ni The PMC 10th Anniversary Video is now on YouTube! By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST A video celebrating PMC's first decade is now available for viewing on the NCBI YouTube Channel. The PMC 10th Anniversary Video can also be found on the regular YouTube site. Full Article
ni JATS Becomes NISO Standard By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST The Journal Archiving Tag Suite(JATS), known formerly as the NLM DTD, has now been officially adopted as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ National Information Standards Organization (NISO) standard. According to the press release from NISO, "JATS provides a common XML format in which publishers and archives can exchange journal content by preserving the intellectual content of journals independent of the form in which that content was originally delivered." For more information, see NISO Publishes Journal Article Tag Suite (JATS) Standard. Full Article
ni Updated PMC journal review process and minimum requirements By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST The PMC Overview and FAQ have been updated to provide more information on the Scientific Quality Review Process for journals that apply to participate in PMC.In 2014, PMC implemented a scientific and editorial quality review procedure whereby expert consultants from outside the National Library of Medicine (NLM) conduct an independent review of journals seeking to participate in PMC. This was in response to a significant increase in new publishers and journals applying to participate in PMC, many of which are unknown to NLM in terms of quality and publishing practices. The independent review, which was approved by the PMC National Advisory Committee (see minutes from June 10, 2014), follows an assessment by NLM that the journal meets NLM’s criteria for its collection, as outlined in the Collection Development Manual.PMC also recently updated the minimum requirement on the number of substantive, peer-reviewed articles needed before a journal can apply to PMC. The new 25-article minimum ensures that the reviewers have a sufficient amount of content on which to base their recommendation for inclusion in PMC. The new minimum article requirement takes effect on January 1, 2016. Publishers are encouraged to use the 25-article minimum as a guideline in the interim when submitting applications. Full Article
ni NIH Author Manuscripts Available for Text Mining By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST NIH-supported scientists have made over 300,000 author manuscripts available in PMC. Now NIH is making these papers accessible to the public in a format that will allow robust text analyses.You can download the PMC collection of NIH-supported author manuscripts as a package in either XML or plain-text format at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/manuscript/. The collection encompasses all NIH manuscripts posted to PMC that were published in July 2008 or later. While the public can access the manuscripts’ full text and accompanying figures, tables, and multimedia via the PMC website, the newly available XML and plain-text files include full text only. In addition to text mining, the files may be used consistent with the principles of fair use under copyright law.Please note that these author manuscript files are not part of the PMC Open Access Subset.The NIH Office of Extramural Research developed this resource to increase the impact of NIH funding. Through this collection, scientists will be able to analyze these manuscripts, further apply NIH research findings, and generate new discoveries.For more information, please visit the PMC author manuscript collection webpage. Full Article
ni FTP service update to improve access to text mining collections By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Mon, 1 Aug 2016 08:00:00 EST PMC has reorganized its FTP Service site for users interested in accessing the Text Mining Collections, which include the original Open Access (OA) Subset. New top-level FTP directories help users quickly locate the content available for bulk download that best suits their research needs. These directories include: oa_package - article packages for individual OA articles oa_pdf – individual PDFs for OA articles oa_bulk – bulk packages of text from OA articles manuscript – author manuscripts collected under a funding agency’s public access policy historical_ocr – select OCR texts from the PMC Back Issue Digitization project To make it easier for users to identify and comply with the different licenses that apply to OA articles, new file lists have been created and the file lists for individual OA articles now include a “license-type” field for each article. Similarly, the bulk packages of OA article text have been divided into two sets. One set comprises articles that may be used for commercial purposes (the Commercial Use Collection); the other contains articles that can be used only for non-commercial purposes. See the Open Access Subset page for details.To allow regular users to transition to the new arrangement, the previous arrangement of files and directories will be maintained in parallel for at least four weeks (i.e., until the end of August 2016). Full Article
ni PMC Adds Support for Machine-Readable Clinical Trial Information By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Jan 2019 08:00:00 EST Machine-readability of scholarly outputs is critical to supporting large-scale analysis of the scientific literature. To that end, PMC’s Tagging Guidelines and internal processes have been updated to support the JATS4R recommendations for tagging clinical trial information. NLM encourages PMC-participating publishers, journals, and data providers to review this guidance. Please contact us at pubmedcentral@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov if you have any questions. Full Article
