PURPOSE: This study examined two overarching topics: to what extent do faculties acknowledge class readiness, execution of lessons, and evaluation of the session; and what core content should be strengthened in a medical school faculty development program? METHODS: In November 2012, 37 faculties completed a detailed survey on the needs of medical school faculty development programs. The 14-item survey assessed the importance, operational frequency, difficulty in accomplishment, class readiness, execution of teaching, and evaluation of the session. RESULTS: Faculties were aware of the importance of class readiness, execution of teaching, and evaluation of the session but had a low level of accomplishment with regard to execution of the instruction and evaluation of the session. Four subitems of session evaluation were considered very important but showed low operational frequency, high difficulty in accomplishment, and low accomplishment ability. The successful discussion class item had the lowest operational frequency and accomplishment ability. The core contents that should be strengthened in medical school faculty development programs are diagnose students' class readiness (prior knowledge) (35.5%) and providing class session with suitable level/content (32.3%). CONCLUSION: Before designing faculty development programs, a needs assessment is useful in providing more tailored content for the faculty.
Needs Assessment ; Schools, Medical

PURPOSE: A task force identified 4 core properties of motivation-related improvement and developed a medical volunteer program for 63 medical freshmen in 2012. Three overarching topics were examined: What were the contents of the program? Did students' motivation improve? Were the students satisfied with the course? Pretest and posttest motivation levels and program evaluation forms were analyzed. METHODS: We organized a series of committee meetings and identified 4 core factors of motivation. The program was conducted for 63 medical freshmen in March 2012. The program evaluation form was analyzed using SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: The core factors of motivation were interest in medical studies, volunteer-mindedness, medical humanities, and self-management. The program was composed of lectures, medical volunteer hours, and program evaluation and feedback sessions. Students' motivation differed significantly with regard to interest in medical studies (t=-2.40, p=0.020) and volunteer-mindedness (t=-3.45, p=0.001). Ninety percent of students were satisfied with the program, 67.8% of students were satisfied with the medical volunteer activity, and the feedback session of the program was meaningful (66.1%). CONCLUSION: The medical volunteer program, held in the first month of the medical education year, was meaningful, but the reasons for dissatisfaction with the program should be examined. We should also develop a system that has lasting beneficial effects on academic achievement and career selection.
Achievement ; Advisory Committees ; Education, Medical ; Humanities ; Humans ; Lectures ; Motivation ; Program Evaluation ; Self Care ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: Feedback in medical education is as important as developing the curriculum and choosing the right method of instruction. This study measured three overarching areas: student satisfaction rates with academic feedback, the type and helpfulness of the feedback, and the types of feedback that students want. METHODS: In December 2013, 166 students answered a student survey that consisted of 26 items. The survey asked questions on their experiences with the overall feedback that was given the previous semester, the satisfaction rate, the type of feedback that was received, the helpfulness of the feedback, and the types of feedback that were desired after examinations and learning tasks. RESULTS: Overall, 35% of the students were satisfied with the feedback that they received in the previous semester. Students wanted more systematic (61.4%) and timely feedback (30.1%). The types of feedback that were most desired were "written comment feedback from the teacher" (51.8%) for learning tasks and "item difficulty, percentile ranks feedback" for examinations (62.0%). CONCLUSION: Students found the current feedback to be helpful, but the lack of feedback that students desired indicates that we must provide more systematic feedback in a more timely manner.
Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Learning ; Students, Medical*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the usefulness of second-look ultrasounds performed on suspicious lesions found from breast MRIs which were taken as preoperative evaluations of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2008 to July 2011, second-look ultrasounds were performed for 98 lesions in 80 patients that were initially detected on preoperative breast MRIs for known breast cancer. In this study, identification was made on the findings from second-look ultrasounds on the target lesions. The histopathological results were used to assess the effects of second-look ultrasounds on the treatment plans for patients, in the context of operation records. RESULTS: Among the total 98 lesions, sonographic correlation was made in 85 lesions (87%). In total, 82 lesions were identified with histopathological results. Among them were 18 malignancies (22%) and 64 benign lesions (78%). Sonographically-correlated lesions showed a higher prevalence for malignancy (20% [17/85]) than non-correlated lesions (8% [1/13]). From 44% (43/98) of the total target lesions, the unnecessary expansion of the extent of surgical resection was suppressible through second-look ultrasounds. CONCLUSIONS: Second-look ultrasounds subsequent to breast MRIs in patients with breast cancer are useful for preoperative evaluation and enables them to make the histopathological confirmation of suspicious lesions conveniently found from breast MRIs.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence

Cordyceps species including Cordyceps bassiana are a notable anti-cancer dietary supplement. Previously, we identified several compounds with anti-cancer activity from the butanol fraction (Cb-BF) of Cordyceps bassiana. To expand the structural value of Cb-BF-derived anti-cancer drugs, we employed various chemical moieties to produce a novel Cb-BF-derived chemical derivative, KTH-13-amine-monophenyl [4-isopropyl-2-(1-phenylethyl) aniline (KTH-13-AMP)], which we tested for anti-cancer activity. KTH-13-AMP suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and C6 glioma cells. KTH-13-AMP also dose-dependently induced morphological changes in C6 glioma cells and time-dependently increased the level of early apoptotic cells stained with annexin V-FITC. Furthermore, the levels of the active full-length forms of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. In contrast, the levels of total forms of caspases-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and Bcl-2 were decreased in KTH-13-AMP treated-cells. We also confirmed that the phosphorylation of STAT3, Src, and PI3K/p85, which is linked to cell survival, was diminished by treatment with KTH-13-AMP. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that this compound can be used to guide the development of an anti-cancer drug or serve as a lead compound in forming another strong anti-proliferative agent.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 8 ; Caspase 9 ; Cell Survival ; Cordyceps* ; Dietary Supplements ; Glioma ; Phosphorylation