MedWorm: MCATs

New design platform for malonyl-CoA-acyl carrier protein transacylase

FEBS Letters — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Malonyl-CoA-acyl carrier protein transacylase (MCAT) transfers the malonyl group from malonyl-CoA to holo-acyl carrier protein (ACP), and since malonyl-ACP is a key building block for fatty-acid biosynthesis it is considered as a promising antibacterial target. The crystal structures of MCAT from Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae have been determined at 1.46 and 2.1Å resolution, respectively. In the SaMCAT structure, the N-terminal expression peptide of a neighboring molecule running in the opposite direction of malonyl-CoA makes extensive interactions with the highly conserved “Gly-Gln-Gly-Ser-Gln” stretch, suggesting a new design platform. Mutagenesis results suggest that Ser91 and His199 are the catalytic dyad. (Source: FEBS Letters)

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Strategies for Identifying Students at Risk for USMLE Step 1 Failure.

Famly Medicine — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Using internal and external predictors, it is possible to identify students at risk for failing Step 1 of the USMLE. PMID: 20135567 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Famly Medicine)

Doctor and Patient: Do You Have the ‘Right Stuff’ to Be a Doctor?

NYT > Health — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:50:13 +0100

Traits like extraversion and conscientiousness might be better predictors of who makes a good doctor than a high score on a standardized test. (Source: NYT > Health)

Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

ScanGrants feed — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Due date: Application must be postmarked by February 1, 2010. Letters of recommendation: Request two persons familiar with your academic work (or your premedical advisory committee) to submit letters of recommendation. Use of our confidential evaluation form is not required.Recommendations must be postmarked by March 1, 2010. The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine provides a wide variety of summer research opportunities for undergraduate students interested in careers in medicine or biomedical research. Participants in this program work in an active research laboratory under the guidance of a faculty member. The program is deliberately flexible, so that students may combine work with other educational experiences. The goal of the program is to expose students to the challenge...

Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of MCAT from Staphylococcus aureus

Acta Crystallographica Section F — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Malonyl-CoA:acyl-carrier protein transacylase (MCAT), encoded by the fabd gene, is a key enzyme in type II fatty-acid biosynthesis. It is responsible for transferring the malonyl group from malonyl-CoA to the holo acyl-carrier protein (ACP). Since the type II system differs from the type I system that mammals use, it has received enormous attention as a possible antibiotic target. In particular, only a single isoform of MCAT has been reported and a continuous coupled enzyme assay has been developed. MCAT from Staphylococcus aureus was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the protein was purified and crystallized. Diffraction data were collected to 1.2 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 41.608, b = 86.717, c = 43.163 Å, α = γ = 9...

Non-association between Neo-5 personality tests and multiple mini-interview

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:09:49 +0100

Abstract Most medical schools attempt to select applicants on the basis of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. Typically, interpersonal skills are assessed by interview, though relatively few applicants make it to interview. Thus, an efficient paper and pencil test of non-cognitive skills is needed. One possibility is personality tests. Tests of the five factor model of personality, and in particular the factor of conscientiousness, has proven effective in predicting future job performance. Can it serve as a screen for admissions interviews? In particular, correlation with the multiple mini-interviews (MMI) is of interest since the latter is a well validated test of non-cognitive skills. A total of 152 applicants to Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster comple...

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Pass–fail grading: laying the foundation for self-regulated learning

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:19:04 +0100

Abstract Traditionally, medical schools have tended to make assumptions that students will “automatically” engage in self-education effectively after graduation and subsequent training in residency and fellowships. In reality, the majority of medical graduates out in practice feel unprepared for learning on their own. Many medical schools are now adopting strategies and pedagogies to help students become self-regulating learners. Along with these changes in practices and pedagogy, many schools are eliminating a cornerstone of extrinsic motivation: discriminating grades. To study the effects of the switch from discriminating to pass–fail grading in the second year of medical school, we compared internal and external assessments and evaluations for a second-year class ...

