Principios filosóficos de la homeopatía / Philosophical principles of homeopathy

De una manera clara, directa y muy didáctica, los autores de este trabajo realizan un recorrido por los principios que configuran la estructura de la filosofía homeopática, rescatando muchos de los conceptos inscritos en algunas de las obras literarias del célebre Higinio G. Pérez, fundador de la Escuela Libre de Homeopatía, y del fisiólogo norteamericano Walter Bradford Cannon, los cuales, por supuesto, son coincidentes con muchos de los preceptos hipocráticos y hahnemaniannos. Para complementar su análisis, los investigadores refieren las opiniones de algunos otros científicos (fisiólogos y biólogos) y citan de manera textual diversos parágrafos del doctor Samuel Hahnemann, al tiempo que expresan su opinión sobre la vigencia de dichas premisas en la época moderna...

In a clear direct and very didactic manner the authors of this paper perform a journey by the principles that configure the philosophical structure of homeopathy, recovering many of the concepts written in various of the literary works of the notorious physician Higinio G. Pérez, founder of the Homeopathic Free Scholl and from the north American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon, which of course, are coincidental with most of the Hippocratic an Hanemanniann precepts. In order to complete their analysis, these researchers refer the opinions of some other scientists (Physiologist and Biologists) and quoted verbatim various paragraphs of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, at the same time, that they state their personal opinion on the validity of these assumptions in modern times...

Principios filosóficos de la homeopatía / Philosophical principles of homeopathy

De una manera clara, directa y muy didáctica, los autores de este trabajo realizan un recorrido por los principios que configuran la estructura de la filosofía homeopática, rescatando muchos de los conceptos inscritos en algunas de las obras literarias del célebre Higinio G. Pérez, fundador de la Escuela Libre de Homeopatía, y del fisiólogo norteamericano Walter Bradford Cannon, los cuales, por supuesto, son coincidentes con muchos de los preceptos hipocráticos y hahnemaniannos. Para complementar su análisis, los investigadores refieren las opiniones de algunos otros científicos (fisiólogos y biólogos) y citan de manera textual diversos parágrafos del doctor Samuel Hahnemann, al tiempo que expresan su opinión sobre la vigencia de dichas premisas en la época moderna. (AU)

In a clear direct and very didactic manner the authors of this paper perform a journey by the principles that configure the philosophical structure of homeopathy, recovering many of the concepts written in various of the literary works of the notorious physician Higinio G. Pérez, founder of the Homeopathic Free Scholl and from the north American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon, which of course, are coincidental with most of the Hippocratic an Hanemanniann precepts. In order to complete their analysis, these researchers refer the opinions of some other scientists (Physiologist and Biologists) and quoted verbatim various paragraphs of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, at the same time, that they state their personal opinion on the validity of these assumptions in modern times. (AU)

Long-term stability of surgical-orthodontic correction of class III malocclusions with long-face syndrome

Objectives: In the first place, to evaluate skeletal changes of the maxilla and mandible induced by surgical-orthodontic correction of malocclusions class III with long-face syndrome and secondly, to analyze the stability of these skeletal changes in the long term (more than 6 years). Design of Study: A retrospective, unicentric and longitudinal study of 19 patients who had undergone surgical and orthodontic therapy for class III skeletal malocclusion with long-face syndrome was undertaken. A cephalometric analysis based on 8 angle measurements, and statistical analyses at three different points in time (before orthodontic treatment, after orthognathic surgery and after a retention period of at least 6 years) were carried out. Results: The changes produced following surgery show that, with the exception of the maxillary plane and the facial axis, all other variables presented changes of great statistical difference. Conclusions: Skeletal changes after orthodontic-surgical correction present maxillary advance, mandibular regression and mandibular anterorotation. The angles that represent the mandibular vertical position (ramus angle, goniac angle and mandibular plane angle) showed statistically significant relapses and no stability in contrast to the facial axis (AU)

