Context Despite the increase of importance placed on research, both by residency program directors and the medical field at large, osteopathic medical students (OMS) have significantly fewer research experiences than United States (U.S.) allopathic medical students and non-U.S. international medical graduates. However, few studies have addressed this long-standing discrepancy, and none directly have focused on osteopathic medical students to assess their unique needs. The literature would benefit from identifying the barriers osteopathic medical students encounter when participating in research and understanding the currently available resources. Objectives To assess the barriers that OMS face when seeking research opportunities, identify resources currently available to osteopathic medical students at their respective schools, and investigate factors that contribute to an osteopathic medical student’s desire to pursue research opportunities. Additionally, to investigate osteopathic medical students’ confidence in research methodology. Methods A survey was created by the investigators and administered to participants over a three-month period via a GoogleForm. Research participants were surveyed for demographic information, as well as their involvement in research projects in the past, mentor availability, institutional resources, motivation to participate in research, individual barriers to participation, and confidence in their ability to do independent research. Responses were de-identified and analyzed using Microsoft Excel functions to count data and calculate percentages, as well as Pearson’s chi square analysis. Results After relevant exclusion, 668 responses were included. Of the students surveyed, 85.9% (574) indicated they currently and/or in the past were involved in research. More than half of the respondents that are not currently involved in research are interested in pursuing it (86.9%; 344). The primary barriers students reported facing include lack of time (57.8%; 386), feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to start (53.4%; 357), and lack of access to research (53%; 354). 34.7% (232) of students stated they either did not have resources from their school or were unsure whether these resources were available. The two most cited motivations to pursue research included boosting their residency application and/or interest in the area of study. Male gender and current research were associated with reported confidence in research ( [4, n=662]=10.6, p<0.05). Conclusions Findings from this study provide a synopsis of the barriers to research opportunities among osteopathic medical students. Notably, ⅓ of OMSs reported an absence or unawareness of available research resources at their osteopathic medical schools.

Imaging subject-specific heart valve, a crucial step to its design, has experimental variables that if unaccounted for, may lead to erroneous computational analysis and geometric errors of the resulting model. Preparation methods are developed to mitigate some sources of the geometric error. However, the resulting 3D geometry often does not retain the original dimensions before excision. Inverse fluid–structure interaction analysis is used to analyze the resulting geometry and to assess the valve’s closure. Based on the resulting closure, it is determined if the geometry used can yield realistic results. If full closure is not reached, the geometry is adjusted adequately until closure is observed.

Introduction Artificial sweeteners are commonly used as sugar substitutes. Because they have virtually no calories, they are believed to be useful in combatting obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. However, there is still uncertainty about their potential health problems. Recent population studies have suggested that consumption of artificial sweeteners was associated with adverse cardiovascular events ‐ in particular, increasing coronary artery disease, stroke and all‐cause mortality. Nevertheless, those population association studies cannot establish a causal relationship. We hypothesized that long‐term consumption of artificial sweeteners could cause cardiovascular dysfunction. Thus, in this study we investigated the effect of long‐term (1 year) consumption of artificial sweeteners (Equal and Splenda, 2 commonly used artificial sweeteners) in drinking water on cardiovascular health in rats. Methods Adult Sprague‐Dawley rats (both sexes, 4‐5 months old) were randomized into the following 3 groups: control group (n=21), artificial sweetener Equal group (n=21) and Splenda group (n=18). In the artificial sweetener groups, Equal or Splenda (at concentration of 2 packs per cup of water) was added to the drinking water, while drinking water alone was used in the control rats. The treatment was administered for 12 months. At the end of the treatment, blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (an index of arterial stiffness), left ventricular pressure and cardiac function were measured using catheter approach and echocardiography. ECG and cardiac electrophysiology was determined using intracardiac catheter approach. Blood glucose and lipids levels were also measured. Results Rats consistently consumed more sweetened water in both Equal and Splenda groups than that in the control group (e.g., 45±6ml in control, 72±5ml in Equal and 74±14ml in Splenda groups at 2 week treatment, P<0.01). The body weight was comparable among the 3 groups. The blood pressure and pulse wave velocity were not altered after 1‐year treatment. There were no significant differences in left ventricular wall thicknesses, chamber dimension and cardiac function evaluated with cardiac echocardiography and left ventricular hemodynamic at the end of the experiment. There were no differences in blood lipids and glucose levels. Artificial sweeteners did not affect heart rate and atrial effective refractory period. However, rats in both Equal and Splenda groups had longer PR intervals (63±5ms in Equal, 68±6 ms in Splenda, vs 56±8ms in control, p<0.01) and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility (60% in Equal, 70% in Splenda vs 31% in control). The survival (15/21 in Equal, 10/18 in Splenda, and 16/21 in control) was not significantly affected by the 1‐year treatment. Conclusions Long‐term consumption of artificial sweeteners in drinking water did not affect blood glucose and lipids levels. The artificial sweeteners did not affect blood pressure and cardiovascular function but caused some electrophysiological abnormalities with prolonged PR...

Background Recent epidemiological cohort studies have suggested that consumption of artificial sweeteners (AS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. However, these population association studies cannot establish a causal relationship. In this study we investigated the effect of long-term (1-year) consumption of AS (Equal and Splenda, two commonly used AS) on cardiovascular health and survival in rats. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (both sexes, 4–5 months old) were randomized into the following 3 groups: control (n = 21), AS Equal (n = 21) and Splenda (n = 18). In the AS groups, Equal or Splenda was added to the drinking water (2-packets/250 ml), while drinking water alone was used in the control rats. The treatment was administered for 12 months. Cardiovascular function and survival were monitored in all animals. Results It was found that rats in the AS groups consistently consumed more sweetened water than those in the control group. AS did not affect body weight, non-fasting blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure or pulse wave velocity. There were no significant differences in left ventricular wall thicknesses, chamber dimension, cardiac function or survival. AS did not affect heart rate or atrial effective refractory period. However, rats in both Equal and Splenda groups had prolonged PR intervals (63 ± 5ms in Equal, 68 ± 6 ms in Splenda, vs 56 ± 8 ms in control, p < 0.05) and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility. Conclusion Long-term consumption of AS does not affect cardiovascular structure, function or survival but may cause some electrophysiological abnormalities with prolonged PR intervals and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility in rats.

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