Factors Affecting the Use of Medical Articles for Citation and Academic Reference.

Introduction: Increases in publication quantity and the onset of open access have increased the complexity of conducting a literature search. Bibliometric markers, like impact factor (IF), have traditionally been used to help identify high-quality research. These markers exist amongst a variety of other factors, which poses the following question: what factors are examined when considering articles for clinical and academic research?

Objective: To determine what factors are involved when authors choose citations to include in their publications.

Management of Fetal Supraventricular Tachycardia: Case Series from a Tertiary Perinatal Cardiac Center.

Background: Fetal supraventricular tachycardia is a relatively uncommon cardiac rhythm abnormality which is often associated with adverse perinatal outcomes if untreated. Although there are several treatment modalities and protocols in use globally, there is no consensus as to the most effective antiarrhythmic to manage this condition.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate perinatal outcomes following prenatal maternal therapy for fetal supraventricular tachycardia.

Longitudinal assessment of ventricular strain, tricuspid and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE and MAPSE) in fetuses from pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: To evaluate fetal cardiac function using myocardial deformation analyses, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and diastolic function parameters in pregnancies complicated by maternal diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Myocardial deformation using velocity vector imaging (VVI), TAPSE, MAPSE and diastolic function was measured in 126 women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies and 50 women with diabetes mellitus. Women underwent ultrasound scans every four weeks from recruitment (18-28 weeks gestational age) until delivery.

Peri-Operative Patient Safety - An Interactive Workshop for Section 3 CPD Credits Developed in Collaboration with the CMPA.

Background: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada requires physicians to collect credit in continuing professional development courses including Section 3 credits which require feedback and self-assessment. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of offering Section 3 credits in a conference setting using an interactive workshop on peri-operative patient safety developed in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA). Both the knowledge gained and the attitudes towards the conference were analysed.

Global longitudinal reference ranges for fetal myocardial deformation in the second half of pregnancy.

Purpose: To construct longitudinal fetal reference ranges for global longitudinal myocardial deformation (strain and strain rate) of the left and right ventricles in the second half of pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective, observational, longitudinal study of 120 women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. The participants underwent ultrasonographic scans every 4 weeks from enrolment (18-28 weeks) until delivery.

Longitudinal Reference Ranges for Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion and Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion in Normally Grown Fetuses.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to construct reference ranges for fetal tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) using conventional M-mode ultrasound (US) in the second half of pregnancy.

Methods: Participants underwent US scans every 4 weeks from 18 weeks' gestation until delivery. The TAPSE and MAPSE were measured by conventional M-mode US at each examination.

Surgeon and Assistant Point of View Simultaneous Video Recording.

Video recording has become a very common practice in surgery and is one of the paramount methods to teach proper surgical techniques. Traditionally it has been limited by a variety of factors including cost, the need for constant camera reposition, and the use of external photographers, which is both costly and labor-intensive. We describe the use of dual modified point of view (POV) GoPro head mounted cameras to record synchronized POV surgery for the purpose of training surgical assistants.

Using Simulation Technology to Improve Patient Safety in Airway Management by Practicing Otolaryngologists.

Objective: Simulation technology provides a safe environment to learn crisis resource management in stressful clinical scenarios, such as the acute airway. While a number of surgical simulation studies have assessed trainees, there remains a paucity of data on simulation benefits for practicing physicians. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a simulation symposium on airway management for practicing otolaryngologists.

Effectiveness of e-Learning in a Medical School 2.0 Model: Comparison of Item Analysis for Student-Generated vs. Faculty-Generated Multiple-Choice Questions.

Background: Early reports in the literature describe using student-generated questions as a method of student learning as well as augmenting question exam banks. Reports on the performance of student-generated questions versus faculty-generated questions, however, remain limited. This study aims to compare the question performance of student-generated versus faculty-generated multiple-choice questions (MCQ).

Perioperative Teaching and Feedback: How are we doing in Canadian OTL-HNS programs?

Background: Discrepancies between resident and faculty perceptions regarding optimal teaching and feedback during surgery are well known but these differences have not yet been described in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS). The objectives were thus to compare faculty and resident perceptions of perioperative teaching and feedback in OTL-HNS residency programs across Canada with the aim of highlighting potential areas for improvement.

Methods: An anonymous electronic questionnaire was distributed to residents and teaching faculty in OTL-HNS across Canada with additional paper copies distributed at four institutions.

Prelabour myocardial deformation and cardiac output in fetuses that develop intrapartum compromise at term: a prospective observational study.