ni Unique Identifiers for Supplemental Material By www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Feb 2019 08:00:00 EST PMC has updated the Associated Data box to display unique identifiers assigned to supplemental material files by the publisher when available (e.g., DOI; see PMC6351104). In cases where the publisher has not assigned a unique ID to a supplemental file, NLM will generate and display a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID; see PMC6351564). This update aims to support the reporting of datasets as well as the citation and discovery of this content.Publishers that are interested in supplying unique IDs for supplemental material files with their PMC submissions should visit the Tagging Guidelines. Full Article
ni What Is an Umbilical Hernia Repair Surgery? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: What Is an Umbilical Hernia Repair Surgery?Category: Procedures and TestsCreated: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni What Is the Recovery Time for An Umbilical Hernia Surgery? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: What Is the Recovery Time for An Umbilical Hernia Surgery?Category: Procedures and TestsCreated: 4/15/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/15/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni How Long Does It Take to Recover from Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Surgery? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: How Long Does It Take to Recover from Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Surgery?Category: Procedures and TestsCreated: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Heart Attacks, Strokes Are Declining Among People With Diabetes By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Heart Attacks, Strokes Are Declining Among People With DiabetesCategory: Health NewsCreated: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni When Is Surgery Not Safe for Seniors? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: When Is Surgery Not Safe for Seniors?Category: Health NewsCreated: 3/12/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/13/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa) By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Sat, 2 May 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa)Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 8/14/2018 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 5/2/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Pneumonia More Deadly Than Hip Fractures for Hospitalized Seniors By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Pneumonia More Deadly Than Hip Fractures for Hospitalized SeniorsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 4/23/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Balanitis (Inflammation of the Head of the Penis) By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 PDT Title: Balanitis (Inflammation of the Head of the Penis)Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 6/24/2013 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 11/22/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Is Balanitis Contagious? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 4 Dec 2019 00:00:00 PDT Title: Is Balanitis Contagious?Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 5/28/2015 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 12/4/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Peyronie's Disease (Curvature of the Penis) By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Thu, 5 Dec 2019 00:00:00 PDT Title: Peyronie's Disease (Curvature of the Penis)Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 11/14/2002 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 12/5/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Vitamin D Might Aid Seniors' Recovery From Hip Fracture: Study By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 3 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Vitamin D Might Aid Seniors' Recovery From Hip Fracture: StudyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 4/2/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/3/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Experimental Drug Shows Promise for Schizophrenia By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Experimental Drug Shows Promise for SchizophreniaCategory: Health NewsCreated: 4/16/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treat Depression? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treat Depression?Category: Procedures and TestsCreated: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Blood Pressure Spikes at Night May Spell Trouble for Brain By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Blood Pressure Spikes at Night May Spell Trouble for BrainCategory: Health NewsCreated: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/20/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Solosec (secnidazole) By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Solosec (secnidazole)Category: MedicationsCreated: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Lasix Side Effects, Warnings, and Drug Interactions By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Lasix Side Effects, Warnings, and Drug InteractionsCategory: MedicationsCreated: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Allergy Med Singulair to Get 'Black Box' Warning Over Psych Side Effects: FDA By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Thu, 5 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Allergy Med Singulair to Get 'Black Box' Warning Over Psych Side Effects: FDACategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Study Links Menopausal Night Sweats to Impaired Thinking By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:00:00 PDT Title: Study Links Menopausal Night Sweats to Impaired ThinkingCategory: Health NewsCreated: 9/25/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 9/25/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Pot Use Among U.S. Seniors Nearly Doubled in 3 Years By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Pot Use Among U.S. Seniors Nearly Doubled in 3 YearsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/24/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 2/25/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Many