A comprehensive review of clinical experiences and extracurricular activities for US premedical students applying to osteopathic medical schools.

Context: The healthcare industry faces a critical shortage of qualified physicians. To address this growing concern, medical schools nationwide are increasing their efforts to recruit and train premedical students to fill this gap. Those efforts include adequately preparing premedical students with the competencies and skills to meet the application requirements and gain acceptance to the medical school of their choosing.

Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy With Dense Bladder Adhesions and Absent Cervix: A Case Report With a Descriptive Video of the Entire Procedure.

Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States. Hysterectomy for benign gynecological reasons can be performed through several approaches: abdominal, laparoscopic, laparoscopically assisted vaginal, robotic-assisted, and vaginal natural orifice hysterectomy. The choice of approach is strongly influenced by factors such as previous procedures, safety, and recovery process.

Incorporating Augmented Reality Into Anatomy Education in a Contemporary Medical School Curriculum.

Anatomy education in the medical school curriculum has encountered considerable challenges during the last decade. The exponential growth of medical science has necessitated a review of the classical ways to teach anatomy to shorten the time students spend dissecting, allowing them to acquire critical, new knowledge in other disciplines. Augmented and mixed reality technologies have developed tremendously during the last few years, offering a wide variety of possibilities to deliver anatomy education to medical students.

Promoting cultural competency and osteopathic medicine awareness among premedical students through a summer premedical rural enrichment program.

Context: Premedical preparatory programs at osteopathic medical schools that recruit students from medically underserved areas (MUAs) may promote interest in practicing osteopathic medicine in underserved or rural areas. In these programs, emphasis on cultural competency may increase diversity among medical school applicants and decrease healthcare disparities in the future.

Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine whether a summer premedical rural enrichment program (PREP) held at an osteopathic medical school located in a MUA will foster greater prioritization of cultural competency in medicine, enhance interest in practicing in rural or underserved areas, and increase familiarity with osteopathic medicine.

Integration of Nutrition Topics in Osteopathic Medical School Curriculum - Shared Experiences.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. A crucial component of osteopathic medicine's philosophy is self-regulation, preventive care, and health maintenance, including a healthy lifestyle.

Motivating High School Students From Rural Areas to Attend College and Pursue Careers as Osteopathic Physicians.

Context: One potential way to address critical current and future projected health care workforce shortages is through comprehensive programs that could potentially inspire high school students to pursue osteopathic medical careers in underserved areas.

Objective: To determine whether a comprehensive, 5-week enrichment program could promote interest among rural high-school students in careers osteopathic medicine.

Methods: In May 2018, 116 high school students with a grade point average of 2.

Single Accreditation and The Match: How Does the Change Affect Osteopathic Graduates?

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. There is a predicted serious shortage of physicians in the US.

Group V secretory phospholipase A2 enhances the progression of angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysms but confers protection against angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis in apoE-deficient mice.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and heart failure are complex life-threatening diseases whose etiology is not completely understood. In this study, we investigated whether deficiency of group V secretory phospholipase A(2) (GV sPLA(2)) protects from experimental AAA. The impact of GV sPLA(2) deficiency on angiotensin (Ang) II-induced cardiac fibrosis was also investigated.

Group X secretory phospholipase A(2) augments angiotensin II-induced inflammatory responses and abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in apoE-deficient mice.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex vascular disease characterized by matrix degradation and inflammation and is a major cause of mortality in older men. Specific interventions that prevent AAA progression remain to be identified. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Group X secretory phospholipase A(2) (GX sPLA(2)), an enzyme implicated in inflammatory processes, mediates AAA.

Group X secretory phospholipase A2 regulates the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in mouse adrenal glands.

We developed C57BL/6 mice with targeted deletion of group X secretory phospholipase A(2) (GX KO). These mice have approximately 80% higher plasma corticosterone concentrations compared with wild-type (WT) mice under both basal and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-induced stress conditions. This increased corticosterone level was not associated with increased circulating ACTH or a defect in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis as evidenced by a normal response to dexamethasone challenge.

Bioactive products generated by group V sPLA(2) hydrolysis of LDL activate macrophages to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: Previous studies have established that hydrolysis of LDL by Group V secretory phospholipase A(2) (GV sPLA(2)) generates a modified particle capable of inducing macrophage foam cell formation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether GV sPLA(2)-hydrolyzed LDL (GV-LDL) produces pro-atherogenic effects in macrophages independent of cholesterol accumulation.

Methods And Results: J-774 cells incubated with GV-LDL produced more TNF-alpha and IL-6 compared to cells incubated with control-LDL.

The capacity of group V sPLA2 to increase atherogenicity of ApoE-/- and LDLR-/- mouse LDL in vitro predicts its atherogenic role in vivo.

Objective: In vitro data indicate that human LDL modified by Group V secretory phospholipase A(2) (GV sPLA(2)) is proatherogenic. Consistent with this, gain and loss of function studies demonstrated that GV sPLA(2) promotes atherosclerosis in LDLR(-/-) mice. The current study investigates whether GV sPLA(2) promotes atherosclerotic processes in apoE(-/-) mice.

Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency Prevents Diet-induced Hepatic Triacylglycerol Accumulation and Hyperglycemia in Mice.

Acid sphingomyelinase plays important roles in ceramide homeostasis, which has been proposed to be linked to insulin resistance. To test this association in vivo, acid sphingomyelinase deletion (asm(-/-)) was transferred to mice lacking the low density lipoprotein receptor (ldlr(-/-)), and then offsprings were placed on control or modified (enriched in saturated fat and cholesterol) diets for 10 weeks. The modified diet caused hypercholesterolemia in all genotypes; however, in contrast to asm(+/+)/ldlr(-/-), the acid sphingomyelinase-deficient littermates did not display hepatic triacylglyceride accumulation, although sphingomyelin and other sphingolipids were substantially elevated, and the liver was enlarged.

Syndecan-4 mediates macrophage uptake of group V secretory phospholipase A2-modified LDL.

We previously reported that LDL modified by group V secretory phospholipase A2 (GV-LDL) promotes macrophage foam cell formation through a mechanism independent of scavenger receptors SR-A and CD36, and dependent on cellular proteoglycans. This study investigates the role of syndecans, a family of cell surface proteoglycans known to mediate endocytosis through macropinocytosis, in macrophage uptake of GV-LDL. LY 294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, significantly reduced internalization of (125)I-labeled GV-LDL in J-774 macrophages, consistent with a macropinocytic uptake pathway.

Biology of secretory phospholipase A2.

Introduction: The secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) family provides a seemingly endless array of potential biological functions that is only beginning to be appreciated. In humans, this family comprises 9 different members that vary in their tissue distribution, hydrolytic activity, and phospholipid substrate specificity. Through their lipase activity, these enzymes trigger various cell-signaling events to regulate cellular functions, directly kill bacteria, or modulate inflammatory responses.

Distinct mechanisms for OxLDL uptake and cellular trafficking by class B scavenger receptors CD36 and SR-BI.

Modified forms of LDL, including oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL), contribute to macrophage lipid accumulation in the vessel wall. Despite the pathophysiological importance of uptake pathways for OxLDL, the molecular details of OxLDL endocytosis by macrophages are not well understood. Studies in vitro demonstrate that the class B scavenger receptor CD36 mediates macrophage uptake and degradation of OxLDL.

Group v secretory phospholipase A2 promotes atherosclerosis: evidence from genetically altered mice.

Objective: Group V secretory phospholipase A2 (GV sPLA2) has been detected in both human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions. This enzyme has potent hydrolytic activity towards phosphatidylcholine-containing substrates, including lipoprotein particles. Numerous studies in vitro indicate that hydrolysis of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) by GV sPLA2 leads to the formation of atherogenic particles and potentially proinflammatory lipid mediators.

Elevated sphingomyelinase activity and ceramide concentration in serum of patients undergoing high dose spatially fractionated radiation treatment: implications for endothelial apoptosis.

Spatially fractionated high dose (grid) radiation treatment (SFGRT) involves irradiation of bulky tumors with one high, grid-delivered, dose of 15 Gy followed by multiple consecutive doses of 2 Gy each. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of this treatment on serum ceramide content and to investigate possible involvement of ceramide in tumor regression after SFGRT. Serum ceramide and Secretory SMase (S-SMase) were quantified in 11 patients before and at 24, 48 and 72 h after the dose of 15 Gy.

Group V secretory phospholipase A2-modified low density lipoprotein promotes foam cell formation by a SR-A- and CD36-independent process that involves cellular proteoglycans.

Accumulating evidence indicates that secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes promote atherogenic processes. We have previously showed the presence of Group V sPLA2 (GV sPLA2) in human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions, its hydrolysis of low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, and the ability of GV sPLA2-modified LDL (GV-LDL) to induce macrophage foam cell formation in vitro. The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in macrophage uptake of GV-LDL.

Group V sPLA2 hydrolysis of low-density lipoprotein results in spontaneous particle aggregation and promotes macrophage foam cell formation.

Objective: Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes hydrolyze the sn-2 fatty acyl ester bond of phospholipids to produce a free fatty acid and a lysophospholid. Group V sPLA2 is expressed in cultured macrophage cells and has high affinity for phosphatidyl choline-containing substrates. The present study assesses the presence of group V sPLA2 in human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions and its activity toward low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles.

Elevation of ceramide in serum lipoproteins during acute phase response in humans and mice: role of serine-palmitoyl transferase.

Recent studies have indicated that ceramide generated in the liver is secreted into the bloodstream as component of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This manuscript investigates the effect of host acute phase response to inflammation on lipoprotein ceramide levels. In humans, two different patterns of responses were found.

Uptake and metabolism of low density lipoproteins with elevated ceramide content by human microvascular endothelial cells: implications for the regulation of apoptosis.

Ceramide is a bioactive molecule involved in cellular responses to stress and inflammation. The major pathway for ceramide accumulation is via agonist-induced activation of cellular sphingomyelinases. It has also been shown that the ceramide level in circulating low density lipoprotein (LDL) increases during systemic inflammation, hence it is of importance to understand whether LDL-derived ceramide also contributes to the cellular ceramide homeostasis and affects cell functions.