Bernhard J M Hess

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This study looked at how a new type of bone adhesive, called TTCP-PS, compares to traditional titanium plates and screws (TPS) for fixing skull flaps in sheep. Researchers found that the adhesive did not cause any more harm to the underlying brain tissue than the standard method, with both methods showing minimal tissue changes. This is important because it suggests that TTCP-PS can be a safe alternative to TPS for fixing skulls, possibly reducing complications associated with metal hardware. Who this helps: Patients undergoing cranial surgery.

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This study looked at how music is used in long-term care facilities for people with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions. Researchers spoke with staff and observed the use of music in five facilities, finding that staff generally believe music helps improve residents' quality of life. They noted that music is affordable, easy to access, and can be tailored to various situations, benefiting both residents and staff. Who this helps: This benefits patients with Alzheimer's and their caregivers in long-term care settings.

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This study looked at how music is used in elder care communities for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers interviewed staff from four out of five communities and found that music, both live and recorded, helped stimulate memory, increase engagement, and provide comfort. Overall, staff viewed music as a valuable tool that could be adapted to different situations throughout the day. Who this helps: This benefits patients with Alzheimer's, their caregivers, and the staff in care communities.

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This study examined how well researchers describe music-based therapies for people with Alzheimer's disease and similar conditions. Out of 48 studies reviewed, only 10 provided sufficient detail on the methods used, and just one study met nearly all reporting standards. This lack of clarity makes it hard for other researchers to replicate these studies, slowing down the advancement of effective music therapies. Who this helps: This helps patients with Alzheimer's and their caregivers by supporting clearer research that could lead to better treatment options.

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Researchers tested a new bone glue made from minerals to hold skull bone flaps in place after brain surgery, comparing it to the standard metal plates and screws currently used. In sheep, the new adhesive was stronger than metal fixation from 12 weeks through 2 years after surgery, healed bone faster with better integration, and caused no tissue damage or complications. This bone glue could be a better option for human skull surgery because it's stronger, dissolves naturally over time as new bone grows in, and avoids the problems that can happen when metal hardware shifts or loosens.

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This study looked at how our eyes adjust when we focus on objects that are close to us to avoid seeing double or blurry images. Researchers found that the distance between our eyes and their positioning greatly affects how we align our vision when looking at different objects. They used simple math to explain how these adjustments help us see clearly, particularly when objects are at different distances. Who this helps: This helps patients with vision issues who struggle with double vision or clarity when looking at close objects.

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This study looked at how the twisting of the eyes, called ocular torsion, affects our ability to match the images we see with both eyes. The researchers found that when ocular torsion is taken into account, our ability to line up visuals improves significantly. Understanding this can help create better treatments for vision problems that involve how our eyes coordinate. Who this helps: Patients with vision disorders.

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This research studied how our eyes work together to see objects clearly, especially when they are above or below our main line of sight. The findings show that by slightly adjusting how much our eyes twist (or torsion), they can align better for clearer vision, even when looking in different directions. The team found that as we shift our gaze from far to near objects, our eye positions naturally move into these ideal twisted positions, leading to better binocular vision. Who this helps: This helps patients with vision problems and eye specialists aiming to improve binocular vision.

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This study looked at how well different exams predict whether medical trainees will pass their certification tests in Hematology and Medical Oncology. It found that scores from specialized in-training exams were much better predictors; for instance, Hematology In-Service Examination scores were very strong indicators of passing the Hematology Certification Examination. In contrast, program director ratings were not helpful in predicting performance. Who this helps: This helps medical trainees and their trainers by providing clearer ways to gauge readiness for certification.

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This study looked at whether scores from in-service training exams (ITEs), which are taken by doctors in training for pulmonary and critical care medicine, can predict their performance on board certification exams. The researchers found that second-year fellows' ITE scores were strong predictors of their scores on the certification exams and passing rates, with a notable correlation (82.4% participation in the study). Specifically, a higher ITE score increased the likelihood of passing the certification exam, making it a valuable tool for identifying areas where fellows may need to improve. Who this helps: This benefits doctors in training and their program directors by helping to tailor education and better prepare for certification exams.