Seniors Leave Hospital With New Disabilities By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Tue, 3 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Many Seniors Leave Hospital With New DisabilitiesCategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/2/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/3/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Sleepy Seniors Have Higher Health Risks By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Tue, 3 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Sleepy Seniors Have Higher Health RisksCategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/2/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/3/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Helping Seniors Manage Meds After Hospital Reduces Readmission: Study By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 4 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Helping Seniors Manage Meds After Hospital Reduces Readmission: StudyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/3/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Seniors, Getting Off the Sofa Brings Big Health Benefits By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 6 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Seniors, Getting Off the Sofa Brings Big Health BenefitsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/6/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni How Pets Can Be True Lifesavers for Seniors By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 3 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: How Pets Can Be True Lifesavers for SeniorsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 4/3/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/3/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Mayzent (siponimod) By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Mayzent (siponimod)Category: MedicationsCreated: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni How Long Does a Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Last? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: How Long Does a Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Last?Category: Procedures and TestsCreated: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Drug Offers Hope Against Tough-to-Treat Chronic Cough By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Drug Offers Hope Against Tough-to-Treat Chronic CoughCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/26/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 2/26/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Is a 'Universal' Flu Vaccine on the Horizon? By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: Is a 'Universal' Flu Vaccine on the Horizon?Category: Health NewsCreated: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/10/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni When Booze Labels Carry Health Warnings, Drinking Declines: Study By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: When Booze Labels Carry Health Warnings, Drinking Declines: StudyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni AHA News: Stroke Survivors Might Need Better Screening for Depression By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 00:00:00 PDT Title: AHA News: Stroke Survivors Might Need Better Screening for DepressionCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/12/2020 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 2/13/2020 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Health Tip: Planning a Stress-Reducing Vacation By www.medicinenet.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 PDT Title: Health Tip: Planning a Stress-Reducing VacationCategory: Health NewsCreated: 10/18/2019 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 10/18/2019 12:00:00 AM Full Article
ni Long Noncoding RNA MALAT1 Contributes to Sorafenib Resistance by Targeting miR-140-5p/Aurora-A Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma By mct.aacrjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-04T05:39:42-07:00 Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have been found to play critical roles in tumorigenesis and the development of various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metastasis associated with lung adenocarcinoma transcript-1 (MALAT1) has been identified as an oncogene and prognostic biomarker in HCC. Here, we demonstrated that MALAT1 expression was obviously high in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Furthermore, knockdown of MALAT1 increased sorafenib sensitivity in nonresponsive HCC cells, whereas forced expression of MALAT1 conferred sorafenib resistance to responsive HCC cells in vitro. In addition, loss/gain-of-function assays revealed that MALAT1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in HCC cells. Mechanistically, MALAT1 regulated Aurora-A expression by sponging miR-140-5p, thus promoting sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. Moreover, MALAT1 inhibition enhanced the antitumor efficacy of sorafenib in vivo. Clinically, we found that MALAT1 expression was negatively correlated with miR-140-5p expression but positively correlated with Aurora-A expression in patients with HCC and that upregulated MALAT1 was closely correlated with poor survival outcomes in patients with HCC. These findings indicated that MALAT1 may be a novel target for prognosis prediction and therapeutic strategies in patients with HCC treated with sorafenib. Full Article
