Memorates and memory. Reevaluation of Lauri Honko’s theory.

This paper deals with the phenomena where culture and society influence the content of personal experiences. It confronts psychological knowledge about autobiographical memory and folkloristic theories associated with the concept of memorate – a personal experience narrative which is build upon a supernatural belief. Autobiographical memory is not a vessel in which static information is deposited and later recalled; rather it is a dynamic process of repeated construction and reconstruction of memories, which is subject to many internal and external influences. Ideas and concepts, widespread in society, dreams and beliefs, stories and experiences of others, can be, and often are incorporated into autobiographical memories. Similarly folklorists found out that memorates (personal experience narratives) often consist of traditional elements. The author of this paper argues that the theory of Lauri Honko regarding the formation and transmission of memorates (1964) largely coheres with psychological knowledge about autobiographical memory. This kind of social contagion of memory suggests a possibility for a specific form of cultural transmission of beliefs and concepts related to experiences

Opikināwāsowin (Cree)/ Ełtth'i Nuheskéne Denushyé (Dene) Raising our Children Well: Indigenous Culture and the Child Welfare System in Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, Indigenous children account for 86% of the children currently in care; the reason for this over-representation has direct links to attendance in Residential Schools in Canada. This research explores the correlation between strong/healthy connections to one's Indigenous culture and how this can help mitigate the risk of becoming involved in current child welfare systems

Food hypersensitivity by inhalation

Though not widely recognized, food hypersensitivity by inhalation can cause major morbidity in affected individuals. The exposure is usually more obvious and often substantial in occupational environments but frequently occurs in non-occupational settings, such as homes, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and commercial flights. The exposure can be trivial, as in mere smelling or being in the vicinity of the food. The clinical manifestations can vary from a benign respiratory or cutaneous reaction to a systemic one that can be life-threatening. In addition to strict avoidance, such highly-sensitive subjects should carry self-injectable epinephrine and wear MedicAlert® identification. Asthma is a strong predisposing factor and should be well-controlled. It is of great significance that food inhalation can cause de novo sensitization

Skin testing versus radioallergosorbent testing for indoor allergens

BACKGROUND: Skin testing (ST) is the most common screening method for allergy evaluation. Measurement of serum specific IgE is also commonly used, but less so by allergists than by other practitioners. The sensitivity and specificity of these testing methods may vary by type of causative allergen and type of allergic manifestation. We compared ST reactivity with serum specific IgE antibodies to common indoor allergens in patients with respiratory allergies. METHODS: 118 patients (3 mo-58 yr, mean 12 yr) with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma had percutaneous skin testing (PST) supplemented by intradermal testing (ID) with those allergens suspected by history but showed negative PST. The sera were tested blindly for specific IgE antibodies by the radioallergosorbent test (Phadebas RAST). The allergens were D. farinae (118), cockroach (60), cat epithelium (90), and dog epidermal (90). Test results were scored 0–4; ST ≥ 2 + and RAST ≥ 1 + were considered positive. RESULTS: The two tests were in agreement (i.e., either both positive or both negative) in 52.2% (dog epidermal) to 62.2% (cat epithelium). When RAST was positive, ST was positive in 80% (dog epidermal) to 100% (cockroach mix). When ST was positive, RAST was positive in 16.3% (dog epidermal) to 50.0% (D. farinae). When RAST was negative, ST was positive in 48.5% (cat epithelium) to 69.6% (D. farinae). When ST was negative, RAST was positive in 0% (cockroach) to 5.6% (cat epithelium). The scores of ST and RAST showed weak to moderate correlation (r = 0.24 to 0.54). Regardless of history of symptoms on exposure, ST was superior to RAST in detecting sensitization to cat epithelium and dog epidermal. CONCLUSION: For all four indoor allergens tested, ST was more sensitive than RAST. When both tests were positive, their scores showed poor correlation. Sensitizations to cat epithelium and dog epidermal are common, even in subjects who claimed no direct exposure

Notwendigkeit und Umfang der postoperativen intensiv-medizinischen Überwachung von Patienten nach elektiven epilepsiechirurgischen Eingriffen

