• The All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (AIPGMEE 2012) will most probably be conducted in January 2012
• NEET PG entrance exam, which was proposed as the replacement for AIPGMEE has not yet been confirmed
• AIIMS has decided that it will not be able to conduct NEET-PG and hence MCI will postpone it to 2013
• It is very important that we study the questions previously asked in AIPGMEE exams as a lot of questions will be repeated
• One cannot afford to make mistakes with the repeated questions!
• So we have created a facebook page for discussing the previously asked questions and important topics for AIPGMEE 2012
• After the exam is over, we can recollect the questions asked in the exam and find their answers
• So what are you waiting for? Join the Aipgmee 2012 Discussion group and fast track your AIPGMEE preparation

1. AIPGMEE 2011 – Questions and Answers – Discussion
2. AIIMS PG entrance – November 2011 – Questions and Answers – Discussion
3. NIMHAHNS PG entrance 2011 – Questions and Answers – Discussion

UPDATE : 200 questions recalled – visit our AIIMS November 2011 MCQ section to view them! The answers are being updated one by one. You can also join our  AIIMS PG Entrance – November 2011 – Discussion group to discuss the questions.

• Entrance examination for admission to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Post Graduate courses – January 2012 session will be conducted on 13th November 2011
• You can apply online at www.aiimsexams.org
• We have created a facebook page for MCQ discussion and exam preparation
• Previously asked questions in AIIMS and AIPGMEE exams will be discussed
• Recent advances in medicine are also important
• After the exam is over, we can recollect the questions asked and discuss the answers!
• So what are you waiting for? Join AIIMS PG Entrance – November 2011 – Discussion group and blaze towards a AIIMS PG seat!
• Want to know the secrets of toppers? Read what Dr.Jineesh V, the topper of AIIMS PG entrance November 2010 has to share with us!

1. AIIMS PG entrance – May 2011 – Questions and Answers – Discussion
2. AIIMS PG entrance November 2011 – 200 questions recalled!
3. PGIMER PG entrance – November 2011 – Questions & Answers Recall and Discussion

• Congratulations on securing the 8^TH Rank  in AIIMS PG entrance May 2011! What is the secret of your success?
  • Gods grace, my parents, , all  teachers who ever taught me, my college the great Govt Medical College Calicut, my school KV No1 Calicut, my sister , my dear friends, my fellow competitors and all the patients I ever saw in whose pain we got knowledge to help people decrease their sufferings by becoming  instrument of god to their cure or support

• What was your study strategy?
  • My strategy was simple.
  • During my MBBS I used to read from the standard textbooks,examine as many as patients as possible.
  • In internship to learn as many as practical procedures like LP, Bone marrow biopsy, aspiration, pleural tap, ascitic tap, lymph node biopsy, venesection, phlebotomy, bladder catherisation etc etc and assist in major and minor surgical cases with high interest.
  • I was also very much interested in critical care medicine like learning to use ventilator, intubating, icu monitoring, snake bite management and others.
  • Our professors and all teachers and the junior residents gave us great opportunity to involve in case discussions and to take part actively in patient management from the wards to the casualty. I am highly thankful to them
  • I read from very good standard textbooks for theory and for mcq’s I did  ashish gupta & mudhit khanna mainly.
  • All of the above strategies helped me to built a platform of knowledge from which I was able to try to solve the questions in mcq format or some other format.

