Empty spaces and the value of symbols: Estonia's 'war of monuments' from another angle

Taking as its point of departure the recent heightened discussion surrounding publicly sited monuments in Estonia, this article investigates the issue from the perspective of the country's eastern border city of Narva, focusing especially upon the restoration in 2000 of a 'Swedish Lion' monument to mark the 300th anniversary of Sweden's victory over Russia at the first Battle of Narva. This commemoration is characterised here as a successful local negotiation of a potentially divisive past, as are subsequent commemorations of the Russian conquest of Narva in 1704. A recent proposal to erect a statue of Peter the Great in the city, however, briefly threatened to open a new front in Estonia's ongoing 'war of monuments'. Through a discussion of these episodes, the article seeks to link the Narva case to broader conceptual issues of identity politics, nationalism and post-communist transition

The sixth international RASopathies symposium: Precision medicine—From promise to practice

The RASopathies are a group of genetic disorders that result from germline pathogenic variants affecting RAS‐mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway genes. RASopathies share RAS/MAPK pathway dysregulation and share phenotypic manifestations affecting numerous organ systems, causing lifelong and at times life‐limiting medical complications. RASopathies may benefit from precision medicine approaches. For this reason, the Sixth International RASopathies Symposium focused on exploring precision medicine. This meeting brought together basic science researchers, clinicians, clinician scientists, patient advocates, and representatives from pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health. Novel RASopathy genes, variants, and animal models were discussed in the context of medication trials and drug development. Attempts to define and measure meaningful endpoints for treatment trials were discussed, as was drug availability to patients after trial completion

Placental transfusion: a review

Recently there have been a number of studies and presentations on the importance of providing a placental transfusion to the newborn. Early cord clamping is an avoidable, unphysiologic intervention that prevents the natural process of placental transfusion. However, placental transfusion, although simple in concept, is affected by multiple factors, is not always straightforward to implement, and can be performed using different methods, making this basic procedure important to discuss. Here, we review three placental transfusion techniques: delayed cord clamping, intact umbilical cord milking and cut-umbilical cord milking, and the evidence in term and preterm newborns supporting this practice. We will also review several factors that influence placental transfusion, and discuss perceived risks versus benefits of this procedure. Finally, we will provide key straightforward concepts and implementation strategies to ensure that placental-to-newborn transfusion can become routine practice at any institution

Reduced lung function in children associated with cesium 137 body burden

RATIONALE: We previously reported that obstructive and restrictive lung function findings were associated with radioactive Cesium 137 ((137)Cs) soil contamination from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in a pediatric cohort residing in the Narodichesky district of Ukraine from 1993 to 1998. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether these associations persist, we repeated the study and refined the exposure by measuring individual radiation concentration with a whole-body counter. METHODS: Basic and post-bronchodilator spirometry measurements were made for 517 children aged 8 to 17 years born in and living within this differentially contaminated study area during 2008 to 2010. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A γ-spectrometer equipped with a collimator was used for the measurement of whole-body radiation and adjusted for weight. General linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between spirometry measures and the weight-adjusted (137)Cs whole-body burden (Bq/kg) while controlling for potential confounders. The geometric median weight-adjusted radiation concentration was 65.96 Bq/kg (95% confidence interval, 14.98-240.9 Bq/kg), equivalent to a geometric mean internal dose estimate of 0.165 mSv/yr (95% confidence interval, 0.037-0.602 mSv/yr). Decrements in percentage predicted FEV1/FVC and an increased odds of bronchodilator responsiveness, restrictive impairment, and FVC less than lower limit of normal were associated with a log increase in weight-adjusted (137)Cs whole-body burden after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Our previous study of soil (137)Cs exposure and reduced lung function was corroborated herein with individual (137)Cs whole-body burden, although low, and annual internal dose data. Children in a region just outside of the closed Chernobyl contamination zone continued to have respiratory health deficits associated with (137)Cs whole-body burden as recently as 2010