Transference of skills in robotic vs. laparoscopic simulation: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Elucidating how robotic skills are best obtained will enable surgeons to best develop future robotic training programs. We perform a randomized controlled trial to assess the performance of robotic compared to laparoscopic surgery, transference of pre-existing skills between the two modalities, and to assess the learning curve between the two using novice medical students. METHODS: Forty students were randomized into either Group A or B. Students practiced and were tested on a peg transfer task in either a laparoscopic simulator (LS) and robotic simulator (RS) in a pre-defined order. Performance, transference of skills and learning curve were assessed for each modality. Additionally, a fatigue questionnaire was issued. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between overall laparoscopic scores (219 ± 19) and robotic scores (227 ± 23) (p = 0.065). Prior laparoscopic skills performed significantly better on robotic testing (236 ± 12) than without laparoscopic skills (216 ± 28) (p = 0.008). There was no significant difference in scores between students with prior robotic skills (223 ± 16) than without robotic skills (215 ± 22) (p = 0.162). Students reported no difference in fatigue between RS and LS. The learning curve plateaus at similar times between both modalities. CONCLUSION: Novice medical students with laparoscopic skills performed better on a RS test than students without laparoscopic training, suggesting a transference of skills from laparoscopic to robotic surgery. These results suggest laparoscopic training may be sufficient in general surgery residencies as the skills transfer to robotic if used post-residency.

Trophectoderm biopsy protocols can affect clinical outcomes: time to focus on the blastocyst biopsy technique.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two different blastocyst biopsy protocols. DESIGN: Retrospective single-center cohort study. SETTINGS: Private in vitro fertilization center. PATIENT(S): The study included 1,670 frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Survival rate (SR) after thawing, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing implantation rate (IR), and live birth rate (LBR). RESULT(S): Eight hundred thirty-five FETs with PGT-A cycles including only embryos biopsied in the sequential blastocyst hatching and biopsy protocol paired with the ablation of one-fourth of the zona pellucida (ZP) were matched with 835 FETs with PGT-A cycles including only embryos biopsied in the day 3 prehatching protocol by female age (±1 year), number of embryos transferred, use of gestational carrier or egg donor, and day of blastocyst transfer. Only FETs with euploid blastocysts graded no lower than 4BB were included, and cycles with fewer than five oocytes were excluded. SR after thawing, CPR, ongoing IR, and LBR were significantly higher in the FET cycles with the embryos biopsied in the sequential hatching and biopsy protocol. Four cases of monozygotic twin pregnancies were reported with the day 3 prehatching protocol and none with the sequential hatching and biopsy protocol. CONCLUSION(S): Our results show, for the first time, that using different blastocyst biopsy protocols can affect clinical outcomes. Because the study was retrospective, our findings should be validated in a prospective trial.

Laparoscopic Simulation in Reverse and Side Alignment Impact on Forward Alignment Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The influence of visual-spatial discordance during training on laparoscopic skills is poorly understood. It has been proposed that training in visual-spatial discordant situations can improve performance in the forward alignment, which was the basis of our hypothesis. Our study's aim was to conduct a randomized control trial to explore the impact of simulated training in visual-spatial discordant situations on forward alignment performance. METHODS: The participants were 80 medical students who were randomized into four groups. Group A served as the control and performed all peg transfers in the forward alignment. Groups B, C, and D experienced varied rounds of either increasing or decreasing sensorimotor discordance. The students were trained and tested using the peg transfer task used in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery curriculum. Based on the group, each student performed 10 peg transfer practice rounds in their assigned alignment. After each practice session, each student was tested and scored in forward alignment performance. A baseline test, followed by three practice sessions, and three tests were done. RESULTS: Group A (control) demonstrated a statistically significant overall increase in scoring of 37.1% from baseline when compared to the final test. Groups B, C, and D showed improvements of 3.7%, 27.1%, and 19.3%, respectively, between baseline and the final test, yet none demonstrated consistent linear improvements. On multi-variate analysis, students who practiced in the side or reverse alignment positions scored 25 and 37 points lower, respectively, than students who practiced in the forward alignment. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that training in visual-spatial discordant conditions does not lead to the development of forward alignment laparoscopic skills. This could have important implications when developing future laparoscopic skills training curriculums. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date assessing the impacts of training in visual-spatial discordance situations on performance in the forward alignment.

A Model Course to Enhance Veterinary Student Exposure to Research.

Despite many career opportunities available to veterinarians in research related fields and requirements for training in research methodologies by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE), formal approaches to development of veterinary curriculum related to research topics have not been widely reported. Colorado State University (CSU) offers a one-credit course that introduces first-year veterinary students to skills and career opportunities in research. Here we provide information about the course structure and content, and report outcomes of survey data that assesses the impact of the course on student appreciation and understanding of the research process. We found that most United States (US) veterinary colleges do not offer a didactic course on the research process. Student opinions of veterinary researchers were generally high, though a proportion of students (30%-40%) would have preferred a practice management class to a course on research principles. Nearly 25% of students reported that they were significantly influenced to consider research careers after taking the course. We document that this one-credit seminar course improved veterinary student perceptions of their understanding of the research process and resulted in self-reported influence of career choice.

Chemical activation of adenylyl cyclase Rv1625c inhibits growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on cholesterol and modulates intramacrophage signaling.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) uses a complex 3', 5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling network to sense and respond to changing environments encountered during infection, so perturbation of cAMP signaling might be leveraged to disrupt Mtb pathogenesis. However, understanding of cAMP signaling pathways is hindered by the presence of at least 15 distinct adenylyl cyclases (ACs). Recently, the small molecule V-58 was shown to inhibit Mtb replication within macrophages and stimulate cAMP production in Mtb. Here we determined that V-58 rapidly and directly activates Mtb AC Rv1625c to produce high levels of cAMP regardless of the bacterial environment or growth medium. Metabolic inhibition by V-58 was carbon source dependent in Mtb and did not occur in Mycobacterium smegmatis, suggesting that V-58-mediated growth inhibition is due to interference with specific Mtb metabolic pathways rather than a generalized cAMP toxicity. Chemical stimulation of cAMP production by Mtb within macrophages also caused down regulation of TNF-α production by the macrophages, indicating a complex role for cAMP in Mtb pathogenesis. Together these studies describe a novel approach for targeted stimulation of cAMP production in Mtb, and provide new insights into the myriad roles of cAMP signaling in Mtb, particularly during Mtb's interactions with macrophages.