Milgram and Tuskegee—Paradigm Research Projects in Bioethics

This paper discusses the use of the Milgram obedience experiments and the Tuskegee syphilis study in the bioethical literature. The two studies are presented and a variety of uses of them identified and discussed. It is argued that the use of these studies as paradigms of problematic research relies on a reduction of their complexity. What is discussed is thus often constructions of these studies that are closer to hypothetical examples than to the real studies.     

Ethical and metaethical criteria for an emerging technology: risk assessment

This paper examines ethical criteria for the shaping of an emergingtechnology applied internationally in environmental regulation:quantitative risk assessment-risk management. The role of thephysician in its application, especially in the genetic testingthat will be employed, underlines the importance of understandingthe nature and prospects for reshaping of this technology toenable ethical practice. The Cartesian or mechanistic model(which currently dominates the technology) excludes factorsof emotion, making the connection between assessment and managementunfruitful functionally and ethically, and makes the model unresponsiveto human needs. The emotional factors, nested and mediated inthe organic hierarchy of the ecologically-defined community,constitute key psychological, social, cultural and politicalelements of the total burden of risk. Ethical criteria consistentwith an open society are suggested for reshaping the model toenable effective management.     

The Development and Teaching of the Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Family Scientists*

This article describes the development of the Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Family Scientists that the National Council on Family Relations Board of Directors unanimously approved. Furthermore, it discusses the importance of ethics education for family professionals and provides suggestions for educators. Finally, the ethical principles and guidelines are delineated. We argue that the development of a scholarship on ethics education is important for current and future family scientists.     

Human ventral mesencephalic xenografts to the catecholamine-depleted striata of athymic rats: ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry

On the basis of animal studies, grafts of fetal human dopaminergic cells have been suggested as a therapy for Parkinson's disease. The purpose of this study was to characterize the ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry of human ventral mesencephalic xenografts placed into the catecholamine-depleted striata of athymic "nude" rats. Human fetal tissue was obtained from tissue fragments derived from elective abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy. Small pieces of the basal mesencephalon were grafted into the catecholamine-depleted striata of four athymic nude rats. The rats were allowed to survive from 3 to 6 months after grafting; following fixation, the striatal tissue containing the grafts was labeled with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase and serotonin. Immunocytochemistry revealed tyrosine-hydroxylase-like-immunoreactive (THLI) and serotoninlike-immunoreactive (5HTLI) cell bodies within the human grafts. Both 5HTLI and THLI fibers crossed the graft-host interface and innervated the previously lesioned striatum. Both types of fibers also entered the host cortex from the adjacent human graft. At the ultrastructural level, THLI and 5HTLI fibers and synaptic terminals were observed in the host neuropil. THLI and 5HTLI dendrites and axon terminals were also observed in the neuropil of the grafts themselves. THLI axon terminals are not normally present in the substantia nigra. The results of our study indicate that human xenografts can survive in the neuropil of the host striatum and form morphologically appropriate synapses within the host brain.     

Colour and brightness signals of parvocellular lateral geniculate neurons

Summary We recorded from single neurons in the parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate body of anesthetized monkeys. Spectral response curves of parvocellular neurons depended on the luminance ratio between the chromatic stimuli and achromatic background. From response/intensity curves, we determined the relative luminance between a coloured and an achromatic (white) light at which a given cell became non-responsive (critical luminance ratio, CLR). The spectral dependence of the CLRs of narrow (N) and wide band (W) cells with opponent receptor input showed characteristic differences. The activity of W-cells increased with luminance increase of a white light and of a coloured light in the specific spectral region of the cell (yellow-red for the long wave length sensitive WL-, and yellow-green-blue for the short wave length sensitive WS-cells), while N-cells were activated by their specific spectral light (blue for NS-cells, red for NL-cells) and by a luminance decrease of achromatic white. N-cells discriminate best between their characteristic colour and white at luminance ratios below their respective CLR, while W-cells distinguish best between a light of their characteristic colour and white at chromatic/ achromatic luminance ratios above their respective CLR. Yellow sensitive W-cells with a narrow spectral sensitivity peaking around 570 nm and with only a small or no response to white light, could enable distinction between white and yellow of similar luminance. The findings are consistent with the opponency model of spectrally sensitive cells in the LGB. We discuss their implications for colour coding by parvocellular cells. N- and W-cells appear to behave complementary with respect to luminance information (N-cells may be compared to the cat's off-cells, W-cells to on-cells). S- and L-cells are complementary with respect to colour. The yellow sensitive WM-cells are critical for the discrimination of yellow and white, while cells with excitatory cone input from blue and red cones (W-SL-cells) may aid the perception of purple. The fact that, at different relative luminance ratios between a chromatic stimulus and a white background, the whole family of parvocellular cells is involved differently in coding for colour, may explain the different appearance of colours against a white background at different luminance ratios and the perception of induced colours.This work was supported by a NATO collaborative research grant to Dr. Arne Valberg (650/83)     

