Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J A Benson

Publications and source records attributed to J A Benson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Ethics in cardiovascular medicine. Task Force IV: Scientific responsibility and integrity in medical research.

Ethical standards are a set of affirmative responsibilities to which the investigator must subscribe; behavior that is incompatible with these responsibilities should be presumed unethical, whether or not it is explicitly proscribed. This Task Force sought to present these standards as principles or guidelines. In undertaking research an investigator must accept that publicly funded or supported research is intended to yield public benefit; personal gain should be only incidental to and not at the expense of the public benefit. The responsibilities of the investigator are summarized as follows: Design of Research To develop a research design that effectively and efficiently addresses the scientific question while minimizing the likelihood of incorrect or misleading results. To protect the rights and welfare of human subjects, assure the humane use of laboratory animals and protect the safety of laboratory workers and the environment. Conduct of Research To ensure that accepted laboratory and research practices are followed and that all data are accurately collected and properly recorded; the investigator must participate in the review of original data. To carry out research in accordance with that approved by the institutional review board and ensure that fully informed consent is obtained, that the welfare of human subjects is protected and that animal welfare and laboratory safety procedures are carried out. To provide effective ongoing supervision of research trainees and technicians. In multidisciplinary collaborative research, to have at least an overview familiarity with the work outside his or her areas of expertise. In fixed protocol, multicenter collaborative research the investigator must be satisfied with the adequacy of the collaborative activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biomedical Research↗
PubMed1990

Performances of U.S. osteopathic and Canadian medical school graduates on the American Board of Internal Medicine Certifying Examinations, 1984-1988.

The performances of Canadian medical school graduates and U.S. osteopathic medical school graduates who first took the American Board of Internal Medicine Certifying Examination between 1984 and 1988 were compared with the performances, during the same period, of U.S. and foreign medical school graduates. Approximately 100 Canadian graduates took the examination each year; by 1988 the number of osteopathic graduates taking it was 102, double the number participating in 1984. Nearly all the Canadian graduates attended university or university-affiliated residencies, whereas half of the osteopathic graduates attended non-university-affiliated programs. For their overall clinical competence and for the eight components of clinical competence, the Canadian graduates were rated highest, followed by the U.S., osteopathic, and foreign graduates. The Canadians' average examination scores were also highest. The authors discuss the relatively low level of performance of the osteopathic graduates, but conclude that these graduates appear to be an untapped source of talented physicians for internal medicine residencies. The limitations of studying self-selected groups of candidates are also discussed.

Canada↗
PubMed1989

Trends in medical knowledge as assessed by the certifying examination in internal medicine.

The past decade has seen less competition for medical school positions accompanied by the declining interest of medical students in internal medicine. At the same time, the number of first postgraduate-year positions in internal medicine residencies has increased, as has the number of first-year residents who take those positions. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in the medical knowledge of internal medicine residents during the past 6 years. Comparison of performance on the items common to pairs of the certifying examinations of the American Board of Internal Medicine from 1983 to 1988 revealed that the scores of candidates in the reference group have declined, but not dramatically. This trend has occurred among candidates from the top residency programs as well as all other residency programs, and it is present in candidates of all levels of overall clinical competence. Continuing declines in this area could ultimately affect patient care.

Canada↗
PubMed1988

Bicuculline blocks the response to acetylcholine and nicotine but not to muscarine or GABA in isolated insect neuronal somata.

The isolated somata of neurons from the thoracic ganglia of the locust, Locusta migratoria, respond to pressure microapplication of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetylcholine. The acetylcholine receptors fall into two groups. ACh1 (activated by nicotine) and ACh2 (activated by muscarine). The GABA receptor and the ACh1 receptor differ in pharmacology from the known vertebrate receptors. The GABA receptor is insensitive to bicuculline and its salts up to a concentration of 10(-4) M. In contrast, bicuculline is a moderately potent, at least partially competitive antagonist of the ACh1 receptor-mediated response in the thoracic neuronal somata. These observations suggest that classical diagnostic compounds such as bicuculline may show greater cross-reactivity than hitherto suspected among the members of the superfamily of ligand-activated channels.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of clinical competence in rheumatology training programs.

To ensure that members of the public and the medical profession can identify physicians who have demonstrated excellence in the field of rheumatology, the American Board of Internal Medicine has called upon directors of rheumatology training programs to establish systems to evaluate, document, and substantiate those components of overall clinical competence that are considered essential for certification. Many of these abilities can be assessed only by repeated, direct observations.

Certification↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of clinical competence in cardiovascular disease.

