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Context With the transition to a single accreditation system for graduate medical education, the scholarly activity among core faculty in osteopathic and allopathic residency programs has come under scrutiny. Currently, major differences in scholarly activity requirements exist between core faculty in obstetrics and gynecology residencies accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and those accredited by the American Osteopathic Association. Objective To determine whether there is a disparity between osteopathic and allopathic physicians among authors with original research published in 4 high-impact obstetrics and gynecology journals during 4 select years. Methods The authors reviewed Obstetrics & Gynecology ( Obstet Gynecol ), the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ( Am J Obstet Gynecol ), Fertility and Sterility ( Fertil Steril ), and Menopause for the degree designation of the first and senior (last) author of each original manuscript for the years of 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and linear regression. Results In total, 3311 articles and 5909 authors were reviewed. Of these authors, 0.80% (47) had a DO degree. Of 1692 authors with dual advanced degrees, only 0.53% (9) had a DO degree. On subgroup analysis of each journal, 0.87% (13 of 1494) of identified authors in Obstet Gynecol, 1.03% (21 of 2038) in Am J Obstet Gynecol , 0.44% (9 of 2030) in Fertil Steril , and 2.20% (4 of 347) in Menopause were osteopathic physicians. During the years studied, no statistically significant trend could be established for first or senior author publication by osteopathic physicians over time, for all 4 journals or for any individual journal. Conclusion Very few osteopathic physicians have served as either the first or the senior author in articles published in Obstet Gynecol, Am J Obstet Gynecol , Fertil Steril, or Menopause during the years studied, and no trend was seen for increased publication by osteopathic physicians in these journals over time.

Context The Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) is one example of a direct observation tool used for workplace-based skills assessment. The Mini-CEX has been validated as a useful formative evaluation tool in graduate medical education. However, no Mini-CEX has been reported in the literature that specifically assesses the osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) skills of family medicine residents. Therefore, the authors created and studied an OMM Mini-CEX to fill this skills assessment gap. Objective To determine whether the OMM Mini-CEX is perceived as an effective evaluation tool for assessing the OMM core competencies of family medicine residents. Methods Faculty and residents of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education National Family Medicine Residency program participated in the study. Each resident was evaluated at least once using the OMM Mini-CEX. Surveys were used to assess faculty and resident perceptions of the usefulness and effectiveness of the OMM Mini-CEX for assessing OMM competencies. Results Eighty-one responses were received during 2 survey cycles within a 7-month period. The internal consistency of the survey responses had a high reliability (Cronbach α=0.93). Considering respondents who agreed that they had a clear understanding of the general purpose of a Mini-CEX, the perceived effectiveness score for the OMM Mini-CEX was higher among those who agreed that a Mini-CEX was a useful part of training than among those who disagreed or were unsure of its usefulness (median score, 4.0 vs 3.4, respectively; P =.047). Conclusions The results suggest the OMM Mini-CEX can be a useful direct observation evaluation tool to assess OMM core competencies in family medicine residents. Additional research is needed to determine its perceived effectiveness in other clinical specialties and in undergraduate medical education.

Context Hyperglycemia in the hospital setting is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In an attempt to cut costs, some hospitals implement policies to substitute all glargine orders with detemir. Objective To examine how the substitution of glargine with detemir affects inpatient blood glucose control. Methods Medical records were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the effect of a hospital formulary change at a semi-urban underserved hospital that substituted detemir for glargine on a 1:1 dosing basis. The study evaluated blood glucose control from September 6, 2015, to September 5, 2016, before substitution and from September 6, 2016, to September 5, 2017, after the substitution began. Patients were included in the study if they were older than 18 years, received glargine before admission, and had type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, did not receive long-acting insulin, or lacked regular blood glucose testing. The medical records were analyzed for mean glucose levels, hypoglycemic events, and short-acting insulin administration amounts. Results A total of 318 patients met criteria and were included in the retrospective analysis—134 patients received detemir and 184 patients received glargine. The mean glucose levels in the morning were 133.8 mg/dL for patients receiving detemir and 145.8 mg/dL for patients receiving glargine (95% CI, 126.972-140.753; P =.013). The mean blood glucose levels in the afternoon were 171.6 mg/dL for patients receiving detemir and 172.1 mg/dL for patients receiving glargine (95% CI, 162.955-180.344; P =.938). The mean blood glucose levels in the evening were 162.5 mg/dL for patients receiving detemir and 163.3 mg/dL for patients receiving glargine (95% CI, 153.654-171.315; P =.897). The mean blood glucose levels at night were 176.1 mg/dL for patients receiving detemir and 174.7 mg/dL for patients receiving glargine (95% CI, 167.797-184.474; P =.788). No significant difference in sliding scale insulin was required between the patient groups (0.16 U/kg insulin aspart in detemir group vs 0.18 U/kg aspart in glargine; 95% CI, 0.154-0.189; P =.297). There was no significant difference between the patient groups in regard to hypoglycemic events (45% glargine vs 49% detemir; P =.59). Conclusion Substituting detemir for glargine did not adversely affect inpatients’ blood glucose control.