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This study looked at how our eyes work together when shifting focus from something far away to something close. Researchers found that when looking at nearby objects, people’s eyes generally stayed aligned in the vertical and forward directions, allowing them to see two separate images as one, no matter where the target was positioned. They discovered that this process involves specific movements of the eyes to help create a clear single image from two distinct views. Who this helps: Patients with vision problems and eye care specialists.

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Researchers studied how to improve milk chocolate by adding peanut skin extracts, which are rich in antioxidants. They found that when using about 0.8% of these extracts, the chocolate's antioxidant levels were similar to those found in dark chocolate, and taste testers liked the chocolate just as much as regular milk chocolate. This matters because it offers a way to boost the health benefits of a popular treat without sacrificing flavor. Who this helps: This helps chocolate lovers and health-conscious consumers.

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This study looked at whether taking more time to think about initial medical diagnoses can lead to better accuracy on high-stakes exams. Researchers analyzed data from 500 medical residents during their certification test and found that residents changed their answers on about 12% of diagnosis questions, often correcting an initial wrong answer. Specifically, when they changed answers, they were nearly twice as likely to improve their response than to make it worse, especially on tougher questions. Who this helps: Patients benefit because better diagnostic accuracy leads to more effective treatments.

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This study looked at how well scores on the Infectious Diseases In-Training Examination (IDSA ITE) can predict performance on the certification test for infectious diseases. Researchers found that IDSA ITE scores were the strongest indicator of success on the certification exam, with a score increase relating to a higher chance of passing—specifically, for every point increase on the IDSA ITE, the odds of passing increased by 1.7%. This is important because it shows that the IDSA ITE is an effective tool for helping medical fellows assess their knowledge during training. Who this helps: This helps medical fellows training in infectious diseases.

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This study looked at how the eyes move when switching focus between far and near objects in monkeys. Researchers found that these quick eye movements involve complex rotations, where the eyes initially move together but slightly differently, especially as they get closer to the target. Specifically, they observed variations in eye movements that were influenced by the distance of the target, highlighting how our eyes coordinate to maintain focus. Who this helps: This research benefits eye specialists and vision scientists studying how eye movements work in different scenarios.

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This study looked at how well doctors are caring for patients with osteoporosis, a condition that increases the risk of fractures from minor falls. Researchers analyzed data from 381 doctors and found that the average score for care quality was 67.5 out of 100. They determined that 16% of doctors fell below the minimum accepted care level, while only 22% provided excellent care. This matters because better care can significantly reduce the risk of fractures in osteoporosis patients. Who this helps: This helps patients with osteoporosis and their doctors by providing clear standards for effective treatment.

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This study looked at whether scores from the Adult Rheumatology In-Training Examination can predict how well medical fellows do on the Rheumatology Certification Examination. It found that the fellows’ scores on the In-Training Exam were strong indicators of their performance, with a scoring increase linked to a greater chance of passing the certification exam. Specifically, for each point increase in the In-Training Exam score, the odds of passing the certification exam increased by 1.6%. Who this helps: This helps future rheumatologists, as well as their training programs, by providing a useful way to measure their readiness for certification.

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This study looked at how different types of nerve cells (motoneurons) in monkeys control eye movements. Researchers found that the way these nerve cells receive signals varies depending on the type of muscle they're connected to: for example, SIF nerve cells involved in horizontal and vertical eye movements get signals primarily through a substance called GABA, while another type called glycine primarily affects specific muscles like the one that lifts the eyelid. Understanding these differences is important because they can impact treatment options for eye movement disorders. Who this helps: Patients with eye movement disorders.

