation skills among students through feedback and course correction. Methods A group of students every week from a class of 125 was assigned a topic to present to the rest of their batch students who evaluated their presentation on a rubric shared via a Google Form link. The number of students who gave responses was noted. The responses were also shared with the presenters. The evaluator faculty moderated and discussed the areas for possible improvement and course correction. The students also filled out a feedback form on the entire exercise after presentations from the entire batch. Results The quality of students' presentation skills improved with subsequent students over the period. The students learned about their areas of improvement. Through the feedback form, students shared their reasons not to give a presentation. However, most of them found the exercise beneficial. Conclusions Peer assessment can be a credible mode for improving presentation skills with the active participation of other students and provide a learning method based on others' performances. Peer responses provide for self-evaluation and self-reflection. This type of survey among different institutions will identify students' flaws, help them improve and self-evaluate, and add to the current literature.

Synergistic Manifestations in Cardiac Cysticercosis Complicated by Snake Bite: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Cysticercosis presents a prevalent issue on a global scale. Nevertheless, disseminated cysticercosis (DCC) is infrequent; even rarer is asymptomatic DCC. Here, we present a unique case of asymptomatic DCC involving the heart in a young male who came to medical attention following a fatal snake bite, ultimately leading to his demise. Despite the widespread dissemination of cysticercosis affecting multiple organs, the individual remained asymptomatic for the condition. We present a case of a 23-year-old male who was brought to the emergency department with a history of alleged snake bites. The patient was declared dead upon arrival at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India. Autopsy findings revealed multiple significant cardiac abnormalities, including atheromatous changes with calcification in the root of the aorta and aortic valve, along with numerous collateral vessels originating from the left main coronary artery. Additionally, cystic nodules containing cysticercus larvae were identified within the myocardium, suggesting cardiac cysticercosis. The cause of death was determined to be complications related to the snakebite. This case emphasizes the importance of considering multiple potential etiologies in complex clinical presentations, especially in the tropics.

Morphometric Evaluation of Sutural Patterns at the Pterion and Asterion in Dry Indian Skulls: Surgical Relevance.

INTRODUCTION: The pterion and asterion serve as crucial landmarks on the skull, representing the antero-lateral and postero-lateral fontanelles in neonates, respectively. In clinical practice, these points play a pivotal role in guiding the understanding of deeper structures and their relationships to the head's surface. The thin calvarium at these junctures is susceptible to fractures, and the underlying vessels are prone to tear, often leading to extradural hematoma formation, necessitating burr hole surgery for evacuation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 40 human dry skulls in Indians (n= 27 male (10.8%), n= 13 female (5.2%)) of unknown age, evaluating morphometric characteristics of 80 pterions and asterions. Measurements were conducted using a digital caliper (SKADIOO±0.2mm/0.01") in millimeters on both sides of each skull. The investigation also included an examination of sutural patterns in Pterion and asterion. RESULTS: Three types of sutural patterns were identified in the pterion, the most common being the sphenoparietal variety (75% on the right, 70% on the left), followed by the epipteric variety, which was the second most common (11.3% on the right, 12.5% on the left), and then the frontotemporal type (1.3% on the right, 2.5% on the left). Two sutural patterns were observed in the asterion: type 1 (presence of sutural bone) in 17.9% of skulls and type 2 (absence of sutural bone) in 82.1%. CONCLUSION: The differences in pterion and asterion positions across various populations explored in previous studies motivated us to conduct this research in the Indian population. Our findings revealed that among Indians, the predominant pterion type is predominantly sphenoparietal, whereas type 2 is the most prevalent in asterion. Understanding the clinical significance of the pterion and asterion is crucial for healthcare professionals to ensure precise and safe surgical procedures, particularly for the effective treatment of head trauma patients.

Quadriceps Angle Measurement in Adolescents With Short Stature: Exploring the Relationship Between Postural Alignment and Lower Limb Mechanics.

Background The quadriceps angle (Q angle) is measured as an angle formed by two lines that extend from the anterior superior iliac spine to the midpoint of the patella and from the midpoint of the patella to the tibial tuberosity. The average Q angle value for children aged between seven to 12 years was 13.1˚±3.5˚in boys and 13.7˚±4.9˚ in girls, whereas 8˚-15˚ in men and 12˚-19˚ in women. Abnormal variation in Q angle is associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome, lateral patellar malposition, dislocation, chondromalacia patella, patella alta, genu varum, etc. Methodology The present study explores the status of Q angle values among adolescents with short stature and their comparison with age and gender-matched children between 10 and 15 years of age. Results We found a statistically significant difference between the Q angle value in the control group and the male with short stature group aged 14-15 years, with a mean difference of 3.7˚. However, among females, there was a significant difference between the control group and the short-stature group aged 12-13 and 14-15 years, with a mean difference of 2.8˚ and 2.5˚, respectively. Implications Early detection and timely remedial measures, e.g., quadriceps strengthening exercises, before skeleton maturity can prevent Q angle-related misalignments and abnormalities in the limb.

