Clinical and investigative medicine. Médecine clinique et experimentale
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To solve large complex health-related problems, there has been a progressive movement towards interdisciplinary research teams; however, there has been minimal investigation into the attributes of successful teams. The purpose of this literature review was to examine the attributes that are important for the effective functioning of these teams. ⋯ Identification of these attributes could form the basis of a new measure to monitor interdisciplinary research team effectiveness, identify weaknesses and promote team development.
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Clinician-scientists are particularly well positioned to bring basic science findings to the patient's bedside; the ultimate objective of basic research in the health sciences. Concerns have recently been raised about the decreasing workforce of clinician-scientists in both the United States of America and in Canada; however, little is known about clinician-scientists elsewhere around the globe. ⋯ Morty, director of a leading clinician-scientist training program in Germany, and Katrin Milger, a physician and graduate from that program, draw a picture of clinician-scientist training and career opportunities in Germany, outlining the place of clinician-scientists in the German medical system, the advantages and drawbacks of this training, and government initiatives to promote training and career development of clinician-scientists. The interview is followed by a discussion comparing the German and Canadian clinician-scientist development programs, focusing on barriers to trainee recruitment and career progress, and efforts to eliminate the barriers encountered along this very demanding but also very rewarding career path.
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The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada undertook a review of its Clinician Investigator Program (CIP), 13 years after launching the program in response to shortages in clinical investigators. The primary study goals were to determine the outcomes, impact, strengths and weaknesses of CIP. ⋯ Since the progam's inception, the number of CIP in Canada has grown. CIP are recognized as important mechanisms for integrating clinical and research training during residency to produce highly qualified clinician investigators.
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Genetic polymorphisms of the Interleukin-10 (IL-10) promoter have been implicated in several autoimmune diseases, including seronegative spondyloarthropathies. This study investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of IL-10 are associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a common subtype of spondyloarthritis (SpA). ⋯ Our results indicate that the gene haplotype of IL-10 can contribute to the susceptibility to AS in a Chinese population.
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The aim of this study is to histopathalogically compare the myotoxic effects of a single injection of levobupivacaine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine in rat skeletal muscle. ⋯ Levobupivacaine's myotoxic effect is qualitatively similar to that seen (and previously reported) with bupivacaine and ropivacaine. Levobupivacaine was found to be quantitatively less myotoxic than bupivacaine and ropivacaine after a single intramuscular injection, only two days after injection. Myonecrosis developed after a single intramuscular injection of local anesthetic but was completely regenerated by the 20th day after injection.