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Biomedical subjects

T T Kuske

Publications and source records attributed to T T Kuske.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Relationships of interns' performances to their self-assessments of their preparedness for internship and to their academic performances in medical school.

This study addressed the questions of whether medical students' cumulative grade-point averages (GPAs) correlate with the performance assessments (overall and in specific areas of competency) that they receive as interns from their internship program directors, and whether the students' self-assessments of preparedness for internship correlate with their internship directors' overall assessments. A questionnaire to assess interns' competencies was developed and sent to the directors of the internship programs of the 283 1990 and 1991 graduates of the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine who consented to participate in the study (82% of the graduates). Eighty percent of the program directors responded. A similar questionnaire was sent to all 342 of the 1990 and 1991 graduates; 38% provided self-assessments of their competencies and also stated their views on how well prepared they were for their internships. Considering the classes as a group, the mean ratings of the interns' overall competencies by the program directors ranged from 3.7 to 4.3 on a five-point Likert scale (1, unsatisfactory, to 5, outstanding), whereas the interns' ratings of how well they were prepared for their internships (that is, their sense of overall competency) were somewhat lower, ranging from 3.4 to 4.0. The correlations of GPAs with the specific areas of competencies ranged from .28 to .51. The correlation between the mean ratings of the program directors and the mean self-ratings of the interns was .58. The data support the conclusions that medical school academic performance relates significantly to performance in internship and that interns do not rate themselves as highly as their program directors do.

Achievement↗
PubMed1992

Vitamin A in hypercholesterolemia.

This study evaluated the relationship between plasma vitamin A and cholesterol in 48 patients with hypercholesterolemia studied before and after treatment with a cholesterol-lowering diet, with or without lipid-lowering medication. Plasma vitamin A levels were higher in hypercholesterolemic subjects than in healthy controls (2.58 +/- 0.15 vs. 1.82 +/- 0.14 mmol/L, p = 0.025) despite similar values for retinol binding protein (RBP). Successful cholesterol lowering, defined as greater than 25% reduction in low density lipoprotein cholesterol, was achieved in 16 patients. In this subset, plasma vitamin A declined from 3.00 +/- 0.32 (pretreatment) to 2.34 +/- 0.15 mmol/L (post treatment; p = 0.018). A nonsignificant increase in RBP was observed, resulting in a significant decrease in the molar ratio of vitamin A to RBP (1.05 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.05, p = 0.013). These data suggest an interaction between vitamin A and cholesterol that is independent of the transport mechanisms for vitamin A in association with chylomicrons (post absorptive) and with RBP. Further examinations of the form or forms of vitamin A (retinol, retinyl ester), its distribution within the plasma lipoproteins, and the mechanisms of origin and removal are warranted to explain these findings.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed1991

The effect of cardiac catheterization on fasting lipids.

Fasting lipid profiles were measured in 20 selected patients the day of and after cardiac catheterization in EDTA tubes. Samples were randomly labelled A or B, centrifuged, and stored at 3 degrees Centigrade. Lipid profiles were analyzed by a laboratory, which was participating in the Center for Disease Control Lipid Standardization Program, by using standard methods. The coefficients of variation for repeated measurements were: cholesterol = 1.9%, triglycerides = 3.6%, HDL cholesterol = 4.3%, and VLDL and LDL cholesterol = 2.6%. Data were evaluated by a two-tailed paired t-test and correlation coefficient. The total cholesterol was significantly lower (P less than .001) the day after cardiac catheterization as was the LDL cholesterol (P less than .002). Both VLDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were lower, but these were not statistically significant. The mean dose of heparin was 3500 +/- 1469 units, and the mean dose of contrast was 181 +/- 30 cc. The total dose of heparin or contrast did not correlate with any change in lipid profiles. These results have implications on the number and timing of venous blood sampling for lipid measurements in regard to diagnosis and treatment of hyperlipidemia. Lipid profiles should not be drawn after cardiac catheterization but rather before and/or in the free-living state.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Why, what, and how to implement reduction of cardiovascular risk factors by diet.

