Kidney Transplant Outcomes in Indigenous People of the Northern Great Plains of the United States.

Introduction: Indigenous people experience higher rates of end-stage renal disease as well as negative predictive factors such as medical comorbidities, lower socioeconomic status, greater waitlist time, and fewer pre-emptive transplants that undermine kidney transplantation success. In addition, Indian tribal reservation-dwelling Indigenous people may also be disproportionately affected by poverty, geographical disadvantages, limited physician availability, lower health literacy and cultural beliefs that further reduce access to care. Historically, all racial minority groups have experienced higher rates of rejection events, graft failure and mortality relating to these inequalities.

Improvement of Medical Terminology Education With Interactive Learning Module.

Introduction: Early in their first year, medical students at USD Sanford School of Medicine (SSOM) must pass a short-course in medical terminology. Taught using simple PowerPoint presentation, learning has been very dependent on rote memorization. In reviewing the literature, a study examining the effects of teaching medical terminology using mnemonics and imagery showed higher test scores with increasing exposure to this experimental learning method.

A Cannabinoid Type 2 (CB2) Receptor Agonist Augments NOS-Dependent Responses of Cerebral Arterioles During Type 1 Diabetes.

Introduction: While activation of cannabinoid (CB2) receptors has been shown to be neuroprotective, no studies have examined whether this neuroprotection is directed at cerebral arterioles and no studies have examined whether activation of CB2 receptors can rescue cerebrovascular dysfunction during a chronic disease state such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). The goal was to test the hypothesis that administration of a CB2 agonist (JWH-133) would improve impaired endothelial (eNOS)- and neuronal (nNOS)- dependent dilation of cerebral arterioles during T1D.

Methods: In vivo diameter of cerebral arterioles in nondiabetic and diabetic rats was measured in response to an eNOS-dependent agonist (adenosine 5'-diphosphate; ADP), an nNOS-dependent agonist (N-methyl-Daspartate; NMDA), and an NOS-independent agonist (nitroglycerin) before and 1 hour following JWH-133 (1 mg/kg IP).

UBXN2A, a Ubiquitin-Like Protein, Alters Proteins in mTORC2 Pathway.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States causing approximately 50,000 deaths annually. Metastasis is a characteristic feature of CRC tumors, and is dominantly responsible for the high mortality of CRC patients. Thus, an urgent need exists for new therapies for patients with metastatic CRC.

Retrospective Analysis of Vaccination Coverage Among Rural American Indian Children Admitted With Lower Respiratory Tract Infection.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have shown the greatest rate disparity between US infants for hospitalizations, with rates for American Indian (AI) twice the rate for non-AI infants. Vaccination coverage disparity has been hypothesized as one cause for this disparity. Vaccination disparities between AI and non-AI pediatric patients hospitalized for LRTIs were investigated.

Breaking Bad News: Integrating the Spikes Model into Medical School Curriculum.

Introduction: Breaking bad news to patients is a daunting yet inevitable task for most physicians. When done poorly, physicians can cause further pain to the patients while creating great distress for themselves; therefore, it is important medical students learn effective and compassionate techniques. The SPIKES model was created as a guiding framework for providers to use when breaking bad news.

Training Standardized Patients to Provide Effective Feedback: Development, Implementation, and its Effect on the Efficacy of Medical Students' Education.

Introduction: Standardized patient (SP) encounters are a pivotal part of medical student training and provide essential feedback on student performance. Feedback has been shown to develop interpersonal skills and alter motivation levels, reducing anxiety and increasing students' confidence in skills. Therefore, optimizing the quality of SP feedback will allow educators to provide students with more focused comments on performance, leading to personal development and better patient care.

A Digital Initiative to Improve Patient Health Literacy.

Background: The U.S. is in the midst of a health literacy crisis.

Integrating Standardized Multimedia to Supplement Physical Examination Curriculum: An Assessment of Medical Student and Evaluator Perspective.

