RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study explored how the Syrian crisis, training conditions, and relocation influenced the National Medical Examination (NME) scores of final-year medical students. METHODS: Results of the NME were used to denote the performance of final-year medical students between 2014 and 2021. The NME is a mandatory standardised test that measures the knowledge and competence of students in various clinical subjects. We categorised the data into two periods: period-I (2014-2018) and period-II (2019-2021). Period-I represents students who trained under hostile circumstances, which refer to the devastating effects of a decade-long Syrian crisis. Period-II represents post-hostilities phase, which is marked by a deepening economic crisis. RESULTS: Collected data included test scores for a total of 18 312 final-year medical students from nine medical schools (from six public and three private universities). NME scores improved significantly in period-II compared with period-I tests (p < 0.0001). Campus location or relocation during the crisis affected the results significantly, with higher scores from students of medical schools located in lower-risk regions compared with those from medical schools located in high-risk regions (p < 0.0001), both during and in the post-hostilities phases. Also, students of medical schools re-located to lesser-risk regions scored significantly less than those of medical schools located in high-risk regions (p < 0.0001), but their scores remained inferior to that of students of medical schools that were originally located in lower-risk regions (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Academic performance of final year medical students can be adversely affected by crises and conflicts, with a clear tendency to recovery upon crises resolution. The study underscores the importance of maintaining and safeguarding the infrastructure of educational institutions, especially during times of crisis. Governments and educational authorities should prioritise resource allocation to ensure that medical schools have access to essential services, learning resources, and teaching personnel.
Asunto(s)
Evaluación Educacional , Estudiantes de Medicina , Siria , Humanos , Evaluación Educacional/métodos , Evaluación Educacional/normas , Competencia Clínica/normas , Facultades de Medicina , Educación de Pregrado en Medicina , Educación MédicaRESUMEN
A 51-year-old female underwent emergency mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis with an undetermined mass which was attached to the anterior mitral leaflet. Histopathological testing of the excised specimen confirmed the diagnosis of rheumatic mitral disease in combination with a primary rhabdomyosarcoma. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with pazopanib hydrochloride was given. At 10 months of follow-up, repeated computed tomographic screening has not shown any signs of local recurrence or secondary metastases. The potential for the existence of primary rhabdomyosarcomas should be borne in mind when faced with undetermined masses on mitral leaflets, even in the presence of rheumatic disease.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Cardíacas , Neoplasias del Mediastino , Insuficiencia de la Válvula Mitral , Estenosis de la Válvula Mitral , Rabdomiosarcoma , Enfermedades Reumáticas , Cardiopatía Reumática , Neoplasias del Timo , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Válvula Mitral/cirugía , Insuficiencia de la Válvula Mitral/cirugía , Cardiopatía Reumática/cirugía , Estenosis de la Válvula Mitral/cirugía , Neoplasias Cardíacas/patología , Enfermedades Reumáticas/complicaciones , Rabdomiosarcoma/complicaciones , Rabdomiosarcoma/patología , Neoplasias del Mediastino/complicacionesRESUMEN
Acquired perforating dermatoses represent an uncommon group of chronic papulonodular dermatoses of unknown aetiology, characterized clinically by intense itching; and histopathologically by transepidermal elimination of dermal components. Definitive targeted pharmacological approaches are lacking, and the disease is usually refractory to therapy. We report here a case of rapid remission of acquired perforating dermatosis following simple thymectomy. If a role for the thymus in the pathogenesis of acquired perforating dermatoses was to be established, this could pave the way for a yet uncharted surgical therapy for these debilitating conditions.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de la Piel , Humanos , Enfermedades de la Piel/etiología , Enfermedades de la Piel/cirugía , Enfermedades de la Piel/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
This report supports the feasibility of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in thalassemic patients, and highlights the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the cause of pulmonary hypertension prior to determining the likelihood of surgical cure.