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This study looked at whether doctors certified in Interventional Cardiology provide better care for patients undergoing heart procedures than those who are not certified. Researchers examined over 510,000 procedures and found that patients treated by certified doctors had a slightly lower chance of dying or needing emergency surgery, with a higher risk observed in non-certified doctors (10% more for mortality and 32% more for emergency surgery). However, the rates of bleeding and other complications were similar between both groups, indicating that certification does not significantly impact all outcomes. Who this helps: This information benefits patients undergoing heart procedures by highlighting the importance of physician certification.

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Researchers looked at how changes in certification requirements for foreign medical graduates affected the ratings given by residency program directors and the test scores of those graduates. They found that between 1999 and 2003, 38% of international medical graduates had studied outside their home country, compared to only 17% between 1993 and 1997. This study shows that while new skills evaluations improve the information available to residency programs, the actual impact on ratings and scores is relatively small. Who this helps: This benefits residency program directors and international medical graduates.

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This study looked at how our eyes move when tracking objects, specifically how they follow a rule called Listing's law, which helps reduce unnecessary movement. Researchers found that the way we move our eyes combines typical rotational movements with slight forward and backward shifts, helping maintain smooth tracking. They noted that the eye's speed is influenced by two factors: one that doesn’t change with eye position and another that does, leading to consistent eye movements while following objects. Who this helps: This helps patients with vision issues and doctors who treat them by improving our understanding of eye movement mechanics.

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This study examined how the brain controls eye movements called saccades, which are quick shifts in gaze. Researchers looked at the eye movements of four rhesus monkeys and found that these movements closely matched predicted paths, with very small variations: about 0.5 degrees for rotation, and 0.3 to 0.4 degrees for vertical and horizontal shifts. Understanding how these eye movements are controlled is important because it can help improve treatments for conditions affecting vision and eye coordination. Who this helps: This helps patients with eye movement disorders.

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This research looked at how well doctors prevent cardiovascular disease by analyzing the performance of 811 physicians based on eight key health measures. The average score was 73.88%, with very few (only 2.7%) scoring below the minimum standard set at 47.38%. The findings highlight that doctors who spend more time in preventive care score better, which is important because it helps identify areas for improvement and encourages better patient care. Who this helps: This helps patients by ensuring they receive higher quality preventive heart care.

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This study looked at the connections between specific brain cells that control upward eye movements in monkeys. Researchers found that a group of brain cells containing a protein called calretinin (CR) only connects to the motoneurons that help move the eyes upward, while these connections do not involve certain other brain cells that provide inhibitory signals. Knowing that these connections are mainly excitatory can help refine our understanding of how upward eye movements are controlled and could aid in identifying similar pathways in humans. Who this helps: This benefits neurologists and researchers studying eye movement disorders.

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This study looked at how internal medicine doctors feel about ongoing certification through a program called maintenance of certification (MOC). The research found that doctors who were more accepting of MOC (those in the Preparation stage) believed it was important to be evaluated more frequently than those who were less accepting (those in the Precontemplation and Contemplation stages). Overall, while many doctors recognize the need for regular assessment, there is still a gap in understanding the benefits of MOC that needs to be addressed. Who this helps: This helps doctors by improving how they stay updated in their medical knowledge and skills.

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This study looked at how doctors can enhance their care for patients with osteoporosis through a self-assessment tool. Out of 850 physicians, many improved their performance on important care measures, with 38% focusing on better documenting vitamin D levels. This matters because it shows that targeted self-evaluation can lead to better osteoporosis management, helping to address existing gaps in care. Who this helps: This helps patients with osteoporosis by improving the quality of their treatment.

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This study created and tested a new tool, called the Quality Improvement Confidence Instrument (QICI), to measure how confident medical residents feel about their skills in improving healthcare quality. Researchers surveyed 732 residents from various training programs and found that, on average, residents felt least confident about choosing improvement targets and collecting data, but those with previous quality improvement experience reported feeling more confident overall. This matters because understanding residents' confidence can help ensure they are better prepared to make real improvements in healthcare practices. Who this helps: This helps medical residents and their training programs improve their skills in quality improvement.

