Education curriculum assessment for teaching electrocardiography: Rationale and design for the prospective, international, randomized controlled EDUCATE trial.

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation training is a fundamental component of medical education across disciplines. However, the skill of interpreting ECGs is not universal among medical graduates, and numerous barriers and challenges exist in medical training and clinical practice. An evidence-based and widely accessible learning solution is needed.

ECG Interpretation Proficiency of Healthcare Professionals.

ECG interpretation is essential in modern medicine, yet achieving and maintaining competency can be challenging for healthcare professionals. Quantifying proficiency gaps can inform educational interventions for addressing these challenges. Medical professionals from diverse disciplines and training levels interpreted 30 12-lead ECGs with common urgent and nonurgent findings.

A deep neural network learning algorithm outperforms a conventional algorithm for emergency department electrocardiogram interpretation.

Background: Cardiologs® has developed the first electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithm that uses a deep neural network (DNN) for full 12‑lead ECG analysis, including rhythm, QRS and ST-T-U waves. We compared the accuracy of the first version of Cardiologs® DNN algorithm to the Mortara/Veritas® conventional algorithm in emergency department (ED) ECGs.

Methods: Individual ECG diagnoses were prospectively mapped to one of 16 pre-specified groups of ECG diagnoses, which were further classified as "major" ECG abnormality or not.

Proximal RCA occlusion producing anterior ST segment elevation, Q waves, and T wave inversion.

An ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) that produces anterior ST segment elevation (STE) is typically caused by acute occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Anterior STE, however, may also be caused by acute occlusion of either the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) or the right ventricular marginal branch (RVB). It has been thought that, in contrast to occlusions of the LAD, proximal RCA/RVB occlusion rarely causes Q waves in the right precordial leads.

Ketotifen is an antimalarial prodrug of norketotifen with blood schizonticidal and liver-stage efficacy.

Ketotifen is known to exhibit antimalarial activity in mouse and monkey malaria models. However, the low plasma levels and short half life of the drug do not adequately explain its in vivo efficacy. We synthesized most of the known metabolites of ketotifen and evaluated their antimalarial activity and pharmacokinetics in mice.

Structure-activity relationships of 4-position diamine quinoline methanols as intermittent preventative treatment (IPT) against Plasmodium falciparum.

A library of diamine quinoline methanols were designed based on the mefloquine scaffold. The systematic variation of the 4-position amino alcohol side chain led to analogues that maintained potency while reducing accumulation in the central nervous system (CNS). Although the mechanism of action remains elusive, these data indicate that the 4-position side chain is critical for activity and that potency (as measured by IC(90)) does not correlate with accumulation in the CNS.

Characterization of in vivo metabolites of WR319691, a novel compound with activity against Plasmodium falciparum.

WR319691 has been shown to exhibit reasonable Plasmodium falciparum potency in vitro and exhibits reduced permeability across MDCK cell monolayers, which as part of our screening cascade led to further in vivo analysis. Single-dose pharmacokinetics was evaluated after an IV dose of 5 mg/kg in mice. Maximum bound and unbound brain levels of WR319691 were 97 and 0.

Epidemiological analysis of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Saskatoon Health Region.

Background: The incidence rates of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) in Saskatoon Health Region are approximately double the national average. A descriptive study was designed to try to determine why.

Methods: The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine whether or not the introduction of a new detection method that is less invasive and more sensitive led to more tests being ordered and a higher percentage of positive cases; (2) to determine what percentage of physicians and STI clinic nurses notified Public Health within 72 hours of suspected Ct or GC; (3) to determine what percentage of physicians and STI clinic nurses listed sexual contact information; and (4) to compare recurrence rates between patients treated by physicians and STI clinic nurses.

Management of essential hypertension.

Hypertension, in spite of a very high prevalence, remains undertreated. This is not due to a lack of effective therapeutic modalities. Non-pharmacological treatments can be effective in many patients.

The serum digoxin concentration: ten questions to ask.

Although the role of digoxin therapy has been the subject of debate, the drug is generally accepted as effective in the treatment of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction and as therapy for atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Serum digoxin concentrations are commonly used to gauge patient response to digoxin. Digoxin pharmacokinetics are complex, and many factors can confound the interpretation of digoxin concentrations.

Infectious vaginitis.

Preview Until recently, vaginal candidiasis was generally managed with topical preparations, whereas trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis required systemic therapy. Now both topical and systemic therapies are available for vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis, although systemic therapy is still recommended for trichomoniasis. This article reviews considerations in selecting the most appropriate therapy, including drug efficacy, history of recurrence, ease of administration, and cost.

Infectious vaginitis. Selecting therapy and preventing recurrence.

Vaginal candidiasis, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis can be difficult to manage because of predisposing factors and frequent recurrence. Thus, in addition to drug therapy, management should include attempts to minimize factors that contribute to recurrence. Both topical and oral agents are available for vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis, and both routes of administration appear equally safe and effective.

The development and evaluation of new versions of the written examination for the American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider course.

Study Objective: To create new versions of the written, multiple-choice examination used in the American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support course, evaluate their reliability and difficulty, and then design revised versions with improved reliability and of standardized difficulty.

Design: Psychometric evaluation of new versions of the AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support test and revisions.

Setting: AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support courses.