Objectives: The concept of “Abnormal illness behavior (AIB)” has been evolved to a greater extent in the last century. Henry Sigerist introduced the concept of “illness behavior” in 1929. Mechanic & Volkart defined and further conceptualized the impression on illness behavior. Talcott Parson had given the concept of “Sick role,” and Issy Pilosky had familiarized the notion of “abnormal illness behavior.” The main objective of this article is to review the conceptual evolution on “abnormal illness behavior” and to analyze its current clinical implications. Methods: Extensive search of literature was performed regarding abnormal illness behavior, illness behavior and sick role in online web searching sites like – Google Scholar, PubMed and individual journal sites as well as google books. The literature was critically reviewed with personal inputs from authors. Results: Abnormal illness behavior ranges from denial of illness in one extreme to conscious amplification of symptoms on the other. Abnormal illness behavior is noticed in various clinical conditions like stress-related disorder, stress-related disorders, factitious disorder and malingering. Conclusions: Identifying abnormal illness behavior can prevent unnecessary and excessive utilization of medical aids for the same.

Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; biosynthesis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Mental Status Schedule ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Prolactinoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; Psychotic Disorders ; complications ; diagnosis

The prevalence of dental caries in Brunei Darussalam is highly alarming and dental anxiety in general leads to avoidance of dental care. Since this is an era of preventive dentistry utilising a holistic approach, excellent results could be achieved if preventative methods are regularly used by people in day-to-day life. Gum chewing is increasing dramatically despite racial, cultural and religious taboos against them. Many previously considered chewing sugared gum might increase the cariogenic load. However with better understanding of cariology, it is now perceived by many that chewing sugared gum after meals is safe. Sugarless gum has an important role in preventive dentistry. Chewing gum with incorporation of anti-plaque agents and various drug delivery systems is distinctive as a special confectionary item. This article reviews the historical background of gum chewing, the role of various chewing gums in preventing oral diseases like dental caries and periodontal diseases, its role in the management of xerostomia, hypersensitive teeth and as an alternate to cigarette smoking habit.

Objective: In search of alternative herbal medicine for pathogenic microorganism variety of plant species have been identified. However, search of new species are still in progress to reduce the pressure on biological diversity and increase availability of organic compound. In the light of this the present work identified phytochemical property and antibacterial activity of Leucas vestita.Methods:The ethanol extract of L. vestita was used for this study. The phytochemicals present in the extract was identified and the antibacterial activity was tested through disc diffusion method. Results: The phytochemical studies revealed the presence of primary and secondary metabolites which ensuring their herbal properties. Antimicrobial activity showed increasing zone of inhibition with increasing concentration of the extract with Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis among the other microorganism. Larger zone of inhibition of 14mm was recorded for K. pneumoniae. Conclusions:The study suggests that this extract can be used as a medicine to control some of these pathogenic bacteria.

Introduction: Medical practice involves routinely making critical decisions regarding patient care and management. Many factors influence the decision-making process, and self-confidence has been found to be an important factor in effective decision-making. With the proper transfer of knowledge during their undergraduate studies, selfconfidence levels can be improved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of High Fidelity Simulation as a component of medical education to improve the confidence levels of medical undergraduates during emergencies. Methodology: Study participants included a total of 60 final year medical undergraduates during their rotation in Medical Senior Posting. They participated in a simulation exercise using a high fidelity simulator, and their confidence level measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The results found that the confidence levels of ‘Assessment of an Emergency Patient’, ‘Diagnosing Arrhythmias’, ‘Emergency Airway Management’, ‘Performing Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation’, ‘Using the Defibrillator’ and ‘Using Emergency Drugs’ showed a statistically significant increase in confidence levels after the simulation exercise. The mean confidence levels also rose from 2.85 to 3.83 (p<0.05). Conclusion: We recommend further use of High Fidelity Simulation in medical education to improve the confidence levels of medical undergraduates.
Students, Medical ; Practice Management, Medical

Objective:To determine the antibacterial, antifungal, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the protease activity of the stingray mucus Dasyatis sephen (D. sephen) and Himantura gerrardi (H. gerrardi). Methods: Antimicrobial activity of crude aqueous, acidic and organic mucus extract was evaluated by disc diffusion method against human pathogens, MIC of the active samples were determined by spectrophotometric method and the protease activity which is responsible for the antimicrobial activity was determined by using zymogram method. Results:The crude acidic extracts of both the species showed antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) and the acidic extracts of both the species exhibit antifungal activity against all the tested pathogens. Remaining extracts didn't show any inhibitory activity. The acidic extracts of H. gerrardi is significantly active against S. typhi, E. coli, V. cholerae, Trichophyton mentagrophytes (T. mentagrophytes), Alternaria alternaria (A. alternaria), Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum), Candida tropicalis (C. tropicalis) at the minimum concentration of 16μg/mL, but the acidic extract of D. sephen required 32μg/mL of protein to inhibit S.typhi, E. coli, Aspergillus niger (A. niger), penicillium sp, T. mentagrophytes, A. alternaria. Both the D. sephen and H. gerrardi shows the proteolytic activity above the molecular mass of> 66 KDa. The characterization of protease class using inhibitors showed the presence of both serine and metallo protease in the the samples. Conclusions:Protease activity present in the sting ray mucus is one of the key factor responsible for the antimicrobial activity and the results proved the role of mucus in the innate immunity.

A female patient aged 48 years presented with sub-acute onset of weakness in right upper and lower limb over the past one month and numbness over left side of body below neck level. Multiple sclerosis (MS) presenting as Brown-Séquard syndrome is very rare. We present a case of hemicord myelitis which presented as Brown-Séquard syndrome as a first manifestation, which was later diagnosed as MS during subsequent relapses.

Pulp chamber is considered as a very important and integral part of the tooth. Pulp chamber undergoes different types of morphological and pathological alterations. Calcified canals are one amongst other pathological alterations. Calcified root canals have been a challenge to the diagnostician and the dental physician before diagnosis and after diagnosis respectively. It is considered that the impact of an irritant to the tooth, like trauma, caries, infection and age changes can precipitate calcification. Calcification makes a dentist to negotiate with his treatment planning and at times it can be a surprise element.

Late vascular complications involving aorta are rare but devastating adversities following anterior thoracic spine operations are present. The current article describes our experience with one such patient who had an iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta, mimicking infection. The patient was treated successfully following concomitant efforts by multidisciplinary experts with shunting. We wish to highlight upon the significance of recognizing the possible sinister consequences of a dangerously prominent spinal implant and the role of a suspicious surgeon in identifying these menacing complications at the right time.
Aneurysm, False ; Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed