Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Has a Regenerative Effect in Ischemic Myocardium: An Experimental Rat Model Evaluated by SPECT-CT Assessment.

Unlabelled: Translational perspective: Ischemic heart disease remains a major medical problem with high mortality rates. Beside the great efforts devoted to research worldwide and the use of numerous experimental models, an absolute understanding of myocardial infarction and tissue loss has not yet been achieved. Furthermore, the regeneration of myocardial tissue and the improvement of myocardial activity after ischemia is one of the major areas of interest in the medical (and especially cardiovascular) community.

A Novel Experimental Rat Model for the Assessment of Myocardial Ischemia Based on Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

Background/aim: Myocardial infarction, an acute medical situation with a high mortality rate worldwide, has been extensively studied in modern cardiovascular research, using different experimental models. However, a deep understanding of myocardial activity loss has not been fully investigated. We have developed a novel experimental rat model for noninvasive assessment of myocardial ischemia based on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT), in order to further understand and evaluate myocardial activity before and after surgical induction of myocardial ischemia.

Inspiring the future generation of oncologists: a UK-wide study of medical students' views towards oncology.

Background: One in 2 people born in the UK after 1960 are expected to require oncology input in their lifetime. However, only 36% of UK medical schools provide dedicated oncology placements and teaching indicating a discordance between public health impact and training. We designed a UK-wide survey to capture medical students' views on current oncology teaching and the potential role of a national undergraduate oncology symposium as an educational, networking and motivational tool.

Mentoring Medical Students Towards Oncology: Results from a Pilot Multi-institutional Mentorship Programme.

The mounting global cancer burden has generated an increasing demand for oncologists to join the workforce. Yet, students report limited oncology exposure in undergraduate medical curricula, while undergraduate oncology mentorships remain underutilised. We established an undergraduate oncology society-led mentorship programme aimed at medical students across several UK universities to increase medical student oncology exposure.

The Interplay Between Innate Immunity (TLR-4) and sCD40L in the Context of an Animal Model of Colitis-associated Cancer.

Background/aim: Several studies have found elevated soluble CD40 Ligand (sCD40L) in the serum of patients with malignancies as well as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our goal was to determine the possible causal role of sCD40L in colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) by using the well-established azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) protocol.

Materials And Methods: Twelve wild type (WT) and twelve TLR4 knock out (KO) female C57BL6 mice were divided into 4 experimental groups.

ABC of Surgical Teaching: Time to Consider a Global Blueprint for Holistic Education.

Background: Educating and equipping students and trainees into clinicians capable of meeting healthcare demands and service provision needs is essential. Unprecedented events like COVID-19 pandemic, highlight urgent need for reformation of training to ensure high quality education is maintained. To this end, we describe an innovative and globally adaptable blueprint for establishing a surgical curriculum, aiming to optimize preparation of future surgeons.

A student initiative to improve exposure in research - Dual benefit?

Purpose: Despite the recent implementation of research-focused activities into undergraduate education, there is still a universal lack of offered exposure experienced by medical students. We organised an undergraduate research conference to explore students' views on research and evaluate the impact of the conference on participants' and organisers' research skills and non-technical skills respectively.

Methods: The conference was a student-led initiative which took place at a London medical school.

Team performance training for medical students: Low vs high fidelity simulation.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate a simulation-based team performance course for medical students and compare its low- and high-fidelity components.

Study Design: This is a prospective crossover observational study. Groups participated in one low- and one high-fidelity session twice.

Student Views on a Novel Holistic Surgical Education Curriculum (iG4): A Multi-national Survey in a Changing Landscape.

Aim: Essential Skills in the Management of Surgical Cases (ESMSC Marathon Course™ Integrated Generation 4 (iG4) is the first reported multifaceted undergraduate surgical course aiming to provide holistic surgical teaching. In this prospective observational study, we explored students' views on the iG4 curriculum, and identified how it can potentially address modern challenges in surgical training.

Material And Methods: Medical students were invited to apply to the course online and were screened against pre-defined criteria.

A prospective study integrating a curriculum of interventional radiology in undergraduate education: a tetra-core simulation model.

Background: Interventional radiology (IR) is underrepresented in undergraduate medical curricula across Europe. By continuing to challenge the boundaries of IR, a rise in the demand for radiologists has been inevitable - a trend not met by a corresponding rise in the supply of radiologists. On tracing the roots of this shortage, lack of awareness of the specialty within medical trainees coupled with a global lack of IR teaching in undergraduate education seem to constitute major exacerbating factors.

A Novel Multi-faceted Course Blueprint to Support Outcome-based Holistic Surgical Education: The Integrated Generation 4 Model (iG4).

Background/aim: We present a novel multi-faceted, internationally adaptable course curriculum blueprint, which provides holistic surgical education at the undergraduate level.

Materials And Methods: The Integrated Generation 4 (iG4) course (Essential Skills in the Management of Surgical Cases - ESMSC Marathon course) curriculum consists of four essential learning components: core skills-based learning, case-based discussions, basic science workshops and soft-skills. These are all clustered in a specialty-led network architecture.

Retrospective qualitative study evaluating the application of IG4 curriculum: an adaptable concept for holistic surgical education.

Objectives: Faced with a costly and demanding learning curve of surgical skills acquisition, the growing necessity for improved surgical curricula has now become irrefutable. We took this opportunity to formulate a teaching framework with the capacity to provide holistic surgical education at the undergraduate level.

Setting: Data collection was conducted in all the relevant healthcare centres the participants worked in.

Artificial Intelligence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Is This the Way Forward?

An increasing trend in funding towards artificial intelligence (AI) research in medicine has re-animated huge expectations for future applications. Obstetrics and gynaecology remain highly litigious specialities, accounting for a large proportion of indemnity payments due to poor outcomes. Several challenges have to be faced in order to improve current clinical practice in both obstetrics and gynaecology.

Platelet Depletion/Transfusion as a Lethal Factor in a Colitis-associated Cancer Mouse Model.

Background/aim: TLR-4 Knock-out (KO) mice are protected from colitis-associated cancer in the established AOM/DSS mouse model. The aim of this study was to assess whether the TLR4 KO mice would still be protected from carcinogenesis after platelet depletion and transfusion with TLR4 wild-type platelets.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two female C57BL6 mice were divided into 6 groups.

Advancing Medical Students' Non-technical Skills in a Group-Based Setting.

Introduction of non-technical skill (NTS) modules in undergraduate medical curricula is essential to prevent errors that occur due to inadequate communication and malfunctioning teams. We primarily aimed to observe medical students' NTS performance improvement in a group-based setting and compare it across participants of different countries of study. Secondarily, we aimed to assess students' views on such initiatives.

Are interventional radiology and allied specialities neglected in undergraduate medical education? A systematic review.

Objectives: Minimally invasive interventional approaches are gaining wider acceptance with several specialities incorporating such principles. Awareness and understanding of interventional principles require efficacious education and training methodologies. We performed a systematic review to identify all available interventional speciality learning modules or training opportunities available for undergraduate medical students.