Exploring patient involvement in obstetrics and gynaecology education for medical students: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: It is important to incorporate the patient perspective into healthcare education, as we know that patients are experts in their own conditions. The expertise gained through lived experience serves to complement the theoretical knowledge that healthcare educators can provide. This scoping review aims to explore patient involvement in medical education within obstetrics and gynaecology, a specialty that can provide unique challenges and complexities to patient involvement due to its potentially highly sensitive and intimate nature.

Impact of Simulation Training on Core Skill Competency of Undergraduate Medical Students.

Introduction: Simulation based medical training (SBMT) is gaining traction for undergraduate learning and development. We designed, implemented, and independently assessed the impact of an SBMT programme on competency in surgical history taking and clinical examination for senior clinical students.

Methods: With institutional ethical approval and initial pilot study of student volunteers that ensured format appropriateness, we implemented an SBMT programme weekly for ten weeks during the core surgery module of our Medicine degree programme.

WITHDRAWN: Usefulness of nabilone as an antiemetic in persistent vomiting due to refractory gastrointestinal disorders.

Nabilone, a synthetic analogue of delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, is an agonist of cannabinoid receptors (CB-1 and CB-2) approved to treat chemotherapy-induced vomiting refractory to antiemetics. Its use in patients with refractory vomiting due to gastrointestinal dysmotility (GID) has not been reported. Our study aims are to assess nabilone usefulness and side-effects in patients with refractory vomiting due to GID.

Standardized documentation and synoptic reporting of complex intestinal anatomy in enteric fistulation and intestinal failure.

Aim: In intestinal failure, delineation of both structure and function are key to controlling symptoms and planning further intervention. We have developed a template for developing an 'anatomy at a glance' patient-specific map to aid decision making and counselling.

Method: A core dataset was developed and used to create an editable template to demonstrate the gastrointestinal tract, its relationship to the genitourinary tract, and specific anterior abdominal wall features.

Outcome of adult patients receiving parenteral support at home: 36 years' experience at a tertiary referral centre.

Background And Aims: Patients with intestinal failure often need long-term home parenteral support (PS). We aimed to determine how the underlying diagnosis, complications and survival had changed over the last 36 years in the UK's largest IF centre.

Methods: 978 adult home PS patient records were analysed from January 1979 until October 2016.

Is There Variability in Scoring of Student Surgical OSCE Performance Based on Examiner Experience and Expertise?

Objective: To investigate the influence of clinical experience and content expertise on global assessment scores in a Surgical Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) for senior medical undergraduate students.

Design: Scripted videos of simulated student performance in an OSCE at two standards (clear pass and borderline) were awarded a global score on each of two rating scales by a range of clinical assessors. Results were analysed by examiner experience and content expertise.

Clinical handover practices among healthcare practitioners in acute care services: A qualitative study.

Aims And Objectives: To examine clinical handover practices in acute care services in Ireland. Objectives were to examine clinical handover practices between and within teams and between shifts, to identify resources and supports to enhance handover effectiveness and to identify barriers and facilitators of effective handover.

Background: Clinical handover is a high-risk activity, and ineffective handover practice constitutes a risk to patient safety.

Assessment and management of patients with intestinal failure: a multidisciplinary approach.

Intestinal failure (IF) is a condition characterized by the inability to maintain a state of adequate nutrition, or fluid and electrolyte balance due to an anatomical or a physiological disorder of the gastrointestinal system. IF can be an extremely debilitating condition, significantly affecting the quality of life of those affected. The surgical management of patients with acute and chronic IF requires a specialist team who has the expertise in terms of technical challenges and decision-making.

Identification of coeliac disease triggering glutenin peptides in adults.

Objective: Coeliac disease affects approximately 1% of Northern American and European populations. It is caused by an inappropriate immune response to dietary gluten. Gluten comprises of two major protein fractions: gliadins and glutenins.

The association of cytokines with disease activity and damage scores in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of SLE in a genetically homogeneous Caucasian SLE patient population.

Methods: Serum levels of the following cytokines were determined by ELISA in SLE patients (diagnosed as per ACR diagnostic criteria): IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12p70 and TNF-α. Demographic data, disease activity as per the SLEDAI and damage scores (SLICC) at the 5-year follow-up were calculated.

Plasma fibrinogen along with patient-reported outcome measures enhances management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a prospective study.

Objective: We sought to prospectively examine the responsiveness of a number of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), as well as their relationship to the biomarkers erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and plasma fibrinogen.

Methods: Sixty patients with PMR were divided into active (n = 25) or inactive (n = 35) disease groups based on symptoms; physician assessment; and the biomarkers ESR, CRP, and plasma fibrinogen. Groups underwent assessment at baseline and 6 weeks.

Gastrointestinal effects of eating quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in celiac patients.

Objectives: Celiac disease is an enteropathy triggered by dietary gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley. Treatment involves a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). Quinoa is a highly nutritive plant from the Andes that has been recommended as part of a GFD.

Plasma fibrinogen is an accurate marker of disease activity in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: The overall aim of this study was to establish whether plasma fibrinogen was a superior biomarker of disease activity in active PMR than the standard biomarkers, ESR and CRP.

Methods: Sixty patients with PMR were divided into active (n = 25) or inactive (n = 35) disease groups based on symptoms, physician assessment and biomarkers ESR and CRP. Plasma fibrinogen was assayed.

Knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice of rheumatologists in vaccination of the at-risk rheumatology patient population.

Background: Patients with inflammatory arthritis are at increased risk of infection. Much of the burden of infection in this population is vaccine preventable. A number of international rheumatology organizations have published expert recommendations for vaccination in adult patients.

Celiac disease: management of persistent symptoms in patients on a gluten-free diet.

Aim: To investigate all patients referred to our center with non-responsive celiac disease (NRCD), to establish a cause for their continued symptoms.

Methods: We assessed all patients referred to our center with non-responsive celiac disease over an 18-mo period. These individuals were investigated to establish the eitiology of their continued symptoms.

Pharmacotherapy and management strategies for coeliac disease.

Introduction: Coeliac disease is a common disease that affects approximately 1% of Northern European and American populations. Evidence suggests it is caused by an inappropriate immune response in genetically susceptible patients to dietary gluten found in wheat, rye, barley and, in a small minority of patients, oats. Treatment involves a lifelong gluten-free diet.

Changes in apoptotic gene expression in lymphocytes from rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients compared with healthy lymphocytes.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis have complex genetic traits, but in both autoimmune diseases, dysfunctional apoptosis appears to play a part in disease pathology. This study examined the levels of in vitro apoptosis in lymphocytes from healthy, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and SLE individuals and related observed differences to their lymphocyte apoptosis gene profiles.

Materials And Methods: Lymphocytes were assessed for cell death by nuclear pyknosis and DNA fragmentation.

Impaired recognition of apoptotic neutrophils by the C1q/calreticulin and CD91 pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: A deficiency in a subcomponent of C1q can result in increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The monocyte endocytic receptor CD91 is implicated in the endocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils via interactions with C1q and calreticulin. In this clinical study, we studied the binding of C1q to leukocytes and determined whether C1q bound specifically to calreticulin and CD91 on cells undergoing apoptosis in SLE.