The American Board of Internal Medicine has called on directors of cardiology training programs to establish systems to evaluate, document and substantiate those components of overall clinical competence considered essential for certification in the subspecialty. Many of these can be assessed only by repeated direct observations. In particular, proficiency is now required in advanced cardiac life support including cardioversion, electrocardiography (including ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring) and exercise testing, echocardiography, insertion of arterial lines and right heart catheterization (including insertion of temporary pacemakers). The goal of this expanded evaluation program is to ensure that the public and the profession can identify, through certification, physicians with demonstrated excellence in cardiovascular disease.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of clinical competence in pulmonary disease.

The American Board of Internal Medicine has called upon directors of pulmonary disease training programs to establish systems to evaluate, document, and substantiate those components of overall clinical competence considered essential for certification in the subspecialty. Many of these can be assessed only by repeated direct observations. In particular, proficiency is now required in endotracheal intubation, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, mechanical ventilatory support, thoracentesis and percutaneous pleural biopsy, percutaneous arterial puncture, vascular monitoring, calibration and operation of hemodynamic recording systems, and supervision of the technical aspects of pulmonary function testing. The goal of this expanded evaluation program is to ensure that the public and the profession can identify through certification, physicians with demonstrated excellence in the practice of pulmonology.

Certification↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of clinical competence in medical oncology training programs.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has asked that directors of medical oncology training programs establish systems to evaluate, document, and substantiate the clinical competence of subspecialty trainees who seek certification. The Board defines the certificable medical oncologist at the completion of training as being competent to provide comprehensive and specialized medical care based on a high standard of demonstrated component skills. These skills clearly exceed those demonstrated by the certified internist. The goal of this expanded evaluation program is to ensure that the public and the profession can identify, through certification, physicians capable of providing a high standard of medical care.

Certification↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of clinical competence in hematology training programs.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has called on directors of hematology training programs to establish systems to evaluate, document, and substantiate those components of overall clinical competence considered essential for certification in the subspecialty. Many of these can be assessed only by repeated direct observations. In particular, proficiency is now required in the preparation of blood smears, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, administration of chemotherapy, management of indwelling vascular access, lumbar puncture with chemotherapy, bleeding time, phlebotomy, and exchange transfusion. The goal of this expanded evaluation program is to ensure that the public and the profession can identify, through certification, physicians with demonstrated excellence in hematology.

Certification↗
PubMed1987

Responses to GABA by isolated insect neuronal somata: pharmacology and modulation by a benzodiazepine and a barbiturate.

Mechanically dissociated neuronal somata from the thoracic ganglia of Locusta migratoria and Schistocerca gregaria were viable in vitro for hours and were current- and voltage-clamped to record the responses evoked by brief pressure applications of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the presence of various modulators. The application of GABA and muscimol, but not baclofen, produced a hyperpolarization and concurrent increase in the membrane conductance. The current underlying this response reversed at -65 mV, was evoked in all cells tested and showed outward rectification. In 6 of 74 Locusta neurones but not in the neurones of Schistocerca, GABA and muscimol evoked a biphasic response. The initial, fast phase was indistinguishable from the GABA-evoked current seen in all neurones. The remaining predominant, slow and long-duration component of the response was an inward current over the membrane potential range 0 to -80 mV, increasing with hyperpolarization. The GABAA antagonists bicuculline and pitrazepin were without effect on the fast GABA response while picrotoxin was a potent blocker of both the fast and the slow GABA responses. Flunitrazepam enhanced the amplitude of the fast response by up to 70% without increasing its duration. Sodium pentobarbital enhanced both the amplitude and the duration of the fast GABA response. We conclude that the locust thoracic neuronal GABA receptor/channel complex resembles the vertebrate GABAA receptor in having associated modulatory receptor sites for benzodiazepines and barbiturates, but differs from it in terms of the pharmacology of the GABA receptor itself.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Ratings of residents' clinical competence and performance on certification examination.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) requires directors of internal medicine residency programs to rate their residents in overall clinical competence and its essential components. In the study reported here, the authors investigated the relationships among these ratings and compared them with the residents' performance on the ABIM's certification examination in the years 1980 through 1985. The ratings of the individual components of clinical competence were correlated moderately with examination performance and very highly with each other. The individual components that were less dependent on medical knowledge (for example, interpersonal skills or humanism) had slightly smaller correlations with examination performance. The ratings of overall clinical competence were also related moderately to examination performance. Changes in the pattern of the ratings over time indicated that fewer candidates were receiving lower ratings while more were receiving higher ratings. The pass rates for each rating level were the same or lower; for example, the pass rate for candidates rated 5 was 68 percent in 1980 and 56 percent in 1985. The similar ranking of examinees by the program directors and the examination provides evidence for the validity of the examination.

Certification↗