Evaluation of a new community-based curriculum in disaster medicine for undergraduates

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, many medical schools include training in disaster medicine in undergraduate studies. This study evaluated the efficacy of a disaster medicine curriculum recently designed for Saudi Arabian medical students. METHODS: Participants were 15 male and 14 female students in their fourth, fifth or sixth year at Jazan University Medical School, Saudi Arabia. The course was held at the Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Medicine and Computer Sciences Applied to the Medical Practice in Novara, Italy. RESULTS: The overall mean score on a test given before the course was 41.0 % and it increased to 67.7 % on the post-test (Wilcoxon test for paired samples: z = 4.71, p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the mean scores of males and females, or between students in their fourth, fifth or sixth year of medical school. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that this curriculum is effective for teaching disaster medicine to undergraduate medical students. Adoption of this course would help to increase the human resources available for dealing with disaster situations

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of a new series of α-adrenergic agonists: Spiro[(1,3-diazacyclopent-1-ene)-5,2'-(1',2',3',4'- tetrahydronaphthalene)]

The contractions induced by a partial α1-adrenoceptor agonist in cutaneous veins, such as the saphenous vein, show a particular sensitivity to changes in local temperature: the contractility to a partial α1- adrenoceptor agonist increases when the temperature is raised, a response that contrasts to that noted with full α1- and α2-adrenoceptor agonists. This observation may be of importance for the treatment of the symptoms of venous insuffiency, favored during warm summer days. A new series of full and partial α-adrenergic agonists was designed and synthesized, the spiro[(1,3- diazacyclopent-1-ene)-5,2'-(1',2',3',4'-tetrahydronaphthalene)]7a-kk or spiro-imidazolines. Using in vitro (femoral artery and saphenous vein) and in vivo (pithed rat) biological evaluations, structure-activity relationships could be defined which allowed the discovery of a full α2-agonist (34b), a full α1-agonist (7s), and a nonselective partial α1/α2-agonist (7aa) endowed with an outstanding veinotonic selectivity as compared to its effect on mean arterial pressure. The latter compound is presently undergoing extensive pharmacological and toxicological evaluations, as a clinical candidate.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Assessment of Anti-Migraine Potential of a Novel α-Adrenoceptor Agonist S19014: Effects on Porcine Carotid and Regional Haemodynamics and Human Coronary Artery

Taking into account the drawbacks associated with the use of triptans, attempts are being made to explore other avenues for the treatment of migraine. Recently, it has been shown that both α1- and α2-adrenoceptors mediate the constriction of porcine carotid arteriovenous anastomoses, which has effectively served as an experimental model predictive of anti-migraine activity. The present study investigated the effects of a novel α-adrenoceptor agonist S19014 {spiro[(1,3- diazacyclopent-1-ene)-5 : 2′-(4′,5′-dimethylindane)] fumarate} on carotid and systemic haemodynamics in anaesthetized pigs, and on human isolated coronary arteries. Increasing doses of S19014 (1-30 μg/kg, i.v.) produced a dosedependent initial short-lasting vasopressor response and a decrease of total carotid blood flow and conductance. The carotid blood flow and conductance changes were exclusively due to constriction of carotid arteriovenous anastomoses (capillary blood flow increased) and were accompanied by an increase in arterio-jugular venous oxygen saturation difference. Whereas prazosin (100 μg/kg, i.v.) was ineffective, rauwolscine (300 μg/kg, i.v.) attenuated the responses to S19014. The compound did not much affect the distribution of cardiac output to peripheral organs when compared with the vehicle group. Furthermore, S19014 only slightly contracted the human isolated coronary artery and its contractions, contrary to those of sumatriptan, were not increased in blood vessels precontracted with U46619. These results suggest that (i) the systemic and carotid vascular effects of S19014 are mainly mediated by α2-adrenoceptors, and (ii) S19014 could be effective in the treatment of migraine with an improved cardiovascular tolerance

Assessment of Anti-Migraine Potential of a Novel α-Adrenoceptor Agonist S19014: Effects on Porcine Carotid and Regional Haemodynamics and Human Coronary Artery

Taking into account the drawbacks associated with the use of triptans, attempts are being made to explore other avenues for the treatment of migraine. Recently, it has been shown that both α1- and α2-adrenoceptors mediate the constriction of porcine carotid arteriovenous anastomoses, which has effectively served as an experimental model predictive of anti-migraine activity. The present study investigated the effects of a novel α-adrenoceptor agonist S19014 {spiro[(1,3- diazacyclopent-1-ene)-5 : 2′-(4′,5′-dimethylindane)] fumarate} on carotid and systemic haemodynamics in anaesthetized pigs, and on human isolated coronary arteries. Increasing doses of S19014 (1-30 μg/kg, i.v.) produced a dosedependent initial short-lasting vasopressor response and a decrease of total carotid blood flow and conductance. The carotid blood flow and conductance changes were exclusively due to constriction of carotid arteriovenous anastomoses (capillary blood flow increased) and were accompanied by an increase in arterio-jugular venous oxygen saturation difference. Whereas prazosin (100 μg/kg, i.v.) was ineffective, rauwolscine (300 μg/kg, i.v.) attenuated the responses to S19014. The compound did not much affect the distribution of cardiac output to peripheral organs when compared with the vehicle group. Furthermore, S19014 only slightly contracted the human isolated coronary artery and its contractions, contrary to those of sumatriptan, were not increased in blood vessels precontracted with U46619. These results suggest that (i) the systemic and carotid vascular effects of S19014 are mainly mediated by α2-adrenoceptors, and (ii) S19014 could be effective in the treatment of migraine with an improved cardiovascular tolerance

Heritage materials and biofouling mitigation through UV-C irradiation in show caves: state-of-the-art practices and future challenges

Biofouling, i.e., colonization of a given substrate by living organisms, has frequently been reported for heritage materials and particularly on stone surfaces such as building facades, historical monuments, and artworks. This also concerns subterranean environments such as show caves, in which the installation of artificial light for tourism has led to the proliferation of phototrophic microorganisms. In Europe nowadays, the use of chemicals in these very sensitive environments is scrutinized and regulated by the European Union. New and environmentally friendly processes must be developed as alternative methods for cave conservation. For several years, the UV irradiation currently used in medical facilities and for the treatment of drinking water has been studied as a new innovative method for the conservation of heritage materials. This paper first presents a review of the biofouling phenomena on stone materials such as building facades and historical monuments. The biological disturbances induced by tourist activity in show caves are then examined, with special attention given to the methods and means to combat them. Thirdly, a general overview is given of the effects of UV-C on living organisms, and especially on photosynthetic microorganisms, through different contexts and studies. Finally, the authors’ own experiments and findings are presented concerning the study and use of UV-C irradiation to combat algal proliferation in show caves. Both laboratory and in situ results are summarized and synthesized from their previously published works. The application of UV in caves is discussed and further experiments are proposed to enhance research in this domain

Palaeozoic Innovations in the Micro- and Megafossil Plant Record: from the Earliest Plant spores to the Earliest Seeds

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