ni Identification of ALDH1A3 as a Viable Therapeutic Target in Breast Cancer Metastasis-Initiating Cells By mct.aacrjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-04T05:39:42-07:00 The development of efficacious therapies targeting metastatic spread of breast cancer to the brain represents an unmet clinical need. Accordingly, an improved understanding of the molecular underpinnings of central nervous system spread and progression of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) is required. In this study, the clinical burden of disease in BCBM was investigated, as well as the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) in the metastatic cascade leading to BCBM development. Initial analysis of clinical survival trends for breast cancer and BCBM determined improvement of breast cancer survival rates; however, this has failed to positively affect the prognostic milestones of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) brain metastases (BM). ALDH1A3 and a representative epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene signature (mesenchymal markers, CD44 or Vimentin) were compared in tumors derived from BM, lung metastases (LM), or bone metastases (BoM) of patients as well as mice after injection of TNBC cells. Selective elevation of the EMT signature and ALDH1A3 were observed in BM, unlike LM and BoM, especially in the tumor edge. Furthermore, ALDH1A3 was determined to play a role in BCBM establishment via regulation of circulating tumor cell adhesion and migration phases in the BCBM cascade. Validation through genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of ALDH1A3 via lentiviral shRNA knockdown and a novel small-molecule inhibitor demonstrated selective inhibition of BCBM formation with prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice. Given the survival benefits via targeting ALDH1A3, it may prove an effective therapeutic strategy for BCBM prevention and/or treatment. Full Article
ni Inhibition of Importin {beta}1 Augments the Anticancer Effect of Agonistic Anti-Death Receptor 5 Antibody in TRAIL-resistant Tumor Cells By mct.aacrjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-04T05:39:42-07:00 TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and an agonistic antibody against the death-inducing TRAIL receptor 5, DR5, are thought to selectively induce tumor cell death and therefore, have gained attention as potential therapeutics currently under investigation in several clinical trials. However, some tumor cells are resistant to TRAIL/DR5–induced cell death, even though they express DR5. Previously, we reported that DR5 is transported into the nucleus by importin β1, and knockdown of importin β1 upregulates cell surface expression of DR5 resulting in increased TRAIL sensitivity in vitro. Here, we examined the impact of importin β1 knockdown on agonistic anti-human DR5 (hDR5) antibody therapy. Drug-inducible importin β1 knockdown sensitizes HeLa cells to TRAIL-induced cell death in vitro, and exerts an antitumor effect when combined with agonistic anti-hDR5 antibody administration in vivo. Therapeutic importin β1 knockdown, administered via the atelocollagen delivery system, as well as treatment with the importin β inhibitor, importazole, induced regression and/or eradication of two human TRAIL-resistant tumor cells when combined with agonistic anti-hDR5 antibody treatment. Thus, these findings suggest that the inhibition of importin β1 would be useful to improve the therapeutic effects of agonistic anti-hDR5 antibody against TRAIL-resistant cancers. Full Article
ni Two previously unrecorded xiphosurid trace fossils, Selenichnites rossendalensis and Crescentichnus tesiltus, from the Middle Jurassic of Yorkshire, UK By pygs.lyellcollection.org Published On :: 2019-11-22T06:43:26-08:00 The invertebrate trace fossils Selenichnites rossendalensis and Crescentichnus tesiltus are recorded and described from the Middle Jurassic Gristhorpe Member of the Cloughton Formation of the Cleveland Basin. This is the first record of these ichnospecies from the basin and now completes the occurrence of these and other traces assumed to have been made by limulids from all three non-marine formations of the Ravenscar Group. Full Article
ni Age of the Acadian deformation and Devonian granites in northern England: a review By pygs.lyellcollection.org Published On :: 2019-11-22T06:43:26-08:00 Field evidence shows that emplacement of Devonian granites in northern England overlaps in space and time with the end of the supposed Acadian deformation in their country rocks. The age of this Acadian event in England and Wales is in need of review because of revised Rb-Sr and K-Ar decay constants and recently acquired radiometric ages on the granites. Published K-Ar and Ar-Ar cleavage ages recalculated to the new decay constants range from 404 to 394 Ma (Emsian, Early Devonian). Emplacement of the Skiddaw and Weardale granites at 398.8 ± 0.4 and 399.3 ± 0.7 Ma respectively is indicated by U-Pb zircon ages, and is compatible with the field evidence. However, emplacement of the Shap Granite at a Re-Os molybdenite age of 405.2 ± 1.8 Ma and at the youngest U-Pb zircon age of 403 ± 8 Ma matches the field evidence less well. The apparent paradox in these ages is resolved if the K-Ar ages record only the end of millions of years of cleavage formation. An earlier cluster of K-Ar and Ar-Ar cleavage ages at 426–420 Ma (Ludlow to Přídolí, late Silurian) dates a pre-Acadian resetting event soon after Iapetus closure, an event of uncertain significance. Ion microprobe U-Pb zircon ages for the Shap Granite have a mean of 415.6 ± 1.4 Ma but a range of 428–403 Ma, compatible with a long magmatic history. Thermal considerations suggest that this history was not at the upper crustal emplacement site but in a mid-crustal mush zone, now preserved at about 10 km depth as a component of the Lake District and North Pennine batholiths. Full Article
ni Emplacement of oil in the Devonian Weardale Granite of northern England By pygs.lyellcollection.org Published On :: 2019-11-22T06:43:26-08:00 Oil residues occur as solid bitumen in mineralized zones within the Devonian Weardale Granite of the northern Pennines, northern England. Comparable residues are present in the overlying Mississippian rocks and were probably derived from a Carboniferous source, i.e. during later mineralization of the granite. The bitumen was already solidified during fluorite mineralization, which does not contain oil inclusions. The residues do not show the high thermal maturity of organic matter in the region altered by the earliest Permian Whin Sill. Like the sulphide-fluorite mineralization, oil emplacement post-dated intrusion of the sill. Pyrite associated with the oil residues is enriched in trace elements including lead, silver, gold, selenium and tellurium, which suggests that mineralizing fluids at least shared pathways with migrating hydrocarbons and possibly also suggests undiscovered valuable metal resources. Full Article
