The art of peer review: Guidelines to become a credible and constructive peer reviewer.

Peer review is a learned skill set that requires knowledge of study design, review construct, ethical considerations, and general expertise in a field of study. Participating in peer review is a rewarding and valuable experience in which all academic physicians are encouraged to partake. However, formal training opportunities in peer review are limited. In 2021, the Association of Women Surgeons and the journal Surgery collaborated to develop a Peer Review Academy. This academy is a 1-year longitudinal course that offers a select group of young women surgical trainees across all specialties a curriculum of monthly lectures and multiple formal mentored peer review opportunities to assist them in developing the foundation necessary to transition to independent peer review. The trainees and faculty mentors participating in the Association of Women Surgeons-Surgery Peer Review Academy compiled a summary of best peer review practices, which is intended to outline the elements of the skill set necessary to become a proficient peer reviewer.

Empowering the Resident Learner.

Surgical resident autonomy is an essential element of the transition from supervised training to independent practice. However, in an age of duty hour restrictions, legislative constraints, increased litigation, and heightened societal expectations, training an autonomous resident proves increasingly difficult. To tackle these barriers to training successful surgeons, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Resident Education initiated the Resident Mentored Autonomy Project. As a subdivision of this project, the Empowered Learner research team here presents a framework for training the self-directed and empowered surgical resident learner. There are many strategies by which surgical faculty, program directors and chairs, and residents themselves may engage to improve resident operative autonomy.

Clinical Trials, Potential Mechanisms, and Adverse Effects of Arnica as an Adjunct Medication for Pain Management.

Arnica has traditionally been used in treating numerous medical conditions, including inflammation and pain. This review aims to summarize the results of studies testing Arnica products for pain management under different conditions, including post-operation, arthritis, low back pain, and other types of musculoskeletal pain. Based on data from clinical trials, Arnica extract or gel/cream containing Arnica extract shows promising effects for pain relief. These medical benefits of Arnica may be attributed to its chemical components, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, and other biological activities. In conclusion, Arnica could be an adjunct therapeutical approach for acute and chronic pain management.

The Effect of Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitor on Pain in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that plays an essential role in tumor growth. Numerous Hsp90 inhibitors have been discovered and tested in preclinical and clinical trials. Recently, several preclinical studies have demonstrated that Hsp90 inhibitors could modulate pain sensitization. However, no studies have evaluated the impact of Hsp90 inhibitors on pain in the patients. This study aims to summarize the pain events reported in clinical trials assessing Hsp90 inhibitors and to determine the effect of Hsp90 inhibitors on pain in patients. We searched PubMed, EBSCOhost, and clinicaltrials.gov for Hsp90 inhibitor clinical trials. The pain-related adverse events were summarized. Meta-analysis was performed using the data reported in randomized controlled trials. We identified 90 clinical trials that reported pain as an adverse effect, including 5 randomized controlled trials. The most common types of pain reported in all trials included headache, abdominal pain, and back pain. The meta-analysis showed that Hsp90 inhibitors increased the risk of abdominal pain significantly and appeared to increase the risk for back pain. In conclusion, Hsp90 inhibitor treatment could potentially increase the risk of pain. However, the meta-analysis demonstrated only moderate evidence for the connection between Hsp90 inhibitor and pain.