11-year-olds 'selling mephedrone to younger pupils'

Telegraph Health — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:53:26 +0100

Schoolchildren as young as 11 are selling the potentially lethal drug mephedrone to fellow pupils, according to the mother of a young woman who died after taking another 'legal high'. (Source: Telegraph Health)

AspiringDocs.org Video Contest

ScanGrants feed — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Reveal the Doctor in You: What Motivates You to Increase Diversity in Medicine? Our world is becoming increasingly diverse, requiring a diverse physician workforce that can identify with the cultural needs of different patients. As an AspiringDoc--what motivates you to increase diversity in medicine? Submit a 2-minute video telling us your story and you could be one of 10 winners to receive $600 toward medical school preparation and application costs. Just think--your video camera could be the first tool in your doctor's bag. To enter: Record a video, no longer than 2 minutes, that answers the question: What motivates you to increase diversity in medicine? Upload your video to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/aamcvideo) Submit the URL for your video in the entry form below by midnight EST...

You Majored in What? And You're Going to Med School?

Psychology Today Work Center — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:34:04 +0100

In the world of linear career thinking we often take comfort in what we know to be "true." Pre-med students should major in biology, of course. Pre-law students should major in political science or economics. The problem is that the truth isn't nearly as obvious as it might seem. Or even true.While waiting to do a television interview about my book yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with a dentist who was waiting to do an interview about good and bad Halloween candy. (By the way did you know that pretzels and raisins can be worse for your teeth than candy? But I digress...) When he learned that my book was about chaos theory and the lack of connection between a college major and the subsequent career, he laughed. He told me that although he was a science major in college, he now ...

99 Best Blogs for Pre-Med Students

LPN to RN Blog — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:41:46 +0100

These blogs will give pre-med students the upper hand on medical knowledge, current events and health care answers. Recognized as a vital learning tool for pre-med students and patients alike, medical blogs are a must-read for education and entertainment. Whether you are applying to medical school, already enrolled or just have an affinity for medicine, these blogs will further your interest, make you laugh often and maybe even prompt you to write a blog of your own! Student Blogs All pre-med students have been in your shoes. They had to take the MCAT, apply to medical schools and make the grades to graduate. Reading helpful tips, residency stories and the ups and downs of med school will give you a better understanding of what to expect during those grueling, yet rewarding years. PreM.D....

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Do MCAT verbal and MCAT writing scores correlate with performance on a third-year OSCE?

Famly Medicine — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Stephens MB, Reamy BV PMID: 19816821 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Famly Medicine)

Removal of either N-glycan site from the envelope receptor binding domain of Moloney and Friend but not AKV mouse ecotropic gammaretroviruses alters receptor usage.

Virology — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Knoper RC, Ferrarone J, Yan Y, Lafont BA, Kozak CA Three N-linked glycosylation sites were removed from the envelope glycoproteins of Friend, Moloney, and AKV mouse ecotropic gammaretroviruses: gs1 and gs2, in the receptor binding domain; and gs8, in a region implicated in post-binding cell fusion. Mutants were tested for their ability to infect rodent cells expressing 4 CAT-1 receptor variants. Three mutants (Mo-gs1, Mo-gs2, and Fr-gs1) infect NIH 3T3 and rat XC cells, but are severely restricted in Mus dunni cells and Lec8, a Chinese hamster cell line susceptible to ecotropic virus. This restriction is reproduced in ferret cells expressing M. dunni dCAT-1, but not in cells expressing NIH 3T3 mCAT-1. Virus binding assays, pseudotype assays, and the use of glycosylation inhibi...

The influence of regional basic science campuses on medical students' choice of specialty and practice location: a historical cohort study

BMC Medical Education — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Attending a regional campus for preclinical training appears to increase the likelihood of practicing primary care medicine in local communities. (Source: BMC Medical Education)

Medical school curricula: do curricular approaches affect competence in medicine?