ni Redefining Medical Competencies for an Oral Medicine Specialty Training Curriculum Using a Modified Delphi Technique By www.jdentaled.org Published On :: 2019-12-01T06:00:19-08:00 This article describes the development of medical competencies for oral medicine specialty training in the UK and Ireland by a collaborative working group using a modified Delphi technique. The current specialty training curriculum for oral medicine (OM) in the UK was developed by a working group including members of the British Society for Oral Medicine (BSOM) and members of the Specialty Advisory Committee for Additional Dental Specialties (SACADS) and adopted by the UK General Dental Council (GDC) in 2010. When the curriculum was developed, the entry requirements for specialty training in OM included undergraduate degrees in both dentistry and medicine. At the time of adoption, the requirement for a medical degree was removed. Medical competencies were assumed to have been delivered in medical undergraduate and postgraduate training. Accordingly, there was a need to define the medical competencies for OM specialty training to benefit trainees, trainers, and assessors. In 2018, a group comprising specialty trainers, recent former specialty trainees, and current specialty trainees in OM held face-to-face meetings in addition to email discussions and developed an updated curriculum document to better reflect the medical competencies required in specialty training. A collaborative modified Delphi approach was used to evaluate medical foundation competencies and to include only those that were considered relevant to OM specialty training. A list of relevant and achievable medical competencies was determined that has been approved by SACADS and will be incorporated into a revised OM curriculum from the UK GDC. The newly agreed-upon document for medical competencies in OM specialty training will serve as a reference for trainees, trainers, and assessors and reflects a successful use of a modified Delphi approach. Full Article
ni Impact of Collaborative Leadership in Dental School Team Clinics By www.jdentaled.org Published On :: 2019-12-01T06:00:18-08:00 Dental students’ ability to critique team performance in dental school team clinics is a key component of dental education. The aim of this study was to determine if students’ perceptions of their team leaders’ openness of communication, cooperative decision making, and well-defined goals were positively related to the students’ improvement-oriented voice behavior and willingness to raise concerns in the clinical environment. This study used a voluntary 12-question survey, distributed via email to all 311 students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine after completion of the spring 2017 semester. Eighty-seven students responded, for a response rate of 28%. Responses were stratified by team, class year, and gender, and the quantitative distribution of answers to each question was correlated with each other. Team leader collaborative qualities, which included openness for communication, cooperative decision making, and well-defined goals, were found to have a significant positive relationship with students’ willingness to both raise concerns and make suggestions. Additionally, when measured by class year and gender, team differences in voice behavior assessment by students across the teams were found to be independent of class year, and no significant differences were found by gender. These results suggested that, to maintain high levels of communication, proper reporting of concerns, and a high standard of care, dental schools should encourage team leaders to enhance their capacity to present active collaborative behaviors in the school’s clinic. The study also highlighted potential opportunities for further study of faculty traits and development in the dental school team model. Full Article
ni Examining the Case for Dental Hygienists Teaching Predoctoral Dental Students: A Two-Part Study By www.jdentaled.org Published On :: 2019-12-01T06:00:18-08:00 Dental students in North American dental schools are exposed to faculty members with various professional backgrounds. These faculty members may include dentists, dental hygienists, and scientists without clinical dental credentials. The practice of dental hygienists’ educating predoctoral dental students has not been well documented. The aims of this two-part study were to investigate the parameters of didactic, preclinical, and clinical instruction of dental students by dental hygienist faculty members in North American dental schools and to explore dental students’ perceptions of this form of teaching. In part one, a survey was sent electronically to the clinical or academic affairs deans of all 76 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) member dental schools in 2017. Twenty-nine responded, for a 38.2% response rate. In 76% of the responding schools, dental hygienists were teaching dental students. Most respondents reported that, in their schools, the minimum degree required to teach didactically was a master’s, while a bachelor’s degree was required for preclinical and clinical courses. There was no significant association between dental hygienists’ instructing dental students and having a dental hygiene educational program at the institution. In part two of the study, a questionnaire was completed by 102 graduating dental students (85% response rate) at one U.S. university to evaluate the impact of dental hygienist educators. Among the respondents, 87% reported feeling that dental hygienists were very effective educators. There were no significant differences in responses between traditional and advanced standing international dental students. This study found that dental hygienists were educating dental students in many North American dental schools and were doing so in curricular content beyond periodontics and that their educational contributions at a sample school were valued by the dental students there. Full Article
