Medical students perform basic life support skills in a simulated scenario better using a 4-stage teaching approach compared to conventional training

Introduction. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is influenced by the quality of basic life support (BLS). The primary objective of our study was to compare efficiency in the acquisition of BLS skills using conventional training and the 4-stage approach as a teaching method for BLS training. Methods. In a prospective, randomised, 2-parallel group study, 266 first year medical students were randomised to either conventional training or the 4-stage approach using 2000 and 2005 ERC (European Resuscitation Council) guidelines. The students were tested immediately after receiving training. Three ERC-certified instructors assessed BLS skills using video recordings. Results. The students who were taught according to the 4-stage approach using 2000 guidelines preformed significantly better in the following steps: calls for help (p<0.01), opens the airway (p<0.01), places hands for chest compression correctly (p<0.01) and performs chest compressions correctly (p<0.01), while using 2005 guidelines, only chest compression hand position improved significantly in the 4-stage teaching group (p<0.01). Conclusions. The 4-stage approach improved the efficiency of several steps of the BLS algorithm and the ability to follow the algorithm in the correct sequence using 2000 ERC guidelines, while in students using the 2005 ERC guidelines only chest compression hand position improved significantly. Students who were taught according to 2000 ERC guidelines had significantly better hand position than students who were taught according to 2005 guidelines, independent of teaching method used

Medical students perform basic life support skills in a simulated scenario better using a 4-stage teaching approach compared to conventional training

Introduction. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is influenced by the quality of basic life support (BLS). The primary objective of our study was to compare efficiency in the acquisition of BLS skills using conventional training and the 4-stage approach as a teaching method for BLS training. Methods. In a prospective, randomised, 2-parallel group study, 266 first year medical students were randomised to either conventional training or the 4-stage approach using 2000 and 2005 ERC (European Resuscitation Council) guidelines. The students were tested immediately after receiving training. Three ERC-certified instructors assessed BLS skills using video recordings. Results. The students who were taught according to the 4-stage approach using 2000 guidelines preformed significantly better in the following steps: calls for help (p<0.01), opens the airway (p<0.01), places hands for chest compression correctly (p<0.01) and performs chest compressions correctly (p<0.01), while using 2005 guidelines, only chest compression hand position improved significantly in the 4-stage teaching group (p<0.01). Conclusions. The 4-stage approach improved the efficiency of several steps of the BLS algorithm and the ability to follow the algorithm in the correct sequence using 2000 ERC guidelines, while in students using the 2005 ERC guidelines only chest compression hand position improved significantly. Students who were taught according to 2000 ERC guidelines had significantly better hand position than students who were taught according to 2005 guidelines, independent of teaching method used

Slovenska kriminalistična policija med "kriminalstrategie" in "criminal intelligence"

V prispevku analiziramo, v kolikšni meri so se spoznanja o nujnosti bolj strateško usmerjenega kriminalističnega dela, ki so se na nemškem govornem območju oblikovala v model kriminalistična strategija (Kriminalstrategie) na angleškem pa kot kriminalistična obveščevalna dejavnost (Criminal Intelligence), ta pa predstavlja jedro novega modela, obveščevalno vodene policijske dejavnostji (Intelligence - Led Policing), zasidrala tudi v praksi slovenske kriminalistične policije. Ker se je obseg kriminalitete od leta 1995 povečal za skoraj dva in pol krat, preiskanost je padla od 60% na 41%, pojavlja se organizirani kriminal, se uveljavljanje novih spoznanj zdi nujno, še zlasti ob očitni omejenosti policijskih sredstev. Za morebitne spremembe je slovenska policija ob spremembi političnega in ekonomskega sistema imela solidne osnove, kar pa ni vplivalo na večjo pripravljenost za uvajanje sprememb

Mechanisms of Toxicity of 3-Alkylpyridinium Polymers from Marine Sponge Reniera sarai

Polymeric 3-alkylpyridinium salts (poly-APS) present in the marine sponge Reniera sarai show a broad spectrum of biological activities. They are lytic to erythrocytes and various other mammalian cells, enabling the transfection of the latter with alien DNA. Furthermore, they show inhibitory effects to marine bacteria and can inhibit fouling of micro- and macroorganisms to submerged surfaces. Finally, poly-APS act as potent cholinesterase inhibitors. The kinetics of acetylcholinesterase inhibition by poly-APS in vitro is complex and comprises several successive phases ending in irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. The latter is accounted for by aggregation and precipitation of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes. Poly-APS are lethal to rats in concentrations above 2.7 mg/kg. Monitoring of the basic vital functions and histopathological analysis showed that the effects directly ascribable to acetylcholinesterase inhibition are only observed after application of lower concentrations of poly-APS. At higher concentrations, such effects were masked by other, more pronounced and faster developing lethal effects of the toxin, such as haemolysis and platelet aggregation