Medico-legal considerations in the context of neonatal encephalopathy and therapeutic hypothermia

Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a significant complication of the peripartum period. It can lead to lifelong neurologic disabilities, including cerebral palsy, cognitive impairments, developmental delays, and epilepsy. Induced hypothermia is the first therapy, which has shown promise in improving the outcomes for neonates with moderate to severe NE following a presumed intrapartum insult.NE is also a frequent source of medical malpractice litigation. In this paper, we will review salient features of the American Tort System as it pertains to medical malpractice. We will discuss the obstetric medico-legal implications of therapeutic hypothermia and suggest a five-step approach to analyzing neonatal cases for causation, etiology, timing of occurrence, responsibility, and liability. We will close with three illustrative clinical cases.     

血流向量成像技术在心脏瓣膜病中的研究进展

心脏瓣膜病是较常见的心脏病,随着病情进展可导致心脏血流动力学发生显著变化,血流向量成像技术(VFM)既可用于观察心腔内血流流场的变化,又可用于评估心脏局部和整体功能的改变。本文就VFM技术对于心脏瓣膜疾病的研究进展做一综述。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情期间脑血管病住院医师网络教学效果评价与分析

目的 本研究对疫情期间通过网络教学实施的新型冠状病毒相关内容培训进行效果评价，并对网 络教学实践过程进行总结分析，为脑血管病住院医师规范化培训网络教学的开展及教学质量提高 提供参考。 方法 组织2017-2019级脑血管病住院医师进行新型冠状病毒相关内容网络教学培训，培训内容 包括操作规范、病毒知识与防控要点、诊断与治疗、诊疗流程等。采用自身对照研究的方法，通过对 比住院医师培训前后两次考核成绩对实施的网络教学进行效果评价。 结果 共189名脑血管病住院医师参加培训及考核。根据培训前后考试成绩的差异性分析结果，培 训后辅助检查、院感、诊断与治疗、防控、诊疗流程五项内容分数及总分均高于培训前（均P＜0.001）。 根据广义方程模型分析结果，校正学历和规培年限等因素后，培训后考试总分较培训前高9.14分 （95%CI 7.22～11.06，P＜0.001）。 结论 脑血管病住院医师网络教学培训效果较好，教学管理者需要充分发挥网络教学的优势，规 避劣势，将网络教学纳入脑血管病住院医师常态化教学活动。     

Héctor Abad-Gómez (1921-1987): médico,educador y defensor de los derechos humanos

Héctor Abad-Gómez, Colombian physician, university professor, journalist and human rights defender, was murdered in Medellín in 1987. He was a pioneer public health activist engaged in various fields. While being student his restless and dissatisfied mind, led him to fight for a better and safer water and food. He specialized in the University of Minnesota (USA), at his return to the country he led the establishment of the Rural Medical Service. Forced to exile for several years he was WHO consultant to several countries in the Americas and Asia. In 1956 he founded the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department of the University of Antioquia. He carried out the first recorded mass community vaccination against polio in the world. He initiated a community health agents program known as “Rural health promoters” that later would be implemented nationally. In 1962 he first proposed the application of epidemiological methods to study violence; he was visiting professor at the University of California; he coined the term “polyiatry” for a specialty dedicated to the health populations; he was director of the Colombian National School of Public Health that currently bears his name. Héctor Abad-Gómez ventured into political life, in accordance with Virchow dictum that “politics is medicine on a large scale”. The lives of both have interesting similarities except for the tragic and premature death of the former that still receives rejection today in social, political and academic levels, both in Colombia and abroad.     

Neurophysiological adaptations to spaceflight and simulated microgravity

Changes in physiological functions after spaceflight and simulated spaceflight involve several mechanisms. Microgravity is one of them and it can be partially reproduced with models, such as head down bed rest (HDBR). Yet, only a few studies have investigated in detail the complexity of neurophysiological systems and their integration to maintain homeostasis. Central nervous system changes have been studied both in their structural and functional component with advanced techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance (fMRI), showing the main involvement of the cerebellum, cortical sensorimotor, and somatosensory areas, as well as vestibular-related pathways. Analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) led to contrasting results, mainly due to the different factors affecting brain activity. The study of corticospinal excitability may enable a deeper understanding of countermeasures' effect, since greater excitability has been shown being correlated with better preservation of functions. Less is known about somatosensory evoked potentials and peripheral nerve function, yet they may be involved in a homeostatic mechanism fundamental to thermoregulation. Extending the knowledge of such alterations during simulated microgravity may be useful not only for space exploration, but for its application in clinical conditions and for life on Earth, as well.