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Medical Education Online Dec 2024While objective clinical structured examination (OSCE) is a worldwide recognized and effective method to assess clinical skills of undergraduate medical students, the...
While objective clinical structured examination (OSCE) is a worldwide recognized and effective method to assess clinical skills of undergraduate medical students, the latest Ottawa conference on the assessment of competences raised vigorous debates regarding the future and innovations of OSCE. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive view of the global research activity on OSCE over the past decades and to identify clues for its improvement. We performed a bibliometric and scientometric analysis of OSCE papers published until March 2024. We included a description of the overall scientific productivity, as well as an unsupervised analysis of the main topics and the international scientific collaborations. A total of 3,224 items were identified from the Scopus database. There was a sudden spike in publications, especially related to virtual/remote OSCE, from 2020 to 2024. We identified leading journals and countries in terms of number of publications and citations. A co-occurrence term network identified three main clusters corresponding to different topics of research in OSCE. Two connected clusters related to OSCE performance and reliability, and a third cluster on student's experience, mental health (anxiety), and perception with few connections to the two previous clusters. Finally, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada were identified as leading countries in terms of scientific publications and collaborations in an international scientific network involving other European countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy) as well as Saudi Arabia and Australia, and revealed the lack of important collaboration with Asian countries. Various avenues for improving OSCE research have been identified: i) developing remote OSCE with comparative studies between live and remote OSCE and issuing international recommendations for sharing remote OSCE between universities and countries; ii) fostering international collaborative studies with the support of key collaborating countries; iii) investigating the relationships between student performance and anxiety.
Topics: Humans; Clinical Competence; Educational Measurement; Bibliometrics; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Reproducibility of Results; Students, Medical; Biomedical Research
PubMed: 38934534
DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2024.2370617 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women of childbearing age. Pregnancy in SLE patients poses unique... (Review)
Review
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women of childbearing age. Pregnancy in SLE patients poses unique challenges due to the potential impact on maternal and fetal outcomes. We provide an overview of the management of SLE during pregnancy, including preconception risk stratification and counseling, treatment, and disease activity monitoring. These assessments are critical to minimize maternal and fetal adverse events in pregnant patients with SLE. Disease flares, preeclampsia, antiphospholipid syndrome complications, and maternal mortality are the major risks for a woman with SLE during gestation. Timely treatment of SLE relapse, differentiation of preeclampsia from lupus nephritis, and tailored management for antiphospholipid syndrome are essential for a successful pregnancy. Fetal outcomes include neonatal lupus (NL), preterm birth, cesarean delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. We focused on NL, linked to maternal anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies, which can lead to various manifestations, particularly cardiac abnormalities, in newborns. While there is a common consensus regarding the preventive effect of hydroxychloroquine, the role of echocardiographic monitoring and fluorinated steroid treatment is still debated. Finally, close postpartum monitoring and counseling for subsequent pregnancies are crucial aspects of care.
PubMed: 38929983
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123454 -
Biomedicines May 2024Inherited thrombophilia (IT) has been implicated as a potential causal factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including recurrent miscarriage with and without the...
Inherited thrombophilia (IT) has been implicated as a potential causal factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including recurrent miscarriage with and without the presence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and impact of IT on fetal-maternal outcomes and thrombotic risk in women within the spectrum of obstetric APS. Three hundred and twenty-eight women with APS-related obstetric morbidity ever pregnant were included. Of these, 74 met the APS classification criteria, 169 were non-criteria (NC)-APS, and 85 were seronegative (SN)-APS. Patients with other autoimmune diseases were excluded. APOs included early pregnancy loss, fetal death, preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, and preterm birth. Successful pregnancy was defined as the achievement of a live newborn. A literature search was also performed. The mean age of the overall group was 33.9 ± 5.3 years, and the patients were followed up for 35 (11-79) months. During the study period, there were 1332 pregnancies. Nearly 14% of the patients had an associated IT. IT patients more frequently received the standard-of-care (SoC) therapy. The presence of IT was not associated with worse maternal-fetal outcomes in patients treated with SoC treatment. Overall, IT patients had a lower frequency of newborns without treatment, especially those without definite APS. In addition, IT did not increase the risk of thrombosis during pregnancy or the postpartum period. A detailed analysis of the literature review identified only four publications related to our study and did not show conclusive evidence of the impact of IT on patients with obstetric APS. The group of women with APS-related obstetric morbidity and IT who did not receive treatment, especially those without definite APS, had a worse prognosis in terms of a live birth. However, with SoC therapy, the prognosis is similar in those patients without IT. The association of IT with APS does not seem to predispose to the development of thrombosis during pregnancy and/or the postpartum period.
