Clinical supervision in medical education: A citation analysis.

PURPOSE: Medical education relies on clinical supervision for critical functions, including trainee assessment and ensuring patient safety. Yet, there is substantial variance in supervision, which has led to calls for a shared definition of the concept and guidelines to inform practice. AMEE Guide No. 27 provided these desired elements and is highly cited, suggesting that translation and utilization of the Guide's knowledge is suboptimal. This study investigates utilization by systematically characterizing citations to the Guide and by describing translation of its recommendations in relation to supervision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Citations were identified using Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The authors coded all citations and conducted a subanalysis of studies specific to supervision. RESULTS: 583 studies were identified; 268 met inclusion criteria for general analysis of which 167 studies were further analyzed. Most studies reiterated the Guide's characterization of effective supervision, but few demonstrate how these recommendations inform innovations in supervisory practice. CONCLUSION: Translation of the Guide's recommendations regarding clinical supervision appears limited. Future research should consider the extent of knowledge translation occurring in clinical supervision literature as well as AMEE Guides. Increased attention to knowledge translation in medical education may benefit the distribution of similar knowledge products.

Loss of high-frequency brain electrical response to thiopental administration in Alzheimer's-type dementia.

Abnormal brain regions generate proportionately less high-frequency (beta) activity than nonpathological regions, a phenomenon accentuated by barbiturate administration. Using quantitative electroencephalography we examined power in the 20- to 28-Hz band in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT), vascular dementia (VaD), and normal elderly controls (CON) following an IV bolus of thiopental (0.5 mg/kg). Compared to both CON and VaD subjects, DAT subjects showed a marked loss of beta power elicited across the cortex, with largest differences noted in the frontal region. Losses were most significant for the peak response recorded at 30 to 90 s postinjection and persisted during the 5-minute follow-up period. We hypothesize that differences in this electrocerebral response reflect differences in the underlying neuropathology of DAT and VaD subjects. A thiopental challenge may be well suited for the in vivo assessment of brain function in dementias characterized by prominent cortical pathology.

Brain structure and function and the outcomes of treatment for depression.

BACKGROUND: Depressed patients have a variety of brain structural alterations, the most common being atrophy and deep white-matter lesions. Alterations in brain function also are common, particularly regional decreases in cerebral metabolism and perfusion. METHOD: We review here the evidence that alterations in brain structure and function may explain some of the heterogeneity in outcomes of depression. We also report initial results suggesting that measurement of brain structure and function may help to predict outcomes of treatment for depression. Brain structure was examined using three-dimensional reconstruction and volumetric analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Brain function was examined using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), performed at baseline and serially during the course of treatment. QEEG measures included coherence (a measure of synchronized activity between brain regions) and cordance (a measure strongly associated with regional cerebral perfusion). RESULTS: Depressed patients have been reported to have larger volumes of white-matter lesions than controls. We have found that some types of white-matter lesions are associated with lower coherence and that subjects with low coherence had significantly poorer outcomes of treatment for depression at 2-year follow-up. Depressed subjects had low cordance at baseline, which decreased further during the course of effective treatment. Subjects who did not improve had little or no change in cordance. Changes in cordance were detected prior to the onset of clinical response, with decreases seen as early as 48 hours after the initiation of treatment in subjects who showed eventual response. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that functional imaging using QEEG may be useful for assessing, and possibly predicting, outcomes of treatment for depression.

Altered cerebral energy utilization in late life depression.

BACKGROUND: Global and regional changes in cerebral energy utilization are reported to characterize late life depression. METHODS: Twenty seven subjects with late life depression (9 prior to starting medication, 18 after starting) and 27 matched controls were evaluated with cordance, a quantitative EEG measure that reflects cerebral energy utilization. RESULTS: Global and focal (anterior and centrotemporal) differences were present in theta-band cordance between unmedicated depressed and control subjects. Depressed subjects receiving treatment had cordance patterns similar to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of both diffuse and focal disturbances in energy utilization prior to initiating treatment indicates that cordance detects altered cerebral physiology in depressed patients, and that this measure may also be sensitive to treatment interventions.

Effects of carbohydrate and protein meals on cardiovascular levels and reactivity.

This study examined the effects of standard laboratory stressors on cardiovascular measures before and after the consumption of a modest meal. A mental arithmetic task and a reaction time task were administered before and 2 h after a carbohydrate or a protein meal. A noncaloric placebo meal and a fasting condition were included as control treatments. The caloric meals, in particular the carbohydrate meal, induced an increase in cardiac output, ventricular contractility, and systolic blood pressure. Total peripheral resistance and diastolic blood pressure dropped. Although postprandial adjustments were substantial, stress reactivity patterns generally were not perturbed by the meals. Only heart rate reactivity was stronger after eating the carbohydrate meal. It is concluded that subjects' meal consumption prior to their participation in a psychophysiological experiment needs to be taken into account.

Relationship between brain electrical activity and cortical perfusion in normal subjects.

