Is there a relationship between how MRI is learned and knowledge?

Rationale: The aim of this study was to discover whether a specialized undergraduate degree in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a better way of educating MRI practitioners than experiential methods, and how necessary it is to first qualify as a radiographer to practice. This study compared the knowledge between individuals who qualify as a radiographer and then only learn MRI experientially (experiential practitioners), to those who learn only via a specialised undergraduate degree in MRI and enter practice directly without first qualifying as a radiographer (graduate practitioners). Method: Forty-eight participants (graduate practitioners n=25, experiential practitioners n=23) from four different clinical sites in the United States of America (USA) were recruited. An objective, structured, clinical examination (OSCE) was used to compare knowledge on the key topics. Results: Graduate practitioners consistently achieved a higher percentage of correct answers than the experiential group in all five sections of the OSCE. The total score in the graduate group was statistically significantly higher than for the experiential group (p=0.018). Means scores were graduate 63.18%, (SD 11.03), experiential 53.58% (SD 16.24) There was a correspondingly large Cohen’s effect size (0.697) which indicated that the specialised undergraduate degree in MRI does have an impact on knowledge. Conclusion: A specialized undergraduate degree may be a beneficial way of learning MRI and it may not be necessary to first qualify as a radiographer to practice competently

An Analysis of the Composition of the First Half Term of One Section of Freshman Agriculture Students Supplemented By a Study of the Freshman Placement Test 1936-1937

DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE The material contained in this volume was taken from the composition of the first half term of one section of freshman agriculture students and from papers on How I Like To Spend My Leisure written for the purpose of sectioning the students according to their abilities. This paper on How I Like to Spend My Leisure Time was written by each member of the freshman class. These papers had been corrected and passed on to me for further correction. There were thirty-five folders from the agriculture section. In these folders was the work of each student. On a sheet of paper, I wrote each student\u27s name, and after examining the contents of the papers, I collected all sentences containing errors in sentence structure. All sentences were recorded. After all folders had been carefully reviewed and all errors recorded in the manner stated above, I made an attempt to group the errors according to their type. The first step was to read over each statement and determine what the error was, then label the sentence according to the type of error found in it. After completing this step, I placed the types as headings on separate sheets of paper. Another review of all the sentences was made in order to group them under their different heads. As the different types were found, they were re-written under the proper headings. After completion of this group of papers, I collected the errors in the papers on How I Like to Spend My Leisure in the same fashion. When all of this work was completed, I interviewed each freshman English instructor in order to get his opinion as to what a freshman composition course should be, and who should take it. Other questions were asked which are shown in their discussions on Freshman English Composition

What do MRI radiographers really know?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic imaging tool that has seen rapid expansion in recent years with a commensurate increase in the number of radiographers undertaking MRI scans. This imaging modality is a complex one and the strong magnetic fields associated with MRI scanners pose a very serious risk to patients and staff. Therefore it is essential that MR radiographers receive appropriate training in the correct operation and safe use of MRI. The education of radiographers undertaking MRI examinations is largely provided “in-house” by radiographers or applications specialists. This training is usually informal and focuses on essential safety training and the use of scanner software. This learning is not usually formally assessed and therefore its value is not properly evaluated. In 2007 the authors, acting as independent consultants, developed a number of assessment tools to enable quick and effective evaluation of theoretical knowledge and skills related to the clinical use of MRI in a group of individuals with a range of MRI experience. A total of 47 individuals with a range of MRI experience were tested using an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Some were also given a viva voce. Our results show that the majority of radiographers in our sample could not answer more than half the OSCE questions correctly and a significant and unacceptable number did not convince us they could practice MRI safely. Very few of the examinees had adequate knowledge of image quality issues and parameter manipulation. A few also raised concerns over their radiographic credentials

Optimizing a magnetic resonance care pathway : a strategy for radiography managers

This study reports the optimization of a local MR care pathway. A search of the literature did not result in any studies regarding the optimization of MRI care pathways through a formal research process. Discussions with international MR radiographers indicated that such development is often carried out using informal methods that are highly dependent on local conditions, that are rarely reported in the public domain and the validities of which are therefore not open to scrutiny; in addition, care pathways need to be specific to local healthcare needs and culture. In this study, the authors propose a formal documented methodology for developing a local MRI care pathway based on the well-established nominal group technique.peer-reviewe

Validation of a competence profile for MR radiographers using a formal research process

