https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1053/jhep.2003.50346

A simple noninvasive index can predict both significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

The TRIPOD (Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis) Statement includes a 22-item checklist, which aims to improve the reporting of studies developing, validating, or updating a prediction model, whether for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. The TRIPOD Statement aims to improve the transparency of the reporting of a prediction model study regardless of the study methods used. This explanation and elaboration document describes the rationale; clarifies the meaning of each item; and discusses why transparent reporting is important, with a view to assessing risk of bias and clinical usefulness of the prediction model. Each checklist item of the TRIPOD Statement is explained in detail and accompanied by published examples of good reporting. The document also provides a valuable reference of issues to consider when designing, conducting, and analyzing prediction model studies. To aid the editorial process and help peer reviewers and, ultimately, readers and systematic reviewers of prediction model studies, it is recommended that authors include a completed checklist in their submission. The TRIPOD checklist can also be downloaded from www.tripod-statement.org.

/pdf/transparent-reporting-of-a-multivariable-prediction-model-3n8wy14hp9.pdf

Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD): explanation and elaboration.

Review of recent research on hepatitis C therapy for 54th annual meeting of the American association for the study of liver diseases

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE AUGUSTJOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION. A REPRINT IS ENCLOSED. REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THISOFFICE. -COPIES ARE BEING SENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE KEY MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. CALLING UPON-YOUR SENATORSAND CONGRESSMEN TO TELL THE STORY OF THE ROLE. OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE IS IMPORTANT.I STRONGLY URGE THAT YOU MAKE AN 411 APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES WHILE YOU ARE IN WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGON OCTOBER 29. UPON REQUEST WE CAN SUPPLY THE NAMES OF APPOINTMENT SECRETARIES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ACTED WITH EXTRAORDINARY ALACRITY THIS YEAR. THE-NIH APPROPRIATION WAS INCREASED BY 242 MILLION DOLLARSOVER 1971, REPRESENTING A 142 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE OVER. THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET, THE BLUE SHEET ASCRIBES APPROPRIATIONS OUTCOME TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COALITION FOR HEALTH FUNDING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOHN A. D. COOPER.

The Association of American Medical Colleges

Purpose Empathy is a key element of patient– physician communication; it is relevant to and positively influences patients’ health. The authors systematically reviewed the literature to investigate changes in trainee empathy and reasons for those changes during medical school and residency. Method The authors conducted a systematic search of studies concerning trainee empathy published from January 1990 to January 2010, using manual methods and the PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases. They independently reviewed and selected quantitative and qualitative studies for inclusion. Intervention studies, those that evaluated psychometric properties of self-assessment tools, and those with a sample size 30 were excluded. Results Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria: 11 on medical students and 7 on residents. Three longitudinal and six cross-sectional studies of medical students demonstrated a significant decrease in empathy during medical school; one cross-sectional study found a tendency toward a decrease, and another suggested stable scores. The five longitudinal and two cross-sectional studies of residents showed a decrease in empathy during residency. The studies pointed to the clinical practice phase of training and the distress produced by aspects of the “hidden,” “formal,” and “informal” curricula as main reasons for empathy decline.

/pdf/empathy-decline-and-its-reasons-a-systematic-review-of-e5qxtu5662.pdf

Empathy decline and its reasons: a systematic review of studies with medical students and residents.

Cocaine use has been implicate d in a varie ty of adverse cardiovascular events including myocardial ischemia/infarction and cerebrovascular accidents (1). Reports of cocaine -induced colitis and enteritis have usually occurred in the setting of chronic or sustaine d intravenous or crack cocaine abuse . We report a case of acute, reversible mesenteric ischemia in a young woman following a single episode of intranasal cocaine use.

Acute mesenteric ischemia following intranasal cocaine use

Background: Combination of ‘pegylated’ interferons (IFNs) plus ribavirin, the standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), is frequently associated with side effects. Anticipation, recognition and proper management of these side effects are important to ensure compliance with therapy and achievement of sustained virologic response. Objective: To illustrate the side effect profile of pegIFN-α in the treatment of CHC. Methods: Studies and abstracts were identified through a computerized, English language literature search. Key search terms included peginterferon and CHC. Information available only in abstract form was retrieved from national and international hepatology associations. Results: Most adverse events occurring with combination therapy can be anticipated and managed appropriately; therefore, premature discontinuation of therapy owing to side effects is not required in most patients.

Safety of peginterferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Development of an HCV infection risk stratification algorithm for patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive storage disorder, characterized by the abnormal accumulation of cystine in cellular lysosomes. This accumulation, which can occur in any organ system, leads to crystallization of trapped cystine and ultimately cellular death. Hepatic manifestations of Cystinosis although rare, have been described in the literature. However, to our knowledge, only one other case of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension secondary to cystine accumulation in Kupffer cells has been reported. In this case and ours, portal hypertension was found in the absence of bridging fibrosis. Furthermore, in our case, for the majority of the patient’s course, hepatic synthetic function remained normal. Cysteamine is therapeutic in this disorder, and can lead to significant removal of cystine, and thus to reversibility of disease, however, it requires high doses and must be taken regularly. Porto-systemic shunting in combination with aggressive medical therapy could potentially benefit patients who develop non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in this clinical setting.

Steven K. Herrine

Papers

Acute mesenteric ischemia following intranasal cocaine use

Safety of peginterferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Development of an HCV infection risk stratification algorithm for patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Cystinosis as a cause of noncirrhotic portal hypertension.

Reproductive function after liver transplantation