PubMed: 38927381
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061174 -
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology Apr 2024Current guidelines recommend that direct anticoagulants should not be used in prevention of recurrent thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)....
Current guidelines recommend that direct anticoagulants should not be used in prevention of recurrent thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, except for triple-positive APS and rivaroxaban use, little evidence supports such recommendation. In a real-life cohort study, we evaluated the risk of thromboembolism and bleeding in APS patients on apixaban versus vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We enrolled 152 APS patients (aged 44 [interquartile range 36-56], 83% women), including 66 patients treated with apixaban 5 mg bid and 86 with warfarin (target INR [international normalized ratio] 2-3). During a median follow-up of 53 months, we recorded venous thromboembolism (VTE), ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction, along with major bleeding. We observed 4 (6.1%, 3 VTE and 1 ischemic stroke) thrombotic events in patients on apixaban and 12 events (14%, 9 VTE, 2 ischemic strokes and 1 myocardial infarction) in VKA patients. APS patients on apixaban had similar risk of recurrent thromboembolism compared to those on warfarin (HR=0.327, 95% CI: 0.104-1.035). Thromboembolic events occurred less commonly in statin users (8% vs 50%, p=0.01) and more frequently in triple-positive APS (50% vs 22.1%, p=0.028) and in subjects with higher D-dimer at baseline (p=0.023); the latter difference was present in the apixaban group (p=0.02). Patients on apixaban had similar risk of major bleeding compared to warfarin (HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.201-1.448). In real-life APS patients apixaban appears to be similar to VKA for the prevention of thromboembolism and risk of bleeding, which might suggest that some APS patients could be treated with apixaban.
PubMed: 38922590
DOI: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000001578 -
Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Jun 2024Beta 2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is the major autoantigen in the antiphospholipid syndrome, an autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombotic and obstetric complications....
Beta 2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is the major autoantigen in the antiphospholipid syndrome, an autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombotic and obstetric complications. The autoantibodies that target beta 2 glycoprotein I are pathogenic and contribute to disease pathogenesis. The β2GPI molecule is composed of 5 domains that are numbered 1 through to 5. Autoantibodies bind mainly to domain 1 whereas the majority of the biological functions of the β2GPI molecule in diverse processes such as apoptotic cell clearance, complement regulation, lipopolysaccharide clearance and anticoagulation have been localised to domain 5 and its unique biochemistry, reviewed in this article. The role of purified domain 5 peptide as a potential therapeutic agent in APS and ischemia reperfusion injury is discussed.
PubMed: 38917928
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110282 -
Clinical Rheumatology Jun 2024To describe the response and relapse of severe thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with different treatments.
OBJECTIVES
To describe the response and relapse of severe thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with different treatments.
METHOD
We performed a retrospective cohort study, which included SLE patients who were hospitalized for thrombocytopenia of less than 30,000/µL platelets, from January 2012 to December 2021. Demographic and clinical information was obtained from clinical records. Kaplan-Meier and logrank test were performed.
RESULTS
Forty-seven patients, mostly women (83%) with a median age of 31 years, were included in the study. Eight patients (17%) relapsed within a median period of 35.7 weeks. Initial acute treatment with prednisone at 1 mg/kg/day was as effective as glucocorticoid pulses. However, induction treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) had the lowest remission rate (43%, p = 0.034). There was no significant difference in relapse-free survival (RFS) among the acute glucocorticoid treatments. CYC induction was associated with lower RFS compared to rituximab (RTX) (CYC 43.6 weeks vs. RTX 51.8 weeks, p = 0.040) or azathioprine (AZA) (CYC 43.6 weeks vs. AZA 51.2 weeks, p = 0.024). Administration of antimalarials was associated with longer RFS (51.6 weeks vs. 45.0 weeks, p = 0.021). Factors such as antiphospholipid syndrome, IgG anti-β2 glycoprotein I positivity, renal and additional hematologic SLE activity during follow-up significantly reduced RFS.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite similar response of acute glucocorticoid regimens, induction therapy with AZA or RTX resulted in a longer RFS compared to CYC. Adding an antimalarial also improved RFS. Our study provides evidence that may help develop better treatment strategies for severe thrombocytopenia in SLE patients. Key Points • Induction therapy with azathioprine or rituximab provided longer relapse-free survival in SLE thrombocytopenia compared with cyclophosphamide. • Antimalarial administration was associated with longer relapse-free survival in SLE thrombocytopenia. • Antiphospholipid syndrome, IgG anti-β2 glycoprotein I positivity, as well as renal and additional hematologic SLE activity during follow-up, decreased relapse-free survival.
