To encourage the broad use of simulation-based medical education and establish partnerships to promote objective structured clinical examinations after clinical clerkship among medical teachers, we hosted the first team-based clinical skills competition event for medical students in Japan, named ‘Medical Students' Simlympic Games 2014'. Thirty-six (12 teams of three) open-recruited 5th or 6th grade medical students participated in this event. Student teams performed clinical tasks at 6 stations, which actively utilized the strengths of simulators or simulated patients. Contents, composition, difficulty level, and validity were tested by trainee doctors and examined by committee members in advance. In this report, we describe our concept, executive committee formation, a variety of arrangements, the outline on the day of the event, and the results of a questionnaire targeting participants. (126 words)

Abstract:

 This study examined the ability of medical students to self-assess basic clinical competence and learning strategies including simulation-based medical education for sixth-year medical students (n=903) at nine universities in Japan. About 40% of 27 procedures to achieve clinical skills in a model curriculum were taught using simulators with or without clinical training in hospitals. We noted that significant numbers of procedures were not practiced through any learning strategies. Higher self-assessment scores were observed among students in 4 schools who had more frequent learning opportunities through simulation-based education than among those with less frequent opportunities in 5 schools.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adenine-induced CKD model rats by serum analyses, and to examine bone mineral density (BMD), bone strength, and microstructure of trabecular and cortical bone in these rats. Methods: Eight-week-old, male Wistar rats (n = 42) were divided into 2 groups: those fed a 0.75% adenine diet for 4 weeks until 12 weeks of age to generate CKD model rats (CKD group); and sham rats. The CKD and sham groups were sacrificed at 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age (n = 7 in each group and at 12, 16, and 20 weeks), and various parameters were evaluated, including body weight, renal wet weight, muscle wet weight, renal histology, biochemical tests, BMD, biomechanical testing, and micro-computed tomography (CT). The parameters were compared between the 2 groups at the various time points. Results: In the CKD model rats, at 20 weeks of age, serum creatinine, phosphorus, and intact-PTH levels were elevated, and serum calcium levels were normal, indicating that the CKD was stage IV and associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Decreased BMDs of the whole body and the femur were observed as bone changes, and micro-CT analysis showed deterioration of bone microstructure of the cortical bone that resulted in decreased bone strength in the cortical and trabecular bone. Conclusions These CKD model rats showed stage IV CKD and appear appropriate for evaluating the effects of several treatments for CKD-related osteoporosis and mineral bone disorder.

Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicated by secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures. Etelcalcetide (EC) is a treatment for SHPT that reduces serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. However, the effects of combined treatment with osteoporosis drugs such as teriparatide (TPTD) remain unclear. This study investigates the combined effects of EC and TPTD on bone in CKD model rats. Methods: The CKD model was established in 8-week-old male Wistar rats by feeding them a 0.75% adenine diet for 4 weeks. At 20 weeks of age, the rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 9–10 in each group): CKD group (vehicle administration), TPTD group (30 μg/kg, 3 times/week), EC group (0.6 mg/kg, daily), and Comb group (TPTD and EC combined). EC was injected for 12 weeks starting at 20 weeks of age, and TPTD was injected for 8 weeks starting at 24 weeks of age. After treatment, the followings were evaluated: bone mineral density, bone strength, biochemical tests, bone and fat histomorphometry, and micro-computed tomography. Results: In CKD model rats, the combination of EC and TPTD was more effective in increasing cortical bone thickness and bone strength and inhibiting porosity. In addition, the combined treatment decreased bone marrow adiposity and fibrosis, and it increased bone mass and improved bone microstructure in trabecular bone. Conclusions With the observed benefits such as improved bone mass, bone strength, structural properties, and bone marrow adiposity, combination therapy may be a potential way to improve bone fragility in CKD.

We have conducted a nationwide survey on faculty development for simulation-based medical education in Japan. The response rate was 90%. Forty-seven (68%) schools have implemented faculty development programs for simulation-based education. The most commonly implemented contents were standardized patient development, task trainer, high fidelity manikin operation, and student evaluation, which were related to objective structured clinical examination objective clinical skill assessment. Only 15 percent of medical schools implemented topics on reflective practice, and scientific writing. A constraint on faculty time was the most commonly perceived barrier to simulation use (mentioned by 62 schools; 90%).