Famly Medicine — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Various formal curricular approaches have little differential effect on students' performance on the USMLE. PMID: 19492189 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Famly Medicine)

Supports and obstacles in the medical school application process for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: A conceptual framework that considers both supports and obstacles in the medical school application process will improve our understanding of the needs of AI/AN applicants. PMID: 19395832 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved)

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UCLA ranks 11th among U.S. medical schools in annual survey

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:01:15 +0100

The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA ranks 11th among the nation's research-based medical schools and 10th among primary care medical school programs, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual survey of the best graduate schools in the United States. The 2010 edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools" — slated to hit newsstands April 28 and currently available online at www.usnews.com/grad — is the most comprehensive listing of its kind, with more than 1,500 graduate school programs nationwide. In addition to its overall ranking, the Geffen School of Medicine also received high marks in a number of specialty training programs, ranking third in geriatrics, sixth in AIDS, eighth in drug and alcohol abuse programs, and ninth in women's health. "We are ...

Get Into Medical School

About.com Health Careers — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

If you have applied, or are planning to apply, to medical school, have you ever wondered how the schools select which students to accept? Many students meet the basic requirements of grades and MCAT scores, but you must have more than that to ensure your successful acceptance into medical school. (Source: About.com Health Careers)

Mcat

About.com Health Careers — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

MCAT - What is MCAT - Definition of MCAT (Source: About.com Health Careers)

Calif. court denies extra MCAT time for students with learning disabilities

American Medical News — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:16:52 +0100

Recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act may help address some concerns at issue in the case. (Source: American Medical News)

A Box-Cox normal model for response times.

The British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Entink RH, van der Linden WJ, Fox JP The log-transform has been a convenient choice in response time modelling on test items. However, motivated by a dataset of the Medical College Admission Test where the lognormal model violated the normality assumption, the possibilities of the broader class of Box-Cox transformations for response time modelling are investigated. After an introduction and an outline of a broader framework for analysing responses and response times simultaneously, the performance of a Box-Cox normal model for describing response times is investigated using simulation studies and a real data example. A transformation-invariant implementation of the deviance information criterium (DIC) is developed that allows for comparing model fit between models with differ...

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The mitochondrial theory of aging: Insight from transgenic and knockout mouse models.

Experimental Gerontology — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Jang YC, Remmen HV A substantial body of evidence has accumulated over the past 35 years in support of a role for oxidative damage to the mitochondrial respiratory chain and mitochondrial DNA in the determination of mammalian lifespan. The goal of this review is to provide a concise summary of recent studies using transgenic and knockout mouse models with altered expression of mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes (MnSOD (Sod2Tg and Sod2(+/-)), thioredoxin 2 (Trx2(+/-)), mitochondrial targeted catalase (mCAT) and mutant mice models that have been genetically manipulated to increase mitochondrial deletions or mutations (Polgamma(D257A/D257A) mutant mice) to examine the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in aging. The majority of studies using these strategies do not support a c...

VITO-2, a new SID domain protein, is expressed in the myogenic lineage during early mouse embryonic development.

Gene Expression Patterns : GEP — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mielcarek M, Piotrowska I, Schneider A, Günther S, Braun T MCAT elements and its cognate binding partners, the transcription enhancer factors (TEFs) play important roles in the regulation of expression of several muscle-specific genes. The biological effects of TEFs strongly depend on different co-factors, which might act as co-activators or anti-repressors to enable transcriptional activation of target genes by TEFs. Previously, we have cloned and characterized VITO-1, which acts as a skeletal muscle-specific transcriptional co-activator of TEFs. Here we describe the cloning and expression profile of a related gene, VITO-2 (also termed Vgl-3), which shares a high homology with VITO-1 in the SID domain responsible for interaction with TEFs. During early embryonic and feta...

Cloning, expression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of malonyl-CoA–acyl carrier protein transacylase (FabD) from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

Acta Crystallographica Section F — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes bacterial blight in rice, which is one of the most devastating diseases in rice-cultivating countries. The Xoo0880 (fabD) gene coding for a malonyl-CoA–acyl carrier protein transacylase (MCAT) from Xoo was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. MCAT is an essential enzyme that catalyzes a key reaction of fatty-acid synthesis in bacteria and plants: the conversion of malonyl-CoA to malonyl-acyl carrier protein. The FabD enzyme was purified and crystallized in order to elucidate its three-dimensional structure and to determine its enzymatic reaction mechanism and biological importance. The crystal obtained diffracted to 1.9 Å resolution and belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 41.4, b = 74.6, c = ...

