Postgraduate medical journal
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The tremendous evolution in modern technology has led to a paradigm shift in neurosurgery. The latest advancements such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and mobile applications have been incorporated into neurosurgical practice. NeuroVerse, representing the application of the metaverse in neurosurgery, brings enormous potential to neurology and neurosurgery. ⋯ NeuroVerse adds phenomenal dimensions to the neurosurgical environment for patients, doctors, and trainees, and represents an incomparable advancement in the delivery of medicine. Therefore, more research is needed to encourage widespread use of the metaverse in healthcare, particularly focusing on the areas of morality and credibility. Although the metaverse is expected to expand rapidly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains to be seen whether it represents an emerging technology that will revolutionize our society and healthcare or simply an immature condition of the future.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Prospective pilot study of the Three Good Things positive psychology intervention in short-term stay hospitalised patients.
The 'Three Good Things' (3GT) positive psychology protocol developed at Duke University has been shown to decrease depressive symptoms and emotional exhaustion in healthcare providers. Whether hospitalised patients may also benefit from the 3GT protocol has not previously been explored. ⋯ A journal-based application of the 3GT protocol did not result in a statistically significant improvement in patient's emotional health.
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Review Case Reports
Classification of the mechanisms by which cardiotoxic plant poisons exert their effects.
Episodes of poisoning due to plant-based toxins are an unusual presentation to the emergency department. Plant poisons may be ingested if the source plant is misidentified as benign (eg, Lily of the Valley being mistaken for wild garlic and water hemlock being mistaken for wild celery), or taken as part of a complementary medicine regime or otherwise for psychotropic effect. Numerous plant poisons demonstrate cardiotoxic effects resulting from action against cardiac myocyte ion channels, or other cardiac receptor targets. ⋯ These mechanisms are stereotyped and may be grouped by toxidromic effect. This article proposes a novel classification of cardiotoxic plant poisons based on these actions. Given that these mechanisms mirror the Vaughan Williams classification used to categorise therapeutic antiarrhythmic agents, it is felt that this will serve as a mnemonic and diagnostic aid in clinical situations of cardiotoxic plant ingestion.
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Reference letters play an important role for both postgraduate residency applications and medical faculty hiring processes. This study seeks to characterise the ways in which gender bias may manifest in the language of reference letters in academic medicine. In particular, we conducted a systematic review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. ⋯ Several studies noted that reference letters for women applicants had more frequent use of doubt raisers and mentions of applicant personal life and/or physical appearance. Only one study assessed the outcome of gendered language on application success, noting a higher residency match rate for men applicants. Reference letters within medicine and medical education exhibit language discrepancies between men and women applicants, which may contribute to gender bias against women in medicine.
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The WHO classification of lung cancer (2015) is based on immunohistochemistry and molecular evaluation. This also includes microscopic analysis of morphological patterns that aids in the pathological diagnosis and classification of lung cancers. Lung cancers are the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. ⋯ This article reviews the genetic profile of adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and pulmonary carcinoids. This includes the prolific genetic alterations and novel molecular changes seen in these tumours. In addition, target- specific drugs that have shown promising effects in clinical use and trials are also briefly discussed.