Radiation treatment of bladder squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with spina bifida: A case report

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Canada. While most patients present with transitional cell carcinoma, few present with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Risk factors for SCC include a history of chronic urinary tract infection, urothelial inflammation and indwelling catheters. We present the management of a patient with locally advanced SCC of the bladder.     

The Effect of Positive and Negative Verbal Feedback on Surgical Skills Performance and Motivation

There is considerable effort and time invested in providing feedback to medical students and residents during their time in training. However, little effort has been made to measure the effects of positive and negative verbal feedback on skills performance and motivation to learn and practice. To probe these questions, first-year medical students (n = 25) were recruited to perform a peg transfer task on Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery box trainers. Time to completion and number of errors were recorded. The students were then randomized to receive either positive or negative verbal feedback from an expert in the field of laparoscopic surgery. After this delivery of feedback, the students repeated the peg transfer task. Differences in performance pre- and post-feedback and also between the groups who received positive feedback (PF) vs negative feedback (NF) were analyzed. A survey was then completed by all the participants. Baseline task times were similar between groups (PF 209.3 seconds; NF 203 seconds, p = 0.58). The PF group averaged 1.83 first-time errors while the NF group 1 (p = 0.84). Post-feedback task times were significantly decreased for both groups (PF 159.75 seconds, p = 0.05; NF 132.08 seconds, p = 0.002). While the NF group demonstrated a greater improvement in mean time than the PF group, this was not statistically significant. Both groups also made fewer errors (PF 0.33 errors, p = 0.04; NF 0.38 errors, p = 0.23). When surveyed about their responses to standardized feedback scenarios, the students stated that both positive and negative verbal feedback could be potent stimulants for improved performance and motivation. Further research is required to better understand the effects of feedback on learner motivation and the interpersonal dynamic between mentors and their trainees.     

Q-technique methodology in the study of healthy aged men (part II)

This is the second in a series of papers which describe the application of the Q-technique to the study of healthy aged men. The Q-type factor analysis was performed on the subjects of a 1957 NIMH study (47 aged men across 550 measured variables). These papers focus on Q-factor clusters which contained biological and cognitive relationships. The first paper concentrated on methodological issues and also presented six Q-factor clusters from Q-factors 1 and 2. This second paper presents 12 additional clusters from Q-factors 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Biological states (i.e., aspects of cardiovascular and cerebral chemistry/metabolism functions) were observed in relationship to cognitive (i.e., intellectual, memory, and psychometric performance), speed (i.e., auditory and visual reaction times), and social-psychological (e.g., foreign versus native born) functions.     

Response of Cats to Inhaled Mixtures of SO2 and SO2-NaCl Aerosol in Air

Twenty healthy, adult male cats were lightly anesthetized with pentobarbital (Nembutal) sodium and tracheotomized; respiration was maintained by pump, Medical-grade breathing air, with or without sulfur dioxide alone or in combination with sodium chloride aerosol was delivered in predetermined exposure sequencer Pulmonary flow resistance and lung compliance were evaluated. Pollutants were also delivered via endotracheal catheter or face mask, or both. Approximately 20 ppm of SO₂ in air was required to evoke a significant change in pulmonary flow resistance in “reactors.” The majority of animals showed no response to this concentration of SO₂ either alone or with NaCl aerosol (10 mg/cu m). An increased frequency of significant changes in pulmonary flow resistance was suggested when pollutants were delivered via endotracheal catheter or face mask. All alterations in parameters of response were reversible shortly after exposure ceased.     

CME calendar

To help you save time in identifying those meetings and courses of greatest interest to you, POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE offers this objectively rated listing as a regular reader service. Each event has been rated on the factors that matter most to you: relevance of the subject to primary care, number of credit hours, cost per credit hour (registration fee only), sponsorship, and meeting site. One to four stars are awarded on the basis of the combined score for these factors.     

THE MAKING OF A GROUNDED THEORY: AFTER DEATH COMMUNICATION

Qualitative research provides understanding of phenomena with a depth and richness that cannot be generated through quantitative approaches. Qualitative methods, however, can often appear difficult, if not confusing. In this article, the authors take the reader through the grounded theory process using Devers's research, Experiencing the Deceased: Reconciling the Extraordinary (1994), a study of after death communication (ADC), to illustrate the use of this particular qualitative method.The authors hope that this article will leave the reader with a better understanding of grounded theory method and stimulate an interest in using it for studying other death-related topics.