Introduction: As a new generation enters the realm of medical education, so do their preferences for technology integration into didactic curricula. An analysis of 106 LCME-accredited medical schools found that 97 percent of programs utilize supplemental e-learning to enhance traditional, face-to-face education in their physical examination curricula. Of these programs, 71 percent produced their multimedia internally.

The Effects of Regular Light Strength Training and Flexibility Training on Physical and Mental Health in Senior Citizens.

Introduction: Frequent exercise is known to be associated with better physical and mental health outcomes in all age groups. Vermillion, South Dakota, has no easily accessible way for senior citizens to exercise in groups safely. Clinical observations suggested the hypothesis that senior citizens living independently would benefit both physically and mentally from a tri-weekly chair-based exercise program.

Simulation-Based Interprofessional ICU Bedside Rounding Course.

Introduction: Medical schools are beginning to implement courses in interprofessional education (IPE) to prepare students for the interprofessional team-based patient care model which is becoming the standard of practice in many healthcare facilities. Students often have little exposure to multidisciplinary rounds prior to residency, and fast-paced low-capacity healthcare environments such as operating rooms and intensive care units (ICUs) necessitate providers be competent and efficient in working within interprofessional teams.

Methods: The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine has developed an innovative, simulationbased ICU bedside rounding course that uses a custom-designed simulated electronic health record system that is a hybrid desktop/web-based application.

Vitamin D Levels and Sperm DNA Fragmentation.

Introduction: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has revolutionized the treatment of couples with male factor infertility but results remain suboptimal, suggesting the need for further investigation into the molecular biology of spermatozoa. Limitations to traditional semen analysis have brought new methods to the forefront like Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA), which uses flow cytometry to measure sperm DNA fragmentation. Increased DNA damage in semen has been correlated with failed IVF cycles and decreased fertilization.

Complex Coronary Intervention - When Time Is of Essence: Ping Pong Technique.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. The prognosis and treatment of which is dependent on various factors including type, size, localization and extent of the coronary plaque and severity of the stenosis.

A Survey of Eye Care Needs Among Community Health Center Patients in Western South Dakota.

Background: Community health centers (CHCs) provide healthcare to underserved communities, including the uninsured and underinsured. Ocular disease and visual impairment affect individuals of all ages, race, and socioeconomic standing, but are disproportionately detrimental to individuals with limited access to care. The purpose of this study is to assess the need for and potential utilization of an on-site eye care clinic at a CHC in Rapid City, South Dakota.

A Concise Review of Neonatal Dermatology.

Skin findings in neonates carry a wide differential diagnosis, ranging from self-limiting rashes to something more sinister, as cutaneous changes can be an indicator of a serious underlying infectious process. Even benign rashes can cause great concern for families and providers. Pathologic rashes pose a potential risk to the neonate's health.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Narrative Review.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been estimated to affect 10-15 percent of women in the U.S. Emerging research has found higher rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among PCOS individuals.

A Case-Based Review of Cutaneous CD30-Positive Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders are a group of diseases which represent the second most common (30 percent) subgroup of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. They present a challenging diagnosis given their similar findings histologically and clinically in comparison to other cutaneous pathologies. Use of immunohistochemical staining to identify CD30 positivity facilitates a more rapid development of the appropriate management plan.

Diffuse Ganglioneuromatosis of the Colon in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis 1.

Ganglioneuromas are rare, benign neurogenic tumors characterized by a proliferation of ganglion cells, nerve fibers, and support cells of the nervous system. They have been classified into three groups: solitary, polyposis, and diffuse. The diffuse type has several syndromic associations including multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2B and, less commonly, neurofibromatosis type 1.

A Case of Neonatal Myeloid Sarcoma.

Here we describe a cutaneous neonatal myeloid sarcoma (MS) case with a subsequent diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) seven days later. Cytogenetic studies were unusual demonstrating a triple copy of KAT6A abnormality and complex 8;14;22 translocation involving the 8p11.2 region.