Faculty Bibliography

Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, who is serving as co-chairman of the effort with Mr. [Bill Clinton], said he ''got frightened to death'' after developing Type 2 diabetes. Mr. Huckabee, a Republican, told the students that he had lost 110 pounds in the past two years. Mr. Clinton said that while the national prevalence of childhood obesity was 16 percent, it was 20 percent in the Southeast and 25 percent in Alabama and Mississippi. One reason for the unfavorable statistics in the South, Mr. Huckabee said, was that ''we fry everything we eat and then smother it in gravy.'' Former President Bill Clinton and Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas promoted their anti-obesity drive yesterday at a Manhattan school. (Photo by Peter Foley/European Pressphotos Agency)

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that recognize and bind to partially complementary sites in the 3' untranslated regions of target genes in animals and, by unknown mechanisms, regulate protein production of the target transcript. Different combinations of microRNAs are expressed in different cell types and may coordinately regulate cell-specific target genes. Here, we present PicTar, a computational method for identifying common targets of microRNAs. Statistical tests using genome-wide alignments of eight vertebrate genomes, PicTar's ability to specifically recover published microRNA targets, and experimental validation of seven predicted targets suggest that PicTar has an excellent success rate in predicting targets for single microRNAs and for combinations of microRNAs. We find that vertebrate microRNAs target, on average, roughly 200 transcripts each. Furthermore, our results suggest widespread coordinate control executed by microRNAs. In particular, we experimentally validate common regulation of Mtpn by miR-375, miR-124 and let-7b and thus provide evidence for coordinate microRNA control in mammals.

Increasing physician and patient mobility has led to a move toward internationalization of standards for physician competence. The Institute for International Medical Education proposed a set of outcome-based standards for student performance, which were then measured using three assessment tools in eight leading schools in China: a 150-item multiple-choice examination, a 15-station OSCE and a 16-item faculty observation form. The purpose of this study was to empanel a group of experts to determine whether international student-level performance standards could be set. The IIME convened an international panel of experts in student education with specialty and geographic diversity. The group was split into two, with each sub-group establishing standards independently. After a discussion of the borderline student, the sub-groups established minimally acceptable cut-off scores for performance on the multiple-choice examination (Angoff and Hofstee methods), the OSCE station and global rating performance (modified Angoff method and holistic criterion reference), and faculty observation domains (holistic criterion reference). Panelists within each group set very similar standards for performance. In addition, the two independent parallel panels generated nearly identical performance standards. Cut-off scores changed little before and after being shown pilot data but standard deviations diminished. International experts agreed on a minimum set of competences for medical student performance. In addition, they were able to set consistent performance standards with multiple examination types. This provides an initial basis against which to compare physician performance internationally.

OBJECTIVES: To examine older persons' willingness to participate in exercise and relaxation programs for managing chronic pain, to identify characteristics associated with willingness to participate, and to ascertain their barriers to participation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A geriatric ambulatory care practice located in New York, New York, and the General Clinical Research Center of Weill Cornell Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight English-speaking patients aged 70 and older with chronic pain. MEASUREMENTS: Participants' level of willingness to participate in the programs was assessed using 5-point Likert scales, and information regarding their demographic, clinical, psychological, and pain status was obtained. Qualitative methods were used to ascertain participants' perceived barriers to participation. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age+/-standard deviation of 81.9+/-7.0 and were mostly white (85%) and female (68%). Although only 16% of participants reported current use of exercise as a pain-management strategy, 73% reported a willingness to try the exercise program. Four percent reported current use of relaxation methods; 70% reported an interest in learning these techniques. Moderate correlations were found between increasing days of restricted activity due to pain and greater willingness to participate. Seventeen unique barriers were identified; the mean number of barriers reported per person was 2.9+/-1.8 for exercise and 2.2+/-1.4 for relaxation. Commonly reported barriers to participating in either program included time conflicts, transportation, treatment efficacy concerns, and fear of pain or injury. CONCLUSION: Older primary care patients with chronic pain are willing to try exercise and relaxation therapies to help manage pain but report a substantial number of barriers to participating in these programs. Addressing patient-level barriers could improve engagement in and adherence to exercise and relaxation therapies for managing pain in older persons.

The etiology of aneurysmal bone cysts is uncertain, but they may originate as a localized arteriovenous malformation. These benign lesions can be primary or occur secondary to an underlying lesion. The majority of patients who present with aneurysmal bone cysts are younger than age 20 years. One half of lesions occur within the long bones and one third involve the spine. Most flat bone lesions, approximately 10%, occur in the pelvis. Fluid-fluid levels are common on CT and MRI but are not pathognomonic. Although aneurysmal bone cyst is benign, there may be aggressive clinical and imaging features. Treatment for aneurysmal bone cyst is surgical curettage, intraoperative adjuvant therapy, and bone grafting of the lesion. The prognosis following treatment is very good, although 10% to 20% of cases are reported to recur