Volume 116, Issue 1

Introduction: Stem cell therapy is thought to improve wound healing and promote vasculogenesis and has also been investigated as a treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), which is usually caused by a microvascular disease such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Objective: To determine the feasibility and effects of using placental matrix−derived mesenchymal stem cells (PM-MSCs) in the treatment of patients with ED. Methods: Participants were recruited from a private practice urology in Coral Springs, Florida. Each patient received an injection of PM-MSCs and was followed up with at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months to assess peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity, stretched penile length, penile width, and erectile function status based on the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire. Results: Eight patients were injected with PM-MSCs. At the 6-week follow-up, PSV ranged from 25.5 cm/s to 56.5 cm/s; at 3 months, PSV ranged from 32.5 cm/s to 66.7 cm/s. Using unpaired t tests, the increase in PSV was statistically significant ( P <.05). At 6 months, PSV ranged from 50.7 cm/s to 73.9 cm/s ( P <.01). Changes in measured end diastolic velocity, stretched penile length, penile width, and International Index of Erectile Function scores were not statistically significant. At the 6-week follow-up, 2 patients for whom previous oral therapies failed had the ability to sustain erections on their own. At the 3-month follow-up, 1 additional patient was able to achieve erections on his own. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is one of the first human studies to report on the feasibility of using stem cell therapy to treat patients with ED. The results indicate that this treatment may be beneficial, and further investigations with larger sample sizes should be conducted. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02398370)

Context: Approximately 2.7 million people in the United States currently live with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and many are unaware that they have the disease. Community health centers (CHCs) serve as the primary care safety net for more than 22 million patients who are at risk for health inequities and represent an important frontline resource for early screening and treatment for HCV infection. Objective: To understand HCV infection screening rates among CHC patients, and to quantify the screening gap by demographic characteristics. Methods: The authors analyzed a deidentified dataset obtained through electronic health records from a large national network of CHCs. All adults at risk for HCV infection, according to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) birth cohort screening guidelines for HCV infection, were considered eligible if they had a patient office visit between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013. Data were reviewed to determine the documentation of HCV infection screening from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2013, and HCV infection screening rates were analyzed by age, race/ethnicity, and sex. Results: Among 60,722 eligible patients, 5033 (8.3%) had an HCV infection screen in accordance with USPSTF birth cohort screening guidelines. Women were less likely to be screened than men in every race/ethnic group, including white Hispanic (9.3% in women vs 5.4% in men), black Hispanic (15.1% in women vs 9.0% in men), white non-Hispanic (13.6% in women vs 8.1% in men), black non-Hispanic (14.9% in women vs 8.9% in men), Caribbean Islander or Haitian (6.5% in women vs 3.7% in men), and other races/ethnicities (6.3% in women vs 3.6% in men). Conclusion: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first large-scale study among CHCs to assess the screening gap of the USPSTF birth cohort screening guidelines for HCV infection. This study suggests that CHCs should consider opportunities to improve HCV infection screening, thereby contributing to the reduction of health inequities resulting from untreated HCV infection.

The primo vascular system has a specific anatomical and immunohistochemical signature that sets it apart from the arteriovenous and lymphatic systems. With immune and endocrine functions, the primo vascular system has been found to play a large role in biological processes, including tissue regeneration, inflammation, and cancer metastases. Although scientifically confirmed in 2002, the original discovery was made in the early 1960s by Bong-Han Kim, a North Korean scientist. It would take nearly 40 years after that discovery for scientists to revisit Kim’s research to confirm the early findings. The presence of primo vessels in and around blood and lymph vessels, nerves, viscera, and fascia, as well as in the brain and spinal cord, reveals a common link that could potentially open novel possibilities of integration with cranial, lymphatic, visceral, and fascial approaches in manual medicine.

Background: Medical education is rapidly evolving. Students enter medical school with a high level of technological literacy and an expectation for instructional variety in the curriculum. In response, many medical schools now incorporate technology-enhanced active learning and multimedia education applications. Education games, medical mobile applications, and virtual patient simulations are together termed gamified training platforms . Objective: To review available literature for the benefits of using gamified training platforms for medical education (both preclinical and clinical) and training. Also, to identify platforms suitable for these purposes with links to multimedia content. Methods: Peer-reviewed literature, commercially published media, and grey literature were searched to compile an archive of recently published scientific evaluations of gamified training platforms for medical education. Specific educational games, mobile applications, and virtual simulations useful for preclinical and clinical training were identified and categorized. Available evidence was summarized as it related to potential educational advantages of the identified platforms for medical education. Results: Overall, improved learning outcomes have been demonstrated with virtual patient simulations. Games have the potential to promote learning, increase engagement, allow for real-word application, and enhance collaboration. They can also provide opportunities for risk-free clinical decision making, distance training, learning analytics, and swift feedback. A total of 5 electronic games and 4 mobile applications were identified for preclinical training, and 5 electronic games, 10 mobile applications, and 12 virtual patient simulation tools were identified for clinical training. Nine additional gamified, virtual environment training tools not commercially available were also identified. Conclusion: Many published studies suggest possible benefits from using gamified media in medical curriculum. This is a rapidly growing field. More research is required to rigorously evaluate the specific educational benefits of these interventions. This archive of hyperlinked tools can be used as a resource for all levels of medical trainees, providers, and educators.

Quality improvement (QI) continues to be a health care challenge, and the literature indicates that osteopathic medical students need more training. To qualify for portions of managed care reimbursement, hospitals are required to meet measures intended to improve quality of care and patient satisfaction, which may be challenging for small community hospitals with limited resources. Because osteopathic medical training is grounded on community hospital experiences, an opportunity exists to align the outcomes needs of hospitals and QI training needs of students. In this pilot program, 3 sponsoring hospitals recruited and mentored 1 osteopathic medical student each through a QI project. A mentor at each hospital identified a project that was important to the hospital’s patient care QI goals. This pilot program provided osteopathic medical students with hands-on QI training, created opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, and contributed to hospital initiatives to improve patient outcomes.

The objective of this article is to discuss effective communication strategies between elderly patients and their physicians from the perspective of osteopathic heritage. The patient-physician communication styles of Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, and early osteopathic physicians (ie, DOs) may have influenced how DOs today communicate with their patients. Historical literature describes how Still would discuss with his patients the causes of their health problems using analogies and language they would understand, and how, when caring for a patient at the end of life, he empathically provided emotional support for both patients and their families. Early DOs advocated setting clear expectations for patients regarding clinical outcomes and carefully listening to patients to build trust. The Osteopathic Oath, which calls for the DO to view the patient as a friend, may also affect patient-physician communication. Early osteopathic philosophy and culture, as modeled by Dr Still in his approach to elderly patients, should inspire today’s DOs in their communication with their elderly patients.

In pregnant women, the risk of venous thromboembolism increases 4 to 5 fold over that in nonpregnant women. Deep vein thromboses in the calf occur in approximately 6% of cases, with a 20% incidence of propagation, but new imaging methods suggest a higher rate. Nevertheless, the management of isolated soleal vein thrombosis is currently one of the most debated issues in the field of venous thromboembolism, and a clear set of principles for the management of this unique clinical problem remains undefined. The authors present the case of a 37-year-old woman with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions and cervical insufficiency who presented with a short cervix and acute right isolated soleal vein thrombosis. Long-term anticoagulantion therapy was recommended. Future studies on the risk of isolated soleal vein thrombosis propagation in the setting of pregnancy are required to identify the most effective treatment options for this clinical problem.