Grappling with complexity: Medical students’ reflective writings about challenging patient encounters as a window into professional identity formation

Aim: Clerkship-specific interactive reflective writing (IRW)-enhanced reflection may enhance professional identity formation (PIF), a fundamental goal of medical education. PIF process as revealed in students? reflective writing (RW) has been understudied.

Methods: The authors developed an IRW curriculum within a Family Medicine Clerkship (FMC) and analyzed students? reflections about challenging/difficult patient encounters using immersion-crystallization qualitative analysis.

Results: The qualitative analysis identified 26 unique emergent themes and five distinct thematic categories (1. Role of emotions, 2. Role of cognition, 3. Behaviorally responding to situational context, 4. Patient factors, and 5. External factors) as well as an emergent PIF model from a directed content analysis. The model describes students? backgrounds, emotions and previous experiences in medicine merging with external factors and processed during student?patient interactions. The RWs also revealed that processing often involves polarities (e.g. empathy/lack of empathy or encouragement/disillusionment) as well as dissonance between idealized visions and lived reality.

Conclusions: IRW facilitates and ideally supports grappling with the lived reality of medicine; uncovering a “positive hidden curriculum” within medical education. The authors propose engaging learners in guided critical reflection about complex experiences for meaning-making within a safe learning climate as a valuable way to cultivate reflective, resilient professionals with “prepared” minds and hearts for inevitable challenges of healthcare practice.     

Factors associated with provision of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate to adolescents by US health care providers

ObjectiveIdentify factors associated with healthcare providers' frequency of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) provision to adolescents.Study designWe analyzed data from surveys mailed to a nationally representative sample of public-sector providers and office-based physicians (n=1984). We estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of factors associated with frequent DMPA provision to adolescents in the past year.ResultsAlthough most providers (>95%) considered DMPA safe for adolescents, fewer reported frequent provision (89% of public-sector providers; 64% of office-based physicians). Among public-sector providers, factors associated with lower odds of frequent provision included working in settings without Title X funding (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.30–0.64), reporting primary care as their primary clinical focus versus reproductive or adolescent health (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.28–0.61), and providing fewer patients with family planning services. Among office-based physicians, factors associated with lower odds of frequent provision included specializing in obstetrics/gynecology (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.27–0.91) and family medicine (aOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09–0.47) versus adolescent medicine, completing training ≥15 versus <5 years ago (aOR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09–0.83), and reporting that 0–24% of patients pay with Medicaid or other government healthcare assistance versus ≥50% (aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.09–0.61). The reason most commonly reported by providers for infrequent DMPA provision was patient preference for another method.ConclusionsWhile most providers reported frequently providing DMPA to adolescents, training on evidence-based recommendations for contraception, focused on subgroups of providers with lower odds of frequent DMPA provision, may increase adolescents' access to contraception.ImplicationsAlthough >95% of providers considered depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) a safe contraceptive for adolescents, only 89% of public-sector providers and 64% of office-based physicians reported frequently providing DMPA to adolescents. Provider training on evidence-based recommendations for contraception counseling and provision may increase adolescents' access to DMPA and all methods of contraception.     

Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Concentration and Nutritional Status of Malignant Tumor Patients

Background: The level of the systemic inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is elevated in many patients with malignant disease and may be related to nutritional status.

Objective: To analyze the association between serum CRP levels in patients with malignant tumors and their nutritional status.

Method: A total of 3,692 cases were analyzed and the serum CRP levels were determined using an immunometric assay. Nutritional status was assessed by using patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). The biochemical evaluation of prealbumin (PA), albumin (ALB), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglycerides (TG) were assayed within 48?h admission to the hospital. The association between serum CRP concentration and the nutritional status, the stage of the tumor and other factors was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Result: Elevated serum CRP was observed in 47.6% (1,548/3,269) of patients compared with the reference value, and the median CRP concentration was 18.29?mg/l. Patient serum CRP concentrations in the malnourished group (PG-SGA B?+?C) were higher than in the well-nourished (PG-SGA A) patients (P?<?0.05). The serum CRP level was related to the patients' age, gender, tumor stage, and was affected by hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, but it has no effect on hypertension. The CRP high patients had lower PA and ALB levels, lower Karnofsky performance status scores, and higher PG-SGA scores (P?<?0.05), and there was no relationship with CHOL and TG levels. Weight loss in the previous 1?mo was seen with CRP positive patients (P?<?0.05).

Conclusion: Almost 50% of malignant tumor patients had elevated serum CRP levels indicating a systemic inflammatory state. The nutritional status was worse in cancer patients with higher concentrations of serum CRP. The level of CRP was associated with the tumor stage, and, as stage is a prognostic factor, so can CRP be used as a prognostic maker in malignant tumors patients.     

Impact of Weight Loss During Chemotherapy in Chinese Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Weight loss is frequently observed in pancreatic cancer patients. We aimed to study the prognostic impacts of weight loss early during chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 72 patients of Chinese ethnicity with unresectable pancreatic cancer who underwent chemotherapy were reviewed. Critical weight loss (CWL) was defined as weight loss ≥ 5% within one month after treatment. The prognostic impact of weight loss and CWL were analyzed.

Results: 47 patients (65.3%) had weight loss after one month of treatment, with 14 (19.4%) suffering from CWL. Baseline characteristics were similar between patients with and without CWL. The median OS and Time-to-treatment-failure (TTF) of patients with CWL were shorter than those without CWL (OS: 4.8?months [CWL] versus [vs.] OS 7.1?months [No CWL]; TTF 1.6?months [CWL] vs. 3.2?months [No CWL]; both P?<?0.01). CWL was an independent adverse prognosticator for OS (Hazard Ratio [HR]?=?2.50; P?=?0.01) and TTF (HR = 2.71; P?<?0.01). Other independent prognosticators for OS were serum albumin <35?mg/dl and CA19-9?≥?1000?IU/ml, while CWL was the only independent prognosticator for TTF (HR 2.71 [95% CI 1.33–5.52]; P?<?0.01).

