ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Scientific research is fundamental to the education of medical students. However, their involvement in research is limited. AIM: To describe the perceptions of medical students about facilitators and constraints to perform undergraduate research. MATERIAL AND METOHDS: Medical students attending the Chilean Congress of Medical Students in the Metropolitan Region in 2018, were surveyed. The responses obtained were subjected to a qualitative content analysis and were grouped according to perceptions of facilitators and constraints. RESULTS: The main facilitators reported were linkage with research teachers, personal motivation towards research, and research-oriented curriculum. The main constraints were lack of time for research, lack of access to formal information channels to engage in research, and sub-optimal conditions for research. CONCLUSIONS: The main factor promoting research at the undergraduate level was the link with the teacher, mainly through informal channels. The lack of official information provided through formal instances and lack of time hampers the access to research.
Subject(s)
Humans , Students, Medical , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Surveys and Questionnaires , Curriculum , Qualitative Research , MotivationABSTRACT
Background: The participation of medical students in research generates professional, scientific, and personal benefits for the student. Aim: To evaluate the interest and opportunities for medical students in Chile to participate in scientific research and their perceptions about factors influencing research. Material and Methods: All students attending the 2018 Chilean Congress for Medical Students were invited to answer a 44 questions survey about interest and opportunities to participate in research. Results: The survey was answered by 489 of the 538 students attending the congress. Eighty five percent referred interest in conducting scientific research, but only 47% had the opportunity to actively participate in a research project. The main research area providing opportunities was epidemiology and the main form to access a research project was through direct contact with a medical professor or researcher. Seventy seven percent of respondents had courses of scientific investigation in their medical curriculum and 92% had a scientific society for medical students in their university. Conclusions: Respondents showed a great deal of interest in participating in scientific research. However, there is a gap between this interest and the available opportunities. Medical professors should promote and facilitate the participation of their students in research.
Subject(s)
Humans , Students, Medical , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Universities , Chile , CurriculumABSTRACT
Resumen: Introducción: La insuficiencia cardíaca crónica (ICC) es una condición compleja asociada a inflamación sistémica y a disfunción endotelial (DE) cuya patogénesis no es bien comprendida. Objetivo: Evaluar una posible relación entre marcadores de DE periférica con la respuesta a terapia de resincronización ventricular (TRV). Método: 20 pacientes con ICC, QRS ≥120ms y fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda (FEVI) ≤35% se estudiaron pre y 6 meses post-TRV con: Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ); test de marcha (TM-6min); Ecocardiografía-2D y SPECT de perfusión gatillado en reposo; proteína C-reactiva ultra sensible (us-PCR); péptido natriurético cerebral (pro-BNP); células endoteliales circulantes (CEC); moléculas de adhesión soluble vascular (sVCAM) e intercelular (sICAM); interleukina-6 (IL-6) y Factor von Willebrand (FvW). Se clasificaron como respondedores o no a TRV según criterios preestablecidos. Resultados: Promedios basales: pro-BNP 5.290pg/ml; us-PCR 1,7ug/mL; MLHFQ 72; TM-6min 391 metros. Las CEC y sICAM estaban sobre límites normales. Post-TRV, el 50% fue respondedor: 11/20 mejoraron ≥1 clase NYHA y ≥10% del TM-6min; ML-HFQ disminuyó (p<0.0001); FEVI mejoró (p=0.003); volumen final sistólico disminuyó (p=0.008) y también pro-BNP (p=0.03). En los respondedores, las CEC disminuyeron, persistiendo elevadas, sobre lo normal. Existieron correlaciones entre cambios de pro-BNP con TM-6min y entre us-PCR con MLHFQ y FvW (p≤0.004 en todas). Conclusiones: En ICC existe evidencia de significativa DE, expresada por sICAM y CEC, biomarcador periférico sensible. Estas disminuyeron 6 meses post-TRV, persistiendo sobre el límite normal. Otros parámetros funcionales e inflamatorios se correlacionaron en el grupo total, sin diferencias entre grupos respondedores y no respondedores.
Abstract: Introduction: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex condition associated with systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction (ED) whose pathogenesis is not well understood. Objective: to evaluate a possible relationship between peripheral ED markers and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Method: 20 patients with CHF, QRS ≥120ms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% were studied before and 6 months post-CRT. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ); walking test (6min-WT); 2D-echocardiography and gated perfusion SPECT at rest; ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (us-CRP); brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP); circulating endothelial cells (CEC); vascular soluble adhesion (sVCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecules (sICAM); interleukin-6 (IL-6) and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) were measured in all subjects. They were classified as responders or not to CRT, according to pre-established criteria. Results: Basal means: pro-BNP 5,290 pg / ml; us-CRP 1.7 ug/mL; MLHFQ 72; 6min-WT 391 meters. The CEC and IL-6 were above normal limits. Post-CRT, 50% were responders: 11/20 improved ≥1 NYHA class and ≥10% increase in 6min-WT; MLHFQ decreased (p <0.0001); LVEF improved (p = 0.003); final systolic volume decreased (p = 0.008) and also pro-BNP (p= 0.03). In responders CEC decreased, persisting over normal limits. There were correlations between changes of pro-BNP with TM-6min and between us-PCR with MLHFQ and vWF (p≤0.004 in all). Conclusions: In CHF there is evidence of significant ED, expressed by sICAM and CEC, a sensitive peripheral biomarker that decreased 6 months post-CRT although persisting above normal limits. Other functional and inflammatory parameters were correlated in the total group, without differences between responders and non-responders.