Cardiac cycle related modulation of electrocutaneous pain and tactile stimuli

Research suggests hypertension is associated with reduced somatosensory perception. Further, natural fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) across the cardiac cycle have been shown to modulate nociceptive responding, pain and tactile sensitivity, suggesting that arterial baroreceptors may be important moderators of somatosensation. This thesis further examined the influence of natural fluctuations in BP, and thus baroreceptor activity, across the cardiac cycle on electrocutaneous pain and tactile sensory thresholds and pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs) in normotensive individuals. Study 1 found pain thresholds were higher, i.e. pain was reduced, during systole compared to diastole. Further analysis revealed only participants with low-normal systolic BP displayed this cardiac cycle modulation, suggesting tonic BP may moderate cardiac cycle-related pain modulation. In the second study, tactile sensory thresholds did not vary across the cardiac cycle. However, when participants were split into high-normal and low-normal BP groups, interactions between BP and tactile sensory thresholds across the cardiac cycle were revealed. This finding suggests tonic BP may be an important factor determining the cardiac cycle modulation of tactile sensation. Study 3 found no variation in the N2 or P2 peak amplitudes, or N2-P2 peak-to-peak amplitudes across the cardiac cycle at scalp recording sites Cz, C3, or C4. Furthermore, BP median split analyses revealed no BP Group or interaction effect. As previous work reported a systolic dampening of PREPs, these data suggest the cardiac cycle-related modulation of PREPs may not be as robust as other measures of pain such as the nociceptive flexion reflex. Study 4 reported, in line with Study 3, no cardiac cycle related modulation of PREPs following stimulation of the right and left hands. However, a Hand × Scalp Electrode Site × Interval interaction was revealed for N2 peak amplitudes. These data suggest that the combination of side of stimulation and scalp recording site may be important in determining the patterning of PREPs across the cardiac cycle. Taken together, the findings of these studies suggest that pain perception, and to a lesser extent tactile sensation, are influenced by natural variations in BP across the cardiac cycle. However, modulation appears dependent on tonic BP. Conversely, pain-related brain activity across the cardiac cycle was not affected by tonic BP, but may be influenced by the combination of stimulation and recording sites

Life After Being a Pathology Department Chair: Issues and Opportunities.

Although there is a considerable literature on transition of faculty members to the position of department chair, there is a dearth of publications about transitioning from the chair to other activities including retirement. The Association of Pathology Chairs senior fellows (all of whom are former chairs of academic departments of pathology) made this topic a focus of discussion at the Association of Pathology Chairs 2016 Annual Meeting. Of the 33 senior fellows engaged in this discussion, following their time as chairs, a small majority (18) transitioned to other administrative posts within or outside the university, while the others either returned to the active faculty (7) or retired (8). The motivating factors and influences for transitioning from the chair were probed along with the processes used in executing the transition, such as the development of transition plans. The reasons for selecting the specific type of postchair activity were also investigated. There was extraordinary diversity in the type of post-chair activities pursued. To our knowledge, no other medical specialty has examined these issues, which may be potentially relevant for the career planning of active chairs

Life After Being a Pathology Department Chair II: Lessons Learned.

The 2016 Association of Pathology Chairs annual meeting featured a discussion group of Association of Pathology Chairs senior fellows (former chairs of academic departments of pathology who have remained active in Association of Pathology Chairs) that focused on how they decided to transition from the chair, how they prepared for such transition, and what they did after the transition. At the 2017 annual meeting, the senior fellows (encompassing 481 years of chair service) discussed lessons they learned from service as chair. These lessons included preparation for the chairship, what they would have done differently as chair, critical factors for success as chair, factors associated with failures, stress reduction techniques for themselves and for their faculty and staff, mechanisms for dealing with and avoiding problems, and the satisfaction they derived from their service as chair. It is reasonable to assume that these lessons may be representative of those learned by chairs of other specialties as well as by higher-level academic administrators such as deans, vice presidents, and chief executive officers. Although the environment for serving as a department chair has been changing dramatically, many of the lessons learned by former chairs are still valuable for current chairs of any length of tenure

