Impact of Peer-Assisted Learning on Ultrasound.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand how peer-assisted learning (PAL) could be utilized by physician assistant (PA) students in an ultrasound student interest group (USIG) as a means of developing cognitive confidence and practical competence with the imaging modality. METHODS: An observational study that included 3 USIG workshops was designed. Pre- and postworkshop surveys were administered. All first-year PA students, regardless of participation in the USIG workshops, were asked to complete the voluntary and anonymous surveys. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference between those who attended at least one workshop and those who did not attend any workshops on their postworkshop scores (p = 0.02) was seen. There was a statistically significant association between the number of workshops attended and the postworkshop difference (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Results show that, in the context of social cognitive theory, PAL is an efficacious learning modality that enhances learner and tutor performance in ultrasound.

Mixed-methods analysis of glove use as a barrier to hand hygiene.

Examination gloves have been previously noted as a possible barrier to hand hygiene. We performed a prospective quantitative and qualitative study to investigate. Glove usage was found to be a potential barrier to hand hygiene; this was driven by desire for personal safety and potentially learned during professional training.

Prospective Validation of Central Line-Days Derived From an Electronic Medical Record System.

Validation of the number of central line-days by hospitals is required by the National Healthcare Safety Network. A prospective study that compared a daily report of such days generated by an electronic medical record with observational audits by nurses revealed that the report was 100% sensitive and 99.9% specific.

Tasimelteon: a selective and unique receptor binding profile.

Hetlioz(®) (tasimelteon) is the first approved treatment in the United States for Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24). We present here data on the in vitro binding affinity of tasimelteon for both human melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2, as well as the extended screen of other receptors and enzymes. Results indicate that tasimelteon is a potent Dual Melatonin Receptor Agonist (DMRA) with 2.1-4.4 times greater affinity for the MT2 receptor believed to mediate circadian rhythm phase-shifting (Ki = 0.0692 nM and Ki = 0.17 nM in NIH-3T3 and CHO-K1 cells, respectively), than for the MT1 receptor (Ki = 0.304 nM and Ki = 0.35 nM, respectively). Tasimelteon was also shown to have no appreciable affinity for more than 160 other pharmacologically relevant receptors and several enzymes.

Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as melatonin MT2 receptor antagonists.

A series of tetrahydroisoquinolines has yielded potent MT(2) receptor antagonists, which are selective versus the MT(1) receptor.

4-Substituted anilides as selective melatonin MT2 receptor agonists.

A series of 4-substituted anilides with human melatonergic affinity is reported. Butyramides 26, 39, 42, 52, 57, and 58 all demonstrated subnanomolar MT(2) binding affinity and MT(2) selectivity of at least 70-fold over the MT(1) receptor. Compound 26 demonstrated full agonism at the MT(2) receptor.

Development of a presynaptic 5-HT1A antagonist.

A new 5-HT(1A) silent antagonist 14 (5-HT(1A) IC(50)=2.2 nM) antagonizes the effects of agonists on reciprocal forepaw treading behavior, on neuronal firing in the rat dorsal raphé, and on 5-HT(1A) release in the raphé and hippocampus. While 14 alone was inactive in the social interaction paradigm, it completely reversed the social interaction activity of the serotonergic compounds (buspirone, 1, and 2).