The effect of exercise on myocardial interstitium. An ultrastructural morphometric study

Virtual reality simulator and ex vivo animal models are used for training of both basic and advanced endoscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to assess whether hands-on training on ex vivo animal model improves endoscopic skills. Four different endoscopic techniques were practiced: endoscopic resection, endoscopic stenting, application of the over-the-scope (OVESCO) clip, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Except for 2 participants, all trainees participated in a 1-day course. Two remaining participants took part in 7 ESD courses. All training courses consisted of theoretical introduction and a 6-hour training on Erlangen Active Training Simulator. The endoscopic skills were assessed before and after the training session by 2 independent assessors. Each assessor evaluated the skills by using a score on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 stands for excellent and 5 for insufficient. Each assessor also assessed whether the procedure was successfully completed. The main outcome measurement was the percentage of participants who successfully completed the procedure during the test. For endoscopic resection, endoscopists (n = 15) improved their skills (median [10th and 90th percentiles] score before training, 3.5 [2.7-4.2]; after training 1.5 [1-2.3], P < 0.001). Seven procedures were assessed as successful before the course (47%); after the training, 13 procedures were assessed as successful (87%) (P = 0.02). For stenting, participants (n = 15) significantly improved their abilities to place both self-expandible metallic and plastic stents. For OVESCO clip (n = 10), participants (n = 10) improved their skills to prepare and apply the clip (given the score of 4.5 [3.9-5] before and 2.0 [1.2-2.8] after, P < 0.01). Before the training, only 1 clip application had been successful (10%), whereas the number rose to 9 after the course (90%). For endoscopic submucosal dissection (n = 10), eight participants of the 1-day course did not improve their competences (with scores of 4.2 [3.8-5] before and 4.0 [3.1-4.8] after, nonsignificant). Two participants who had undertaken 7 ESD courses improved their skills (with scores of 4 before and 1.6 after); given the small number of participants, this finding is statistically insignificant. The effect of training on clinical outcome was not investigated. There was a lack of pretraining versus posttraining tests blinding. A 1-day training course on ex vivo animal model improves general endoscopic competence on simulator in endoscopic resection, insertion of stents, and application of OVESCO clips. In contrast, 1-day course does not improve skills for ESD that requires a higher number of training courses.

An international survey of applied face-matching training courses

The structural approach to studying the mechanism of accommodation and its age-related changes focuses on analyzing morphometric parameters (size, shape, and position) of the crystalline lens as the key element responsible for changes in clinical refraction during accommodation. The latest-generation swept-source (SS) anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) device CASIA2 (Tomey, Japan) enables near-screening evaluation of lens shape and position both at baseline and under accommodative stimulus. In the latter case, the integrated optical system provides lens-induced accommodative stress directly in the examined eye. This study aimed to evaluate age-related changes in various morphometric parameters of the lens measured by CASIA2 OCT under accommodative stimulus. The study cohort comprised 74 healthy volunteers (123 eyes, i.e., clinical observations) aged 20-85 years. The exclusion criteria were clinically significant refractive errors and ocular diseases. Three groups were formed according to age: 20-30 years, 31-50 years, and >51 years (43, 33, and 47 clinical observations, respectively). Scanning was performed under conditions of relative accommodative rest and during accommodative stimulus. In the latter case, a lens-induced method of accommodative stimulus was used, employing a -5.0 D negative spherical lens and a fixation target in the form of a radial figure integrated into the optical system of the CASIA2 OCT device. Analysis of the entire cohort (n=123) revealed significant changes in morphometric parameters of the lens under accommodative stimulus, including a decrease in the radius of curvature of the anterior (p=0.003) and posterior (p=0.045) lens surfaces, an increase in lens thickness (p=0.011) and nuclear thickness (p=0.007), as well as a reduction in lens diameter (p=0.026) and anterior chamber depth (p=0.033). The radius of curvature of the anterior lens surface under relative accommodative rest in Group 1 (20-30 years) was significantly higher (p=0.00) than in Groups 2 (31-50 years) and 3 (>51 years), with median values of 11.62, 9.47, and 9.25 mm, respectively. The magnitude of changes in lens curvature radius significantly decreased with increasing age for both the anterior and posterior surfaces. Baseline lens thickness and nuclear thickness increased significantly with age and also demonstrated an increase under accommodative stimulus across all age groups. A statistically significant correlation with age was found for the radius of curvature of the anterior surface (r=-0.371; p=0.00) and the posterior surface (r=-0.224; p=0.013), as well as for lens thickness (r=0.268; p=0.003). Anterior segment OCT using the CASIA2 system is a highly informative method for assessing morphometric parameters of the crystalline lens under conditions of relative accommodative rest and lens-induced accommodative stress. Under accommodative stress, statistically significant changes included a decrease in the radius of curvature of the anterior and posterior lens surfaces, an increase in lens thickness and nuclear thickness, and a decrease in lens diameter and anterior chamber depth. Analysis of the magnitude of changes induced by accommodative stimulus and their correlation with age demonstrated statistically significant negative associations between age and the radius of curvature of the anterior and posterior lens surfaces, and a positive association with lens thickness.

