Publications by authors named "M C DeFrances"

In 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, newly independent Kazakhstan faced challenges of a healthcare system in transition. Anatomic pathology practice remains one of the least developed medical specialties in Kazakhstan. Acute shortage of pathologists is a universal phenomenon.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers used chimeric mice with humanized liver to study NASH, showing that these mice develop the disease in ways that mirror human cases, revealing significant changes in critical signaling pathways related to liver health.
  • * The study identified that the function of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is impaired in NASH, and treatment with a new agent called META4 effectively restores HGF function, improving liver health in the humanized model. *
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Context.—: Pathology reports are the main modality in which results are communicated to other physicians. For various reasons, the diagnosis may be qualified on a spectrum of uncertainty.

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  • The study aimed to assess the performance of cytopathology fellows by comparing internal quantitative metrics from a laboratory information system with external evaluation metrics like ASC PEC and USMLE scores.
  • Over six years, data from 13 fellows showed an average diagnostic concordance rate of 89.9%, with trends indicating that better ASC PEC scores correlated with more accurate diagnoses and lower case volumes, while higher USMLE scores correlated with higher case volumes.
  • Although no statistically significant correlations between metrics were found, the quantitative data provided insights for identifying areas of improvement and facilitating peer comparisons in the fellowship program.
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Information for patients regarding their clinical conditions and treatment options is widely available online. The American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommend that online patient-oriented materials be written at no higher than a seventh-grade reading level to ensure full comprehension by the average American. This study sought to determine whether online patient-oriented materials explaining common pathology procedures are written at appropriate reading levels.

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