• When did you seriously start preparing for this exam?
  • I think we cant draw any arbitrary point of time at which preparation started. As I feel each and every knowledge we get from our birth onwards helps us to tackle any question in life. Be it MCQ’s, patient management issues, or any problem in life we are facing. Knowledge gained is never wasted, it will help us some day.
• In your opinion, how much time does a student require for preparing for this exam?
  • Its different for different persons. Anyone who has studied properly during their MBBS has better chance of clearing in first attempt. For others who hadn’t studied much in their MBBS times I feel 1 year is sufficient if you are enthusiatic.
• · How many hours did you study each day?
  • During MBBS I used to see maximum patients and learn from best teachers and the best books available to me. I didn put any time limit for it. It entirely depended on my interest that day.
  • Internship of Govt Medical College is very academically stimulating though its very hectic. In easier postings I tried my best to refreash my knowledge and try to think on new ideas gained from the textbooks.
• Did you have a timetable for preparation? Were you able to stick to it?
  • I didn’t have any timetable.
• Were you able to prepare well during the internship period?
  • For me preparation is a spectrum of continuity. I gained from every intereaction with patients, teachers, junior residents, nursing staff, my other co interns and all the books whenever it was possible to read them
• Did you attend any coaching? Was it useful?
  • I attended a coaching class during my internship, and tried to attend whenever possible. It was very useful for giving me orientation on how the entrance exams are patterned on.
• What were the subjects you focused upon?
  • All subjects are important I think
• What books did you read for theory?
  • Anatomy – Parts of Chaurasia, Parts of Snell
  • Physiology – Ganong
  • Biochemistry – Lippincott
  • Pathology – The biggest Robbins
  • Microbiology – Ananthanarayan and Panikers
  • Pharmacology – KDT, Sparsh Gupta
  • Forensic medicine – Pillai, Sumith Sethi
  • Ophthalmology – Parsons, Khurana
  • ENT – Dinghra, Dr.Shibu’s ENT
  • Community medicine – Park
  • Medicine – Harrisons, Davidsons, Harrisons pretest, Hutchisons, McLeod
  • Surgery – Bailey and Love, Surgery pretest
  • Obgyn – Sheila Balakrishnan, Shaws
  • Peadiatrics – OP Ghai
  • Anesthesia – Not any specific book other than Ashish Gupta, Mudit Khanna
  • Psychiatry – Neeraj Ahuja and Psychiatry Pretest.
  • Radiology – Ashish Gupta, Mudit Khanna and from other subject books relevant information
• Is there anything specific to keep in mind while preparing for AIIMS? (when compared to AIPGMEE and other state exams) – regarding books for preparation, topics to focus on etc…
  • Try to Do your basics properly. Learn last 10 years question papers thoroughly,its very very important. For controversy questions given in the guide don’t believe the guides completely. Base your answer for those questions based on your logic and extensively refer standard textbooks till you find satisfaction for them. Identify your weaknesses and try to rectify them. Never be overconfident
• What was your plan for the week before the exam?
  • To revise previous question papers
• What was your strategy for taking the exam?
  • To attempt as many as possible and try to get 100% marks. But it was not possible.
• How many questions did you attempt?
  • 193
• How many do you think you got correct?
  • Between 163 and 155 I think.
• What is your advice to future aspirants?
  • Realize your strength and play with it. Try to have your own strategy by taking all the good things which suit you from the strategy of people who got good ranks .
  • And those dear friends who couldn make it this time – don’t be sad. Victory will be yours one day. Its just that its been delayed. If you unleash your talent one day or the other you will make it..
  • Always be thankful to the great gracious loving God, in whose one stroke all our pride and arrogance will burn to ashes.

• That brings us to the conclusion of the interview. Best of luck for your future endeavours!

1. Interview with Dr. Pavan Rasalkar – 11th rank holder – AIIMS PG entrance May 2011
2. Interview with Dr. Anoop MK, – 12th rank holder – AIIMS PG entrance November 2011
3. Interview with Dr. Jineesh V – 1st rank holder – AIIMS PG entrance – November 2010