BackgroundAn increasing number of medical undergraduates are participating in research training. However, little is known about the benefits and challenges of undergraduate research training and how to optimize the training process. This study investigated the effects of medical undergraduates’ engagement in research training on their research skills, academic performance, and stress level.MethodsA single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at Central South University to collect data on research training from 123 medical undergraduates using structured questionnaires. The quantitative measures included assessments of research skills, medical English test scores, grade point averages and stress scores among undergraduates with or without research training. The effects of the weekly training duration and mentorship quality on these indicators were further explored.ResultsCompared with the untrained group, the medical undergraduates in the trained group had higher scores on scientific literature reading, research data analysis, scientific paper writing, and the medical English test scores, with no significant differences in grade point average or stress scores. Among the trained undergraduates, those with ≥ 10 training hours per week had higher scores on scientific literature reading, research data analysis and scientific paper writing. Weekly training hours were positively correlated with the scores on scientific literature reading, research data analysis, scientific paper writing and stress. Undergraduates rating mentorship quality ≥ 7 points presented better scores on scientific literature reading, research data analysis and scientific paper writing.ConclusionsThe participation of medical undergraduates in research training improves their research skills without adversely affecting their academic performance. A longer weekly training duration and better mentorship quality can further enhance the research skills of undergraduates, but their mental health, including their stress level, should be carefully monitored.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07809-0.

The Validation Method (VM) is a specific communication method for older people with dementia. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of an introductory training course on the Bases of the Validation Method (BVM) on job satisfaction and motivation in healthcare professionals working in nursing homes (NHs) and its influence on self-efficacy, perceived personal competence, organizational commitment, attitudes toward dementia and burnout. A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (September 2020–February 2021). Participants were divided into two groups: experimental group (who did 16 hours of training on BVM), and a control group (no intervention). Assessments were made at baseline, one week and 4 months after starting the intervention through validated questionnaires to assess job satisfaction, work motivation, self-efficacy, perceived competence, organizational commitment, attitudes toward people with dementia and burnout. A paired Student’s t-test was used to check intragroup differences, and unpaired Student’s test and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model were used to assess the impact of the intervention; Hedges’g was used to determine the effect size. The sample consisted of 31 NH professionals, assigned to an experimental group (n = 11) or a control group (n = 20). The BVM training had a positive moderate effect size on job satisfaction, work motivation, self-efficacy, perceived competence and organizational commitment (Hedges’g > 0.30). In contrast, there was a smaller effect on attitudes toward people with dementia (Hedges’g = –0.21), and a moderate negative effect on burnout (Hedges’g = –0.38). BVM training had a positive moderate effect on all variables 4 months after finishing training, except for attitudes toward dementia, for which the effect size was smaller.

The Italian legislation concerning professional training and information for workers, arising from the State Regions agreement n.221 fo 12/21/, does not seem totally suitable to verify how many and which skills the workers have actuallyacquired. Our work aims to draw attention to the opportunity to review and reform the training paths, through the identification of critical points, such as deficiencies and redundancies, and reports of new opportunities, in the proactive direction of a new methodology for designing courses in professional training, aimed at raising its efficiency and effectiveness,resulting from the improvement of knowledge and practical skills acquired by learners. A potential critical factor, capableof degrading the primary function of a professional training course, seems to be correlated to the excessive number of frontal training hours, dictated by the ATECO membership code, since they often end up teaching theoretical contents, oftennot related to the sector they belong to, without assessing the “know-how” of workers, but only “knowing”. The adoptionof teaching methods that actively involve workers, through group work techniques, in situ simulations, practical exercisesof machines and work equipment, could lead to overcoming passive participation, raising learning skills. The proposal ofcourses with theoretical and practical verification by institutional bodies and the drafting of a “skills book”, which certifieswhat the workers have learned in the courses, making it easily demonstrable in case of an inspection, could facilitate thefunction of the Supervisory Authorities, favouring a control oriented on the content rather than formal aspects

