Aim: The present research study aims to study the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a teaching learning tool in biochemistry for I MBBS students. Objectives: To enhance the ability of students to apply their knowledge of biochemistry to clinical case scenarios using WhatsApp as a medium of instruction and to evaluate the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a medium of teaching complementary to traditional teaching. Materials and Methods: Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. I MBBS students were enrolled after obtaining their informed consent. WhatsApp group was formed involving the students and faculty of the department of biochemistry. Study period: 3 months (April – June 2018). Sample size: 131 I MBBS students. Topics that were earlier taught by didactic lectures were chosen and clinical scenario based discussion on those topics were initiated in the WhatsApp group thus created. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were given before and after the WhatsApp based discussion and student feedback about the WhatsApp based teaching method was also obtained. Results: The pre-test and post-test scores were compared using paired t test and it was observed that the performance of students improved significantly after the WhatsApp sessions. An analysis of feedback from students has revealed that 78% of students felt that the WhatsApp sessions helped them to logically analyse the information taught and another 71% felt that it helped them apply their knowledge of biochemistry to clinical case scenarios. The students perceived the WhatsApp based teaching method to be effective, as evident from their feedback. Conclusion: It is evident from the study that the WhatsApp based case discussion has proved to be an effective supplement to conventional mode of teaching, though it cannot totally replace the conventional method. Therefore, it can be concluded that the social media has the potential to revolutionize medical education in the future

This paper proposes a simple HPLC method for the identification of vitamin D3 in fortified milk powder. The method was applied to the determination of the vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) concentration in commercial products containing known amounts of vitamin D, under the following chromatographic conditions: C 18, 5 µrn, 120 A, 4.6 x 150 mm column, a mobile phase consisted of methanol and UV (DAD) set at 265 nm. The linearity range was established between 0.01-0.2 μg/ml of cholecalciferol prior to the analysis. The extraction was performed with dichloromethane: methane 1:1 (v/v) prior to the analysis. The limit of quantification was 50 ng/ml. Rapid determination of vitamin D through the chromatographic method represents a good solution for its quantification in the fortified milk powder.