The impact of repeated item development training on the prediction of medical faculty members' item difficulty index.

Background: Item difficulty plays a crucial role in assessing students' understanding of the concept being tested. The difficulty of each item needs to be carefully adjusted to ensure the achievement of the evaluation's objectives. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether repeated item development training for medical school faculty improves the accuracy of predicting item difficulty in multiple-choice questions.

Prevalence of misdiagnosis of cellulitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is no gold standard test to accurately identify patients with cellulitis and therefore misdiagnosis is common. Using the clinical impression of a dermatology or an infectious disease specialist as a reference standard, we sought to determine the prevalence of misdiagnosis of cellulitis among nonspecialist physicians.

Methods: A systemic search was performed using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases for studies reporting diagnostic accuracy of cellulitis.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Radioactive Iodine Seed Placement in the Axilla With Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Node-Positive Breast Cancer.

Importance: Several less-invasive staging procedures have been proposed to replace axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with initially clinically node-positive (cN+) breast cancer, but these procedures may fail to detect residual disease. Owing to the lack of high-level evidence, it is not yet clear which procedure is most optimal to replace ALND.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of radioactive iodine seed placement in the axilla with sentinel lymph node biopsy (RISAS), a targeted axillary dissection procedure.

Changes in self-reflective thinking level in writing and educational needs of medical students: A longitudinal study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to longitudinally examine the change in understanding of the self-reflection method, reflective thinking, and writing attitude and perception. Moreover, we investigated students' educational needs and methods regarding self-reflection.

Methods: The subjects were 117, who were in the pre-medical course in 2017 and were promoted to the medical course in 2019.

Process Steps for High Quality Si-Based Epitaxial Growth at Low Temperature via RPCVD.

The key process steps for growing high-quality Si-based epitaxial films via reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) are investigated herein. The quality of the epitaxial films is largely affected by the following steps in the epitaxy process: ex-situ cleaning, in-situ bake, and loading conditions such as the temperature and gaseous environment. With respect to ex-situ cleaning, dry cleaning is found to be more effective than wet cleaning in 1:200 dilute hydrofluoric acid (DHF), while wet cleaning in 1:30 DHF is the least effective.

Infection Manager System (IMS) as a new hemocytometry-based bacteremia detection tool: A diagnostic accuracy study in a malaria-endemic area of Burkina Faso.

Background: New hemocytometric parameters can be used to differentiate causes of acute febrile illness (AFI). We evaluated a software algorithm-Infection Manager System (IMS)-which uses hemocytometric data generated by Sysmex hematology analyzers, for its accuracy to detect bacteremia in AFI patients with and without malaria in Burkina Faso. Secondary aims included comparing the accuracy of IMS with C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT).

Heart Rate Variability-Measured Stress and Academic Achievement in Medical Students.

Objectives: Stress can affect learning and memory in students. Previous studies on stress in students were conducted mainly through surveys. We investigated how heart rate variability (HRV)-measured stress is related to academic achievement in medical students during clerkship.

Aetiology of acute febrile illness in children in a high malaria transmission area in West Africa.

Objectives: Areas with declining malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa have recently witnessed important changes in the aetiology of childhood acute febrile illness (AFI). We describe the aetiology of AFI in a high malaria transmission area in rural Burkina Faso.

Methods: In a prospective hospital-based diagnostic study, children aged 3 months to 15 years with AFI were recruited and assessed using a systematic diagnostic protocol, including blood cultures, whole blood PCR on a selection of bacterial pathogens, malaria diagnostics and a multiplex PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs targeting 21 viral and 4 bacterial respiratory pathogens.

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis B and C infections in Nanoro, rural Burkina Faso: a random sampling survey.

Background: This study sought to provide up-to-date hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) seroprevalence in rural Burkina Faso decade after hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in the national immunization scheduled for children.

Methods: In 2018, a community-based, random sampling strategy with probability proportional to population size was conducted in Nanoro to investigate the prevalence of viral hepatitis in children and their mothers. Sociodemographic, vaccination history and risk factors were assessed by interview and health books.

Longitudinal Analysis of the Effect of Radioiodine Therapy on Ovarian Reserve in Females with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Although international guidelines have become more conservative on the use of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, it is still one of the cornerstones of the treatment of patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). As a large proportion of females diagnosed with DTC is in their reproductive years, knowledge about the effect of RAI on their gonadal and reproductive function is important. Earlier studies evaluating Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as a representative of ovarian reserve were either cross-sectional, had relatively low numbers, had no patients with multiple RAI therapies, or had a relatively short follow-up.

Evaluation of the 2015 ATA Guidelines in Patients With Distant Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Context: Current American Thyroid Association (ATA) Management Guidelines for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) stratify patients to decide on additional radioiodine (RAI) therapy after surgery, and to predict recurring/persisting disease. However, studies evaluating the detection of distant metastases and how these guidelines perform in patients with distant metastases are scarce.

Objective: To evaluate the 2015 ATA Guidelines in DTC patients with respect to 1) the detection of distant metastases, and 2) the accuracy of its Risk Stratification System in patients with distant metastases.

Longitudinal analysis of quality of life in patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer.

Objective: Earlier cross-sectional studies showed that patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have a significant reduction of quality of life (QoL) compared to controls. However, recent longitudinal studies showed mixed results and had relative short follow-up or lacked knowledge about QoL before initial surgery. Therefore, we initiated a longitudinal study to assess changes of QoL in patients undergoing treatment for DTC.