Dietary factors ingested in excess, deficient, or in imbalance have been implicated in the etiology, and corrected in the management of cardiovascular diseases, namely atherosclerosis and hypertension. Dietary factors include: calories; fats; cholesterol and other sterols; complex and simple carbohydrates; animal and vegetable protein; alcohol; and minerals. Atherogenesis from diets high in total and saturated fat and cholesterol may relate to increases in plasma total, low- or very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides, or decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol, or altered apolipoproteins. A variety of dietary manipulations can influence these lipid and lipoprotein levels and thereby reduce cardiovascular risk. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in the population vary with age, gender, and race; cardiovascular risk is increased when cholesterol levels exceed the 75th or 90th percentile for healthy men and women for age. Abnormally high levels of plasma cholesterol or triglycerides in different lipoprotein carriers comprise the various hyperlipoproteinemias. The clinical presentations and dietary management of elevated LDL cholesterol, and/or VLDL/ and/or chylomicron triglycerides, or increased intermediate density lipoproteins are reviewed and discussed. Attention should be paid to family screening, and hyperlipidemias secondary to diseases or medication should be considered. Dietary counseling and management is advised for children at risk of hyperlipidemia and for adult patients up to 70 years of age. If lipids and lipoproteins are not normalized, then lipid-lowering drug therapy should be considered in adults. For control of hypertension, attention should be paid to calories and alcohol, and to calcium, potassium, and sodium.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1987

Hyperlipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis risk, and dietary management.

There is new impetus for dietary intervention in response to the recent data relating levels of circulating lipids and lipoproteins to atherosclerosis risk. Certain levels of cholesterol, stratified for age and sex, are associated with "moderate" and "high" risk of atherosclerosis. Knowing the relationship of diet to lipid levels and lipid transport by the various lipoproteins enables the appropriate diagnosis and management. Dietary measures include attention to the level of calories and fat, the type of fat, cholesterol content, source of protein, the type of carbohydrate and fiber, and the level of alcohol intake. Lipid (cholesterol) screening at intervals is recommended for all adults and for children at special risk of hyperlipidemia.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1985

Curriculum change in the 1980s. A report of 40 southern US medical schools.

Forty southern medical schools were surveyed to evaluate the nature and mechanisms of curricular change during 1980 to 1983. Ninety percent of schools experienced change in some aspect of curriculum. Faculty, curriculum committees, the dean, and external forces were stimuli for change. Internal self-review or self-criticism seemed to be the most important reasons for change. Proposals were considered by curriculum committees and the dean, but veto power often rested with the dean, although departmental chairmen and faculty occasionally had veto power. Types of change were divided equally between content, timing of courses, and the educational process. Half the schools stated that they had evaluated the changes or planned to do so. Thirteen of 38 changes in curriculum were in the direction of curricular innovations of the 1960s and 1970s and 25 were in the opposite direction.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1985

A foreign medical school transfer program: student performance and career choices.

U.S. medical students who have been unable to gain acceptance into medical schools have long sought alternative pathways into American medical practice. The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) has had a transfer program since 1977 to facilitate entry of Georgia Transfer students into the third-year clinical rotations. After completing a remedial program of three to five months, transfer students have entered the third year and performed similarly to regular MCG students. Evaluation of 31 students who have graduated and for whom data are available shows no significant difference in performance when compared to other MCG students in terms of clinical grade point averages and NBME Part 2 scores. These students were also similar to their MCG peers in the number entering residencies within the state.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1978

Commercial national board review programs. A case study at the Medical College of Georgia.

For a long period, students have been taking national board examination review programs offered by commercial firms. The one question to which faculty and students would like the answer is, "Do the national board review programs offered by these commercial firms do any good?" Events at the Medical College of Georgia have provided an opportunity to gather data toward an answer to this question. In 1976, thirty-three medical students at the Medical College of Georgia enrolled in a commercial national board review program. Performance of these students was compared with the predicted performance of these students had they not taken the national board review program. The results suggest that the commercial review program did not notably help these students.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed1971

Glycosphingolipids in the spleen of developing rats.

Splenic cholesterol, and glucosyl, lactosyl, trihexosyl, and sialyl lactosyl ceramides were studied in developing normal rats from birth to 96 days of age. Total lipid, extracted from pooled organs for each age group in the study, were subjected to mild alkaline hydrolysis and separated into purified glycolipid fractions in high yield, by a series of silicic acid column and thin-layer chromatographic procedures. Enzymatic and colorimetric methods were applied to quantitative analysis of each splenic glycosphingolipid fraction, and the fatty acids were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Glycosphingolipid content in the total spleen increased over the period of the study. The most rapid increase occurred during the third and fourth weeks. There was also a 2.5-fold change in the concentration (per gram of tissue) of glucosyl and sialyl lactosyl ceramides, the principal glycosphingolipids of rat spleen. In contrast, cholesterol concentration increased only slightly. A precisely equimolar ratio of glucosyl and sialyl lactosyl ceramide was observed throughout all stages of splenic development. Fatty acid compositions of these two lipid fractions were always significantly different.

Aging↗