Owing to the limited time for continuous professional development available and hence the impossibility of covering all the knowledge, skills and competences required for the full range of MR techniques available today, it’s important that competence profiles are context specific. This study sought to develop and validate a context specific competence profile for MR radiographers that would be necessary and sufficient to deliver the MR service portfolio and care pathway in Malta. The study forms part of a wider study on continuous professional development for MR radiographers in Malta.peer-reviewe

Fatty Acids Increase Neuronal Hypertrophy of Pten Knockdown Neurons

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) catalyzes the reverse reaction of PI3K by dephosphorylating PIP3 to PIP2. This negatively regulates downstream Akt/mTOR/S6 signaling resulting in decreased cellular growth and proliferation. Co-injection of a lentivirus knocking Pten down with a control lentivirus allows us to compare the effects of Pten knockdown between individual neurons within the same animal. We find that knockdown of Pten results in neuronal hypertrophy by 21 days post-injection. This neuronal hypertrophy is correlated with increased p-S6 and p-mTOR in individual neurons. We used this system to test whether an environmental factor that has been implicated in cellular hypertrophy could influence the severity of the Pten knockdown-induced hypertrophy. Implantation of mini-osmotic pumps delivering fatty acids results in increased neuronal hypertrophy and p-S6/p-mTOR staining. These hypertrophic effects were reversed in response to rapamycin treatment. However, we did not observe a similar increase in hypertrophy in response to dietary manipulations of fatty acids. Thus, we conclude that by driving growth signaling with fatty acids and knocking down a critical regulator of growth, Pten, we are able to observe an additive morphological phenotype of increased soma size mediated by the mTOR pathway

Calcium channel blockade with nimodipine reverses MRI evidence of cerebral oedema following acute hypoxia

Acute cerebral hypoxia causes rapid calcium shifts leading to neuronal damage and death. Calcium channel antagonists improve outcomes in some clinical conditions, but mechanisms remain unclear. In 18 healthy participants we: (i) quantified with multiparametric MRI the effect of hypoxia on the thalamus, a region particularly sensitive to hypoxia, and on the whole brain in general; (ii) investigated how calcium channel antagonism with the drug nimodipine affects the brain response to hypoxia. Hypoxia resulted in a significant decrease in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), a measure particularly sensitive to cell swelling, in a widespread network of regions across the brain, and the thalamus in particular. In hypoxia, nimodipine significantly increased ADC in the same brain regions, normalizing ADC towards normoxia baseline. There was positive correlation between blood nimodipine levels and ADC change. In the thalamus, there was a significant decrease in the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in resting state functional MRI and an apparent increase of grey matter volume in hypoxia, with the ALFF partially normalized towards normoxia baseline with nimodipine. This study provides further evidence that the brain response to acute hypoxia is mediated by calcium, and importantly that manipulation of intracellular calcium flux following hypoxia may reduce cerebral cytotoxic oedem

Strengthening organizational performance through accreditation research - a framework for twelve interrelated studies: the ACCREDIT project study protocol

Background: Service accreditation is a structured process of recognising and promoting performance and adherence to standards. Typically, accreditation agencies either receive standards from an authorized body or develop new and upgrade existing standards through research and expert views. They then apply standards, criteria and performance indicators, testing their effects, and monitoring compliance with them. The accreditation process has been widely adopted. The international investments in accreditation are considerable. However, reliable evidence of its efficiency or effectiveness in achieving organizational improvements is sparse and the value of accreditation in cost-benefit terms has yet to be demonstrated. Although some evidence suggests that accreditation promotes the improvement and standardization of care, there have been calls to strengthen its research base. In response, the ACCREDIT (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) project has been established to evaluate the effectiveness of Australian accreditation in achieving its goals. ACCREDIT is a partnership of key researchers, policymakers and agencies.FindingsWe present the framework for our studies in accreditation. Four specific aims of the ACCREDIT project, which will direct our findings, are to: (i) evaluate current accreditation processes; (ii) analyse the costs and benefits of accreditation; (iii) improve future accreditation via evidence; and (iv) develop and apply new standards of consumer involvement in accreditation. These will be addressed through 12 interrelated studies designed to examine specific issues identified as a high priority. Novel techniques, a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, and randomized designs relevant for health-care research have been developed. These methods allow us to circumvent the fragmented and incommensurate findings that can be generated in small-scale, project-based studies. The overall approach for our research is a multi-level, multi-study design.DiscussionThe ACCREDIT project will examine the utility, reliability, relevance and cost effectiveness of differing forms of accreditation, focused on general practice, aged care and acute care settings in Australia. Empirically, there are potential research gains to be made by understanding accreditation and extending existing knowledge; theoretically, this design will facilitate a systems view of accreditation of benefit to the partnership, international research communities, and future accreditation designers