Hintergrund: Traditionell werden Patienten nach erfolgtem elektiven resektiven epilepsiechirurgischen Eingriff postoperativ auf einer (Neuro)-Intensivstation berwacht. Das Ziel der berwachung ist eine frhzeitige Erkennung von postoperativen lebensbedrohlichen Komplikationen oder klinischen Ereignissen, welche eine schnelle medizinische oder chirurgische Intervention bentigen. Wir haben in dieser Analyse die Hufigkeit des Auftretens von Ereignissen, welche eine intensiv-medizinische berwachung erforderten, sowie die dazu beitragenden mglichen pr- und intraoperativen Faktoren untersucht. Methoden: wir haben eine retrospektive Studie mit n=266 Patienten mit medikamenten-resistenter Epilepsie, die sich zwischen 2012 und 2019 einem elektiven resektiven epilepsiechirurgischen Eingriff unterzogen, durchgefhrt. Postoperative Komplikationen oder klinischen Ereignissen, welche eine schnelle medizinische oder chirurgische Intervention bentigen, wurden innerhalb von 48 Stunden postoperativ erfasst. Eine multivariaten Analyse wurde zur Identifikation von unabhngigen signifikanten Einflussfaktoren durchgefhrt. Ergebnisse: Dreizehn Patienten (4,9 %) entwickelten innerhalb von 48h postoperativ mindestens ein Ereignis, welches eine intensiv-medizinische berwachung erforderte. Die multivariaten Analyse zeigte, dass Diabetes Mellitus sowie ein intraop. Blutverlust = 325 mL unabhngige Prdiktoren fr die Notwendigkeit einer postoperativen intensiv-medizinischen berwachung sind. Zusammenfassung: Zusammenfassend legen unsere Ergebnisse nahe, dass die Mehrheit der Patienten, die sich einem elektiven resektiven epilepsiechirurgischen Eingriff unterziehen, keine postoperativen Ereignisse entwickeln, welche mandatorisch ein intensivmedizinisches Setting erfordern. Somit erscheint die postoperative berwachung dieser Patienten auf einer IMC-berwachungsstation sicher und machbar. Allerdings sollten Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus und einem erhhten intraoperativen Blutverlust (>325 mL) weiterhin mit besonderer Umsicht behandelt werden und postoperativ einer intensivmedizinischen berwachung unterliegen.The necessity for routine intensive care unit admission following elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery: a retrospective single-center observational study OBJECTIVE Traditionally, patients who underwent elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery are monitored postoperatively in an intensive care unit (ICU) overnight in order to sufficiently respond to potential early postoperative complications. In the present study, the authors investigated the frequency of early postoperative events that entailed ICU monitoring in patients who had undergone elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery. In a second step, they aimed at identifying pre- and intraoperative risk factors for the development of unfavorable events to distinguish those patients with the need for postoperative ICU monitoring at the earliest possible stage. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective observational cohort study assessing patients with medically intractable epilepsy (n = 266) who had undergone elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery between 2012 and 2019 at a tertiary care epilepsy center, excluding those patients who had undergone invasive diagnostic approaches and functional hemispherectomy. Postoperative complications were defined as any unfavorable postoperative surgical and/or anesthesiological event that required further ICU therapy within 48 hours following surgery. A multivariate analysis was performed to reveal preoperatively identifiable risk factors for postoperative adverse events requiring an ICU setting. RESULTS Thirteen (4.9%) of 266 patients developed early postoperative adverse events that required further postoperative ICU care. The most prevalent event was a return to the operating room because of relevant postoperative intracranial hematoma (5 of 266 patients). Multivariate analysis revealed intraoperative blood loss = 325 ml (OR 6.2, p = 0.012) and diabetes mellitus (OR 9.2, p = 0.029) as risk factors for unfavorable postoperative events requiring ICU therapy. CONCLUSIONS The present study revealed routinely collectable risk factors that would allow the identification of patients with an elevated risk of postsurgical complications requiring a postoperative ICU stay following epilepsy surgery. These findings may offer guidance for a stepdown unit admission policy following epilepsy surgical interventions after an external validation of the results