Objective: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are a crucial component of contemporary postgraduate medical education with many surgery residency programs having implemented EPAs as a competency assessment framework to assess and provide feedback on the performance of their residents. Despite broad implementation of EPAs, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the impact of EPAs on the learners and learning environments. A first step in improving understanding of the use and impact of EPAs is by mapping the rising number of EPA-related publications from the field of surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRett syndrome is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation of Mecp2 gene and primarily affects females. Glial cell dysfunction has been implicated in in Rett syndrome (RTT) both in patients and in mouse models of this disorder and can affect synaptogenesis, glial metabolism and inflammation. Here we assessed whether treatment of adult (5-6 months old) symptomatic Mecp2-heterozygous female mice with N-acetyl cysteine conjugated to dendrimer (D-NAC), which is known to target glia and modulate inflammation and oxidative injury, results in improved behavioral phenotype, sleep and glial inflammatory profile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have previously shown that maternal endotoxin exposure leads to a phenotype of cerebral palsy and pro-inflammatory microglia in the brain in neonatal rabbits. "Activated" microglia overexpress the enzyme glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) that hydrolyzes N-acetylaspartylglutamate to N-acetylaspartate and glutamate, and we have shown previously that inhibiting microglial GCPII is neuroprotective. Glutamate-induced injury and associated immune signaling can alter microglial responses including microglial process movements for surveillance and phagocytosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Competence by design (CBD) residency programs increasingly depend on tools that provide reliable assessments, require minimal rater training, and measure progression through the CBD milestones. To assess intraoperative skills, global rating scales and entrustability ratings are commonly used but may require extensive training. The Competency Continuum (CC) is a CBD framework that may be used as an assessment tool to assess laparoscopic skills.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOpioid tolerance, opioid-induced hyperalgesia during repeated opioid administration, and chronic pain are associated with upregulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a reduction in adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1) activity or expression would attenuate morphine tolerance and hypersensitivity, and inflammatory pain using murine models. To investigate opioid tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia, mice were subjected to twice daily treatments of saline or morphine using either a static (15 mg/kg, 5 days) or an escalating tolerance paradigm (10-40 mg/kg, 4 days).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Deep South states, particularly Alabama, experience disproportionately higher opioid prescribing rates versus national rates. Considering limited opioid use disorder (OUD) providers in this region, collaborative efforts between non-healthcare professionals is critical in mitigating overdose mortality. The Alabama Opioid Training Institute (OTI) was created in 2019 to empower community members to take action in combatting OUD in local regions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The objective of this study was to compare sustained rate control with intravenous (IV) diltiazem vs. IV metoprolol in acute treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate (RVR) in the emergency department (ED).
Methods: This retrospective chart review at a large, academic medical center identified patients with AF with RVR diagnosis who received IV diltiazem or IV metoprolol in the ED.
Miscommunication during patient handover can be a major cause of preventable medical errors. Emergency traumas are situations where high stress and cognitive load make communication more difficult. Simulation allows for junior learners to practice emergency scenarios in a low-risk setting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: Elevated glutamate production and release from glial cells is a common feature of many CNS disorders. Inhibitors of glutaminase (GLS), the enzyme responsible for converting glutamine to glutamate have been developed to target glutamate overproduction. However, many GLS inhibitors have poor aqueous solubility, are unable to cross the blood brain barrier, or demonstrate significant toxicity when given systemically, precluding translation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA significant number of residents in postgraduate training programs pursue dedicated research training. Currently, no formal curricula exist to transition residents back into clinical roles following dedicated research leave. This scoping review aims to determine what literature exists on the challenges faced by trainees who interrupt their clinical training for extended periods of time for research leave.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The inter-rater reliability (IRR) of laparoscopic skills assessment is usually determined in the context of motivated raters from a single subspecialty practice group with significant experience using similar tools. The purpose of this study was to determine the IRR among attending surgeons of different experience and practices, the extent of rater training that is necessary to achieve good IRR, and if rater training is retained over periods of nonuse.
Methods: In Part 1, 5 surgeons of different practice backgrounds assessed 3 laparoscopic cholecystectomy videos using the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills instrument.
Purpose: This study characterizes the progressive loss of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the relationship to functional decline, and the implications for physical therapy management.
Methods: Longitudinal data for 332 boys with DMD were extracted from medical records and analyzed. Summary statistics for age, number of visits, ankle dorsiflexion measures, and North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) scores were computed.
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a genetic disorder that is caused by mutations in the x-linked gene coding for methyl-CpG-biding-protein 2 (MECP2) and that mainly affects females. Male and female transgenic mouse models of RTT have been studied extensively, and we have learned a great deal regarding RTT neuropathology and how MeCP2 deficiency may be influencing brain function and maturation. In this manuscript we review what is known concerning structural and coinciding functional and behavioral deficits in RTT and in mouse models of MeCP2 deficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImpaired perineal wound healing is a major source of morbidity after abdominoperineal resection. Incisional negative pressure wound therapy can improve healing, prevent infections, and decrease the frequency of dehiscence. Our objective was to summarise existing evidence on the use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy on perineal wounds after abdominoperineal resection and to determine the effect on perineal wound complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives is key to the delivery of culturally appropriate health care and improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A working group to address inclusion and engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at a West Australian University has impacted on the curricula, faculty staff and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students within the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The University's Reconciliation Action Plan was the foundation and catalysed the group to promote cultural safety education for staff and provide inclusive activities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims And Objectives: To examine international studies that specifically focus on transition to practice for graduate registered nurses in rural and remote areas.
Background: Supportive graduate nursing programmes are essential for enabling nursing graduates' transition to practice and reducing attrition rates. Literature examining support measures for nursing graduates within metropolitan areas is abundant.
Background: Crotaline envenomation clinical manifestations vary considerably among patients. Current recommendations for treatment with Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab require assessment of envenomation control. Determining control of envenomation, particularly when patients are evaluated by different providers in separate clinical settings, can be difficult.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIgM multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare entity representing approximately 0.5% of all MM. It should be distinguished from malignant neoplasms of B cells with plasmacytic differentiation such as Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) and marginal zone lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe faculty clinical practice model provides dedicated time for nursing lecturers and educators in a university school of nursing to work with supervision in the clinical environments for an agreed amount of time each year. Allowing academics to partake in faculty clinical practice this way has been shown to update skills and retain clinical competency. Some nursing and midwifery academics believe it is essential to remain clinically current and up-to-date with professional issues in the clinical environments, whereas other academics believe reading current research maintains clinical competency.
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