Legalization Of Euthanasia And Physician-Assisted Dying: Condemnation Of Physician Participation

The topic of physician-assisted dying has always been a controversial topic raising a strong ethical dilemma. Currently six states in USA (Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Montana, California, Colorado) have developed regulations legalizing physician-assisted dying (medical euthanasia). We propose that physicians, because of their Hippocratic oath, should be exempted of participating in it. We suggest experts in professional assisted dying (“Euthanasia Specialists”) be ethically and to some degree medically trained to perform such a task when deemed appropriate

A multicentre single arm phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant pyrotinib and letrozole plus dalpiciclib for triple-positive breast cancer.

peer reviewedCurrent therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer have limited efficacy in patients with triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC). We conduct a multi-center single-arm phase 2 trial to test the efficacy and safety of an oral neoadjuvant therapy with pyrotinib, letrozole and dalpiciclib (a CDK4/6 inhibitor) in patients with treatment-naïve, stage II-III TPBC with a Karnofsky score of ≥70 (NCT04486911). The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with pathological complete response (pCR) in the breast and axilla. The secondary endpoints include residual cancer burden (RCB)-0 or RCB-I, objective response rate (ORR), breast pCR (bpCR), safety and changes in molecular targets (Ki67) from baseline to surgery. Following 5 cycles of 4-week treatment, the results meet the primary endpoint with a pCR rate of 30.4% (24 of 79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 21.3-41.3). RCB-0/I is 55.7% (95% CI, 44.7-66.1). ORR is 87.4%, (95% CI, 78.1-93.2) and bpCR is 35.4% (95% CI, 25.8-46.5). The mean Ki67 expression reduces from 40.4% at baseline to 17.9% (P < 0.001) at time of surgery. The most frequent grade 3 or 4 adverse events are neutropenia, leukopenia, and diarrhoea. There is no serious adverse event- or treatment-related death. This fully oral, chemotherapy-free, triplet combined therapy has the potential to be an alternative neoadjuvant regimen for patients with TPBC

Improving Postoperative Care Through Mindfulness-Based and Isometric Exercise Training Interventions: Systematic Review

BackgroundMindfulness-based cognitive therapy and isometric exercise training (IET) interventions are relatively new approaches to maintain physical functioning, alleviate pain, prevent joint stiffness and muscular atrophy, and positively influence other postoperative care outcomes. ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to identify the impacts of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and IET and, more specifically, their combination, which have not previously been assessed to our knowledge. MethodsStudies were identified by searching the PubMed and Cochrane databases within the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) algorithm format and using relevant keyword combinations, which resulted in 39 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. ResultsIn general, MBI was shown to positively impact both pain relief and physical functioning, while IET positively impacted physical functioning. Numerous other benefits, including improved quality of life and decreased postoperative opioid use, were also described from both interventions; however, further research is needed to confirm these findings as well as to determine other possible benefits. No studies were found that combined MBI and IET. ConclusionsDespite many positive results from each individual intervention, there is a lack of information about how the combination of MBI and IET might impact postoperative care. The combination of these two interventions might prove to be more effective than each individual intervention alone, and the findings from this review show that they could even be complementary. Going forward, research should be expanded to study the possible benefits of the combination of MBI and IET in postoperative care routines as well as other possible combinations

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Education of Plastic Surgery Trainees in the United States.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has vastly impacted the health care system in the United States, and it is continuing to dictate its unprecedented influence on the education systems, especially the residency and fellowship training programs. The impact of COVID-19 on these training programs has not been uniform across the board, with plastic surgery residency and fellowship programs among the hardest hit specialties. Implementation of social distancing regulations has affected departmental educational activities, including preoperative, morbidity and mortality conferences and journal clubs; operating room educational activities; as well as the overall education of plastic surgery trainees in the United States. Almost all elective and semielective surgeries across the United States were suspended for a few months during the COVID-19 pandemic; this constitutes a significant portion of plastic surgery cases. Considering the current staged reopening policies, it may be a long time, if ever, before restrictions are completely lifted. In this paper, we review the multidimensional impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the training programs of plastic surgery residents and fellows in the United States and worldwide, along with some potential solutions on how to address existing challenges

Delayed small bowel perforation following blunt abdominal trauma: A case report and review of the literature

We report a case of delayed presentation of a small bowel perforation following blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). An initial computed tomography (CT) scan revealed that the patient (a 32-year-old man) had a mesenteric hematoma, which was managed conservatively. Four weeks later, he returned to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain. A CT scan of the abdomen showed a thickened loop of the small bowel adjacent to the mesenteric hematoma at the level of the ileum. He was discharged home, but re-presented with acute abdomen 6 weeks post-trauma. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, which showed a perforated thickened loop of the ileum forming a phlegmon in the lower abdomen. In the English medical literature, only eight other reports of delayed post-traumatic presentation of ileal/jejunal perforation following BAT have been reported. We propose that post-traumatic intestinal perforation be considered in the differential diagnosis even in patients who experience a delayed small bowel perforation following BAT

Arterial versus Venous Fluid Resuscitation; Restoring Cardiac Contractions in Cardiac Arrest Following Exsanguinations

Background: Arterial cannulation and intra-arterial (IA) fluid and blood resuscitation in the patients with severe shock is an easier approach compared with the intravenous (IV) access if concerns regarding the efficiency and safety of this approach are addressed. Objectives: We hypothesized that IA fluid resuscitation is more effective than IV resuscitation in restoring cardiac contractions (CC) of cardiac-arrested mice following severe hemorrhagic shock. Methods: Mice (N = 22) were anesthetized using ketamine/xylazine. Arterial and venous systems accessed through cannulation of the carotid artery and the Jugular vein, respectively. As much blood as possible was aspirated from the carotid artery access. Mice were observed until the complete cessation of chest wall motions. Following 30 seconds delay, IV (N = 5) and IA access (N = 6) were used for fluid resuscitation using Ringer Lactate (RL) in a similar volume to the aspirated blood. Mice were observed for restoration of chest wall motions. In phase-II of the study, after cessation of chest motions, mice (N = 11) underwent a thoracotomy and CCs were observed. In three mice, IV RL Infusion after cardiac arrest failed to restore CCs and was followed by IA RL infusion. In eight mice, following cardiac arrest intermittent IA RL infusion was performed. Results: While IV RL Infusion failed to restore chest motion in mice (N = 5), IA RL infusion restored chest motion in all mice examined (N = 6) (P = 0.0067). In three mice, IV RL infusion after cardiac arrest showed no effect on CC. After failure of venous infusion, IA RL infusion was performed which resulted in restoration of CC for 13.33 +/- 1.76 minutes. In eight mice, intermittent IA infusion of RL after cardiac arrest, sustained CC for 31.43 +/- 10.9 minutes (P = 0.017). Conclusions: IA fluid resuscitation is superior to IV resuscitation in hemorrhagic shock induced cardiac arrest.Open access article.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]