Effect of the use of instructional anatomy videos on student performance

Anatomical Sciences Education — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The objective of this study is to describe the design, usage, and effect on examination performance of eight locally developed instructional anatomy videos. First-year UCSF medical students (n = 141) had access to the videos. They reported their video usage, reason for usage, and satisfaction. The prior year students (n = 141) served as a historical control group. Anatomy and radiology examination performance was compared between groups while controlling for prior performance. The students with and without access to the videos did not differ in examination performance. Sixty-one (43%) students in the experimental group responded to the survey. Of these, 79% reported using at least one video, viewing an average of 4.75 of the eight videos. They watched 3.27 (SD = 1.57, range 1-5) of the fiv...

Acceleration of Monte Carlo-based scatter compensation for cardiac SPECT.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sohlberg A, Watabe H, Iida H Single proton emission computed tomography (SPECT) images are degraded by photon scatter making scatter compensation essential for accurate reconstruction. Reconstruction-based scatter compensation with Monte Carlo (MC) modelling of scatter shows promise for accurate scatter correction, but it is normally hampered by long computation times. The aim of this work was to accelerate the MC-based scatter compensation using coarse grid and intermittent scatter modelling. The acceleration methods were compared to un-accelerated implementation using MC-simulated projection data of the mathematical cardiac torso (MCAT) phantom modelling (99m)Tc uptake and clinical myocardial perfusion studies. The results showed that when combined the acceleration methods r...

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Selective effects of 8-Br-cAMP on agonists and antagonists of the glucocorticoid receptor

Endocrine — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:16:29 +0100

Abstract RU486 has been reported to be a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and a progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist. We have analysed RU486 activity on the GR in WCL-2 (CHO) cells and in COS-7 cells transiently transfected with the mouse GR and with the reporter MMTVCAT (MCAT). These cell lines do not contain any active progesterone or androgen receptors. In both cell lines RU486 is a partial agonist of the GR with 10–15% of the activity of dexamethasone. As expected, RU486 is also a partial antagonist of the GR. Treatment of COS-7 cells with 8-Br-cAMP increases the agonist activity of both dexamethasone and RU486. This cAMP induced superactivation is seen with all steroids that have full or partial agonist activity. In contrast, the activities of ZK98.299 and R5020, which...

Aptitude, achievement and competence in medicine: a latent variable path model

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:13:14 +0100

Abstract To develop and test a latent variable path model of general achievement, aptitude for medicine and competence in medicine employing data from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), pre-medical undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and demographic characteristics for competence in pre-clinical and measures of competence (United States Licensure Examination {USMLE} Steps 1, 2, and 3). Data were gathered on 839,710 participants from 1991 to 2000 on demographic and school variables, UGPA, MCAT subtest scores and Steps 1, 2, and 3 of the United Stated Licensure Examination (USMLE). However, subsets of the total 839,710 participants included in the database were used for various analyses and the testing of a latent variable path model (LVPA). A number of pre...

Applying to Medical School: Preparing for the MCAT - Part 2 (NIH Only)

Videocast - All Events — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:30:00 +0100

Presented by: Dr. William Higgins, University of MarylandCategory: NIH OnlyAired date: 01/24/2008 (Source: Videocast - All Events)

[EDUCATION FORUM] ASSESSMENT: Application of Bloom's Taxonomy Debunks the MCAT Myth

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:14:51 +0100

Analyses of questions that evaluate critical thinking, from college placement and medical school admission examinations, suggest improvements to college teaching methods.Analyses of questions that evaluate critical thinking, from college placement and medical school admission examinations, suggest improvements to college teaching methods.Authors: Alex Y. Zheng, Janessa K. Lawhorn, Thomas Lumley, Scott Freeman (Source: Science: Current Issue)