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Long-term stability of surgical-orthodontic correction of class III malocclusions with long-face syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: In the first place, to evaluate skeletal changes of the maxilla and mandible induced by surgical-orthodontic correction of malocclusions class III with long-face syndrome and secondly, to analyze the stability of these skeletal changes in the long term (more than 6 years). DESIGN OF STUDY: A retrospective, unicentric and longitudinal study of 19 patients who had undergone surgical and orthodontic therapy for class III skeletal malocclusion with long-face syndrome was undertaken. A cephalometric analysis based on 8 angle measurements, and statistical analyses at three different points in time (before orthodontic treatment, after orthognathic surgery and after a retention period of at least 6 years) were carried out. RESULTS: The changes produced following surgery show that, with the exception of the maxillary plane and the facial axis, all other variables presented changes of great statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: Skeletal changes after orthodontic-surgical correction present maxillary advance, mandibular regression and mandibular anterorotation. The angles that represent the mandibular vertical position (ramus angle, goniac angle and mandibular plane angle) showed statistically significant relapses and no stability in contrast to the facial axis.

Scientific and religious controversies about the beginning of human life: the relevance of the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient.

In this paper we show that the question, "When does human life begin?", is not one question, but three. The first question is, "When does human biological life begin?", and is a scientific question. A brief review of embryology is provided to answer this question. The second question is, "When do obligations to protect human life begin?", and is a question of general theological and philosophical ethics. A brief review of major world religions and philosophy is provided to answer this question but has no settled answer and therefore involves irresolvable controversy. The third question is, "How should physicians respond to disagreement about when obligations to protect human life begin?" and is a question for professional medical ethics. A review of the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient is provided to answer this question. Physicians should manage the irresolvable controversy surrounding the second question by appealing to the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient. It is philosophically sound, respectful of all religious traditions and the personal convictions of patients and physicians alike, and clinically applicable.

Mortalidad materna en África / Maternal mortality in Africa

Los autores presentan en este informe la dramática situación de la salud materna en los países de África. De acuerdo con las estimaciones más recientes, en este continente muere anualmente cerca de medio millón de mujeres (1 muerte materna/min); un número importante de ellas (entre 3 y 4 millones) queda con fístulas genitourinarias invalidantes. Al contrario, en los países industrializados sólo se registran anualmente 2.500 muertes maternas (el 0,47% del total mundial) con una tasa de mortalidad materna (TMM) del 20/100.000. La situación es especialmente mala en los países del África subsahariana donde las distintas TMM superan los 1.000/100.000 nacidos vivos, con un riesgo de muerte materna durante toda la vida de 1/14 frente a 1/2.800 de los países desarrollados. El informe analiza las causas de muerte materna en el continente africano, las razones por las que se producen los 3 retrasos que las condicionan (retraso en la solicitud de ayuda, en llegar al hospital y en este último), así como las intervenciones necesarias para disminuir las elevadas TMM. Finalmente se presenta un plan integral, auspiciadopor la World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM) y la International Academy of Perinatal Medicine (IAPM), que tiene por objetivo reducir en tres cuartas partes la TMM en África Central, de acuerdo con el espíritu de la Declaración de los Objetivos del Milenio de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas

In this report, the authors describe the dramatic situation of maternal health in African countries. According to the most recent estimates, almost 1 million African women die each year (one maternal death per minute) and a significant proportion of these (between 3 and 4 million) have incapacitating genitourinary fistulae. In contrast, in industrialized countries, only 2,500 maternal deaths are registered yearly (0.47% of the total worldwide) with a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 20 per 100,000 live births. The situation is especially unfavorable in Sub- Saharan Africa, where the distinct MMR are higher than 1,000 per 100,000 live births, with a lifetime risk of maternal death of 1/14 compared with 1/2,800 in developed countries. This report analyzes the causes of maternal death in the African continent, the reasons for the three type of delay that affect these causes (delay in requesting help, delay in arriving at a hospital and delay in receiving medical attention after arrival), as well as the interventions required to reduce the elevated MMR. Finally, an Integral Plan, developed by the World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM) and the International Academy of Perinatal Medicine (IAPM) is presented. This initiative aims to reduce theMMR in Central Africa by two-thirds, in agreement with the spirit of the «Declaration on the Millenium Development Goals» of the United Nations General Assembly

Fetal behavior assessed in all three trimesters of normal pregnancy by four-dimensional ultrasonography.