In honey bees, continuous foraging is accompanied by a sustained up-regulation of the immediate early gene Egr-1 (early growth response protein-1) and candidate downstream genes involved in learning and memory. Here, we present a series of feeder training experiments indicating that Egr-1 expression is highly correlated with the time and duration of training even in the absence of the food reward. Foragers that were trained to visit a feeder over the whole day and then collected on a day without food presentation showed Egr-1 up-regulation over the whole day with a peak expression around 14:00. When exposed to a time-restricted feeder presentation, either 2 h in the morning or 2 h in the evening, Egr-1 expression in the brain was up-regulated only during the hours of training. Foragers that visited a feeder in the morning as well as in the evening showed two peaks of Egr-1 expression. Finally, when we prevented time-trained foragers from leaving the colony using artificial rain, Egr-1 expression in the brains was still slightly but significantly up-regulated around the time of feeder training. In situ hybridization studies showed that active foraging and time-training induced Egr-1 up-regulation occurred in the same brain areas, preferentially the small Kenyon cells of the mushroom bodies and the antennal and optic lobes. Based on these findings we propose that foraging induced Egr-1 expression can get regulated by the circadian clock after time-training over several days and Egr-1 is a candidate transcription factor involved in molecular processes underlying time-memory.

Spaced learning has been shown to be superior in complex motor skill acquisition like laparoscopic suturing and knot tying. By using a pre-post follow-up design, the aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term impact of implementation of the spaced learning concept in laparoscopic training. To evaluate the effectiveness of spaced learning, subjects were asked to perform four surgeon's square knots on a bowel model within 30 minutes-prior and after 3 hours of hands-on training. To examine the long-term skills, the same students were asked to perform a comparable, but more complex, task (four slip knots in a model of esophageal atresia) 12 months later as follow-up measurement. Total time, knot stability (evaluated via tensiometer), suture accuracy, knot quality (Muresan scale), and laparoscopic performance (Munz checklist) were assessed. Moreover, motivation was accessed using Questionnaire on Current Motivation. Twenty students were included in the study; after simple randomization, 10 were trained using the "spaced learning" concept and 10 via traditional methods. Both groups had comparable baseline characteristics and improved after training significantly, regarding all aspects assessed in this study. Subjects that trained via spaced learning were superior in terms of speed (p = 0.021), knot quality (p = 0.008), and suture strength (p = 0.003). Additionally, spaced learning significantly decreased anxiety (p = 0.029) and probability of success (p = 0.005). The spaced learning concept is very suitable for long-term complex motor skill acquisition, like laparoscopic suturing and knot tying. It is superior to conventional training regarding speed and, most importantly, knot quality and stability, resulting in improved confidence and motivation. Thus, we strongly recommend to incorporate the spaced learning concept into training courses and surgical programs.

The effect of language training on immigrants’ integration: Does the duration of training matter?

there are few studies about the professional Motorcycle. the aim of this work is to analyze the training habits of 18 female motorcyclists of international level and to know the history about the practice of sport, the medical history of injuries and their ailments. data collection was performed using a 20-item instrument designed for women riders. It was collected about age, performance level of motor sport, frequency, duration and type of training, injuries and muscle pain. the results show that despite a few hours of training, the riders conceived that they have a normal or even a good physical condition. Particularly striking are the absence of mental or tactical training and the lack of medical checks and reviews. Positive correlations were found in the variables of pain. the motorcycling requires a specific, controlled and planned training and medical monitoring and dietetic through multidisciplinary team training.

Simulator training helps provide safe and cost-effective training for operators of modern forestry machines that require high motor skills, constant concentration, and proper planning. The aim of the study was to analyze the learning curves of the trainees in order to determine the period during which most development takes place. In this study, 11 trainees were trained on a John Deere harvester simulator for approximately 15 h each. In each case, a clear learning curve could be identified, despite high inter- and intra-person variability. Effective time showed a steady decrease during training, with a group minimum at the end of training (1.25 min). Crane tip distance per tree dropped rapidly in the first 3–4 h, followed by a more gradual decrease to reach a minimum of 23.8 m. Crane control showed a significant increase from an initial 0.63 to a maximum of 0.8 by the 9th hour of training. A number of crane functions used simultaneously increased more rapidly to almost a maximum value (1.8) already in the 5th hour. The individual curves for each trainee were highly variable, showing a wide range of values and shapes. In conclusion, most personal development occurs during the first phase of simulator training, which typically takes approximately 9–10 h. It is important to consider significant inter-personal variability and tailor the duration of simulator training to individual needs.

