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.     

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。     

Colon and rectal cancer risk after bariatric surgery in a multicountry Nordic cohort study

Obesity is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Yet, some research indicates that weight-reducing bariatric surgery also increases colorectal cancer risk. Our study was undertaken because current evidence examining bariatric surgery and risk of colorectal cancer is limited and inconsistent. This population-based cohort study included adults with a documented obesity diagnosis in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden in 1980–2015. The incidence of colorectal cancer in participants with obesity who had and had not undergone bariatric surgery was compared to the incidence in the corresponding background population by calculating standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Additionally, operated and nonoperated participants with obesity were compared using multivariable Cox regression, providing hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs adjusted for confounders. Among 502,772 cohort participants with an obesity diagnosis, 49,931(9.9%) underwent bariatric surgery. The overall SIR of colon cancer was increased after bariatric surgery (SIR 1.56; 95% CI 1.28–1.88), with higher SIRs ≥10 years postsurgery. The overall HR of colon cancer in operated compared to nonoperated participants was 1.13 (95% CI 0.92–1.39) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.04–2.31) 10–14 years after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery did not significantly increase the risk of rectal cancer (SIR 1.14, 95% CI 0.83–1.52; HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.79–1.49), but the risk estimates increased with longer follow-up periods. Our study suggests that bariatric surgery is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, while the support for an increased risk of rectal cancer was weaker.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术的抗病毒颗粒治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）的潜在物质基础研究

目的通过网络药理学及分子对接技术探寻抗病毒颗粒治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的潜在物质基础。方法借助TCMSP检索抗病毒颗粒中板蓝根、连翘、石膏、知母、芦根、地黄、广藿香、石菖蒲、郁金的化学成分和作用靶点。通过Uni Prot数据库查询靶点对应的基因,进而运用Cytoscape3.6.1构建药材-化合物-靶点(基因)网络,通过DAVID进行基因本体(GO)功能富集分析和KEGG通路富集分析,预测其作用机制,将药材-化合物-靶点网络中排名前15的成分与新型冠状病毒(SARS-Co V-2)3CL水解酶进行分子对接,同时将比枯枯灵、木犀草素、槲皮素与血管紧张素转化酶Ⅱ(ACE2)进行分子对接。结果药材-化合物-靶点(基因)网络包含药材8个、化合物75个、靶点255个。GO功能富集分析得到GO条目161个(P0.05),其中生物过程(BP)条目65个,细胞组成(CC)条目36个,分子功能(MF)条目60个。KEGG通路富集筛选得到131条信号通路(P0.05)。分子对接结果显示抗病毒颗粒中比枯枯灵、木犀草素、槲皮素等核心活性化合物与SARS-Co V-23CL水解酶的亲和力与临床推荐化学药相似。结论抗病毒颗粒中的活性化合物比枯枯灵、木犀草素、槲皮素等能通过与ACE2结合作用于PTGS2、HSP90AB1、PTGS1等靶点调节多条信号通路,从而可能发挥对COVID-19的治疗作用。     

益气活血化瘀方治疗高血压性脑基底节出血术后的临床研究

目的观察益气活血化瘀方治疗高血压性脑基底节出血术后的临床疗效。方法将60例高血压性脑基底节出血患者随机分为观察组28例与对照组32例,对照组予单纯手术治疗,观察组在手术基础上联合益气活血化瘀方治疗。观察两组患者在治疗前后格拉斯哥昏迷指数(GCS)评分、肌力、血肿体积、中医证候积分、住院时间,并评估疗效。结果经治疗后,两组患者GCS评分明显下降,血肿体积明显缩小,中医证候积分明显降低,术后瘫痪侧肌力均明显改善(均P<0.05),观察组改善程度优于对照组(P<0.05);观察组中医证候总有效率为75.00%,明显高于对照组的59.38%(P<0.05);观察组的住院时间明显短于对照组(P<0.05)。结论益气活血化瘀方联合手术治疗可明显改善高血压性脑基底节出血患者的GCS评分、肌力,降低中医证候积分,缩小血肿体积,缩短住院时间,提高中医证候疗效。     

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。