Students' perceived research skills development and satisfaction after completion of a mandatory research project: results from five cohorts of the Sydney medical program.

Background: Research activities undertaken during University studies contribute to preparation of medical students for practice of evidence-based medicine. This study aimed to understand medical students' experiences, perceived research skills development and satisfaction associated with completion of mandatory research projects.

Methods: An online survey was sent to five cohorts of students (n = 1375) from years 2017-2021 at the completion of their research projects.

The andes of bladder stones: Gigantic bladder calculi in a patient with bladder outlet obstruction and hyperparathyroidism.

60-year-old man with known chronic urinary retention (CUR) managed with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC); He presented with difficulty with CIC. A KUB revealed 13 cm in conglomeration bladder stones. Routine preoperative bloodwork revealed calcium >12 and a subsequent PTH was also elevated.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis - A diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare variant of chronic pyelonephritis, occurring in the setting of obstructive uropathy and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is difficult to diagnose as it can be asymptomatic until late-stage disease. Localized symptoms such as flank pain and dysuria may be attributed to nephrolithiasis or UTIs without prompting need for further workup.

Research supervisors' views of barriers and enablers for research projects undertaken by medical students; a mixed methods evaluation of a post-graduate medical degree research project program.

Background: Medical degree programs use scholarly activities to support development of basic research skills, critical evaluation of medical information and promotion of medical research. The University of Sydney Doctor of Medicine Program includes a compulsory research project. Medical student projects are supervised by academic staff and affiliates, including biomedical science researchers and clinician-academics.

μ-Opioid and dopamine-D2 receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens of male Sprague-Dawley rats whose sucrose consumption, but not preference, decreases after nerve injury.

Functional-anatomical changes in reward related brain circuits are described in chronic pain patients who report anhedonia or depressed mood. In pre-clinical rodent models of neuropathic pain there are varying reports of the effects of nerve injury on the motivation to consume sucrose, although hedonic responses to sucrose appear unchanged. These observations are derived from brief periods of exposure to sucrose.

Prolonged ad libitum access to low-concentration sucrose changes the neurochemistry of the nucleus accumbens in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Overconsumption of sugars contributes to poor health outcomes. Sugars are often added to commercial foods and beverages in low concentrations and these hidden sugars are consumed unnoticed, continuously. These hidden sugars are suggested to increase the motivation for foodstuffs with higher sugar contents, due to their rewarding properties.