Disagreements with implications: diverging discourses on the ethics of non-medical use of methylphenidate for performance enhancement

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is substantial evidence that methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin), is being used by healthy university students for non-medical motives such as the improvement of concentration, alertness, and academic performance. The scope and potential consequences of the non-medical use of MPH upon healthcare and society bring about many points of view.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To gain insight into key ethical and social issues on the non-medical use of MPH, we examined discourses in the print media, bioethics literature, and public health literature.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our study identified three diverging paradigms with varying perspectives on the nature of performance enhancement. The beneficial effects of MPH on normal cognition were generally portrayed enthusiastically in the print media and bioethics discourses but supported by scant information on associated risks. Overall, we found a variety of perspectives regarding ethical, legal and social issues related to the non-medical use of MPH for performance enhancement and its impact upon social practices and institutions. The exception to this was public health discourse which took a strong stance against the non-medical use of MPH typically viewed as a form of prescription abuse or misuse. Wide-ranging recommendations for prevention of further non-medical use of MPH included legislation and increased public education.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Some positive portrayals of the non-medical use of MPH for performance enhancement in the print media and bioethics discourses could entice further uses. Medicine and society need to prepare for more prevalent non-medical uses of neuropharmaceuticals by fostering better informed public debates.</p

Level of perception regarding breastfeeding of postpartum working mothers from selected barangays in Dasmariñas, Bagong Bayan-E

The study utilized the descriptive method of research. Respondents of the study were composed of 92 postpartum working mothers selected via snowball sampling identified through referrals. The research instrument used was adapted-modified type of questionnaire and it was subjected to test for validity and reliability. It was distributed by the researchers on a house-to-house basis. The statistical treatments used were mean, frequency, t-test and f-test. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) Majority of the respondents belonged to 15 to 24 years of age, reached high school level, worked at home, had a total number of children ranging from 1 to 2 and delivered via normal spontaneous delivery; 2) Majority of the respondent\u27s perception agreed on breastfeeding despite its advantage and disadvantages and whether they engage or do not engage in breastfeeding; 3) The said profiles of the respondents are not related to the level of perception of postpartum working mothers with regards to breastfeeding

Study of carrier transport in SrS:Ce,Mn,Cl electroluminescent devices by optical method

The carrier transport in SrS:Ce,Mn,Cl EL-devices was investigated by analyzing the behavior of photo-generated electron-hole-pairs in an electric field. The low field transport of electrons and holes obeys Ohm's law, and the high field transport is characterized by polar scattering on optical phonons leading to the saturation of the carrier drift velocity. Around the EL threshold field a huge increase of electron current occurs due to electron multiplication. A multiplication factor of 34*104 cm-1 was found for fields around the threshold using a simple model. The multiplication is based on defect ionization. The ionized defects are responsible for space charges which have been already observed in EL-devices based on SrS:Ce

Características diferenciales sanitarias y toxicológicas de drogodependientes en tratamiento y consumo activo

Objetivo. Describir y comparar las características demográficas, toxicológicas y sanitarias de un colectivo de drogodependientes que se encuentra en consumo activo y en diferentes modalidades terapéuticas. Analizar las intervenciones realizadas con estos diferentes colectivos. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo. Emplazamiento. Usuarios que han acudido a la asociación ACLAD de Valladolid. Pacientes. Un total de 1.224 drogodependientes. Mediciones. Revisión de las historias clínicas de los usuarios atendidos en un centro de tratamiento y en un programa de reducción de daños durante un período de 30 meses. Se registran diferentes variables demográficas, toxicológicas y clínicas, se efectúa la comparación entre programas y se valora la evolución de los pacientes. Resultados. Se estudian 1.224 pacientes. Un tercio presenta infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana; el 63%, marcadores de una hepatitis A pasada, el 48%, marcadores de hepatitis B, y el 68,5% de hepatitis C. En el 39,1% es positiva la prueba de Mantoux. Se observan diferencias en la prevalencia de infecciones entre los usuarios en consumo activo y los usuarios en tratamiento, entre los drogodependientes en diferentes modalidades terapéuticas y en el período del estudio. Conclusiones. Existen claras diferencias en las características demográficas, toxicológicas y sanitarias de los usuarios incluidos en el estudio. Los usuarios que no están en tratamiento de rehabilitación son los que peores condiciones sanitarias tienen. Éstos son los menos estudiados por nuestra parte. En estos años de seguimiento se detecta una leve mejoría de estas condiciones y también una tendencia a la mejora de nuestra intervención

Treatment of Thoracolumbar Type A3 Fractures Using a Percutaneous Intravertebral Expandable Titanium Implant: Long-term Follow-up Results of a Pilot Single Center Study.

BACKGROUND: There are controversies about the optimal management of AO subtype A3 burst fractures. The most common surgical treatment consists of posterior fixation with pedicle screw and rod augmentation. Nevertheless, a loss of correction in height restoration and kyphotic reduction has been observed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of a minimally invasive technique using a percutaneous intravertebral expandable titanium implant (PIETI). STUDY DESIGN: This prospective, single center, pilot study was carried out on a consecutive case series of 44 patients with acute (\u3c 2 weeks) traumatic thoracolumbar fractures AO type A3. The average follow-up was 5.6 years. SETTING: A single center in Castilla y Leon, SpainMETHODS: Clinical outcomes (pain intensity on visual analog scale [VAS], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], analgesic consumption) and radiographic outcomes (anterior/mid/posterior vertebral body height, vertebral area, local kyphosis angle, traumatic regional angulation) were analyzed before surgery, at one month after surgery, and at the end of the follow-up period. RESULTS: At one-month postsurgery, significant improvements in VAS score and ODI score were observed. PIETI achieved significant vertebral body height restoration with median height increases of 2.9 mm/4.3 mm/2.3 mm for anterior/middle/posterior parts, respectively. Significant correction of the local kyphotic angle and improvement of the traumatic regional angulation were accomplished. All these improvements were maintained throughout the follow-up period. The only complication reported was a case of cement leakage. LIMITATIONS: In our opinion, the main limitation of the study is the small number of patients. However, the sample is superior to that shown in other papers. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that using a PIETI in the treatment of fractures type A3 is a safe and effective method that allows marked clinical improvement, as well as anatomical vertebral body restoration. Unlike with other treatments, results were maintained over time, allowing a better long-term clinical and functional improvement. The rate of cement leakage was lower than other reports