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Mohs Surgery versus Surgical Excision: A Clinical Review of Skin Cancer Recurrence Rates
Full text linkIntroduction: Skin cancer is a serious, yet preventable disease that impacts individuals worldwide. Skin cancer is treated through both surgical and non-surgical interventions. Designed to preserve healthy skin tissue, Mohs surgery has shown favorable outcomes in lessening skin cancer recurrence. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether Mohs surgery is superior to traditional surgical excision in reducing recurrence rates in patients with skin cancer.
Methods: PubMed was searched for clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of Mohs surgery compared to surgical excision in cancer recurrence. Five articles were selected for clinical review.
Results: In 5 studies, there was an overall reduction in skin cancer recurrences among patients with various types of skin cancer. All studies used a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) to determine the plausibility of data. Most studies included a p-value to gain a better understanding of the data’s accuracy. Two studies evaluated basal cell carcinoma skin cancer. Alsaif et al.9 reported a significantly lower recurrence rate for primary basal cell carcinomas with Mohs micrographic surgery compared to surgical excision (OR = 0.27; 95% CI between 0.15-0.46). Thomson et al.10 found recurrence risk of 19 versus 32 per 1,000 lesions with Mohs micrographic surgery compared to 29 versus 52 per 1,000 with surgical excision at 3 and 5 years. Three studies focused on cutaneous melanomas. Bittar et al.13 reported recurrence rates of 0.61% with Mohs micrographic surgery, 1.8% with staged excision, and 7.8% with wide local excision. Crum et al.12 discovered a 0.5% disease-specific mortality rate following Mohs micrographic surgery. Williams et al.11 reported no statistically significant difference in local recurrence risk between Mohs micrographic surgery and wide local excision. Overall, the five studies demonstrated a clinically relevant reduction in the skin cancer recurrence rates with the use of Mohs surgery when compared to other surgical interventions, such as surgical excision.
Discussion: Mohs micrographic surgery has proven efficacious for treating skin cancer and eliminating overall recurrences. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the efficacy of Mohs surgery across varying skin cancer types and anatomical locations
Session IA: Biology Presentation 2 - CRISPR Technology in the Forensic Field
No full textTo explore how CRISPR technology is more efficient and accurate than DNA synthesis, and the potential advancements in the forensic field
Perceptions of Principal Leadership, Teacher Leadership, Student Discipline, and Teacher Retention Based on EVAAS Growth Status and School Performance Grade in Low-performing Elementary Schools in North Carolina
Full text linkThis quantitative study investigated whether teachers’ perceptions on principal leadership, teacher leadership, student discipline, and teacher retention exhibited significant differences based on two school conditions: school growth status and school performance grade in low-performing elementary schools across North Carolina. The study analyzed responses from 11,018 certified teachers across 293 qualified schools. A 2x2 factorial MANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in teacher leadership and teacher retention related to school performance grade and its interaction with the school growth status. However, no significant differences were found regarding the principal leadership and student discipline domains. Findings highlighted the importance of supporting teacher leadership to help retain more teachers in the field, especially in schools struggling with academic performance. Limitations and implications for educational policies, leadership practices, and future research are discussed to emphasize the challenges faced in low-performing schools
The Ecology of Practices: Perspectives of Female Principals Leading Rural Schools in Zimbabwe
Full text linkThis study aimed to explore the lived experiences of five female principals leading rural schools in Zimbabwe. Using a qualitative approach through face-to-face interviews and employing the ecology of practices framework (Stengers, 2005) to address environmental challenges in rural schools, the findings illustrate the multidimensional challenges faced by female school leaders in rural settings, that include infrastructural deficiencies, chronic academic underperformance, poor teacher working conditions, absenteeism, funding shortages, and gender bias. Despite these difficulties, principals demonstrated resilience through strategic leadership, community collaboration, and faith-based coping mechanisms. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of the intersection of gender and educational leadership in under-resourced rural environments. By strategically navigating gendered challenges and leveraging local knowledge, the principals in this study were able to foster positive school-community relationships that benefited their institutions. Future research should explore policy interventions and support mechanisms to enhance the efficacy of female school leaders in similar contexts
Examining The Influence of Teacher Perceptions on Implementing Behavior Interventions and Their Impact On Student Achievement
No full textThis mixed methods sequential explanatory study examined how elementary teachers’ perceptions influenced the fidelity and effectiveness of behavioral interventions in K–5 public schools. Grounded in Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory and Fixsen et al.’s (2019) Implementation Science Framework, the study explored the relationship between teacher confidence, professional development, and outcomes related to student achievement. Quantitative data showed reductions in behavior incidents, in-school suspensions (ISS), and out-of-school suspensions (OSS) from fall to spring, while qualitative data from surveys and interviews emphasized the need for sustained support, differentiated intervention plans, and a strong school-wide culture. Teachers noted that one-time trainings were insufficient and called for embedded, ongoing strategies, while parents reported improved communication, fewer suspensions, and increased engagement tied to consistent expectations and restorative practices. The study recommends integrating behavior interventions across subjects, using real-time data for decisions, and promoting leadership that reduces exclusionary discipline. Findings underscore the importance of teacher perceptions in sustaining effective, school-wide behavioral supports
Efficacy of Second Generation Antipsychotics as an Adjunct Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder is a debilitating mental health condition for many US adults. Traditional therapies may not be effective for many patients. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of brexpiprazole, a second generation antipsychotic medication, as an adjunctive treatment for resistant MDD.
