A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, Kalwa, Thane, in Maharashtra state, India on 61 first-year MBBS students to compare the scores obtained by students in Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) with that obtained in Traditional Practical Examination (TPE). In the TPE, each student performed red blood cell count, which was followed by viva-voce on the same procedure and marks out of 30 were assigned by the examiners. Students were oriented regarding OSPE and the marking system. At the “procedure station” of the OSPE (maximum marks = 20), the examiners were provided with a pre-validated checklist containing 10 steps for performing red blood cell count within an allotted time of 10 minutes. Two marks were given for correct performance of each step mentioned in the checklist. At the “question station” (maximum marks = 10), students had to write answers to 10 short-answer type questions carrying one mark each. The total marks obtainable during OSPE were out of 30. The mean OSPE score was 23 +/- 2.41 (95% CI: 22.40 – 23.60) while that for TPE was 17 +/- 3.58 (95% CI: 16.10 – 17.90). The difference in the mean OSPE and TPE scores was highly significant (Z=10.859; p<0.00001). The gender difference in TPE scores was statistically significant (p=0.017) but that in mean OSPE scores was not significant. Although the stations where most students committed identical mistakes were noted and feedback regarding their performance was given, extra training may be required for few students with lower scores. Periodically conducted faculty development programmes would assist in creating a pre-validated OSPE question bank.

This study deals with the morphological variations of suprascapular notch of dry scapula. A total of 200 human dry scapulae which were obtained from the Department of Anatomy of various medical colleges were analyzed. The variation of suprascapular notch was recorded and classified into different types. The most common type of suprascapular notch in the study was U shaped. The other shaped were V and J shaped. We also encountered ossified suprascapular ligament and complete absence of suprascapular notch. Such conditions can cause suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome.

The evidence-based morphometric study was carried out to ascertain the Alzheimer’s like pathology in normal aging brain in Navi Mumbai, India.35 normal human cadaver brain specimens were acquired from MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai, and (Alzheimer`s disease brains) NIMHANS, Bangalore, after meeting the ethical clearance from MGMIHS. Control group of Alzheimer’s disease was considered. A history based on CERAD criteria was used for informent scale. We divided the total brains into five groups; group I (20 to 39 years), group II (40 to 59 years), group III (60 to 79 years), group IV (>80 years) and a control-group V (Alzheimer`s brain specimen). We recorded gross features, cortical thickness and the ventricular dilatation in each brain. The chi - square test was applied for calculating cortical atrophy and ventricular dilatation of various age groups. One way ANOVA test was applied to the relation between different age groups using the SPSS19 software. In our study, the mean reduction in brain weight was evident from the 6th decade of life with minimum weight of 800gm (951.90±101.3gm). A substantial difference in the average weight of the brain in different age group was observed (p<. 001). Cortical atrophy and ventricular dilatation was evident of 20% in group II, 60% in group III and 100% in group IV (p<. 01).

The structures supporting the tricuspid valve leaflets are called chordae tendinae. They are collagenous. They are also known as tendinous cords. The tricuspid valve cusps are attached into the atria, during ventricular contraction, by the chordae. Tension in the chordae tendinae is regulated by specialized muscles called papillary muscles which contract along with the ventricular muscle. The chordae tendinae are attached to the papillary muscles. The chordae tendinae have been found to be involved in causing valve dysfunction and have shown variations in their number and attachment causing tricuspid valve dysfunction. Hence, the study was undertaken to describe their morphology and report any variations. 96 hearts were studied, which were collected from cadavers allotted to undergraduate students for dissection, over a period of time. Hearts were removed by dissection method. Window dissection of the anterior ventricular wall and the posterior right ventricular wall exposes both the papillary muscles & the chordae tendinae. The following types of Chordae tendinae were observed. They were 5 in number and were as follows: Basal chordae, Fan shaped chordae, free edge chordae, rough zone chordae and Deep chordae. No abnormal deviations were observed.