Background Neuropsychological deficits, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and problems with instrumental activities of daily living are common in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objectives To assess how subtle to mildly impaired instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) might be related to neuropsychological abilities (including executive control and episodic memory) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (including apathy and depression) among participants with a diagnosis of MCI. Methods Participants were evaluated for MCI and possible dementia at an outpatient memory clinic on the basis of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, a geriatric psychiatry evaluation, a magnetic resonance image of the brain, and serum studies to evaluate for a possible reversible cause of cognitive decline. A series of stepwise regression analyses were conducted whereby IADL ability was the dependent variable and neuropsychological abilities, such as executive control and episodic memory, or neuropsychiatric symptoms, including apathy and depression, were the independent or predictor variables. The presence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms was assessed using a modified version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (mNPI). Participants were grouped by MCI diagnosis status (amnestic MCI, combined dysexecutive/mixed MCI, and no MCI). Results Twenty-six participants were in the amnestic MCI group, 19 in the combined dysexecutive/mixed MCI group, and 36 participants did not meet criteria for MCI (non-MCI group). Groups did not differ in age, education, Mini-Mental State Examination performance, IADL abilities, estimated premorbid general intellectual abilities, or mNPI ratings for apathy and depression. Stepwise regression analyses found a robust relationship between mild IADL impairment and greater apathy ( R =0.497, r 2 1,69 =0.247, P <.001; β=−0.497, P <.001). Depression did not enter the final model. A weaker—but statistically significant—relationship was found between mild IADL impairment and worse executive control test performance ( R =0.271, r 2 1,68 =0.073, P <.023; β=0.271, P <.23). Episodic memory did not enter the final model. When both apathy and executive control were assessed as related to IADL impairment, only apathy entered the final model ( R =0.497, R 2 1,69 =0.247, P <.001; β=−0.497, P <.001). Conclusion Mildly impaired IADL functioning can negatively affect quality of life. Moreover, apathy may be amenable to treatment. In a primary geriatric care setting, neuropsychiatric symptoms and neuropsychological abilities should be routinely assessed.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Although SSRIs are highly tolerable relative to other antidepressants, they are associated with a number of adverse effects, including increased gastrointestinal tract bleeding and intracranial bleeding. Mechanisms include increased gastric acid secretion and inhibition of serotonin entrance into platelets. Patients with other bleeding risk factors, such as warfarin, clopidogrel, or aspirin use, may be at heightened risk of these adverse effects. The purpose of this article is to review the incidence of gastrointestinal tract bleeding or intracranial bleeding associated with concomitant SSRI use, the proposed mechanisms of, and the potential pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interactions with anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Given the prevalence of SSRI use in the ambulatory setting, osteopathic physicians should be aware of potential drug-drug interactions and the clinical implications of SSRI-associated bleeding risk.

Online social media platforms increase patients’ access to physicians, thus potentially blurring the boundaries between physicians’ professional and private lives. Although many medical organizations have established guidelines on how physicians should proceed on social media and social networking sites (SNSs), there has not been a mandated standardized curriculum on the use of social media, SNSs, and online professionalism for physicians or medical students. With the increase in physician involvement on social media and SNSs, professionalism issues can emerge. Online professionalism complaints have been increasing. Therefore, osteopathic medical students need to be taught the dangers and benefits of engaging with online media. This article seeks to address the need for mandating a standardized online professionalism curriculum for osteopathic medical students and show how a simulation-based medical education curriculum can help accomplish this goal.

Background Cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, have increased in recent years despite widespread vaccination and adequate antibiotic treatments. Osteopathic physicians may want to consider using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as an adjunctive treatment modality for pertussis; however, suitable OMT techniques are not specified in the research literature. Objective To search the historical osteopathic literature to identify OMT techniques that were used in the management of pertussis in the pre-antibiotic era. Methods A structured literature review of electronic databases and historical osteopathic journals and books was conducted. Included were information on OMT techniques used for patients with pertussis. Results The 24 identified sources included 8 articles and 16 book contributions from the years 1886 to 1958. Most sources were published within the first quarter of the 20th century. Commonly identified OMT techniques included mobilization techniques, lymphatic pump techniques, and other manipulative techniques predominantly in the cervical and thoracic regions. Conclusion The wealth of OMT techniques for patients with pertussis that were identified suggests that pertussis was commonly treated by early osteopaths. Further research is necessary to identify or establish the evidence base for these techniques so that in case of favorable outcomes, their use by osteopathic physicians is justified as adjunctive modalities when encountering a patient with pertussis.

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is known to cause neurocognitive problems, yet it often goes undetected or mistreated. The authors describe 9-year-old twins with snoring, enlarged tonsils, and excessive daytime sleepiness whose symptoms had been previously disregarded by health care professionals. At presentation, a dentist found the patients to be midface deficient and symptomatic. A home sleep test, prescribed by the dentist, revealed apnea-hypopnea index readings of 74/h and 16/h, respectively. The children were referred to an otolaryngologist, and a continuous positive airway pressure therapy trial resulted in improved cognition and temperament. Rapid maxillary expansion was then performed at the dentist office, followed by adenotonsillectomy by an ear, nose, and throat specialist and myofunctional rehabilitation with a speech pathologist for both patients. After treatment, results mimicked those reported during the continuous positive airway pressure trial, with substantially reduced apnea-hypopnea index of 0.9/h and 1.6/h. This case highlights the interdisciplinary nature of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea management and the need for all health care professionals to receive comprehensive sleep medicine training for proper diagnosis and treatment.