Bengtsencorneliussen5227

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by progressive fibro-stenotic strictures and destruction of the biliary tree. Currently, there is no effective treatment which can delay its progression or ameliorate the transplant-free survival. Moreover, a major chontroversy in PSC is whether to use UDCA. More recently, novel pharmacological agents emerged aiming at i) modulation of bile composition; ii) immunomodulation; iii) targeting the gut microbiome; iv) targeting fibrosis. Successful PSC therapy, however, will be most likely a personalized combination of different drugs plus endoscopic treatment. This review aims at offering an overview on the experimental pharmacological strategies currently exploited for PSC treatment.

The efficacy and safety of albumin infusion for treatment and prevention of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) among cirrhosis patients remained controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the benefit of albumin infusion for the treatment and prevention of OHE.

We performed a systematic search of 4 electronic databases up to 31st January 2021. The primary outcome was the resolution of OHE. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality and albumin-associated adverse events. We assessed the pooled odds' risk, pooled mean differences, 95% confidence interval and heterogeneity using Review Manager Version 5.3.

A total of 12 studies (2,087 subjects) were identified. Among cirrhosis patients with OHE, albumin infusion was associated with a lower pooled risk of OHE (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.27, 0.68; I

=0%). Among patients without baseline OHE, albumin infusion was associated with a lower pooled risk of developing OHE (OR=0.53, 95%CI 0.32, 0.86; I

=62%). Albumin infusion was associated with a lower pooled risk of inpatient mortality (OR=0.36, 95%CI 0.21, 0.60; I

=0%).

Well-powered randomized trials are required to confirm the benefits of albumin infusion for the prevention and treatment of overt hepatic encephalopathy among decompensated cirrhosis patients.

Well-powered randomized trials are required to confirm the benefits of albumin infusion for the prevention and treatment of overt hepatic encephalopathy among decompensated cirrhosis patients.

This study analyzed the linguistic differences in letters of recommendation (LORs) for general surgery residency applicants written by authors of various academic ranks. Given that many general surgery residency programs require a LOR from the Chair of surgery, this study also examined whether LORs written by the Chair demonstrate linguistic differences to support this practice.

A single institution, retrospective review analyzed LORs from two application cycles of general surgery residency applicants who were selected for interview at a large academic institution. Word count (WC) and linguistic characteristics of LORs were analyzed with a previously developed institution-specific dictionary using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software (LIWC2015; Pennebaker Conglomerates, Inc., Austin, Texas). WC and linguistic characteristics of LORs reported as frequencies of terms within twenty-four categories were examined based on the letter authors' academic rank. Further examination compared LORs written byORs written by authors of different academic ranks.

Linguistic analysis of LORs for general surgery residency applicants demonstrated minor yet statistically significant differences based on the author's academic rank. If applicants can obtain linguistically similar LORs from surgeons of any academic rank, but less authentic LORs from writers with higher academic ranks, these LORs may be less valuable for the residency programs when evaluating applicants. Based on the subgroup analysis, less than 40% of Chair LORs indicated that the Chair worked directly with the applicant, calling into question the utility of the Chair LORs as meaningful evaluation of applicants. Further study to compare LORs of applicants selected and not selected for interview may add additional insight into linguistic differences in LORs written by authors of different academic ranks.

Frequently, a residency program's website is the first interaction students interested in surgery have with the program. In the setting of virtual interviews for residency in 2020, the online availability of program information is of heightened importance. We sought to assess how academic versus community-based general surgery residency programs compared with respect to certain details on their websites.

A total of n = 268 surgery residency programs were investigated. Our database of website characteristics included direct link to residency website from the American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) program page, resident research requirement, listing of residents' publications, availability of residents' demographic information, program alumni information, board pass rates, attrition rate, detail of educational/academic activities, residents' evaluation methods, diversity, and mentorship. Inter-group analyses between academic and community-based programs were performed using Pearson's Chi-sqummunity-based programs.

Many general surgery programs are lacking detailed information on their websites. The amount of website information available on general surgery residency programs differs when comparing academic and community-based programs.

While many barriers to healthcare careers exist for URM students, a strong sense of self-efficacy may help mitigate these obstacles. This study explores how URM high school students describe their academic challenges and compares their descriptions across self-efficacy scores.

We conducted a convergent mixed methods study of URM high school students. Students completed a validated self-efficacy questionnaire and participated in semi-structured focus group interviews to discuss their approach to academic challenges, goal setting, and achievement. The primary outcome was academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy, measured using the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children. Calcium folinate We separated participants into high and low self-efficacy groups based on scores in each domain. Using thematic analysis, we identified and compared common themes associated with academic challenges and goal setting.

Surgical exposure pipeline program sponsored by Stanford University Department of Surgery PARTICIPANTS Low-income, high academic achieving URM high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and/or healthcare careers.