Reducing Unnecessary Amylase Testing in the Evaluation of Pancreatitis

Medical Schoolhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170592/1/SangriKim_1.docxhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170592/2/SangriKim_2.doc

Design, implementation, and reflections on a two-week virtual visual arts and medicine course for third- and fourth-year medical students

Abstract Background Medical humanities courses that incorporate the visual arts traditionally require in-person instruction and visits to museums. The COVID-19 pandemic afforded medical educators a unique opportunity to implement and evaluate virtual visual arts programming. Methods A two-week, 7-module visual arts and medicine elective course for third and fourth-year medical students was conducted virtually in the Spring of 2021. The course included traditional didactic components as well as a range of hands-on creative art activities including painting, graphic medicine, photovoice, and Kintsugi (Japanese craft). Digital tools including Canvas, Google Jamboard, and Zoom facilitated student engagement. Student feedback was collected through anonymous post-course surveys. Results We successfully conducted a virtual visual arts and medicine elective which integrated hands-on creative art activities. Most students “strongly agreed” that remote instruction was sufficient to meet course objectives. However, all students also “agreed” that in-person instruction may promote more in-depth engagement with the visual arts. The hands-on creative art activities were appreciated by all students. Conclusion Visual arts-based medical humanities courses can be delivered virtually and can include hands-on creative art activities such as painting. Future visual arts and medicine courses may benefit from incorporating a range of pedagogical methodologies, digital tools, control groups, and pre−/post-course assessments.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/173629/1/12909_2022_Article_3374.pd

The NEALS primary lateral sclerosis registry

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive upper motor neuron dysfunction. Because PLS patients represent only 1 to 4% of patients with adult motor neuron diseases, there is limited information about the disease's natural history. The objective of this study was to establish a large multicenter retrospective longitudinal registry of PLS patients seen at Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) sites to better characterize the natural progression of PLS. Methods: Clinical characteristics, electrophysiological findings, laboratory values, disease-related symptoms, and medications for symptom management were collected from PLS patients seen between 2000 and 2015. Results: The NEALS registry included data from 250 PLS patients. Median follow-up time was 3 years. The mean rate of functional decline measured by ALSFRS-R total score was -1.6 points/year (SE:0.24, n = 124); the mean annual decline in vital capacity was -3%/year (SE:0.55, n = 126). During the observational period, 18 patients died, 17 patients had a feeding tube placed and 7 required permanent assistive ventilation. Conclusions: The NEALS PLS Registry represents the largest available aggregation of longitudinal clinical data from PLS patients and provides a description of expected natural disease progression. Data from the registry will be available to the PLS community and can be leveraged to plan future clinical trials in this rare disease

The NEALS primary lateral sclerosis registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive upper motor neuron dysfunction. Because PLS patients represent only 1 to 4% of patients with adult motor neuron diseases, there is limited information about the disease\u27s natural history. The objective of this study was to establish a large multicenter retrospective longitudinal registry of PLS patients seen at Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) sites to better characterize the natural progression of PLS