Examining the Impact of Antimicrobial Fluoroquinolones on Human DNA Topoisomerase IIα and IIβ.

Fluoroquinolones are a class of widely prescribed antibiotics with a broad range of activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and some atypical microbes. Unfortunately, these drugs are associated with significant adverse events including neuropathy, tendinopathy, cardiac rhythm abnormalities, and mental health side effects. The mechanism by which fluoroquinolones cause many of these toxicities is unknown.

Relationship between assessment item format and item performance characteristics.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between assessment item formats (case-based versus noncase-based) and item performance characteristics.

Methods: Assessment items (1,575) were collected from examinations administered in several therapeutics courses over 4 academic years. Items were categorized as either "case-based" or "noncase-based" and item performance characteristics (discrimination index and level of difficulty) were evaluated.