ni Perceptions of Dental Hygienists About Thesis Completion in Graduate Education By www.jdentaled.org Published On :: 2019-12-01T06:00:18-08:00 Few studies have been published on thesis completion experiences of master’s degree students. However, for doctoral students, dissertation completion has been found to be dependent on individual, relational, and institutional factors. The aim of this study was to examine dental hygienists’ perceptions of their experiences completing a thesis as a requirement for an advanced degree. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used utilizing virtual focus groups with a national purposive sample of dental hygienists (n=25) who had graduated from a degree program in which a thesis was a requirement for the degree. Data analysis used an inductive approach to identify themes using Liechty et al.’s framework of individual, relational, and institutional factors impacting completion of a dissertation. Liechty et al.’s framework is based on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of learning. In the results, individual factors identified included family/work responsibilities, lack of understanding of the thesis process, time management, health issues, and reaching personal and professional goals. Relational factors focused primarily on positive and negative experiences with the thesis advisor/committee and support from expert peers/family. Institutional factors included the thesis structure, financial concerns, and challenges in recruiting research participants. This study found many factors influencing the thesis experience that may help guide the process in graduate degree programs. In addition, the findings suggest a need to provide mentoring and support for thesis advisors and committee members to more effectively guide students through the thesis process. Effective modifications of these may improve retention of students and facilitate timely completion of thesis research. Full Article
ni Learning and Teaching Together to Advance Evidence-Based Clinical Education: A Faculty Learning Community By www.jdentaled.org Published On :: 2019-12-01T06:00:18-08:00 Clinical teaching is a cornerstone of health sciences education; it is also the most challenging aspect. The University of Pittsburgh Schools of Dental Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy developed a new evidence-based interprofessional course framed as a faculty learning community (FLC) around the principles of learning in a clinical environment. The aim of this study was to assess the overall effectiveness of this two-semester FLC at four health professions schools in academic year 2014-15. The assessment included anonymous participant surveys in each session and an anonymous end-of-course survey. Thirty-five faculty members from dental, health and rehabilitation sciences, nursing, and pharmacy enrolled in the FLC, with six to 32 enrollees attending each session. All attendees at each session completed the session evaluation surveys, but the attendance rate at each session ranged from 17.1% to 91.4%. Sixteen participants (46%) completed the end-of-course survey. The results showed overall positive responses to the FLC and changes in the participants’ self-reported knowledge. Session surveys showed that the participants found the FLC topics helpful and appreciated the opportunity to learn from each other and the interprofessional nature of the FLC. Responses to the end-of-course survey were in alignment with the individual session surveys and cited specific benefits as being the content, teaching materials, and structured discussions. In additional feedback, participants reported interest to continue as a cohort and to extend the peer-support system beyond the FLC. This outcomes assessment of the first round of the FLC confirmed that this cohort-based faculty development in an interprofessional setting was well received by its participants. Their feedback provided valuable insights for changes to future offerings. Full Article
ni Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Dental Hygienists Regarding Diabetes Risk Assessments and Screenings By jdh.adha.org Published On :: 2020-04-30T12:39:03-07:00 Purpose: Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes causes increased levels of blood glucose associated with poor periodontal disease outcomes. Dental hygienists can play a significant role in screening patients for diabetes mellitus, leading to referral and early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers faced by clinical dental hygienists regarding diabetes risk assessment and screenings.Methods: A mixed method design was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists in clinical practice (n=316). A 32 item, electronic survey was validated at item-level, and participants were recruited through multiple dental hygiene Facebook groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The survey also included two open-ended attitude questions that were interpreted using thematic analysis to pinpoint common patterns within the data.Results: Dental hygienists had high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, although many were unaware of their states' specific statutes and regulations for screening practices. Nearly all (95.9%), were likely to educate and refer patients (82%), although fewer than half (40.9%), were likely to perform chairside screening for diabetes. Emergent themes for barriers to screening were time, money, patient acceptance/willingness, lack of education, not having the proper tools, and states' rules and regulations.Conclusion: Despite high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, there is a gap in regards to dental hygienists' willingness to perform diabetes screenings in a clinical setting. Dental hygienists should be capable of integrating chairside diabetes screening practices into the process of care with proper training. Full Article