Cerebral glucose uptake and perfusion are accepted as tightly coupled measures of energy utilization in both normal and diseased brain. The coupling of brain electrical activity to perfusion has been demonstrated, however, only in the presence of chronic brain disease. Very few studies have examined the relationship between cerebral electrical activity and energy utilization in normal brain tissue. To clarify this relationship, we performed 33 H2(15)O-positron emission tomography (PET) scans in six normal subjects both at rest and during a simple motor task, and acquired surface-recorded quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) data simultaneously with isotope injection. We examined the associations between cerebral perfusion directly underlying each recording electrode and three QEEG measures (absolute power, relative power, and cordance). All EEG measures had moderately strong coupling with perfusion at most frequency bands, although the directions of the associations differed from those previously reported in subjects with stroke or dementia. Of the three QEEG measures examined, cordance had the strongest relationship with perfusion (multiple R2 = 0.58). Cordance and PET were equally effective in detecting lateralized activation associated with the motor task, while EEG power did not detect this activation. Electrodes in the concordant state had a significantly higher mean perfusion than those in the discordant state. These results indicate that normal brain electrical activity has a moderately strong association with cerebral perfusion. Cordance may be the most useful QEEG measure for monitoring cerebral perfusion in subjects without chronic brain disease.

Neurophysiologic predictors of treatment response to fluoxetine in major depression.

Treatment with antidepressants is marked by heterogeneity of response; predicting individual response to any given agent remains problematic. Neuroimaging studies suggest that response is accompanied by physiologic changes in cerebral energy utilization, but have not provided useful markers at pretreatment baseline. Using quantitative EEG (QEEG) techniques, we investigated pretreatment neurophysiologic features to identify responders and non-responders to fluoxetine. In a double-masked study, 24 adult subjects with current major depression of the unipolar type were studied over 8 weeks while receiving fluoxetine (20 mg QD) or placebo. Neurophysiology was assessed with QEEG cordance, a measure reflecting cerebral energy utilization. Response was determined with rating scales and clinical interview. Subjects were divided into discordant and concordant groups based upon the number of electrodes exhibiting discordance. The concordant group had a more robust response than the discordant group, judged by lower final Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) mean score (8.0+/-7.5 vs. 19.6+/-4.7, P = 0.01) and final Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) mean score (14.0+/-9.4 vs. 27.8+/-3.7, P = 0.015), and by faster reduction in symptoms (HAM-D: 14.0+/-5.0 vs. 23.8+/-4.1, P = 0.004 at 1 week). Groups did not differ on pretreatment clinical or historical features. Response to placebo was not predicted by this physiologic measure. We conclude that cordance distinguishes depressed adults who will respond to treatment with fluoxetine from those who will not. This measure detects a propensity to respond to fluoxetine and may indicate a more general responsiveness to antidepressants.

Effects of scopolamine on autonomic profiles underlying motion sickness susceptibility.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of scopolamine on the physiological patterns occurring prior to and during motion sickness stimulation. In addition, the use of physiological profiles in the prediction of motion sickness was evaluated. Sixty subjects ingested either 0.6 mg scopolamine, 2.5 mg methscopolamine, or a placebo. Heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (an index of vagal tone), and electrogastrograms were measured prior to and during the exposure to a rotating optokinetic drum. Compared to the other groups, the scopolamine group reported fewer motion sickness symptoms, and displayed lower HR, higher vagal tone, enhanced normal gastric myoelectric activity, and depressed gastric dysrhythmias before and during motion sickness induction. Distinct physiological profiles prior to drum rotation could reliably differentiate individuals who would develop gastric discomfort from those who would not. Symptom-free subjects were characterized by high levels of vagal tone and low HR across conditions, and by maintaining normal (3 cpm) electrogastrographic activity during drum rotation. It was concluded that scopolamine offered motion sickness protection by initiating a pattern of increased vagal tone and gastric myoelectric stability.

Effects of phenytoin on vection-induced motion sickness and gastric myoelectric activity.

The purpose of this study was to test the prophylactic effects of a single low dose of phenytoin on motion sickness. In this double-blind study, fasted male subjects who were susceptible to motion sickness were given either a 200-mg tablet of phenytoin (N = 19) or a placebo (N = 16). Electrogastrograms (EGG's) were recorded predrug, postdrug (4 h after ingestion of drug), before drum rotation, and during drum rotation. During testing, subjects were exposed to an optokinetic drum which was stationary for 8 min and which then rotated at 10 rpm for 16 min. The results showed that the phenytoin subjects had a lower mean subjective symptom score than the placebo group (5.8 vs. 7.1), but the difference was not significant. However, 6 of 16 placebo subjects requested early termination of drum rotation due to symptom severity, whereas only 2 of 19 phenytoin subjects terminated testing prematurely (X2 = 3.89, p < 0.05). The phenytoin group showed no increase in gastric tachyarrhythmia, the pattern of gastric myoelectric activity that usually accompanies nausea, during drum rotation, whereas tachyarrhythmia doubled for the placebo group. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that a single low dose of phenytoin prevents the development of gastric tachyarrhythmia and decreases the intensity of motion sickness symptoms.

