A Sense of Belonging: Perceptions of the Medical School Learning Environment among URM and Non-URM Students.

Using Gruppen et al's model, this study investigated experiences of the LE from the perspectives of both URM and non-URM students at a medical school in New York City. In examining experiences of the organizational, social, and physical domains of the LE, we sought to explore the symbolic and experiential links across domains and identify concrete needs for improvement. Institutional structures and policies, features of the built environment, and social relationships that put learning first and generated a sense of community were highly valued.

Admission practices following pediatric tonsillectomy: A survey of ASPO members.

Objectives: Although evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) have specified postoperative admission criteria for pediatric tonsillectomy, there is substantial variation in guideline implementation and adherence among otolaryngologists in practice. We aimed to assess pediatric otolaryngologists' post-tonsillectomy admission practices and to examine patient and surgeon factors associated with differences in admission practices.

Methods: An electronic cross-sectional survey was distributed to members of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) to determine current practices regarding admission practices following pediatric tonsillectomy.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on female androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be a useful treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), although objective studies are needed.

Objective: To determine whether PRP injections improve female AGA.

Method: Prospective randomized controlled trial of 30 women diagnosed with AGA.

A physicians survey assessing management of pulmonary airway involvement in sickle cell disease.

Background: Airway involvement in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) involves recurrent episodes of acute chest syndrome (ACS), co-existent asthma, lower airway obstruction (LAO), or airway hyper-responsiveness/ bronchodilator response (AHR/BDR). With increased recognition that sickle cell (SC) airway inflammation may be distinct from asthma, our aim was to study regional and individual practices among pediatric pulmonologists and elucidate the patient characteristics that determine the diagnosis of asthma or SC airway inflammation.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey including 6 case scenarios on diagnosis and management of pulmonary manifestations of pediatric SC airway disease was conducted.

Retrospective comparison of Velcro and twill tie outcomes following pediatric tracheotomy.

Objectives: To compare the rates of skin-related complications and accidental decannulation in pediatric patients who received Velcro ties versus twill ties during the early postoperative period following tracheotomy. The rates of skin-related complications and accidental decannulation in patients with Velcro ties was hypothesized to differ from those in patients with twill ties.

Methods: Medical records of 109 patients ≤18 years old who underwent elective tracheotomy were reviewed: 70 received twill ties and 39 received Velcro ties.

Early and prolonged opportunities to practice suturing increases medical student comfort with suturing during clerkships: Suturing during cadaver dissection.

Medical students are expected to perform common procedures such as suturing on patients during their third-year clerkships. However, these experiences are often viewed by medical students as stressors rather than opportunities for learning. The source of this stress is the lack of instruction on common procedures prior to being asked to observe or perform the procedure on a patient.

The Relationship Between Method of Viewing Lectures, Course Ratings, and Course Timing.

Background: In recent years, medical schools have provided students access to video recordings of course lectures, but few studies have investigated the impact of this on ratings of courses and teachers. This study investigated whether the method of viewing lectures was related to student ratings of the course and its components and whether the method used changed over time.

Methods: Preclinical medical students indicated whether ratings of course lectures were based primarily on lecture attendance, video capture, or both.

Etiology and long-term functional swallow outcomes in pediatric unilateral vocal fold immobility.

Objective: Unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) results in deficits in phonatory, respiratory, and swallow function of the pediatric patient. Little is known about long-term functional swallow outcomes.

Methods: Medical records of children diagnosed with UVFI between 2005 and 2014 at a tertiary children's hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Evaluation of care access and hypertension control in a community health worker driven non-communicable disease programme in rural Uganda: the chronic disease in the community project.

The burden of non-communicable diseases continues to grow throughout the developing world. Health systems in low- and middle-income regions face significant human resource shortages, which limit the ability to meet the growing need for non-communicable disease care. Specially trained community health workers may be useful in filling that provider gap.

Community practice patterns for bacterial corneal ulcer evaluation and treatment.

Objective: To examine current practice patterns in the management of bacterial keratitis among U.S. ophthalmologists and differences in the management and opinions between cornea specialists and non-cornea specialists.

Evaluation of the cardiac chambers on axial CT: comparison with echocardiography.

Objective: To evaluate qualitative and simple quantitative measures of all 4 cardiac chamber sizes on computed tomography (CT) in comparison with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Methods: We retrospectively identified 104 adults with electrocardiographically gated cardiac CT and TTE within 3 months. Axial early diastolic (75% R-R) CT images were reviewed for qualitative chamber enlargement, and each chamber was measured linearly.

Retained fibrin sheaths: chest computed tomography findings and clinical associations.

