The impact of neighborhoods and friendships on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents: A report from the medical student CHANGES study

Objective

To examine the experience of interracial anxiety among health professionals and how it may affect the quality of their interactions with patients from racially marginalized populations. We explored the influence of prior interracial exposure—specifically through childhood neighborhoods, college student bodies, and friend groups—on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents. We also examined whether levels of interracial anxiety change from medical school through residency.

Data Source

Web-based longitudinal survey data from the Medical Student Cognitive Habits and Growth Evaluation Study.

Study Design

We used a retrospective longitudinal design with four observations for each trainee. The study population consisted of non-Black US medical trainees surveyed in their 1st and 4th years of medical school and 2nd and 3rd years of residency. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess predictors of interracial anxiety and assess changes in interracial anxiety scores over time.

Principal Findings

In total, 3155 non-Black medical trainees were followed for 7 years. Seventy-eight percent grew up in predominantly White neighborhoods. Living in predominantly White neighborhoods and having less racially diverse friends were associated with higher levels of interracial anxiety among medical trainees. Trainees' interracial anxiety scores did not substantially change over time; interracial anxiety was highest in the 1st year of medical school, lowest in the 4th year, and increased slightly during residency.

Conclusions

Neighborhood and friend group composition had independent effects on interracial anxiety, indicating that premedical racial socialization may affect medical trainees' preparedness to interact effectively with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the lack of substantial change in interracial anxiety throughout medical training suggests the importance of providing curricular tools and structure (e.g., instituting interracial cooperative learning activities) to foster the development of healthy interracial relationships.     

Isokinetic flexion strength recovery after ACL reconstruction: a comparison between all inside graft-link technique and full tibial tunnel technique

Introduction: Recently, a new minimally invasive single bundle technique for anatomic ACL reconstruction has been described, called the ‘All-Inside graft-link technique’. One of the advantages of this procedure is the reduced morbidity at the donor site as the graft choice is the quadrupled semitendinosus, thus sparing the gracilis tendon. The aim of this study was to evaluate isokinetic flexion strength recovery in patients who underwent a gracilis sparing technique compared to those with a full-tibial tunnel technique using a doubled gracilis and semitendinosus tendons (DGST) graft.

Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (22 patients) who underwent ACL reconstruction performed with an All-Inside graft-link technique; Group B (22 patients) who underwent ACL reconstruction with an Out-In technique and DGST graft. At a mean follow-up of 13 months, quadriceps and hamstring isokinetic peak torque deficits were recorded.

Results: In group A, the mean side to side peak torque flexion difference between the operated and non-operated limbs was ?3% and the mean torque at 30° was ?7.5% at high angular velocity (180°/sec); the mean peak flexion torque was 7.2% and the mean torque at 30° was 3.1% at low angular velocity (60°/sec).

In group B, the mean side to side peak flexion torque was ?3.5% and the mean torque at 30° was ?7.6% at high angular velocity (180°/sec); the mean peak flexion torque was ?7.2% and the mean torque at 30° was ?11% at low angular velocity (60°/sec).

A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups at lower angular velocity both for the mean peak flexion torque and the mean torque at 30° (p = 0.009), with better results in the study group.

Discussion/conclusion: Gracilis sparing technique is a minimally invasive technique for ACL reconstruction and yielded a significantly better flexion strength recovery at lower angular velocity compared to a full tibial tunnel technique with DGST for ACL reconstruction.     

