Substance Use Among Physician Assistant Students: A National Study on the Prevalence of Alcohol, Tobacco, Illicit Substances, and Medication Use.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to discover the substance use prevalence among physician assistant students (PA-S) compared with the age-relevant general US population and to examine the frequency of stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression during the didactic and clinical phases, while accounting for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A 20-item survey instrument was created. Self-reported data included demographics, anxiety, burnout, tobacco, illicit substances, and prescription medication use.

Determining the Best Time to Integrate Opioid Use Disorder Training into the Curriculum Based on Student Perceptions.

Purpose: The clinical phase of physician assistant (PA) education has been reported to be the best time period to deliver opioid prescribing education (OPE) and opioid addiction education (OAE); however, there are no current published studies that evaluate the timing of OPE and OAE instruction in PA curricula.

Methods: This pilot study compared didactic and clinical phase cohorts' perceived confidence in their ability to evaluate patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) after receiving identical training at different time points within the curriculum.

Results: As expected, clinical phase students displayed high confidence levels in their abilities both before and after implementation of OUD-focused patient simulations.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Review of broken heart syndrome.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, apical ballooning syndrome, or stress cardiomyopathy, occurs when a stressful emotional or physical event causes the left ventricle of the heart to dilate, leading to acute heart failure. The syndrome was first described in Japan in 1990. Signs and symptoms of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy are similar to acute myocardial infarction.

Who should receive extended infusion beta-lactam therapy?

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria challenges a clinician's ability to fight life-threatening infections. Administering beta-lactams via extended infusion may improve patient outcomes. This article discusses the underlying principles of this therapeutic approach and when it may be appropriate.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and current and emerging treatment options.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is a genetic platelet surface receptor disorder of GPIIb/IIIa (ITG αIIbβ3), either qualitative or quantitative, which results in faulty platelet aggregation and diminished clot retraction. Spontaneous mucocutaneous bleeding is common and can lead to fatal bleeding episodes. Control and prevention of bleeding among patients with GT is imperative, and remains challenging.