Motivating Medical Students: Adaptation of the Academic Motivation Scale within the Framework of the Self-Determination Theory.

Introduction: Motivation plays a crucial role in the academic success and professional development of medical students. Understanding the intricacies of motivation within the context of medical education is essential for designing effective interventions and support systems. The aim of this study was to explore the adaptation of the Academic Motivation Scale within the framework of the self-determination theory and of the self-efficacy theory to assess motivation among medical students.

Early versus late cardiac magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries.

Introduction And Objectives: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is responsible for about 10% of all acute myocardial infarctions (AMI). Therapeutic strategies and prognosis depend on the underlying etiology, and a multimodal approach is essential. The objectives of this study were to characterize the group of patients diagnosed with MINOCA and to valuate the diagnostic yield of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

An Echocardiographic Insight Into Post-COVID-19 Symptoms.

Introduction And Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has frequent acute cardiovascular manifestations, but long-term sequelae are yet to be described. Our main objective is to describe the echocardiographic findings of patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: A single-center prospective study was conducted.

Semantic competence and prototypical verbalizations are associated with higher OSCE and global medical degree scores: a multi-theory pilot study on year 6 medical student verbalizations.

Objectives: The organization of medical knowledge is reflected in language and can be studied from the viewpoints of semantics and prototype theory. The purpose of this study is to analyze student verbalizations during an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and correlate them with test scores and final medical degree (MD) scores. We hypothesize that students whose verbalizations are semantically richer and closer to the disease prototype will show better academic performance.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram: Still a Powerful Tool in the 21st Century for the Diagnosis of Aortic Dissection.

A 63-year-old woman with a history of previous anaphylactic reaction to iodate contrast presented with sudden back pain during exertion associated with elevated D-dimer levels. Transthoracic echocardiogram was unremarkable. She was unable to perform a computerized tomography for further evaluation of the aorta due to her allergic background.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes: A systematic review.

Background: The potential benefit of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in individuals with inherited arrhythmia syndromes is well known. However, it is not deprived of morbidity, in the form of inappropriate therapies and other ICD-related complications.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to estimate the rate of appropriate and inappropriate therapy, as well as other ICD-related complications, in individuals with inherited arrhythmia syndromes.

A Case of a Large Malignant Pericardial Effusion on Computed Tomography Without Electrocardiographic Gating.

A 67-year-old female was admitted due to dyspnea. A computed tomography (CT) disclosed a suspicious pulmonary mass and a pericardial effusion. A transthoracic echocardiogram confirmed a large-volume circumferential pericardial effusion.

Atrial cardiopathy in young adults with embolic stroke of undetermined source: a myocardial deformation imaging analysis.

Background: Atrial cardiopathy (AC) has emerged as a potential pathological thrombogenic atrial substract of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), even in the absence of atrial fibrillation. Left atrium (LA) myocardial deformation analysis may be of value as a subclinical marker of AC and a predictor of ESUS.

Aims: To compare LA mechanical function between ESUS cases and age and sex-matched controls.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, are low-risk patients really at low risk? A case report.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetically determined myocardial disease that constitutes the main cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes. Apical HCM (ApHCM) represents a complex subset of patients, whose risk of SCD seems not negligible. Most applied scores likely underestimate the risk of heart events in this subset of patients.

Cognitive performance is associated with worse prognosis in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome with multiple comorbidities. Cognitive impairment, stress, anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life are prevalent in HF. Herein, we explore the interplay between these parameters and study their value to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction using guideline recommended assessment tools.

Brain functional connectivity is altered in patients with Takotsubo Syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute, reversible cardiomyopathy. The central autonomic nervous system (ANS) is believed to play a role in this disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the patterns of brain functional connectivity in a sample of patients who had experienced a previous episode of TTS.

Fifteen Years of Experience from a Medical School' Clinical Skills Laboratory.

Introduction: Medical Education has evolved being defined as a continuum of the medical training from the pre- to the post-graduate period and through a lifetime of medical practice that is mirrored in the competencies framework that several international institutions have established. This creates a challenge to educational institutions (pre- and post-graduate) that traditionally take separate pathways.

Material And Methods: The present report is a description of the efforts carried by the School of Medicine of the University of Minho to implement a strategy of teaching/learning methods that follows modern standards towards constructive alignment of the medical curriculum, from the pre- to the post-graduate.

Pulmonary Embolism and Intracardiac Type A Thrombus with an Unexpected Outcome.

Detection of right heart thrombi (RHT) in the context of pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) is uncommon (4-18%) and increases the risk of mortality beyond the presence of PE alone. Type A thrombi are serpiginous and highly mobile and are thought to be originated from large veins and captured in-transit within the right heart. Optimal management of RHT is still uncertain.

An Objective Structured Clinical Exam to Assess Semiology Skills of Medical Students.

Introduction: Mastery of history taking and physical exam skills is a key competence of medical students. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations are the gold standard to assess these competencies, but their implementation in Portugal is poorly documented. We describe the implementation and our seven years experience with a high-stakes Objective Structured Clinical Examination to assess these skills in the School of Medicine, University of Minho.