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences has invited applications for admission to AIIMS PG (MD/MS/M.Ch. (6 years) / MDS / MHA) / Post Doctoral (DM/M.Ch) courses for July 2011 session.
• Date of AIIMS PG entrance exam
  • MD/MS/M.Ch. (6 years)/MDS – 08.05.2011
  • DM/M.Ch./MHA- 15.05.2011
• Test centres
  • MD/MS/M.Ch. (6 years)/MDS - Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai
  • DM/M.Ch./MHA - Delhi only
• Cost of application cum examination fee - Rs. 1000/- (Rs. 800/- in case of SC/ST candidates)
• Application procedure
  • On-line Application
    • Visit www.aiimsexams.org
    • Read the prospectus and other details carefully and follow the instructions given
    • Application fee can be paid through a challan form (downloadable from the website) in any branch of State Bank of India
    • Transaction Processing Fee (as applicable) will be payable to the Bank
  • Off-line Application
    • Prospectus-cum-Application Form can also be obtained BY POST by sending a crossed Bank Draft for Rs. 1050/- for General/OBC and Rs. 850/- for S.C./S.T. category, drawn in favour of the “ACCOUNTS OFFICER (EXAMS), AIIMS-PG-JULY 2011″.
    • The Bank Draft should be payable at New Delhi and should be valid for six months (upto Aug/Sep, 2011).
    • The request should reach the Assistant Controller of Examinations, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110 608 on or before 11.04.2011.
    • The address at which Application Form is required should be written clearly in CAPITAL LETTERS and with PIN code.
    • The following words should be written on top of the envelope: ”Request for Application Form for AIIMS-PG/Post Doctoral Courses, JULY 2011 Session”.
    • AIIMS will not be responsible for delay/non-receipt of Application Form caused by illegible or incomplete address.
    • Prospectus can also be obtained by hand from the Reception Counter of Examination Section, AIIMS against Bank Draft for Rs. 1000/- for General / OBC and Rs. 800/- for SC/ST category drawn in favour of the “ACCOUNTS OFFICER (EXAMS), AIIMS-PG-JULY., 2011″ as specified above.
    • NB: Indian Postal Orders, money orders, cheques or cash will NOT be accepted for postal/counter sale.
• Note:
  1. Sponsored candidates of Central/State Govt./Armed forces/PSU/Autonomous bodies as well as Foreign National candidates are also required to fill in the prescribed online / off-line application form indicating their choice of subject (only one subject).
  2. The foreign nationals are required to send of their filled in Application (Downloaded copy of Registration Slip in case of applying On-line Application) through Diplomatic Channel.
  3. Such sponsored candidates as well as foreign national candidates are required to appear in the Competitive Entrance Examination along with other candidates.

IMPORTANT DATES

1. Online Registration of Application on www.aiimsexams.org 28.03.2011 to 15.04.20112
2. Off-line sale of Application Forms
   • By Post : 28.03.2011 to 11.04.2011
   • By Hand  : 28.03.2011 to 15.04.20113
3. Last Date for On-line Application  15.04.2011 (upto 5.00 p.m.)
4. Last date for receipt of completed Offline Applications at Examination Section, AIIMS 15.04.2011 (upto 5.00 p.m)

• For more details, visit www.aiimsexams.org
• Download AIIMS PG Entrance May 2011 Notification

Join the AIIMS PG Entrance – May 2011 – Discussion group to discuss the questions and answers!

1. AIPGMEE 2012 Notification published!
2. AIPGMEE 2012 online application form published
3. PGIMER PG entrance exam – May 2011 – Notification

Monochorionic monoamniotic placenta with cord entanglement
Click on image for an enlarged view

Monochorionic monoamniotic twins have single placenta and lie in a single amniotic cavity.

Mechanism:

• It arises from division of the implanted blastocyst 8-13 days after fertilisation
• Division of blastocyst beyond this period results in conjoint twins

Incidence:

• It occurs in 1 in 35000 to 1 in 60000 pregnancies
• It constitutes 1% of monozygotic pregnancies

Complications:

• High risk of cord entanglement – up to 71% (more than 50% of perinatal deaths occur due to this)
• Cord compression – one twin may compress the cord of the other
• Twin – twin transfusion syndrome

Diagnosis:

• Ultrasound scan
  • Single placenta
  • Absence of inter twin dividing membrane
  • Single yolk sac (in most cases)
  • Concordant gender
  • Cord entanglement later in pregnancy

Management:

• Regular foetal monitoring
• Check for development of complications
• Early termination of pregnancy by caesarean section by 32-34 weeks
  • There is increased incidence of cord entanglement after this period
• Steroid administration to promote foetal lung maturity
• Maternal sulindac (selective COX2 inhibitor) has been tried to reduce amniotic fluid volume and thereby risk of cord entanglement

