St. George's University is a private medical school and international university in Grenada, West Indies, offering degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, the health sciences, nursing, arts and sciences, and business.St. George's University was established by an act of Grenada's parliament on July 23, 1976. Classes in the School of Medicine began January 17, 1977. In 1993, the University added graduate and undergraduate programs. In 1996, it was granted a charter for the School of Arts and Sciences and a Graduate Studies Program. In 1997, undergraduate courses in international business, life sciences, medical sciences, pre-medical and pre-veterinary medicine were added. The School of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1999, as was the University's Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.St.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) allows for early surveillance of viral pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Simplified low-cost approaches are needed to deploy WBE surveillance in resource-limited small-island settings, where high sensitivity must be maintained. In this study, we optimized key upstream steps in an electronegative membrane virus adsorption-elution (VIRADEL) workflow, including sample acidification, composite sampling duration, and RT-qPCR inhibition mitigation. Wastewater influent was sampled at a pump station in Grenada using 12 h and 24 h time-weighted composite samples, concentrated using electronegative membrane VIRADEL with and without sample acidification (pH 3.5), and used Phi 6 (enveloped virus) and MS2 (non-enveloped virus) bacteriophages as process controls and PMMoV as a fecal-derived normalization target. Targets for SARS-CoV-2 N1 and a non-enveloped virus surrogate were measured by RT-qPCR. Quantitative wastewater data were compared to reported clinical cases in the community. Sample acidification significantly increased recovery of the enveloped process control, Phi 6 (p < 0.01) indicating improved efficiency in capturing enveloped viral targets during filtration. Twelve-hour composite samples had a false-negative percentage of 88%, while 24 h samples had only 6% false negatives and were able to mirror clinical case trends. Wastewater viral signals were detected 3-5 days prior to an increase in clinical cases. Hydraulic travel time within the contributing sewer network was not directly measured; therefore, the reported 3-5 day lead time reflects the combined effect of shedding dynamics, sampling integration, and sewer transport. This optimized workflow was deployed for nine months showing sustained analytical performance and operational feasibility.
To evaluate the technical and clinical efficacy of the low-profile braided occluder (LOBO) device for proximal splenic artery embolization (SAE) and compare its performance with conventional coil embolization. This retrospective multi-institutional study included 44 consecutive patients who underwent proximal SAE between June 2023 and October 2025. Demographic data, etiology, embolic device type, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, and outcomes were recorded. Technical success was defined as complete angiographic occlusion using the index device. Clinical success was defined as the absence of rebleeding or reintervention within 30 days. Of the 44 patients (mean age, 43.2 years; 39
Objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the UK, yet recognition of familial risk and referrals for genetic assessment remains low. This project aimed to (1) develop and implement a streamlined clinical pathway for standardised family history (FH)-based CRC risk assessment and surveillance in patients referred for FH indications and (2) evaluate the feasibility and cost/time efficiency of standardised FH assessment in patients with symptomatic endoscopy to identify individuals with previously unrecognised familial CRC risk. A novel endoscopy genetic counsellor's (EGC) role was introduced to integrate genetic expertise into routine endoscopy services. Design A service improvement project was implemented at St. George's Hospital Endoscopy unit. Two cohorts were analysed retrospectively: (A) patients undergoing colonoscopy under FH-based surveillance pathway (n=211) and (B) patients referred under a symptomatic pathway (n=2019). Patients completed a web-based FH questionnaire service (FHQS), reviewed by the EGC, alongside clinical findings. Surveillance recommendations followed current practice guidelines. Results In cohort A, 65.8% (139/211) completed FHQS. Surveillance intervals were adjusted for 80.57% (112/139; p<0.001): 75% (105/139) downgraded and 5% (7/139) upgraded. Surveillance optimisation prevented 347 unwarranted colonoscopies, saving an estimated 288,010 pound. In cohort B, 19.9% (402/2019) responded to FHQS: 39.5% (159/402) classified as 'clear population risk'. Among 49% (197/402) triggered for three-generation FH assessment, 10.1% (20/197) were identified as moderate risk and 2% (4/197) as high risk. Conclusion Embedding FHQS-EGC within endoscopy enabled standardised FH assessment, improved CRC risk stratification and optimised colonoscopy surveillance. The scalable model supports wider integration of FH-trained staff to improve efficiency and genetic awareness within endoscopy services.
Anatomical education and research are built on the generosity of individuals who donate their bodies to advance science. However, the terminology traditionally used to describe these individuals—“specimens,” “cadavers,” or “cadaveric specimens”—risks objectifying the donor and obscuring their humanity. This paper examines the historical roots of depersonalized language, its persistence in contemporary research, and the ethical implications of its continuing use. Drawing on comparisons with the organ donation and transplantation literature and on calls within anatomy for reforming terminology, we propose humanizing alternatives such as “body donor,” “donor body,” or “anatomical donor.” The discussion emphasizes how terminology influences pedagogy, professional culture, and public trust in body donation programs. By embracing more respectful language, anatomists, surgeons, physicians, and dentists can better honor the gift of body donation and highlight the humanity of those who continue to teach us even after death, for example, Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae .
Contemporary medical education (ME) curricula are vastly devoid of affirmative integration of the social determinants of health (SDH) despite growing evidence of implications for future physicians' practice and influence on population health outcomes. Where incorporated, several programs still lack a population health-centric approach in curriculum design. Most publications focus on the academic implications from SDH integration in curricula. Our work extends to a more global perspective, highlighting the impacts of disparities in the integration of SDH on physicians' readiness and competence to influence population health outcomes. We highlight not just the inequitable integration across countries and ME programs, but also the significance for future physicians' thinking and approach to practice. From our work, we expect academic administrators to become more aware of the value of population-centric content in ME to address the global high burden of preventable diseases. We also hope to raise awareness among prospective students about the health needs of societies, driven by upstream determinants, and how such needs may reflect downward to patients' conditions. We conclude that affirmative SDH integration in ME is a necessary step to realigning medical practice for better population health outcomes, particularly in developing countries, where poorer health outcomes and socioeconomic conditions are closely interrelated. Our findings underscore the need for improving instructional design and content with a greater focus on global health impact, integrating the community as a learning space and source of co-educators, and realigning institutional policies to enable smoother SDH integration in curricula.