METHODS: PubMed was searched with a specific search strategy using key terms “brexpiprazole” and “major depressive disorder.” This search resulted in 21 results in which four articles were chosen based on the availability of free full text and the included content. Of the articles selected, three were a systemic review and meta-analyses, and one was just a meta- analysis.
RESULTS: Two systematic reviews/meta-analyses and one meta-analysis compared the efficacy of various second generation antipsychotics to a placebo. One systematic review and meta-analysis studied only brexpiprazole and its efficacy and side effect profile.
DISCUSSION: All the articles reviewed showed brexpiprazole to improve symptoms of depression, though significant results are mixed. The downside to using SGAs as adjunct treatment is the various adverse effects. Brexpiprazole had one of the largest side effect profiles and highest discontinuation rates
The Role of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Quality of Life and Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes
Full text linkIntroduction: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin, leading to the need for exogenous insulin to maintain glycemic control. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has become a pivotal piece of technology in treating T1D. The purpose of this clinical review is to analyze the role of CGM in improving glycemic control and quality of life in T1D patients.
Methods: PubMed was searched with a specific search strategy using key terms “continuous glucose monitoring,” “type 1 diabetes,” “quality of life,” “glycemic control,” and “hbA1c.” Operators and filters narrowed results to 4 relevant, quality articles for review within the last 5 years.
Results: One of the meta-analyses compared HbA1c levels and fear of hypoglycemia in patients with CGM versus SMBG. The systematic review showed improvements in self-management of glucose levels and confidence in patients managing their diabetes with CGMs. Two of the meta-analyses showed reduced episodes of hypoglycemia and HbA1c levels in patients with CGMs vs SMBG.
Discussion: The articles reviewed generated similar results. Findings from all articles suggest that CGM provides a higher quality of life and improved glycemic control versus SMBG in patients with T1D. Future research should aim to include larger, long-term studies to better understand the benefits of CGM to optimize its incorporation further into diabetic care
Ablation vs Drug Therapy for Long-term Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation
Full text linkIntroduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF), a rapid and irregular arrhythmia, is the most common cause of cardiac-related stroke and other serious complications for those affected. The first-line treatment for long-term rhythm control of AF remains in question and simplification of therapy would be a significant development. This review aims to determine the efficacy of ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of AF.
Methods: A search via PubMed using the keywords ablation* AND drug therapy* AND atrial fibrillation* AND long-term effects produced 770 results. Results were consolidated by excluding those without full text. Filters were set to randomized control trials (RCTs), metaanalyses, and systematic reviews from 2019 to 2024. Six trials were selected for their clinically relevant comparison.
Results: All six studies compared ablation and drug therapy for long-term effects. Ablation therapy decreased hospitalizations in two of the studies. Quality of life was improved with ablation in one study. AF burden was shown to be improved in another study. Overall, there was a notable reduction in the recurrence and long-term effects of AF with treatment by ablation.
Discussion: Studies included in this review suggest that ablation therapy is more efficacious than drug therapy for long-term rhythm control of AF. Additional studies on the absolute efficacy of ablation therapy for AF is needed
Program Evaluation of TransMath Intervention Program
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to evaluate an intervention program used in my district, TransMath, to see if this intervention was helping close the skill gaps for students entering high school Math 1. A mixed methods convergent design was used to examine the program. Quantitative data from survey results were reviewed on the professional learning provided to teachers, while qualitative data from interview transcripts were analyzed to examine teacher perceptions of the program. Finally, student test scores were analyzed using a repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings from this program evaluation did demonstrate statistically significant increases in student achievement on test scores; however, the implementation of the math intervention has not created teacher understanding or buy-in for the program, and therefore, misuse is occurring. While the teachers indicated that they have received ongoing professional development on both MTSS and TransMath, results also indicated that more explicit training on critical components of MTSS as well as specific features in TransMath is needed to better help teachers develop their deeper understanding of effective math interventions