Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are part of the diagnostic criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), yet little is known about their etiology. In some previous studies, no direct relation has been found between SMCs and objective memory performance, yet significant correlations have been identified between SMCs and psychological factors such as depression and anxiety. In the current study, we examined whether negative affect moderated the relation between objective memory functioning and SMCs in a sample of healthy, non-demented participants aged 65 and older. As predicted, several negative affect measures moderated the relationship between objective cognitive functioning and SMCs. In the absence of objective memory impairment as indexed by the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the Dementia Rating Scale-2nd Edition (DRS-2), higher levels of negative affect were associated with increased levels of SMCs. Moreover, a lower order negative affect factor, anxiety sensitivity, significantly moderated the relation between objective memory functioning and SMCs, after controlling for higher order measures of general negative affectivity. Findings suggest that negative affect, particularly anxiety sensitivity, distorts the subjective appraisal of one's own memory, such that people high on negative affect factors report more episodes of forgetting, even in the absence of objective cognitive impairments. (JINS, 2008, 14, 327-336.)

Objective:The undergraduate teaching in pharmacology has always been a challenging task for medical teachers. Traditional lecture format is monotonous and a passive way of learning. There is a need to shift the educational focus from content centered to case based. In an effort to create interest and further improve the student learning, we have introduced simulated bedside teaching sessions as case based learning (CBL) module (modified CBL-[mCBL]) for 2nd professional MBBS students.Materials and Methods:A case scenario of a clinical disease condition was prepared in consultation with a clinician. During the session, the case was presented along with discussion on the disease process, its management and rational drug use. Students were encouraged to participate actively. After the session, students were requested to fill the feedback questionnaire anonymously (both open-ended questions and responses on Likert scale).Results:According to the students, factors such as clinical orientation, interactivity and re-enforcement of important points helped them to learn better. Majority of the students (76.09%) found the sessions to be better than theory lectures and tutorials. The fact that the interactive component of departmental feedback (taken at the institutional level) has improved during the last 2 years could be attributed to the introduction of these sessions.Conclusion:mCBL (in the presence of departmental faculty and concerned clinician) is a good method of integrating pharmacology with clinical subjects. To make such sessions more reliable, the next planned step is to assess the knowledge gained by the students during such sessions in the future.

The Fellowship is a year long program with 2 contact sessions of one week each and an educational project at fellow's home institution. Limited funds available for travel, stay and course fee.

Background:Breast carcinoma is a major cause of mortality among women worldwide. Early detection and cure is the key to reduce the mortality of the disease. This article studied the role of high resolution ultrasound in detection and characterization of lesions to complement mammographic diagnosis and improve patient management.Aims and Objectives:To evaluate the role of complementary high resolution ultrasound, BIRADS scoring and to correlate it with histological diagnosis.Results and Observations:HRUS is excellent in detecting microcalcifications, malignant features of solid masses, differentiating focal asymmetry from masses, differentiating between solid and cystic lesions, simple and complex cysts and detecting satellite lesions and mammographically inaccessible areas for which special views can be done.Conclusions:Every case referred for digital mammography should undergo ultrasound irrespective of the age, symptoms and density of the breast parenchyma and a combined final BIRADS grading should be done. Ultrasound is an excellent imaging modality for breast lesions in expert hands.

OBJECTIVE: The rational use of medicines as per the World Health Organization (WHO) should be practiced globally. However, data regarding the completeness of the prescriptions and their rational use is lacking from developing countries like India. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prescribing patterns of drugs and completeness of prescriptions as per WHO core drug use and complementary indicators to provide real-life examples for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) online prescribing skill course for medical graduates. METHODS: Prescriptions of the patients, fulfilling inclusion criteria, attending Outpatient Departments of various specialties of tertiary care hospitals, were collected by thirteen ICMR Rational use of medicines centers located in tertiary care hospitals, throughout India. Prescriptions were evaluated for rational use of medicines according to the WHO guidelines and for appropriateness as per standard treatment guidelines using a common protocol approved by local Ethics committees. RESULTS: Among 4838 prescriptions, an average of about three drugs (3.34) was prescribed to the patients per prescription. Polypharmacy was noted in 83.05% of prescriptions. Generic drugs were prescribed in 47.58% of the prescriptions. Further, antimicrobials were prescribed in 17.63% of the prescriptions and only 4.98% of prescriptions were with injectables. During the prescription evaluation, 38.65% of the prescriptions were incomplete due to multiple omissions such as dose, duration, and formulation. CONCLUSION: Most of the parameters in the present study were out of the range of WHO-recommended prescribing indicators. Therefore, effective intervention program, like training, for the promotion of rational drug use practice was recommended to improve the prescribing pattern of drugs and the quality of prescriptions all over the country.