Traditional indigenous healing: Part I

Traditional indigenous healing is widely used today, as it has been since time immemorial. This article describes the following areas in regards to traditional healing: (a) an explanation of indigenous peoples, (b) a definition of traditional indigenous healing, (c) a portrayal of traditional healers, (d) health within indigenous culture, (e) traditional healing techniques, (f) utilization of traditional healing, (g) how to find a traditional healer, and (h) comparing traditional healing principles with mainstream ways. It is important to have knowledge about this method of holistic healing so health care providers and nurses can integrate it into the health care for individuals and/or families that choose traditional indigenous healing.     

Self direction in a problem based learning program

Baccalaureate nursing graduates must enter their professional careers with the understanding and ability to engage in continuing learning in order to ensure competence in professional practice. The graduate's ability to be self directed in learning is an important indication of the ability to pursue continuing learning as a practitioner. It has been surmised that Problem Based Learning nursing programs facilitate the development of abilities to become self directed in learning. A quasi-experimental design using the self directed learning readiness scale (SDLRS) was used to examine the self directed learning (SDL) of students at the beginning and end of one year in a problem based learning (PBL) program. In order to complement the quantitative data, year end focus group interviews were held with students to explore their experiences with SDL. Students demonstrated average self directed learning readiness scores at the beginning and end of the first year in the PBL program. Although students did not demonstrate any increase in SDLRS at the end of one year in a PBL program, they were able to describe themselves as having developed many of the documented characteristics associated with self directed learners.     

Clinical role, accuracy, and technical aspects of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in infants

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) has been shown to be an important alternative to echocardiography and catheterization for diagnostic imaging in older patients with congenital heart disease. However, little information is available on its clinical role, accuracy, and technical aspects in infants. We retrospectively identified all patients <1 year of age who underwent a CMRI examination at our institution over a 4-year period (from 1999 to 2002) and reviewed their medical records. Ninety-nine CMRI examinations were performed in 91 patients (median weight 4.9 kg; range 1.2 to 16.3) at a median age of 102 days (range 1 to 358). Technical modifications were used to improve signal-to-noise ratio and temporal resolution, and specialized personnel and equipment were employed. All CMRI studies were performed under general anesthesia without any complications, and all outpatients (n = 44) were discharged the same day. The primary referral questions for CMRI were delineation of the thoracic vasculature (n = 54), assessment of possible airway compression (n = 25), evaluation of cardiac tumor (n = 6), and other (n = 14). For the thoracic vasculature group, findings at surgery (n = 37) and catheterization (n = 16) were concordant with the CMRI diagnoses. In the airway compression group, findings at surgery (n = 16) were also in agreement with CMRI findings. Tumor types by CMRI in the 3 patients with preoperative studies were confirmed by histologic results. Thus, CMRI has a limited but important diagnostic role in infants with cardiovascular disease. It is an accurate and safe method to delineate the thoracic vasculature, evaluate possible airway compression, and characterize cardiac tumors. CMRI may obviate cardiac catheterization and bronchoscopy in selected cases.     

A case of monophasic synovial sarcoma presenting as a vulvar mass

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma is the fourth most commonly occurring sarcoma, accounting for 8-10% of all sarcomas. They arise from unknown pleuripotent stem cells that are capable of differentiating into mesenchymal and/or epithelial structures. Synovial sarcoma is characterized by specific chromosomal translocation t (X; 18)(p11, q11). CASE: We report the first case of monophasic synovial sarcoma arising in soft tissues of the vulva in a 33-year-old female. Complete excision of the mass was possible with tumor-free margins. CONCLUSION: Only four previous cases of biphasic synovial sarcoma arising in the vulva have been reported. The finding of the SYT-SSX2 translocation is generally associated with a better prognosis, besides tumor negative margins after excision offer the possibility of a better outlook for this patient.