AIM: To assess fetal behavior in all three trimesters of normal pregnancy and to investigate the continuation of behavior from fetal to neonatal period. METHODS: One hundred out of 130 pregnant women in all trimesters with singleton pregnancy were assigned for the investigation. All recordings were performed in the morning, after two hours of fasting. Video recordings of newborns were made while the newborns were in bed, separated from other infants in the nursery, dressed, and lying on their backs in a supine position with unrestrained hands. Recording was not performed during prolonged episodes of fussing and crying, during drowsiness, and episodes of hiccupping. All observed facial expressions and movement patterns were presented collectively with maximum, minimum, and median frequencies during 30-minute observation period. RESULTS: We noted a tendency towards decreased frequency of facial expressions and movement patterns with increasing gestational age. In the first trimester, we observed the highest incidence of general movements ranging between 5 and 147, and with a median value of 47. In the second trimester, the number of head and hand movements decreased gradually, compared with the first trimester. The highest range was registered for head retroflexion pattern, ranging from 15 to 42 with a median of 25. The most frequent facial pattern in the second trimester was sucking (3 and 30 movements per infant with a median value of 9). Wilcoxon rank-sum test showed statistically significant differences between the fetuses in the third trimester and the newborns (P<0.05) in hand to head, hand to mouth, hand to eye, hand to ear movement), tongue expulsion, and smiling, whereas the differences between the rest of the movements were not statistically significant. Spearman rank order correlation reached statistical significance (P<0.05) in isolated eye blinking, smiling, grimacing, hand to head, hand to mouth, hand to eye, hand to face, and in hand to ear movement, whereas the differences between the rest of the facial expressions were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Fetal behavioral patterns directly reflect the developmental and maturational processes of the central nervous system. 4D observation of fetal and early neonatal period may add to better understanding of the neurological development of the fetus.

Three-dimensional yolk and gestational sac volume. A prospective study of prognostic value.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative prognostic value of ultrasound findings during the first-trimester scan by univariate and logistic regression analysis in a group of asymptomatic women. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 125 asymptomatic pregnant women with a singleton conceptus, concordance between menstrual age and crown-rump length, and documented fetal activity, 25 for each gestational age between 6 and 10 weeks, were enrolled in the study and underwent a transvaginal sonographic examination. The following data were collected: yolk sac mean diameter and volume, gestational sac mean diameter and volume, fetal heart rate, maternal age, gestational age and presence of a retrochorial hematoma. The outcome variable was abortion, defined as pregnancy loss at any time up to 20 weeks' gestation. Normograms were constructed for volumes, mean diameters and fetal heart rate. Receiver-operator characteristic curves were performed in order to dichotomize maternal and gestational age. Univeriate analysis was performed by Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was performed to test the relationship between independent variables and pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, the variables significantly associated with spontaneous abortion were maternal age > 34 years, yolk sac volume outside the 5th to 95th percentile, gestational sac volume < the 5th percentile and fetal heart rate outside the 5th to 95th percentile. In regression analysis only maternal age > 34 years, gestational sac mean diameter < 5th percentile and fetal heart rate outside the 5th to 95th percentile were significant in predicting abortion. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that new three-dimensional parameters are of no clinical benefit in the prediction of abortion in nonbleeding, first-trimester pregnancy, when conventional sonographic parameters are used.