The script concordance test as a tool to evaluate clinical reasoning in neonatology.

Background: Script concordance test aims to evaluate knowledge organization, which represents an essential component of the clinical competence.

Objective: To build a script concordance test and demonstrate its relevance in the evaluation of Neonatology skills.

Methods: A script concordance test including 20 vignettes and 20 items, was provided to 52 fourth year medical students and 11 family medicine interns.

[Choice of career by French medical students after the national ranking exam in 2012].

Purpose: Since 2011, the French medical students ranked after a national ranking exam (NRE) are making their career choice among 11 disciplines detailing the chosen one. Before 2011, this precise choice was unknown. Our work is the first descriptive study of French medical students choice of career after the NRE, precising the medical specialty chosen and the city of practical formation.

Efficacy of intravenous cyclosporin in moderately severe ulcerative colitis refractory to steroids.

Objective: The efficacy of intravenous cyclosporin (CSA) in acute severe ulcerative colitis (UC) is well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate its efficacy in moderately severe colitis refractory to steroids.

Methods: Twenty-six patients (17 men, mean age 41 +/- 14 yr) with UC refractory to steroids treated with CSA were included in this study.

Predictors of response to infliximab in luminal Crohn's disease.

Aims: To identify predictive factors of response to infliximab in luminal Crohn's disease (CD).

Patients And Methods: All consecutive patients with luminal CD treated with infliximab between October 1999 and March 2003 in Bordeaux's referral centers were included. All had at least 3 months follow-up post infliximab infusion and no prior treatment with infliximab.

Effects of bronchial obstruction on lower esophageal sphincter motility and gastroesophageal reflux in patients with asthma.

The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and asthma remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of bronchial obstruction on lower esophageal sphincter (LES) motility and reflux in patients with asthma. LES motility and esophageal pH were assessed in eight subjects with intermittent asthma and eight healthy volunteers during three consecutive 30-minute periods: baseline, methacholine-induced bronchospasm, and after inhalation of the beta2-agonist salbutamol.

Is there a link between writing ability, drawing aptitude and manual skills of dental students?

In France, students have to choose between medical or dental courses, according to their rank, after a competitive examination at the end of their first year of study. Intellectual ability is evaluated, while manual competence is not, and this is a paradox. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether it is possible to predict the manual aptitude of a dental student through tests that allow the qualities of reflection and organization to be judged.

Lamivudine therapy of chronic hepatitis B in three groups of patients: non transplanted patients, liver recipients, and kidney recipients.

Objective: As conflicting results have been observed by some authors in liver recipients, the aim of the study was to evaluate lamivudine therapy in 3 groups of patients with chronic hepatitis B: non-transplanted patients, liver and kidney recipients.

Methods: All patients were studied for clinical symptoms, hepatic enzymes, hepatitis B virus (HBV) serology, serum HBV DNA load, and HBV polymerase genotype (mutations associated with lamivudine resistance).

Results: During the 48-144 week-long follow-up (mean: 75 weeks), 23 non-transplanted patients, 5 liver and 6 kidney recipients were studied.