Floating Island International Case Study

The article describes the case of Floating Island International (FTI) with regards to developing a blue ocean strategy to establish the new technological invention known as BioHaven as a vehicle for wastewater treatment and water remediation. A BioHaven floating island is a man-made ecosystem mimicking natural wetlands that can be used to help clean water and create riparian habitat. Bruce Kania, FII Founder and BioHavens inventor, used biomimicry, a science that studies nature\u27s models

Frozen Pre-Embryo Practice in Missouri

McQueen v. Gadberry was an Eastern District dissolution dispute over frozen pre-implantation embryos formed from McQueen’s eggs and Gadberry’s sperm. The St. Louis County trial court found the pre-embryos to be marital property of a special character and awarded them jointly to each of the former spouses. The appellate court affirmed. McQueen is an important decision because the finding that embryos are marital property was an issue of first impression that affects many Missouri families. Infertility is a common problem, couples frequently utilize assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to form families, and the extra frozen pre-implantation embryos (hereinafter pre-embryos) have fueled increasing legal disputes. Family law, health law, and estate planning attorneys should factor pre-embryo disposition into their repertoires

Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism in Healthcare as Part of Reconciliation: A Nurses Responsibility to Mitigate Racism in Healthcare

Background: Reports of racism and discrimination, particularly Indigenous-specific racism within the Canadian health care system, has become common in the news. The November 2020 report entitled In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B. C. Health Care and the September 2020 death of Joyce Echaquan clearly indicate immediate action is required by all nurses to address current practice and to be accountable for delivering safe, competent, and ethical care to Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). As a registered nurse and a white settler mother of two Indigenous sons, I cannot ignore Indigenous-specific racism. In alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations, I recognize the necessity to address the truth - the history of colonization in Canada and how it has affected and continues to affect Indigenous health and wellness. There are numerous publications that have described the legacy of both residential schools and the Indian hospitals, along with numerous anecdotal stories of the deplorable care provided to the First Peoples of Canada. This historical relationship has resulted in Indigenous peoples feeling deep mistrust towards the healthcare system. This sociopolitical history directly affects my Indigenous sons and their personal wellness as they navigate growing up in an environment of racism. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to share with healthcare professionals the effects Indigenous-specific racism has on Canadian Indigenous people with the hope of fostering more authentic conversations to guide policy change and create an environment for safe, competent, compassionate, and ethical healthcare delivery. Implications: It is necessary for all health care providers to engage in safe, compassionate, competent, and ethical care for all patients. Practicing cultural safety an important first step when engaging with Indigenous peoples. This colonial history impacts my sons’ wellness and I have prepared a letter to share with them and my nursing colleagues. My hope is twofold: 1) that they will keep this letter and read it as they face unnecessary challenges simply because they are Indigenous; and secondly, the nursing profession will address and eliminate Indigenous-specific racism in healthcare.&nbsp

Biosensing:how citizens’ views illuminate emerging health and social risks

This article explores material from a citizen’s inquiry into the social and ethical implications of health biosensors. In ‘Our Bodies, Our Data’ a space was afforded for members of the public to examine two forms of health biosensing, and for the authors to research what happens when such examination shifts from the domain of experts to that of citizens. Drawing on data from this inquiry, which forms part of a wider research project, ‘Living Data: making sense of health biosensors’, we open up conceptual and methodological questions about how to study innovative health technologies and contribute to debates about the direction of health biosensing by bringing forward the views of a group rarely heard in this domain: the public. The panel of 15 participants was shown examples, handled devices, and heard evidence about the development of home ovulation monitoring and direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Citizens identified key areas of concern around the development, design and marketing of these devices, implicating technology companies, public bodies and civil society organisations. The panel articulated serious concerns relating to ethics, trust, accountability, quality and governance of health biosensors that operate ‘outside the clinic’. Their deliberations reflect concern for what kind of society is being made when genetic testing and home reproductive technologies are promoted and sold directly to the public. The panel process allowed us to re-imagine biosensors, wresting their narratives from the individualising discourses of selfoptimisation and responsibilisation which have dominated their introduction in EuroUS markets

Analytical Techniques for the in situ Measurement and Speciation of Trace Compounds in Natural Waters

A major research component of the analytical activities of the Analytical and Biophysical Environmental Chemistry group of the University of Geneva (CABE) is focused on the development of chemical sensors and mini or microanalytical systems for in situ measurements of trace compounds in aquatic environmental systems, including surface waters, sediments or water treatment plants. In this field, new concepts are required in order to determine not only the total concentration of environmental analytes but also the concentrations and physicochemical properties of their environmentally relevant chemical forms (chemical speciation). New selective analytical systems integrating reliable and rugged sensors with simple separation principles must be imagined to perform in situ (at depth), real-time, automatic measurements. Microtechnology is a key factor in such developments. New analytical methods must also be developed to characterize the nature and properties of the major natural, often colloidal or polymeric, complexing agents. In this context, the scientific approach of CABE is explained

The Nazi-Soviet pact :perfidy or realism?