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This study looked at how effective board certification and maintenance of certification (MOC) programs are for doctors in the United States. It found that while board-certified physicians typically provide better patient care, the improvements are often modest, and many doctors feel unsure if the effort put into certification is worth it. The study emphasizes the importance of continuously improving these programs based on feedback and changes in the healthcare field. Who this helps: This helps patients and healthcare providers by ensuring that doctors are qualified to deliver high-quality care.

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This study looked at how doctors' thinking skills—measured by their examination scores—affect the quality of care they provide to diabetes patients. The researchers found that higher exam scores were linked to better overall diabetes care scores for the doctors involved, with a noticeable impact on health outcomes rather than on patient experience. This matters because it highlights the importance of doctors' knowledge and judgment in delivering effective diabetes care, suggesting that strong cognitive skills could help improve patient health. Who this helps: This helps diabetes patients and their healthcare providers.

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This study examined the quality of diabetes care provided by internal medicine residents in training compared to fully qualified internists. The researchers found that residents' care had noticeable gaps, particularly in how care was delivered and patients' experiences, showing that improvements are necessary. This matters because poor training can lead to inadequate care for patients with diabetes, which is a serious health issue. Who this helps: This helps patients with diabetes and their families.

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This study examined whether a web-based tool could help residency clinics provide better care for older adults. Researchers found that clinics using the tool improved their practices significantly: fall-risk screenings increased by 23.3% compared to just 9.7% in clinics that didn’t use the tool, and documentation of life-sustaining care preferences improved by 16.4% versus 2.8%. These findings highlight that while the tool can lead to better care, there is still a lot of work needed to enhance the quality of care for older adults in training programs. Who this helps: This helps patients, particularly older adults receiving care in residency clinics.

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This study looked at the results of the Sleep Medicine Certification Examination over its first three years (2007, 2009, and 2011) to see how different groups of doctors performed. In 2011, nearly 2,913 candidates took the exam, with a lower overall pass rate of 65% compared to 78% in 2009 and 73% in 2007. Candidates with formal training had much higher scores, with over 90% passing the exam, showing that proper training is important for success. Who this helps: This helps doctors seeking certification and ultimately benefits patients by ensuring that their sleep medicine specialists are well-trained.

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This study looked at how long it takes for residency programs to get approval for quality improvement projects, which are important for training. Researchers found that approval times varied widely, from less than 1 week to over 56 weeks, with an average of 18 weeks. Those who felt more comfortable with the approval process got their approvals faster, indicating a need for better support and strategies to streamline this process. Who this helps: This benefits residency programs and medical educators working on quality improvement projects.

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This study focused on creating a fair performance standard for doctors managing diabetic patients. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,000 doctors, establishing that a score of 48.51 out of 100 represents a minimum acceptable level of care. They found that only 4% of doctors had scores below this standard and these outliers were linked to lower evaluations from their peers and worked primarily alone. Who this helps: This benefits patients by identifying underperforming doctors and ensuring better care for those with diabetes.

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This study looked at the experiences of older patients receiving care in residency clinics compared to those seeing experienced doctors. It found that patients in residency clinics reported lower quality of care, with only 42.1% receiving help to prevent falls compared to 61.8% from practicing physicians. Additionally, 77.5% of residency patients rated their care as high, versus 88.8% from experienced doctors, highlighting significant gaps in care for the elderly. Who this helps: This benefits older adult patients who need better healthcare support.

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This study looked at different online ways to assess doctors' communication skills. Researchers tested two formats: one with multiple-choice questions based on videos and another that included various types of questions, such as ratings and open-ended responses. They found that both formats had a good reliability score of 0.74, meaning they are consistent and trustworthy; however, there wasn't a significant difference in performance between the best communicators and those who were just okay. This matters because effective communication is crucial for patient care, and these web-based assessments could help improve how doctors interact with patients. Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors by providing better communication training.