Mushroom Poisoning: A Case Series With a Literature Review of Cases in the Indian Subcontinent.

Mushroom is a fungus widely used as an edible in various parts of the world, especially in hilly regions with damp climates. Nevertheless, when picked from the wild to use as a vegetable, it has proved fatal for people ingesting it due to a lack of knowledge for distinguishing between poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms by the people of the local community. Three cases presented as emergencies from a single household comprising a 13-year-old girl and both her grandparents following the ingestion of mushrooms picked from a nearby forest area. Luckily the parents of the girl were out for work, so they survived and helped identify the mushroom. Most cases are not reported or documented, and data are present mainly in the form of case reports.

A Systematic Review on Quadriceps Angle in Relation to Knee Abnormalities.

Previous studies on the quadriceps (Q) angle and its relation to knee problems have led to conflicting conclusions. In this comprehensive review, we evaluate recent studies on the Q angle and analyze the changes in Q angles. Specifically, we investigate the variation in Q angles when measured under the following conditions: 1) under various measurement techniques; 2) between symptomatic and non-symptomatic groups; 3) between samples of men and women; 4) unilateral versus bilateral Q angles; 5) Q angle in adolescent boys and girls. It is widely believed that Q angles are more significant in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic individuals or that the right lower leg and left lower limb are equivalent, which is supported by little scientific data. However, research states that young adult females have higher mean Q angles than males.

Myocardial Infarction With Ventricular Wall Aneurysm: A Case Report.

A ventricular aneurysm can be pseudo or true; it is a rare complication of myocardial infarction induced by an intra-myocardial dissecting hematoma due to fragile myocardium. Ventricular wall rupture takes place two to four days after myocardial infarction when coagulative necrosis and inflammatory infiltrate and lysis of myocardial connective tissue results in weakening of infarcted myocardium. Acute cardiac wall ruptures are mostly fatal; an unwittingly located pericardial adhesion can abort a rupture resulting in a false aneurysm. The wall of a false aneurysm consists of the epicardium in contrast to a true aneurysm, which is composed of the myocardium. True aneurysms are complications seen in transmural infarcts. Thinned-out scar tissue paradoxically bulged during systole, and toughened fibrotic wall rupture doesn't usually occur. Deaths in subjects with true ventricular aneurysms occur due to mural thrombus, arrhythmias, and heart failure. We encountered a case of a true aneurysm, as reported below.

Online Foundation Course Program for First Year Medical Undergraduates Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic - A New Learning Experience.

Foundation programs are conducted in medical schools for undergraduate students, since they are naïve and unaware of the medical profession in depth. The program helps them to become familiar with the undergraduate medical training. The present intake of first year medical undergraduates had joined the institute amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and hence the foundation program had to be conducted through an online platform. The present paper is a description of the online program conducted in the institute and is aimed to focus on the pros and cons of using an online platform for conducting the program and the experience gained from it. The online foundation program was conducted over a period of 16 days through the Zoom© platform. The program was tailored to cater for the orientation of 175 students who were admitted for first year MBBS batch 2020-2021. Feedback from students was obtained through Google Forms© at the end of the program. The online program was conducted smoothly due to the dedicated efforts of all the team members. Sessions requiring hands-on training and physical field visits had to be omitted in the present program. Network connectivity issues were reported sometimes. The conduction of the online foundation course program was indeed a learning experience. The team work was well reflected in the feedback from the students, which revealed appreciation for the overall program. Many sessions went very well in the online mode; however, sessions on humanities and extracurricular activities could have been organized in a better way with the physical presence of the students.

Retroportal proper hepatic artery with malrotated gut.

he celiac trunk is the artery supplying the upper abdominal organs, mainly the lower part of esophagus, stomach, parts of duodenum, liver, gallbladder, spleen and pancreas. It normally trifurcates into the left gastric artery (LGA), the common hepatic artery (CHA) and the splenic artery (SA) at the superior border of the pancreas. This 'normal variant' of the vessel has been observed in 89.8 % cadaveric dissections in the Japanese population by Chen et al. (2009). Prakash et al. (2012) reported a normally trifurcating celiac trunk in 86 % of the south Indian population. The CHA branches from the celiac trunk, forms the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) and a proper hepatic artery (PHA), which further divides distally into right and left hepatic arteries. This normal origin and branching of CHA has been observed in 52­80 % of individuals (Michels 1966; Nelson et al. 1988; Hiatt et al. 1994; Koops et al. 2004; Chen et al. 2009). In a large series of 604 selective celiac and superior mesenteric angiographies, aberrant or anomalous vasculature was reported in 20.9 % of individuals by Koops et al. (2004). This knowledge and recognition of anomalous/aberrant or accessory vasculature in the upper abdomen, occurring in about one-fifth of the population is of vital importance to the hepatico-biliary-pancreatic surgeon to avoid iatrogenic injuries and complications, as well as to the interventional radiologist performing trans-arterial chemo-ablative procedures.