Providing Interdisciplinary Geriatric Team Care: What Does It Really Take?

We concur with Speer and Schneider's arguments (2003 ; this issue) that more psychologists should offer mental health services to older adults and that the primary care system is a good focus of such efforts. Three issues deserve more prominence in their review. First, their argument that older adults are averse to mental health services seems incorrect, given research indicating that older adults prefer psychotherapy to medication for treatment of depression. Second, psychologists working in primary care need to be aware of new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes that allow documentation of psychological work in medical settings. Third, Speer and Schneider allude to interdisciplinary team functioning, but provide little information about models of team care or issues in developing a well-functioning interdisciplinary team; this commentary expands on those topics.     

河南省二级医院护士医院伦理氛围感知与隐性缺勤的相关性研究

目的 探讨河南省二级医院护士医院伦理氛围感知与隐性缺勤的现状及相关性。方法 采取多阶段分层随机抽样的方法在河南省抽取二级医院护士594名,采用一般资料调查表、医院伦理氛围量表、斯坦福隐性缺勤量表进行调查,采用相关性分析和多元线性回归分析探究护士医院伦理氛围感知与隐形缺勤之间的关系。结果 护士医院伦理氛围总分为(4.36±0.43)分,隐形缺勤为（14.83±4.76）分;不同科室、聘任方式、夜班数、科室工作年限以及饮食是否规律的护士隐形缺勤得分差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;医院伦理氛围总分与隐性缺勤呈负相关(r = - 0.348,P＜0.001),各维度与隐性缺勤呈负相关（P＜0.001）;回归分析结果显示在去除混杂因素（科室工作年限、是否饮食规律、科室）后,医院伦理氛围可负向预测护士隐形缺勤（β = - 0.296,P＜0.001）。结论 医院伦理氛围可能是二级医院护士隐性缺勤的独立危险因素,医院管理者应关注护士对医院伦理氛围感知情况的变化,以降低隐性缺勤。     

医院输血管理系统的设计和应用

本文描述了医院输血管理系统的流程、功能、结构以及数据库设计过程.介绍了系统软件功能模块.系统的应用实现了安全用血、降低输血差错率,提升医院的整体医疗质量.     

不孕不育者对人工授精技术的伦理态度调查研究

目的：研究不孕不育者对人工授精技术的伦理态度,促进该项技术更好地为患者服务.方法：自制问卷调查了223名不孕不育者.结果：不孕不育者对AIH、AID的态度存在显著差异（P＜0.05）;对婚姻家庭生活选择相对宽容;精子的商品化趋向值得关注;必须采取一定措施以保证精子和人工授精儿的质量.结论：AID会引发许多伦理问题,临床应用时更应遵循有利于患者、知情同意等伦理原则和相关法律规定,以减少纠纷,造福社会.     

不孕不育者与公众对人工授精技术伦理态度的对照研究

目的：研究不孕不育者与公众对人工授精技术的伦理态度的差异,促进该项技术更好地在临床应用.方法：自制问卷分别调查了220名不孕不育者和720名社会各类人员,对调查结果进行对照研究.结果：不孕不育者与公众在对待AIH的态度、AIH对夫妻感情影响的态度、AID中抚养、赡养问题的态度、给供精者提供“营养费”的态度、精子买卖的态度、AID人工授精儿信息告知的态度、单身女子选择人工授精的态度、AID人工授精儿成年后寻找供精者权利的态度、AID是否会造成亲属关系混乱的态度上均存在着显著差异（p＜0.05）.结论：不孕不育者作为人工授精技术的＂潜在主体＂对待该项技术的伦理态度比公众更加理性和谨慎.