Impact of video feedback system on medical students' perception of their clinical performance assessment.

Background: Providing feedback on student performance in the clinical performance assessment (CPA) is meaningful in that it helps students understand their strengths and weaknesses. This study compared students' perception of their CPA scores before and after providing personalized video feedback.

Methods: Two identical online surveys of Year 1 medical students (N = 103) that had undergone CPA were conducted to evaluate students' perceptions about their CPA scores before and after video feedback.

The XN-30 hematology analyzer for rapid sensitive detection of malaria: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: Accurate and timely diagnosis of malaria is essential for disease management and surveillance. Thin and thick blood smear microscopy and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are standard malaria diagnostics, but both methods have limitations. The novel automated hematology analyzer XN-30 provides standard complete blood counts (CBC) as well as quantification of malaria parasitemia at the price of a CBC.

Evaluating the 2015 American Thyroid Association Risk Stratification System in High-Risk Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer Patients.

The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) Risk Stratification System for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is designed to predict recurring/persisting disease but not survival. Earlier studies evaluating this system evaluated the 2009 edition, comprised a low number of patients with ATA high-risk, had low numbers of patients with follicular thyroid cancer (FTC), or did not distinguish between papillary and FTC. Therefore, we evaluated the prognostic value of the 2015 ATA Risk Stratification System in a large population of high-risk thyroid cancer patients, which included a substantial proportion of FTC patients.

Treatment of inoperable or metastatic paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy using 177Lu-DOTATATE.

Objectives: Inoperable or metastatic paragangliomas (PGLs) and malignant pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare tumours with limited options for systemic treatment. Aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the radiolabelled somatostatin analogue (177LutetiumDOTA0-Tyr3)octreotate (177Lu-DOTATATE) for the treatment of PGLs and PCCs.

Methods: Patients with histologically proven inoperable or malignant PGLs and PCCs treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE at our centre were retrospectively analysed.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma: predictors and pitfalls.

Background: For progressive metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), the available treatment options with tyrosine kinase inhibitors result in grade 3-4 adverse events in a large number of patients. Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT), which has also been suggested to be a useful treatment for MTC, is usually well tolerated, but evidence on its effectivity is very limited.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of treatment effects of PRRT in a highly selected group of MTC patients, with progressive disease or refractory symptoms.

Symptomatic and Radiological Response to 177Lu-DOTATATE for the Treatment of Functioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Purpose: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with the radiolabeled somatostatin analogue [Lutetium-177-DOTA0-Tyr3]octreotate (177Lu-DOTATATE) is widely applied for inoperable metastatic small intestinal and nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). The aim of this study is to describe the safety and efficacy of the treatment of functioning pNETs.

Methods: Patients were treated with up to four cycles of 177Lu-DOTATATE with an intended dose of 7.

Pressure-volume analysis in athyroid patients off and on thyroxine supplementation: a pilot study.

Thyroid hormone importantly affects the cardiovascular system. However, evaluation of stroke volume (SV) and its determinants is confounded by variations in volume status that occur along different thyroid states. This study applied the pressure-volume (PV) framework to obtain relatively load-independent estimates of cardiac function in hypothyroidism as compared to euthyroidism.

Salvage peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with [Lu-DOTA,Tyr]octreotate in patients with bronchial and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Purpose: Therapy with [Lu-DOTA,Tyr]octreotate is effective in patients with grade I/II metastasized and/or inoperable bronchial neuroendocrine tumour (NET) or gastroenteropancreatic NET (GEP-NET). In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of salvage treatment with [Lu-DOTA,Tyr]octreotate.

Methods: Patients with progressive bronchial NET or GEP-NET were selected for re-(re)treatment if they had benefited from initial peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (I-PRRT) with a minimal progression-free survival (PFS) of 18 months.

Additional hepatic Ho-radioembolization in patients with neuroendocrine tumours treated with Lu-DOTATATE; a single center, interventional, non-randomized, non-comparative, open label, phase II study (HEPAR PLUS trial).

Background: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) consist of a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with various organs of origin. At diagnosis 21% of the patients with a Grade 1 NET and 30% with a Grade 2 NET have distant metastases. Treatment with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) shows a high objective response rate and long median survival after treatment.

Holistic rubric vs. analytic rubric for measuring clinical performance levels in medical students.

Background: Task-specific checklists, holistic rubrics, and analytic rubrics are often used for performance assessments. We examined what factors evaluators consider important in holistic scoring of clinical performance assessment, and compared the usefulness of applying holistic and analytic rubrics respectively, and analytic rubrics in addition to task-specific checklists based on traditional standards.

Methods: We compared the usefulness of a holistic rubric versus an analytic rubric in effectively measuring the clinical skill performances of 126 third-year medical students who participated in a clinical performance assessment conducted by Pusan National University School of Medicine.

Comparing the Prognostic Value of the Eighth Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Tumor Node Metastasis Staging System Between Papillary and Follicular Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Recently, the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging system for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) was published. Studies evaluating this new edition have so far only comprised patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) or made no distinction between PTC and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC). Therefore, this study evaluated the prognostic value of the eighth edition of the AJCC/TNM staging system in a European population with DTC, focusing on potential differences between PTC and FTC.