Retention of basic laparoscopic skills after a structured training program

The purpose of this study was to test the retention of basic laparoscopic skills on a box trainer 1 year after a short training program. For a prior study, eight medical students without prior experience (novices) underwent baseline testing, followed by five weekly training sessions and a final test. During each of seven sessions, they performed five tasks on an inanimate box trainer. Scores were calculated by adding up the time to completion of the task with penalty points, consequently rewarding speed and precision. The sum score was the sum of the five scores. One year later, seven of them underwent retention testing for the current study. The final test results were compared with retention test results as a measure of durability of acquired skills. Novices’ scores did not worsen significantly for four out of five tasks (i.e., placing a pipe cleaner p = 0.46, placing beads p = 0.24, cutting a circle p = 0.31, and knot tying p = 0.13). However, deterioration was observed in the performance on stretching a rubber band (p < 0.05), as well as in the sum score (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, all retention scores remained better than the baseline results. In conclusion, basic laparoscopic skills acquired during a short training program merely sustain over time. However, ongoing practice is advisable, especially to preserve tissue-handling skills, since these may be the first to deteriorate

Genomic analysis on pygmy hog reveals extensive interbreeding during wild boar expansion

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) drastically colonized mainland Eurasia and North Africa, most likely from East Asia during the Plio-Pleistocene (2–1Mya). In recent studies, based on genome-wide information, it was hypothesized that wild boar did not replace the species it encountered, but instead exchanged genetic materials with them through admixture. The highly endangered pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the only suid species in mainland Eurasia known to have outlived this expansion, and therefore provides a unique opportunity to test this hybridization hypothesis. Analyses of pygmy hog genomes indicate that despite large phylogenetic divergence (~2 My), wild boar and pygmy hog did indeed interbreed as the former expanded across Eurasia. In addition, we also assess the taxonomic placement of the donor of another introgression, pertaining to a now-extinct species with a deep phylogenetic placement in the Suidae tree. Altogether, our analyses indicate that the rapid spread of wild boar was facilitated by inter-specific/inter-generic admixtures.</p

Spinal cord injury and its treatment:current management and experimental perspectives

peer reviewe

Validation of a new box trainer-related tracking device: the TrEndo

Background: There is an increasing demand for structured objective ex vivo training and assessment of laparoscopic psychomotor skills prior to implementation of these skills in practice. The aim of this study was to establish the internal validity of the TrEndo, a motion-tracking device, for implementation on a laparoscopic box trainer. Methods: Face validity and content validity were addressed through a structured questionnaire. To assess construct validity, participants were divided into an expert group and a novice group and performed two basic laparoscopic tasks. The TrEndo recorded five motion analysis parameters (MAPs) and time. Results: Participants demonstrated a high regard for face and content validity. All recorded MAPs differed significantly between experts and novices after performing a square knot. Overall, the TrEndo correctly assigned group membership in 84.7 and 95.7% of cases based on two laparoscopic tasks. Conclusion: Face, content, and construct validities of the TrEndo were established. The TrEndo holds real potential as a (home) training device