Image credits: Rinoop Ramachandran, Calicut Medical College

1. Obstetrics & Gynaecology – MCQ 65 – Risk of postpartum hemorrhage
2. Artificial rupture of membranes (amniotomy)
3. Tracheoesophageal fistula – Clinical features, Diagnosis and Management

Pulmonary function test – Flow volume curve
Click on image for an enlarged view

• Spot the diagnosis and submit your answer to win exciting prizes!
• Quiz master:  Dr. C.P Rauf, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Chest Hospital, Calicut
• Decision of the quiz master is final and binding on all participants
• Contest open only to Indian Residents
• Last date for submission of entries – 23rd November, 2010
• Join the PG Blazer group on Facebook to get the latest updates
• If you have any queries, Contact us

Update:

Episode 1 of Pulmonology quiz has ended. Thanks to all who participated. The results will be published soon and winners will be notified by email. You can now participate in the Second episode of Pulmonology quiz.

Update 2:

The results are out! The correct answer is Vocal cord dysfunction syndrome. Unfortunately none gave the correct answer…

1. Pulmonology quiz – Episode 2
2. AIIMS PG entrance May 2011 results published!
3. Vocal cord dysfunction syndrome – case report – Powerpoint presentation, Video laryngoscopy

• Hills’s sign refers to the increased systolic blood pressure recorded in the lower limb in cases of aortic insufficiency
• Normally,  the lower limb systolic blood pressure is 10-20mm higher than the upper limb pressure
• This is appreciated only when using the indirect method of blood pressure measurement (using sphygmomanometer)
• Direct blood pressure measurement using intra arterial probes do not show the pressure difference

Mechanism of Hill’s sign:

• The increased blood pressure is the result of summation of reflected pressure waves
• The lower limb vessels are more muscular compared to the upper limb vessels
• Also they are a direct continuation of the aorta unlike the upper limb vessels which arise at a 90 degree angle
• As a result, the pressure wave is transmitted at high speed in the wall of the lower limb vessels, gets reflected at the end and summates with the incoming wave
• This results in the apparent increase in lower limb blood pressure

What happens in aortic regurgitation?

• In aortic regurgitation, the increased momentum of ejection results in greater amplitude of the pressure wave
• Hence, the pressure wave summation effects are greater resulting in increased blood pressure difference

Grading of aortic regurgitation using Hill’s sign

Image credits : Nephron

1. Hoover’s sign – Functional leg paresis
2. Kussmaul’s sign – Causes, Mechanism
3. Medicine – MCQ 53 – Water hammer pulse

• Laryngeal papillomas constitute 80% of the neoplastic lesions of the larynx
• Juvenile laryngeal papillomas are a type of squamous papillomas seen in infants and children

Etiology:

• It is believed to be viral in origin (Human papilloma virus)
• Association with maternal condylomata acuminata is seen

Pathology:

• Proliferation of squamous epithelium

Sites involved:

• Epiglottis
• True vocal cords
• False vocal cords
• Other areas of larynx
• Trachea

Clinical Features:

• Hoarseness of voice
• Stridor

Treatment:

• Endoscopic removal by cup forceps
• Cryotherapy
• Microelectrocautery
• CO2 laser – preferred method – less bleeding, precise removal possible

Recurrence:

• There is high chance of recurrence
• Interferon therapy is useful in preventing recurrence

Image credits: Otolaryngology Houston

1. Vocal nodule – Etiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical features and Management
2. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma – Etiology, Pathology, Clinical Features and Management
3. Ringertz tumour (Inverted Papilloma) – Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Treatment

• Demographic gap is the difference between birth rate and death rate that develops when a country undergoes demographic transition
• In a demographic cycle, as the country develops and the living conditions improve, there is first a decrease in the death rate in the population
• But the birth rate continues to remain at a high level
• This results in a demographic gap and a resultant increase in the total size of population
• The demographic gap is maintained till the birth rate and death rates become equal and the population size becomes stable

1. Demographic cycle
2. Population growth rates
3. Age pyramid