Large-scale multi-site OSCEs for national competency examination of medical doctors in Indonesia.

Background: Implementing large-scale multi-site objective structured clinical examination (OSCEs) for national competency examination in a low resource country is challenging.

Aims: To describe the first national OSCE for national competency examination of medical doctors in Indonesia and evaluate the reliability, validity, feasibility, acceptability, and educational impact.

Methods: We collected electronically the OSCE scores from 49 out of 73 medical schools that participated to assess reliability and validity.

Endometrial epithelial integrity and subepithelial reticular fibre expression in progestin contraceptive acceptors.

Long-acting progestin contraceptives have been available in many countries for a number of years with a large number of women now using them. Although some improvements in delivery systems have been made, the major problem with progestin-only contraceptives remains unpredictable endometrial breakthrough bleeding (BTB), which is responsible for more than 50% of drop-outs from this form of contraception. Using hysteroscopy, endometrial petechiae and ecchymoses are a common finding among Norplant users, although these features do not always correlate with BTB.

Cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19 in endometrial epithelium of Norplant and norethisterone enanthate injectable progestogen contraceptive users.

Cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19 are members of the cytoskeletal intermediate filament family found in all simple epithelia. Intermediate filaments are dynamic intracytoplasmic structures that can be influenced by a number of external factors. Norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) is a long-acting progestogen contraceptive that has been found to arrest endometrial growth in the rat.

Cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19 in endometrial epithelial cells during the normal menstrual cycle and in women receiving Norplant.

Cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19 are members of the cytoskeletal intermediate filament protein family. They are expressed in all simple epithelial tissues, including endometrium, and are recognised as dynamic structures that can be affected by numerous external factors. The Norplant system is a subdermal slow release levonorgestrel implant commonly used as a long-acting progestogen contraceptive.