A BASIC program for the peak-to-valley estimation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

A computer program for the automatic scoring of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is described. The program uses the 'peak-to-valley' quantification of RSA. Data was collected on 20 subjects to determine the inter-rater reliability and efficiency of the program. Highly reliable estimates of RSA were found. Advantages and limitations of the program are discussed.

Accentuated antagonism in the control of human heart rate.

Invasive animal models indicate that the accelerative effects of the sympathetic nervous system on heart rate are highly dependent on the background level of vagal activity. A noninvasive, parasympathetic chronotropic index (respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and a sympathetic chronotropic index (left ventricular ejection time) were used to evaluate autonomic control of human heart rate. A strong interaction, previously called accentuated antagonism, was found. Sympathetic heart rate effects were substantially smaller with high levels of vagal tone than with low vagal background activity. Furthermore, vagal effects became progressively stronger with increasing sympathetic background activity, demonstrating the predominance of parasympathetic control of human heart rate. This finding implies that changes in cardiac activity resulting from changes in sympathetic control cannot be interpreted accurately unless concurrent vagal activity is taken into account, as well.

Derivation of chronotropic indices of autonomic nervous system activity using impedance cardiography.

The impedance cardiograph has been widely used to examine cardiac sympathetic inotropic activity. Recently evidence was presented indicating that left ventricular ejection time (LVET) may be a useful index of sympathetic chronotropic influences derivable from the impedance cardiograph. The goal of the present research was to derive an index of parasympathetic chronotropic influences. In addition, further support for LVET as a sympathetic chronotropic index was sought. Eight healthy college-age subjects participated in a within-subjects design experiment. Tasks were chosen to elicit a wide range of cardiovascular responses resulting from differing combinations of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Results indicated that heart rate corrected for LVET (HR-LVET) correlated highly with respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of vagal cardiac chronotropic activity. In addition, principal components analysis indicated that heart rate, RSA, LVET, HR-LVET, and HR corrected for RSA (HR-RSA) all loaded on a single factor distinct from inotropic or vascular indices. These results provide support for the use of impedance cardiography to derive indices of sympathetic (LVET) and parasympathetic (HR-LVET) chronotropic influences.

Effects of eating on vection-induced motion sickness, cardiac vagal tone, and gastric myoelectric activity.

This study investigated the effect of food ingestion on motion sickness severity and its physiological mechanisms. Forty-six fasted subjects were assigned either to a meal group or to a no-meal group. Electrogastrographic (EGG) indices (normal 3 cpm activity and abnormal 4-9 cpm tachyarrhythmia) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were measured before and after a meal and during a subsequent exposure to a rotating drum in which illusory self-motion was induced. The results indicated that food intake enhanced cardiac parasympathetic tone (RSA) and increased gastric 3 cpm activity. Postprandial effects on motion sickness severity remain equivocal due to group differences in RSA baseline levels. During drum rotation, dysrhythmic activity of the stomach (tachyarrhythmia) and vagal withdrawal were observed. Furthermore, high levels of vagal tone prior to drum rotation predicted a low incidence of motion sickness symptoms, and were associated positively with gastric 3 cpm activity and negatively with tachyarrhythmia. These data suggest that enhanced levels of parasympathetic activity can alleviate motion sickness symptoms by suppressing, in part, its dysrhythmic gastric underpinnings.

Assessing the accuracy of topographic EEG mapping for determining local brain function.

OBJECTIVE: There has been considerable discussion regarding the accuracy of topographic electroencephalographic (EEG) maps for assessing local cerebral function. We performed this study to test the accuracy of EEG mapping by examining the association between electrical activity and the perfusion under each electrode as another measure of local cerebral function. METHODS: EEG mapping was performed simultaneously with (H15)2O positron emission tomography (PET) scanning in 6 normal adult subjects, both at rest and during a simple motor task. EEG data were processed using 3 different montages; two EEG power measures (absolute and relative power) were examined. RESULTS: Relative power had much stronger associations with perfusion than did absolute power. In addition, calculating power for bipolar electrode pairs and averaging power over electrode pairs sharing a common electrode yielded stronger associations with perfusion than data from referential or single source montages. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate (1) that topographic EEG mapping can accurately reflect local brain function in a way that is comparable to other methods, and (2) that the choice of EEG measure and montage have a significant influence on the degree with which maps reflect this local activity and function.

Asian hypersusceptibility to motion sickness.

A rotating optokinetic drum was used in three laboratory studies to test the hypothesis that Asian subjects are hypersusceptible to motion sickness. The results of the first study showed that Chinese women compared to European-American and African-American women experienced significantly more severe symptoms of motion sickness and greater disturbance of normal gastric myoelectric activity. A second study yielded similar results using American-born children of Asian parents. The results of a third study using Chinese men and women were similar and showed a significant increase in vasopressin during rotation. Possible genetic mechanisms that may account for these results are discussed.