European postgraduate curriculum in geriatric medicine developed using an international modified Delphi technique

the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS-GMS) recommendations for training in Geriatric Medicine were published in 1993. The practice of Geriatric Medicine has developed considerably since then and it has therefore become necessary to update these recommendations.under the auspices of the UEMS-GMS, the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) and the European Academy of Medicine of Ageing (EAMA), a group of experts, representing all member states of the respective bodies developed a new framework for education and training of specialists in Geriatric Medicine using a modified Delphi technique. Thirty-two expert panel members from 30 different countries participated in the process comprising three Delphi rounds for consensus. The process was led by five facilitators.the final recommendations include four different domains: General Considerations on the structure and aim of the syllabus as well as quality indicators for training (6 sub-items), Knowledge in patient care (36 sub-items), Additional Skills and Attitude required for a Geriatrician (9 sub-items) and a domain on Assessment of postgraduate education: which items are important for the transnational comparison process (1 item).the current publication describes the development of the new recommendations endorsed by UEMS-GMS, EuGMS and EAMA as minimum training requirements to become a geriatrician at specialist level in EU member states

Towards intrinsic R2* imaging in the prostate at 3 and 7tesla

PURPOSE: Hypoxia is an important marker for resistance to therapy. In this study, we quantify the macroscopic effects of R2* mapping in prostate cancer patients incorporating susceptibility matching and field strengths effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 91 patients were scanned without endorectal coil (ERC) at 3T. Only when rectal gas was absent, data was included for analysis. Another group of 10 patients was scanned using a susceptibility matched ERC. To assess the residual contamination of R2 and macroscopic field non-uniformities, a group of 10 patients underwent ultra-high resolution 7T MRI. RESULTS: Of the patients scanned at 3T 60% presented rectal gas and were excluded, due to susceptibility artifacts. At 3T the tumor was significantly different (P<0.01) from the healthy surrounding tissue in R2* values at intrapatient level. Using the measured median R2* value of 24.9s(-1) at 3T and 43.2s(-1) at 7T of the peripheral zone, the minimum contribution of macroscopic susceptibility effects is 15% at 3T. CONCLUSION: R2* imaging might be a promising tool for hypoxia imaging, particularly when minimizing macroscopic susceptibility effects contaminating intrinsic R2* of tissue, such as rectal gas. At 3T macroscopic effects still contribute 15% in the R2* value, compared to ultra-high resolution R2* mapping at 7T