颈椎后纵韧带骨化症后路术后C5神经根麻痹

目的：探讨颈椎后纵韧带骨化症（OPLL）术后C5神经根麻痹的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法：2000年3月至2005年1月．采用后路减压手术治疗OPLL患者157例．其中9例术后卅现C5神经根麻痹。回顾性分析9例患者的临床资料，所有患者术后均进行功能康复训练，其中5例患者给予高压氧辅助治疗，随访观察预后情况。结果：本组C5神经根麻痹的发生率为5．7％．包括单开门椎管成形术2例、全椎板切除减压术7例。其临床表现为三角肌、肱二头肌肌力下降至1～2级，肩部及上臂外侧感觉障碍，肱二头肌腱反射减弱或消失。随访1～4年，9例患者的肌力均恢复至3～4级，7例感觉恢复正常。结论：C5神经根麻痹是颈椎后路手术治疗OPLL的并发症之一，经过功能康复训练等保守治疗后肌力、感觉均可获得一定恢复。     

Female alcoholics. V: The relationship between family history of alcoholism and outcome 3-10 years after treatment

In a long-term follow-up study of 44 female alcoholics, a family history of alcoholism was related to younger age of onset of problem drinking, but did not necessarily imply a poorer outcome within this highly selected group of individuals. Alcoholism in father and his family was not related to either antisocial or borderline personality disorder nor outcome. However, alcoholism in mother and her family correlated with both borderline personality disorder and a significantly poorer outcome. The findings are discussed within different frames of reference, considering genetic mechanisms, psychodynamic factors and family systems theory.     

Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction Using Peroneus Brevis Tendon Allograft

We describe the use of a double-strand peroneus brevis allograft to reconstruct the coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular (AC) joint ligaments. Through sharp dissection, the distal clavicle, the AC joint, and the torn superior AC and coracoacromial ligaments are identified. The coracoid process and injured coracoclavicular ligaments are identified with blunt dissection. A 1-cm segment of the lateral clavicle is resected. Vertical and connecting horizontal tunnels are created (4.5 mm) in the lateral clavicle and in the medial acromion process. The 5.5- to 6.0-mm-diameter allograft is looped around the coracoid process, and both strands are passed through the vertical clavicle tunnel with a nitinol wire loop. One strand passes through the vertical clavicle tunnel, and the other strand passes through the horizontal tunnel, exiting through the lateral end. The allograft strand passed through the vertical clavicle tunnel is then passed inferiorly through the superior vertical acromion tunnel, and the strand passed completely through the horizontal clavicle tunnel is passed laterally through the medial horizontal acromion tunnel. After both strands exit inferiorly through the vertical acromion tunnel, they are tensioned and sutured with AC joint reduction. Soft tissue closure uses No. 0 and No. 2-0 absorbable sutures with No. 3-0 nylon sutures at the skin.     

Intra-Articular Ganglia of the Knee Joint Associated With the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Report of 4 Cases in 3 Patients

Intra-articular ganglia are rare and mostly incidental findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy. We present 4 cases of intra-articular ganglion cysts associated with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 3 patients. The most commonly occurring symptoms were pain aggravated after stressing activities and limited knee range of motion. In 1 patient, ganglion cysts appeared in both knees with a time difference of 1 year. An MRI revealed typical signs of ganglion cysts in the substance of the ACL. Arthroscopy was performed for further evaluation and treatment. Histologic examination of the tissue removed revealed the presence of features consistent with ganglion cysts. Therefore, in the case of chronic knee discomfort with nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms and without a clear cause, an intra-articular ganglion cyst should be considered as causing pathology. An MRI is the most sensitive and specific method for diagnosis. However, the relatively slow progression of symptoms may delay the patient’s decision to seek medical attention. Delayed diagnosis makes arthroscopic total resection of the ganglion technically demanding or not possible at all, and extensive debridement of the ACL may be required.     

颈椎后纵韧带骨化的治疗方法

从１９８３年８月至１９９１年３月，手术治疗６３例颈韧后纵韧带骨化（ＯＰＬＬ）的患者。手术方法包括前路椎间减压融合，椎体次全切除植骨融合、后路全椎板切除。单开门椎板成形椎管扩大手术、双开门椎板成形椎管扩大手术，及前后路两次手术。随诊６到９６个月，疗效为３９例代。１６例良，优良率８７．２％。本文讨论了前路椎间减压、椎体次全切除及后路椎板成形椎管扩大手术的方法。作者认为对ＯＰＬＬ伴广泛性椎管狭窄者以后路双开门椎板成形椎管扩大手术较为合理。