Applying to Medical School: Preparing for the MCAT - Part I (NIH Only)

Videocast - All Events — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:19:00 +0100

Presented by: Dr. William Higgins, University of MarylandCategory: NIH OnlyAired date: 01/16/2008 (Source: Videocast - All Events)

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Role of receptor polymorphism and glycosylation in syncytium induction and host range variation of ecotropic mouse gammaretroviruses

Retrovirology — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Virus entry and virus-induced syncytium formation using the CAT-1 receptor are mediated by a small number of critical amino acid residues in receptor and virus Env. Virus entry is modulated by glycosylation of cellular proteins, and this effect is cell and virus-specific. (Source: Retrovirology)

Applying to Medical School: Preparing for the MCAT - Part 2 (NIH Only)

Videocast - All Events — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:05:00 +0100

Workshop Description: Strategies for attacking the different sections of the MCAT. How to study, Deciding what to study, Test Day!, Final preparations, “Do’s” and “Don’ts”, procedures. Presenter: Dr. William Higgins, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park and pre-professional adviserAir date: 1/24/2008 12:30:00 PM (Source: Videocast - All Events)

Applying to Medical School: Preparing for the MCAT - Part I (NIH Only)

Videocast - All Events — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:59:00 +0100

Workshop Description: Insights into the application process and application evaluation for medical school. How will your MCAT test score affect your likelihood of being accepted? When should you take the test? What is the test like: sections, content, types of questions? Presenter: Dr. William Higgins, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park and pre-professional adviserAir date: 1/16/2008 12:00:00 PM (Source: Videocast - All Events)

Analysis of factors that predict clinical performance in medical school

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:18:12 +0100

Abstract Academic achievement indices including GPAs and MCAT scores are used to predict the spectrum of medical student academic performance types. However, use of these measures ignores two changes influencing medical school admissions: student diversity and affirmative action, and an increased focus on communication skills. To determine if GPA and MCAT predict performance in medical school consistently across students, and whether either predicts clinical performance in clerkships. A path model was developed to examine relationships among indices of medical student performance during the first three years of medical school for five cohorts of medical students. A structural equation approach was used to calculate the coefficients hypothesized in the model for majority a...

Impact of preadmission variables on USMLE step 1 and step 2 performance

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:52:52 +0100

Conclusions The results have implications that could impact the selection of applicants to medical school and the neural networks that we developed could be used in a prospective manner. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s10459-007-9087-xAuthors James Kleshinski, The University of Toledo College of Medicine Department of Medicine Health Science Campus, Mail Stop 1186, 3000 Arlington Avenue Toledo OH 43614-2598 USASadik A. Khuder, The University of Toledo College of Medicine Department of Medicine Health Science Campus, Mail Stop 1186, 3000 Arlington Avenue Toledo OH 43614-2598 USAJoseph I. Shapiro, The University of Toledo College of Medicine Department of Medicine Health Science Campus, Mail Stop 1186, 3000 Arlington Avenue Toledo OH 43614-2598 USAJeff...

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Fast multislice mapping of the myelin water fraction using multicompartment analysis of T2* decay at 3T: a preliminary postmortem study.

Magnetic Resonance in Medicine — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, multicompartment analysis of T(2)(*) decay (MCAT(2)(*)) was used for the quantitative mapping of myelin water fraction (MWF). T(2)(*) decay of each voxel at multiple slice locations was acquired in fixed human brains using a multigradient-echo (MGRE) pulse sequence with alternating readout gradient polarities. Compared to prior techniques using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) acquisition, the MGRE acquisition approach has: 1) a very short first echo time ( approximately 2 ms) and echo-spacing ( approximately 1 ms), which allows for the acquisition of multiple sampling points during the fast decay of the myelin water signal; 2) a low RF duty cycle, which is especially important for achieving acceptable specific absorption rate (SAR) levels at high field strengths. Multicompa...