Purpose: Fibrin sheaths may develop around long-term indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs) and remain in place after the catheters are removed. We evaluated the prevalence, computed tomographic (CT) appearance, and clinical associations of retained fibrin sheaths after CVC removal.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified 147 adults (77 men and 70 women; mean age 58 y) who underwent CT after CVC removal.

Crude tonsillectomy and local concepts of illness in Kisoro, Uganda: community perception of gapfura and its treatment.

The practice of crude tonsillectomy (CT), performed by traditional healers for a locally defined illness known as gapfura, has become increasingly common in south-western Uganda. This study describes perceptions of gapfura and examines the intersection of locally defined and biomedical illness. Kisoro District Hospital (KDH) staff (n=55) were surveyed, with 95% reporting that CT caused death, and 60% estimating that recipients died as a result of the procedure.

Coronary artery dilation in sickle cell disease.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of coronary artery dilation in children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Study Design: This is a retrospective analysis performed in patients, between 10 and 19 years old, with SCD who underwent a routine transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation over a 20-month period. The left main, left anterior descending, and proximal right coronary artery diameters, as well as clinical and laboratory variables and other echocardiographic results were collected.

Should CT play a greater role in preventing the resection of granulomas in the era of PET?

Objective: PET cannot distinguish between bronchogenic carcinoma and granuloma, but positive scans may prompt surgery. We systematically evaluated the CT appearance of resected carcinomas and granulomas to identify features that could be used to reduce granuloma resections.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified 93 consecutive patients between January 2005 and November 2008 who had resection of a pulmonary nodule pathologically diagnosed as bronchogenic carcinoma or granuloma and preoperative imaging with CT and PET.

Normal myocardial perfusion on 64-detector resting cardiac CT.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) of the heart is increasingly used to characterize not only the coronary arteries but also cardiac structure and function. The performance of CT in depicting myocardial perfusion is under active investigation.

Objective: We describe the pattern of normal myocardial perfusion on resting 64-detector cardiac CT.

Educational video tool to increase syphilis knowledge among black and Hispanic male patients.

Study Objective: To determine the effectiveness of an educational video entitled Syphilis and Men to increase syphilis knowledge among at-risk Black and Hispanic male patients.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups and completed a pre-test survey, viewed the video (intervention group) and/or completed a post-test knowledge survey. Our analysis assessed whether the intervention group in comparison to the control group had an increase in syphilis knowledge, regardless of self-reported socio-demographic and sexual behavior characteristics associated with increased risk for syphilis infection.

Video tool to promote knowledge of syphilis among black and Hispanic men recruited from clinical and non-clinical settings.

Unlabelled: Recent syphilis outbreaks in metropolitan cities are attributed to men who have sex with men (MSM) with a significant proportion of Black or Hispanic identity. However, there are few syphilis interventions that are tailored to minority MSM.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess whether Black and Hispanic MSM recruited from various venues who viewed the "Syphilis and Men" video showed an increase in syphilis knowledge, regardless of self-reported characteristics associated with increased risk for syphilis infection.

Ejection fractions determined by cardiac computed tomographic angiography and single photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging are not interchangeable: evidence of significant and sex-associated disparities.

Purpose: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determines patient management and is a standard part of cardiac imaging evaluation. Intermodality comparisons are useful in determining whether modalities are interchangeable. Multidetector Computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission CT (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) have been compared in only a few cohorts.

Development, impact, and measurement of enhanced physical diagnosis skills.

Evidence suggests that the quality and frequency of bedside clinical examination have declined. We undertook the study to (1) determine whether intensive instruction in physical examination enhances medical student skills and (2) develop a tool to evaluate those skills using a modified observed structured clinical examination (OSCE). This was a randomized, blinded, prospective, year-long study involving 3rd year students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Teaching clinical skills through videotape review: a randomized trial of group versus individual reviews.

Background: Video review is a valuable educational tool for teaching communication skills. Many studies have demonstrated its efficacy with individual learners, but few studies have addressed its use in a group format.

Purpose: To assess the educational benefits of group versus individual video review of standardized patient encounters through the evaluations of 4th-year students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The effect of the season on otitis media with effusion resolution rates in the New York Metropolitan area.

Objective: To study the relationship between season and resolution rates of otitis media with effusion (OME) in the New York Metropolitan area, in order to provide objective data useful to the practicing otolaryngologist in determining if seasonal factors should be considered in OME management decisions.

Methods: This was a prospective study of children referred to a tertiary medical center. Children with OME (confirmed by pneumatoscopy and tympanometry) were followed by an otologist at an academic medical center over a 3 years period.

Burden of asthma in inner-city elementary schoolchildren: do school-based health centers make a difference?

Background: About 1400 school-based health centers (SBHCs) provide care to 1.1 million children. However, it is unknown if access to on-site services is associated with a better outcome.