PubMed: 38916764
DOI: 10.1007/s10067-024-07031-1 -
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery Jun 2024Recent studies have revealed that thyroid and autoimmune diseases may be associated with sporadic moyamoya disease. However, whether routine screening serum tests to...
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have revealed that thyroid and autoimmune diseases may be associated with sporadic moyamoya disease. However, whether routine screening serum tests to detect these underlying diseases are useful or not remains unclear.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 459 patients with moyamoya disease but without previous history of thyroid or autoimmune diseases who underwent the screening serum tests targeting thyroid and autoimmune diseases from 2016 to 2023 in our institute. The number of patients who were diagnosed as thyroid or autoimmune diseases after these tests were investigated.
RESULTS
Among the patients who were screened, 237 (42.6 %) patients had abnormal results for some factors, such as thyroid hormones or autoantibodies. After consultation with endocrinologists or rheumatologists, 27 (5.9 %) patients were newly diagnosed with thyroid diseases, including six (1.3 %) patients with Graves' disease, 19 (4.1 %) patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and two (0.4 %) patients with other thyroid diseases; however, none of the patients were diagnosed with nonthyroidal autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis, listed as moyamoya-related diseases and targeted by our screening serum tests. Patients with newly diagnosed underlying diseases were more likely to be female compared to patients without new diagnosis (96.3 % vs. 72.2 %, p = 0.03).
CONCLUSION
Routine thyroid-related serum screening may be clinically meaningful in patients with moyamoya disease to detect occult thyroid diseases, especially in female patients. However, routine serum screening tests targeting other autoimmune diseases are not recommended unless the patients have equivalent symptoms.
PubMed: 38908318
DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2024.108403 -
Cureus Jun 2024Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), a rare complication of coexisting antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), poses significant diagnostic...
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), a rare complication of coexisting antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, especially with recurrent episodes. We present a 27-year-old male with catastrophic APS and SLE who experienced acute respiratory failure and hemoptysis due to DAH. Despite aggressive therapy with immunosuppressants, plasma exchange, and anticoagulation, he had recurrent DAH episodes requiring repeated admissions. Early recognition, multidisciplinary management, and utilization of effective targeted therapies, such as intravenous immunoglobulin, in refractory cases are crucial for improving outcomes in this challenging complication.
PubMed: 38898898
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62635 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Jun 2024Perioperative management and cardiac surgery in pregnant women with anti-phospholipid syndrome combined with heart valve disease have been rarely reported.
BACKGROUND
Perioperative management and cardiac surgery in pregnant women with anti-phospholipid syndrome combined with heart valve disease have been rarely reported.
CASE PRESENTATION
We describe a case of transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement in a pregnant woman with bioprosthetic valve failure and anti-phospholipid syndrome at 18 weeks' gestation. The patient underwent a cesarean section delivery at 34 weeks of gestation, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby.
CONCLUSIONS
Transapical mitral valve-in-valve surgery resulted in safe maternal and infant outcomes in a pregnant woman with anti-phospholipid syndrome combined with mitral bioprosthetic valve failure. The success of this procedure underscored the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Antiphospholipid Syndrome; Mitral Valve; Adult; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Bioprosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Cesarean Section; Cardiac Catheterization; Mitral Valve Insufficiency; Prosthesis Failure
PubMed: 38898495
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02702-1 -
Neurological Sciences : Official... Jun 2024Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder associated with various underlyingconditions, including autoimmune diseases such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS can...
Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder associated with various underlyingconditions, including autoimmune diseases such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS can manifest with a wide range of neurological symptoms, including chorea. We present a case of a 77-year-old man with subacute generalized chorea secondary to primary APS. Notably, the patient exhibited a left patellar crossed-reflex, a phenomenon rarely documented in chorea cases, the pathophysiology of which has not yet been elucidated. In summary, this case challenges the traditional demographics of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) by suggesting a potential link between APS and late-age patients. It emphasizes the importance of considering APS in late-onset chorea cases.
PubMed: 38896185
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07622-5