Record number vied for 2007-08 medical school slots

American Medical News — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:59:10 +0100

Among allopathic applicants, MCAT scores were better than ever before, with a mean of 28 points. (Source: American Medical News)

High Cancer-Specific Expression of Mesothelin (MSLN) Is Attributable to an Upstream Enhancer Containing a Transcription Enhancer Factor Dependent MCAT Motif

Cancer Research — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Identification of genes with cancer-specific overexpression offers the potential to efficiently discover cancer-specific activities in an unbiased manner. We apply this paradigm to study mesothelin (MSLN) overexpression, a nearly ubiquitous, diagnostically and therapeutically useful characteristic of pancreatic cancer. We identified an 18-bp upstream enhancer, termed CanScript, strongly activating transcription from an otherwise weak tissue-nonspecific promoter and operating selectively in cells having aberrantly elevated cancer-specific MSLN transcription. Introducing mutations into CanScript showed two functionally distinct sites: an Sp1-like site and an MCAT element. Gel retardation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed the MCAT element to be bound by transcription enhancer fa...

Dean Reece Delivers His First State of the School Address

University of Maryland School of Medicine News Headlines — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA gave his first State of the School address September 25 in front of a standing-room-only crowd in the MSTF auditorium. The theme was "Soaring to Greater Heights, Together." In his speech, the dean compared the School of Medicine to the majestic eagle, who will continue to fly in the face of all kinds of adversity, just as the school continues to succeed despite continuing challenges. After reviewing the highlights of his first year as dean of the School of Medicine, including special segments on bicentennial events and faculty accomplishments, Dean Reece got down to business. He was proud to reveal that in spite of NIH cutbacks and other funding challenges, grants to the School of Medicine increased 6.2 percent in FY07, to $344 million. &nb...

A validity generalization perspective on the ability of undergraduate GPA and the medical college admission test to predict important outcomes.

Teaching and Learning in Medicine — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:21:51 +0100

CONCLUSION: A validity generalization perspective of the literature supports the use of MCAT and undergraduate GPA for selection to medical school. PMID: 17564535 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Teaching and Learning in Medicine)

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Moderate anxiety, whether acute or chronic, is not associated with ovarian suppression in healthy, well-nourished, Western women

American Journal of Physical Anthropology — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100

We present a two-part study of the relationship between moderate anxiety, both acute and chronic, and daily measures of ovarian steroid and corticosteroid levels in saliva. Anxiety, as a particular form of psychosocial stress, was measured by the Spielberger Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory as well as by a self-reported daily stress score. In the first part, 23 college juniors taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) were studied the month before and the month after the test, and again several months later, and compared at the same time points with 27 controls. In the second part, chronic anxiety levels were assessed in 95 women between 27 and 41 years of age and analyzed in relation to daily levels of salivary ovarian and corticosteroids over one menstrual cycle. The sample sizes ar...

A Validity Generalization Perspective on the Ability of Undergraduate GPA and the Medical College Admission Test to Predict Important Outcomes

Teaching and Learning in Medicine — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:30:59 +0100

Teaching and Learning in Medicine Volume 19, Issue 2, Page 95-100, Apr 2007. (Source: Teaching and Learning in Medicine)

[ARTICLES] Malonyl-CoA: acyl carrier protein transacylase from Helicobacter pylori: Crystal structure and its interaction with acyl carrier protein

Protein Science — Thu, 24 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, the crystal structure of MCAT from Helicobacter pylori (Hp) at 2.5 Å resolution is reported, and the interaction of HpMCAT with HpACP is extensively investigated by using computational docking, GST-pull-down, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology-based assays. The crystal structure results reveal that HpMCAT has a compact folding composed of a large subdomain with a similar core as in /ß hydrolases, and a similar ferredoxin-like small subdomain as in acylphosphatases. The docking result suggests two positively charged areas near the entrance of the active site of HpMCAT as the ACP-binding region. Binding assay research shows that HpMCAT demonstrates a moderately binding ability against HpACP. The solved 3D structure of HpMCAT is expected to supply useful...