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Researchers studied how monkeys perceive their head's orientation and movement in relation to gravity when they experience two types of motion: wobbling and spinning. They found that the monkeys could accurately estimate their spin velocity regardless of whether they were wobbling or spinning. This understanding of how the brain processes motion is important because it could help improve treatments for balance disorders. Who this helps: This helps patients with balance issues and vestibular disorders.

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This study looked at how the eyes move when tracking a target in circles or ellipses. Researchers found that, while the eyes generally follow the target smoothly, they make quick, small adjustments (about 1 degree or less) every few hundred milliseconds to keep the vision steady and reduce disturbances. This is important because it helps maintain clear vision while tracking moving objects. Who this helps: This benefits patients with motor control issues and doctors treating vision-related disorders.

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This study looked at whether medical trainees in intensive care units with many mechanical ventilation protocols performed better on exams than those in units with fewer protocols. Out of 553 trainees from 88 programs, those trained in high-intensity settings (those with more protocols) scored similarly to those in low-intensity settings, with an average score of 497 in both groups. This matters because it suggests that having more protocols does not necessarily improve trainee knowledge or exam performance in mechanical ventilation management. Who this helps: This helps trainees and their educators by demonstrating that the quantity of protocols alone does not ensure better training outcomes.

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This study developed a new way to track eye and head movements using a special technique in a small magnetic field. By applying a scientific principle, the researchers improved the accuracy of tracking eye movements, reducing errors by up to 50% when accounting for different head positions. This improvement matters because it allows for better understanding of how our eyes and heads move together in everyday situations. Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors studying vision and movement.

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This study looked at how the brain combines information about head movement and gravity to control eye movement. Researchers found that the way our eyes respond to head movements changes depending on the position of gravity, and their new model accurately predicted these responses. This is important because it helps us understand how the brain processes balance and motion, which can lead to better treatments for balance disorders. Who this helps: Patients with balance issues or vestibular disorders.

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This study looked at how well we can assess doctors' performance in treating diabetes. It found that a new scoring system, which combined different measures of care, was very reliable with a score of 0.91 and accurately distinguished between high-performing and low-performing doctors over 90% of the time. This is important because it shows that we can effectively evaluate and compare how well doctors provide care to diabetes patients, particularly highlighting that specialists in endocrinology tend to perform better. Who this helps: Patients with diabetes and their healthcare providers.

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This study explored how the clinical skills of faculty members influence their evaluations of medical residents' abilities. Researchers found that faculty with better history-taking and examination skills tended to rate residents more strictly, with specific correlations indicating the impact of faculty performance (like an r value of -0.55 for history-taking). The findings highlight that the way faculty assess residents can be affected by their own skills, which is important for ensuring fair evaluations. Who this helps: This benefits medical residents seeking accurate feedback on their clinical skills.

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This study looked at how well older adults receive medical care in training clinics and in regular doctors' offices. Researchers found that patients in residency clinics were generally younger and had fewer health issues, but they received less recommended care compared to those treated by seasoned doctors. Specifically, the study highlighted that the systems in residency clinics are not as equipped to support care for elderly patients, leading to significant gaps in quality. Who this helps: This research benefits older adults and their families by highlighting the need for better care systems in clinics where new doctors are trained.

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This study looked at a new tool designed to help doctors communicate better with each other, specifically between referring doctors and specialists. Over 12,000 referring doctors rated communication practices of 803 specialists, giving an average score of 5.53 out of 6, indicating good communication, but the specialists still found areas to improve. This is important because better communication can lead to improved patient care and outcomes. Who this helps: This benefits patients by ensuring they receive more coordinated and effective care.

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This study looked at how our inner ear balance system responds when we spin around an angled axis and how it affects our perception of motion. Researchers found that when people rotate, the angle of tilt significantly changes how we estimate our speed and the direction we think we're moving. Understanding these interactions is crucial for improving treatments for balance disorders. Who this helps: This benefits patients with balance issues and their doctors.