Redistribution of cardiac output is responsible for the "brain sparing" effect seen during periods of acute or chronic fetal stress. We investigated the relationship between prelabour cardiac function in fetuses that subsequently developed intrapartum fetal compromise (IFC). A blinded, prospective, observational, cohort study, at Mater Mother's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with isolated foetal congenital heart abnormalities.

To determine obstetric, intrapartum, and perinatal outcomes for pregnancies with isolated foetal congenital heart defects (CHDs). This was a retrospective cohort study of women that delivered an infant with an isolated major CHD between January 2010 and April 2017 at a major Australian perinatal centre. The study cohort was compared with a cohort of women with infants without CHD.

Assessment of left ventricular function using the Myocardial Performance Index in term fetuses that develop intrapartum compromise.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the prelabour left ventricular Myocardial Performance Index (LVMPI) and intrapartum fetal compromise (IFC) in low-risk term pregnancies.

Methods: A blinded, prospective observational cohort study at the Mater Mother's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. A cohort of 284 women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies underwent fortnightly ultrasound from 36 weeks until delivery.

Adding Live-Streaming to Recorded Lectures in a Non-Distributed Pre-Clerkship Medical Education Model.

Background: Live-streaming video has had increasing uses in medical education, especially in distributed education models. The literature on the impact of live-streaming in non-distributed education models, however, is scarce.

Objectives: To determine the attitudes towards live-streaming and recorded lectures as a resource to pre-clerkship medical students in a non-distributed medical education model.

Mobile Audience Response Systems at a Continuing Medical Education Conference.

Background: Mobile audience response systems (mARS) are electronic systems allowing speakers to ask questions and audience members to respond anonymously and immediately on a screen which enables learners to view their peers' responses as well as their own. mARS encourages increased interaction and active learning.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the perceptions of audience members and speakers towards the implementation of mARS at a national medical conference.

Tips for using mobile audience response systems in medical education.

Background: With growing evidence on the benefits of active learning, audience response systems (ARSs) have been increasingly used in conferences, business, and education. With the introduction of mobile ARS as an alternative to physical clickers, there are increasing opportunities to use this tool to improve interactivity in medical education.

Aim: The aim of this study is to provide strategies on using mobile ARS in medical education by discussing steps for implementation and pitfalls to avoid.

A Novel Combination Point-of-View (POV) Action Camera Recording to Capture the Surgical Field and Instrument Ergonomics in Oculoplastic Surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate a novel combination head-mounted/chest-mounted point-of-view recording system for oculoplastic surgical procedures.

Methods: The point-of-view head camera captures the surgical field, while the point-of-view chest camera captures a wide field of view to record instrument ergonomics. Various methods of recording were trialed.

Medical school 2.0: How we developed a student-generated question bank using small group learning.

Background: The multiple-choice question (MCQ) is one of the most common methods for formative and summative assessment in medical school. Common challenges with this format include (1) creating vetted questions and (2) involving students in higher-order learning activities. Involving medical students in the creation of MCQs may ameliorate both of these challenges.

Secondary repair of Ebstein's anomaly with atrioventricular septal defect using the cone technique.

A nine-year-old boy with incomplete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and Ebstein's anomaly had undergone a closure of primum atrial septal defect and repair of right and left AV valves at four years of age. He presented with severe regurgitation of the right AV valve. He underwent further surgery, and a cone reconstruction of the right AV valve was performed.

Use of β-blockade and levosimendan for separation from extracorporeal life support in an infant with postoperative diastolic dysfunction.

Diastolic dysfunction is common in infants and neonates with left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction and may lead to low-cardiac output in the postoperative period. We present a management strategy for severe postrepair diastolic dysfunction in an infant with critical congenital aortic stenosis and LV hypertrophy, employing β-blockade and levosimendan.

Differences in Ototoxicity across Species.

Objective: To illustrate some differences between humans and rodents in the dose-effect relationships for two ototoxic drugs.

Study Design: Controlled animal study using typical research regimens for gentamicin and cisplatin compared with human data from the clinical literature.

Methods: Auditory brainstem response testing was carried out over months in two groups of animals exposed to typical dose regimens for ototoxic drugs.

Ototoxic effects of single-dose versus 19-day daily-dose gentamicin.

Introduction: Gentamicin is one of the most extensively studied aminoglycoside antibiotics. The dogma of gentamicin ototoxicity theorizes that (1) the toxic effects of the drug are cumulative and dose dependent, despite clinical observations of ototoxicity after a single dose, and (2) gentamicin's ototoxic effects are irreversible, although clinicians have observed improvement in hearing over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate this basic dogma by examining the ototoxic differences between single-dose and 19-day daily dosing of gentamicin over a 60-day period.