The state of the liver of one-month-old, three-month-old and six-month-old rats exposed to hypoxia during the embryonic period of intrauterine development was studied. It has been shown that prenatal hypoxia has a significant damaging effect on the liver, and the negative aspects of this factor can be traced in the later stages of ontogenesis. Histological study showed that in the liver of one-month-old experimental rats, hepatocyte hypertrophy, an increase in the size of their nuclei, and an increase in the number of binuclear hepatocytes were observed. In a comparative analysis of the data in the control and experimental groups of rats at the age of three months, no significant morphometric changes were observed. However, histological examination of the liver of three-month-old rats revealed small foci of extramedullary hematopoiesis in the parenchyma. Hemodynamic disturbances in the vessels of the liver were also determined. No significant changes in morphometric parameters were observed in the liver of the control and experimental groups of 6-month-old rats. However, melanomacrophage centers were found in the liver parenchyma, which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process. Despite the completion of the recovery processes in 6-month-old rats, the observed inflammatory processes and hemodynamic disturbances showed that prenatal hypoxia causes liver pathologies at later stages of ontogenesis. So, we can conclude that, under the influence of prenatal hypoxia, there are significant changes in the liver parenchyma, which affects the subsequent state of the body.

Weightlifting training requires a high level of physical preparation, and this concept became essential at all activity cycles. As the results of participation in competition are increasingly in demand, optimal work output can only be achieved in the presence of superior indices of special physical preparation. Physical training planning throughout the training period is particularly important, but especially at the initial stage. Thus, the forms of planning the physical preparation of beginner weightlifters in a weekly training microcycle are based on significant concepts and theoretical-practical approaches essential for the effective preparation of weightlifters at this stage. The planning of the physical preparation of beginner weightlifters in a weekly training microcycle is designated by the complexity of the development of the functional and motor capacities of an athlete and is carried out within a well systematized and organized training process, this process being represented by a set of theories, concepts, notions, methods, principles and legalities. Therefore, the process of planning the motor activity of weightlifting athletes at the early stage is represented by certain scenarios of training lessons, being developed depending on the main objectives of forming a strong functional base and requires permanent increase of efforts in order to achieve high sports results. The planning of physical training in a weekly training microcycle is reflected in: the number of training sessions per day (morning and afternoon training); the number of training sessions per week (total of 11 training sessions: for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday two training sessions (morning and afternoon) and for Saturday only the morning session. The total number of hours is represented by the 60 min ceiling for one hour of training (one astronomical hour) where the morning training constitutes 1.5 hours and the afternoon training constitutes 2.5 astronomical hours.In the structural architecture of the planning of the training process a significant role is played by the experimental didactic project of the training lesson. The didactic project contains in a detailed form the whole scheme of the programme of actions that are planned to be learned. This planning unit is also notable for the fact that the respective compartments also describe the method of action which influences the execution of the planned movements.In their content, the didactic projects of the training lessons preserve the essence of the instructional approach in order to form the motor skills and the set of previously acquired skills, mastered at the moment, and with a future perspective, giving the didactic project a system status, on the basis of which the multiannual training process is built.

Washington was the first state to require all licensed general medical and behavioral health care professionals (HCPs) to complete training in suicide assessment, management, and treatment. Results from pretest and posttest surveys of 873 HCPs participating in All Patients Safe, a 6-hour online training course, are presented. Improvements in knowledge and attitudes about suicide and confidence in treating at-risk individuals were observed, demonstrating the effectiveness of delivering large-scale training to HCPs to fulfill state requirements. Future work should examine the impact of training on clinical practices and the role of training in improving patient care.

На думку авторів статті, одним із можливих шляхів підвищення ефективності планування бойової підготовки (БП) та досягнення потрібного рівня навченості військових формувань є розроблення та запровадження в практику їх БП принципово нового нормативного документа – Комплексної програми бойової підготовки з’єднання (частини) (КПБП). На відміну від існуючих програм БП, КПБП має забезпечити можливість визначення оптимальної кількості навчальних годин та їх раціональний (оптимальний) розподіл між спеціалістами (підрозділами) та періодами підготовки для досягнення заданого рівня навченості з’єднання (частини) Збройних Сил України в цілому, а також його готовності до взаємодії з іншими військовими формуваннями сил оборони під час спільного виконання бойових завдань. Встановлено, що в існуючих методиках оцінювання ефективності БП військових формувань, у тому числі її планування, використовуються зовсім різні методи (шляхи, способи) дослідження процесу розподілу рівня їх навченості в часі. Як стверджують автори, на сьогодні відсутня загальна методологія комплексного вирішення подібних завдань. Враховуючи це, у статті викладено суть та основний зміст Математичної моделі визначення загального обсягу навчальних годин КПБП військового формування типу з’єднання (частина) будь-якого ступеня готовності. Ця модель є основою Методу визначення оптимальної кількості навчальних годин БП спеціалістів (підрозділів) військового формування типу з’єднання (частина) для досягнення заданого рівня їх навченості за критерієм мінімальних фінансових затрат (лінійний варіант оптимізації). Стаття є логічним продовженням попередніх публікацій даного напряму дослідження.