Implementation of Objective Structured Clinical Examination on Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Training in Undergraduate Traditional Korean Medicine Education: An Action Research.

This study aimed to report the specific methods and investigate the educational effects of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound training and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for traditional medicine students. Scanning volar wrist and diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome were selected for musculoskeletal ultrasound to train students to use the basic functions of the ultrasound device and scan various structures including tendons, nerves, and arteries. The students were divided into two groups: one group had 8 weeks of training with mock OSCE experience and received feedback about their scan images, and the other group had 3 weeks of training with flipped learning. The OSCE was implemented on the last day of the training. The subjective learning outcomes were analyzed as students' evaluation with a 5-point scale, and the objective learning outcomes were analyzed using OSCE scores evaluated with a pre-validated checklist. Of the 111 students, 60 (54.1%) responded to the questionnaire. Overall satisfaction with this ultrasound training was high (4.5 ± 0.60). The average OSCE score in the 8-week group was significantly higher than that in the 3-week group. The students' self-assessment showed no significant differences between the two groups. Proficiency in using ultrasound is affected by the practice time and feedback. Ultrasound training should be further expanded as a required curriculum to meet students' needs and achieve learning objectives in the clinical skills education of Korean medicine colleges. Further studies are needed on ultrasound education, especially guided interventions for traditional medicine students.

Doinseunggitang ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in diabetic atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic and progressive disease characterized by vascular inflammation, is a leading cause of death in diabetes patients. Doinseunggitang (DYSGT), traditional prescription, has been used for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of DYSGT on endothelial dysfunction in diabetic atherosclerosis animal model. Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice fed on a Western diet were treated with DYSGT (200 mg/kg/day). DYSGT significantly lowered blood glucose level and glucose tolerance as well as systolic blood pressure. Metabolic parameter showed that DYSGT markedly decreased triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels. In the thoracic aorta, the impairment of vasorelaxation response to acetylcholine and atherosclerotic lesion was attenuated by DYSGT. Furthermore, DYSGT restored the reduction of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, leading to the inhibition of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression. In conclusion, DYSGT improved the development of diabetic atherosclerosis via attenuation of the endothelial dysfunction, possibly by inhibiting ET-1, cell adhesion molecules, and lesion formation. Therefore, these results suggest that Korean traditional prescription Doinseunggitang may be useful in the treatment and prevention of diabetic vascular complications.