Conclusions: Development of CWL in early course of chemotherapy was associated with worse prognosis in Chinese patients with unresectable pancreatic cancers.     

灰毡毛忍冬LmC3H1基因的克隆及表达模式与绿原酸含量相关性分析

目的:以灰毡毛忍冬为材料,克隆对-香豆酸3-羟化酶(LmC3H1)基因,进行生物信息学和表达模式分析,结合绿原酸含量,研究推测灰毡毛忍冬LmC3H1基因的功能。方法:通过逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和RACE技术克隆LmC3H1基因的全长c DNA序列,对该序列进行生物信息学分析,并利用实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time PCR)和HPLC分别测定灰毡毛忍冬茎、叶及不同花期花中LmC3H1的相对表达量及绿原酸含量。结果:克隆得LmC3H1(Gen Bank:MN177695)基因,开放阅读框(ORF)长度为1 533 bp,编码510个氨基酸,推测其分子式为C_(2618)H_(4134)N_(718)O_(727)S_(22),相对分子质量为58 005.32,等电点8.92,为亲水性蛋白,定位于叶绿体中,具有跨膜区域LLLIPAVLFLISLVYPLI,含有细胞色素P450的保守结构域CYTOCHROME_P450(422-433 aa);Real-time PCR结果显示,LmC3H1在灰毡毛忍冬茎、叶及不同花期花有不同程度的表达,其中在花发育阶段,白色花蕾期相对表达量最高,花蕾初期及白色开花期次之;白色花蕾期花与茎、叶比,花的相对表达量最高,叶的最低;HPLC结果显示,从绿白色花蕾期到金黄色开花期绿原酸含量呈上升趋势,金黄色开花期含量最高,不同器官中,花中绿原酸最高,茎最低。结论:克隆得到灰毡毛忍冬LmC3H1基因,推测LmC3H1可能参与灰毡毛忍冬花绿原酸的生物合成。该研究为进一步研究该基因的功能及探究灰毡毛忍冬绿原酸生物合成和调节机制提供了依据,同时为遗传改良灰毡毛忍冬品质奠定了基础。     

从胰岛微循环探索“脾气散精”环节对血糖稳态的调节机制

减少血糖波动是目前干预糖尿病和预防并发症的重点,也是中医药在糖尿病治疗中的优势所在。越来越多的研究表明,胰岛微循环障碍是胰岛功能下降进而引发血糖波动的关键病理环节,而胰岛微循环局部肾素-血管紧张素系统(renin-angiotensin system,RAS)的过度激活作为胰岛功能失代偿的使动环节,与胰岛内分泌细胞功能密切相关,是研究胰岛功能的关键靶点。中医学认为糖尿病血糖波动与"脾气散精"障碍密切相关,脾不散"精"(血糖),精滞为浊,浊邪壅塞,是血糖稳态失衡的使动环节,亦为糖尿病全病程的关键病机。通过补益"脾"气以促进"胰"中精微物质的布散能够恢复糖调节激素间的平衡,从而减少血糖波动。目前,"脾气散精"对血糖波动的调节机制尚不明确。作者基于以往的临床和科研工作基础,提出"脾气散精"环节通过促进机体胰岛微循环从而发挥其改善胰岛功能、调节血糖稳态的作用,其机制可能与抑制胰岛微循环局部RAS的激活状态相关。RAS系统在胰岛微循环中各信号通路的相互拮抗关系,与中医理论中脾气散精与固精作用的对立制约关系相类似。因此"脾气散精"环节对血糖波动的调节机制有必要从胰岛微循环RAS整体调控的角度进行深入探索,以此揭示中医药调节机体内环境稳态,减少糖尿病患者血糖波动的科学内涵。     

山白树微卫星特征分析及分子标记开发

目的:山白树是中国特有珍稀濒危植物。分析微卫星特征,开发其微卫星分子标记。方法:采用Illumina二代测序技术建立山白树基因组文库和微卫星文库,分析微卫星组成类型,设计山白树引物,用5个山白树种群进行扩增和检测以分析其多态性。结果:二代测序共返回38,942,660条100 bp配对序列,通过质量修剪及拼接得到200,386条拼接序列,其中长度 335 bp的为7 614条;在7 614条序列中检测出微卫星位点694个,其中单核苷酸重复最多,单核苷酸重复中A/T重复数量最多;二核苷酸长度变异最大,其中AG/CT重复数量最多,重复长度变异情况与微卫星丰度呈正相关。为36条山白树微卫星重复次数高的序列设计引物,经聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测,20对引物多态性丰富且条带清晰,等位基因数(NA)在3~6之间,平均为4,多态性信息含量(PIC) 0. 535 5~0. 754 0,平均值0. 615 5。对5个山白树种群的群体遗传分析发现,该物种遗传多样性较高(h=0. 697 5,I=1. 436 8,HE=0. 702 2),种群遗传分化显著(Fst=0. 374)。结论:通过部分山白树的群体遗传也可以说明本次开发的引物可用性较好。该研究开发了山白树微卫星分子标记引物,为山白树分子遗传学奠定了基础。     

Novel intronic variant in PALB2 gene and effective prevention of Fanconi anemia in family

Familial Cancer - Despite the acceptance of NextGen sequencing as a diagnostic modality suitable for probands and carriers of Mendelian diseases, its efficiency in identifying causal mutations is...