The world was shocked by the announcement that the Soviet Union and Germany had signed a nonaggression pact on August 23, 1939. Britain and France were angered as well by the apparent duplicity of the Russians who had, during the summer of 1939, simultaneous l y negotiated with them a mutual assistance pact which would also guarantee Poland's security. Despite the suddenness of the announcement and the furtiveness with which the pact was negotiated there had been numerous portents of such an agreement. The Soviet Union had played a very small part in European affairs in the decade following World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution. In the early 1930's, she had responded to the increasing militarism of Germany and Japan by joining the League of Nations and arranging treaties with most of the nations of Central and East ern Europe to contain Fascist aggression in Spain, Ethiopia and Europe by collective security. When Britain and France f ailed to uphold League principles and showed themselves willing to buy peace and security for themselves by the sacrifice of Czechoslovakia at the Munich Conference in 1938, the Soviet Union was much alarmed. At the same time, she was gravely offended by the repeated rebuffs and exclusions with which her own diplomatic overtures were met during 1937 and the first half of 1938 as a result of the deep-rooted Western distrust of Coroniums. She believed that the Western democracies would view with equanimity an invasion of Russia, as two enemies could thus, be simultaneously removed. In March 1939, Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia and other threatening moves forced upon Russia and the West an acknowledgement of the need for cooperation. Several attempts to r each an agreement was made during the spring. Britain and France were stampeded into a hasty and unwise guarantee of Poland so that, in effect, Russia ' s border was already protected by their guarantee and her bargaining position in negotiations much enhanced. These negotiations reached an impasse in May which be broken by the German Italian "Pact of Steel" and the in creasing Japanese threat. 2 A formal diplomatic mission from Britain and France went to Moscow in mid-June to assist in negotiations. Unfortunately, its members were junior officials who were little known and without full plenipotentiary powers. The offended Soviets were enabled by the Polish guarantee to steadily escalate the demands, they made of the West. Many of them requirements, such as the guarantee of the Baltic states, were met but a deadlock was reached over the means by which the treaty was to be implemented in the event of indirect aggression or a coup d’état. Agreement was made much more difficult by the steadfast objections of Poland and the Baltic states to any defensive arrangement which involved the Soviet Union. The Soviets demanded at the end of July that a military mission be sent to replace the diplomatic team. The members of the British and French General Staffs were no more distinguished than their diplomatic predecessors had been, possess ed no better credentials and were very tardy in arriving in Moscow. The Soviets again believed that they were being insulted and negotiations were unavailing. The primary reason for 3 the failure of the talks was the uncompromising refusal of the Polish Government to agree to the Russian Army's entry into Poland for the implementation of the treaty. At the same time, the members of the Nazi government were in frequent contact with certain British politicians. Several developments led the Soviets to believe that appeasement was still the policy of England and that she favored an agreement with Hitler, at the expense of Eastern Europe. This led Stalin to permit diplomatic approaches from the Nazi r regime, which were carried on under the guise of economic talks. As Hitle r became determined to invade Poland, it became necessary to first secure Russia's neutrality in order to avoid the necessity of fighting a two-front war. As Poland remained intransigent and the Wes t seemed likely to turn to Germany, the Soviets clearly perceived that their most certain prospect for at least temporary security lay in an alliance with Germany, whose requests had become more urgent as the deadline set for a Polish invasion drew nearer. The Germans were also quite willing to accede to any Soviet demands. The pact as it was completed contained a secret annex by which Russia was given a free hand in the Baltic area in return for her neutrality. This coldly logical exercise in realpolitik was the culmination of a decade-long Soviet search for security, in which she had been constantly frustrated by the West