A recessive genetic screen for host factors required for retroviral infection in a library of insertionally mutated Blm-/- ES cells

Genome Biology — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This recessive genetic approach for identifying critical genes required for retroviral infection in ES cells demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of the screen, and provides a unique approach to recover other cellular factors required for retroviral infection. The resulting insertionally mutated Blm-deficient ES cell library might also provide access to essential host-cell components required for infection and replication of other types of virus. (Source: Genome Biology)

Ligand presentation on a synthetic flexible hinge in Moloney murine leukemia virus SU supports entry via a heterologous receptor.

Virology — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bahrami S, Duch M, Pedersen FS The envelope protein of Moloney murine leukemia virus mediates entry into mCAT-expressing cells. Attempts to change its receptor usage through the insertion of ligands at various sites have been met with varying success. We have tested several sites in Env for insertion of apelin, a small peptide ligand of the G-protein-coupled receptor APJ. Although most of the chimeric envelopes had retained their ability to infect mouse cells none showed APJ-dependent entry. Insertion of a peptide linker Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly at either side of the apelin motif in one of the chimeric envelopes resulted in an ability of the chimeric envelope to bind to and infect cells through APJ although with low efficiency. Several linker sequences isolated by library selection...

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The Predictive Validity of the MCAT for Medical School Performance and Medical Board Licensing Examinations: A Meta-Analysis of the Published Research.

ACADEMIC MEDICINE — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:20:02 +0100

(Source: ACADEMIC MEDICINE)

JAMA Highlights the School of Medicine's Bicentennial

University of Maryland School of Medicine News Headlines — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0100

(Reprinted from JAMA, January 3, 2007—Vol 297) By Lynne Lamberg In early December 1807, a mob opposed to dissection of human bodies razed the building where Baltimore surgeon John B. Davidge, MD, was teaching anatomy to aspiring physicians. The crowd carried off the cadaver. Outrage over the rampage spurred introduction of a resolution in the Maryland General Assembly to establish a medical college in Baltimore. At the time, Maryland had fewer than 50 medically trained physicians. Delegates swiftly approved the bill. On December 18, 1807, the Assembly chartered the College of Medicine of Maryland, now the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the nation’s first public medical school. Only four existing US medical schools are older: those at the University of Pennsylvania ...

Ruling: MCAT must adapt for learning disabled

American Medical News - PROFESSION — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:48:02 +0100

Students who sued say the California decision could move other testing agencies to provide similar arrangements. The AAMC plans to appeal. (Source: American Medical News - PROFESSION)

[Molecular Basis Of Cell and Developmental Biology] Transcription Enhancer Factor-1-dependent Expression of the {alpha}-Tropomyosin Gene in the Three Muscle Cell Types

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0100

This study represents the first analysis of the transcriptional regulation of the -Tm gene in vivo and highlights a common TEF-1-dependent regulatory mechanism necessary for expression of the gene in the three muscle lineages. (Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry)

The Inner Life of the Cell

Medgadget — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:12:28 +0100

Here's some fantastic animation by XVIVO, LLC, a Connecticut based scientific visualization company. Developed for Harvard's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, to illustrate "a three-dimensional journey through the microscopic world of a cell", the animation was recently featured at Siggraph 2006 expo. This seems to be a collection of clips to illustrate a larger set of work, which we hope will help Harvard students do better than they have on their MCATs in the coming years. Many more animations can be viewed on company's website... UPDATE: XVIVO also offers a first-person shooter game designed to promote Genentech's Avastin, an anti-angiogenic agent approved for the treatment of cancer of the colon or rectum.... (Source: Medgadget)

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A Commentary on the Use of Cut-Scores to Increase the Emphasis of Non-Cognitive Variables in Medical School Admissions

Advances in Health Sciences Education — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:24:55 +0100

Abstract The academic performance consequences of relying solely on non-cognitive factors for selecting applicants above a GPA and MCAT threshold have not been fully considered in the literature. This commentary considers the impact of using a “threshold approach” on academic performance as assessed with the USMLE Step 1. Content TypeJournal Article JournalAdvances in Health Sciences EducationOnline ISSN 1573-1677Print ISSN 1382-4996 (Source: Advances in Health Sciences Education)