Middle Age Like Fight or Modern Symbiosis? Comment on “Substitutes or Complements? Diagnosis and Treatment With Non- conventional and Conventional Medicine”

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by patients worldwide. Financial factors may influence the decision to use CAM. National Health Systems are requested to consider CAM in their health plans

Habitusforschung in der Wiener Elektronischen Musikszene

Within the field of creative industries the topic of this research is dedicated to an analysis of the "habitus" of the producers of electronic music, based on the "theory of habitus" of the french sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. According to Bourdieu, a "social field" is affected by specific attributes of the people involved in the field. "Habitus" can be defined as a system of dispositions. The "social field" in our research is restricted to producers of electronic music. Geographically the field is limited to the area of Vienna. Based on Bourdieus theory we discuss the following research question: What specific characteristics can be found in the "habitus" of producers of electronic music in Vienna? The research is based on nariative interviews. As a result of the qualitative analysis we discovered a range of common as well as diverging dispositions among the music producers. (author's abstract)Series: Schriftenreihe / Forschungsbereich Wirtschaft und Kultu

COMPARISON OF ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION WITH THE AIRTRAQ AVANT® AND THE MACINTOSH LARYNGOSCOPE DURING INTERMITTENT OR CONTINUOUS CHEST COMPRESSION: A RANDOMIZED, CROSSOVER STUDY IN MANIKINS

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation (ETI) currently is the gold standard of securing an airway during cardio- pulmonary resuscitation. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate ETI with the Airtraq Avant (ATQ) compared to a conventional Macintosh laryngoscope when used by paramedics during resuscitation with and without chest compression (CC). METHODS: Forty-seven paramedics were recruited into a randomized crossover trial in which each performed ETI with ATQ and MAC in both scenarios. The primary endpoint was time to successful intubation, while secondary endpoints included intubation success, laryngoscopic view on the glottis, dental compression, and rating of the given device. RESULTS: In the manikin scenario without CC, nearly all participants performed ETI successfully both with ATQ and MAC, with a shorter intubation time using MAC 20.5 s [IQR, 17.5–22], compared to ATQ 24.5 s [IQR, 22–27.5] (p = 0.002). However, in the scenarios with continuous CC, the results with ATQ were signi cantly better than with MAC for all analyzed variables (success of rst attempt at ETI, time to intubation (TTI) [MAC 27 s [IQR, 25.5–34.5], compared to ATQ 25.7s [IQR, 21.5–28.5] (p=0.011), Cormack-Lehane grade and rating). The success rate in scenarios with CC was 82.9% vs. 91.5% for MAC Laryngoscope vs. ATQ, respectively (p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The ATQ provides bene ts in terms of ETI success rate, TTI, and glottic view when compared to MAC during ETI with continuous CC

New Flexible Tip Bougie catheter for difficult airway intubation. A randomized, crossover pilot study

INTRODUCTION: The ability to protect the airway is one of the basic skills that medical staff should have, especially those working within the Emergency Medical Service or Emergency Department. Endotracheal intubation under medical emergency conditions based on direct laryngoscopy is not effective enough; this effect is additionally reduced in the case of the difficult airway resulting from reduced visibility of the entrance to the glottis due to tongue or epiglottis oedema, trauma, etc. The aim of the study was to compare the intubation time and its effectiveness using two different stylets for difficult airway intubation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 37 nurses who participated in training on advanced life support procedures. The experiment was designed as a randomized, cross-over simulation study. During the training, participants were instructed to perform endotracheal intubation using the tested intubation methods and had 20 minutes of practical training during which they were able to intubate with the tested stylets under normal airway. In the study, participants performed endotracheal intubation using a laryngoscope with a Macintosh blade and a difficult airway Bougie stylet (ONTEX, Chennai, India), or the Flexible Tip Bougie (MDSS GmbH, Hannover, Germany), which was designed to allow to guide the distal end of the anteriorly and posteriorly to facilitate entry into the larynx. RESULTS: The effectiveness of the first intubation attempt using a standard Bougie stylet was 37.8%, and that of the new Bougie stylet was 51.4% (p = 0.037). The mean intubation time was 55 s (IQR; 34–65) vs. 37 s (IQR; 25–41) (respectively, p = 0.021). The median ease of intubation was 7 (IQR; 5–9) points for a standard Bougie stylet and 5 (2.5–7) 2 points for a new Bougie stylet (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: In a simulation study, the use of Flextip Bougie by nurses compared to a standard Bougie stylet was associated with higher efficacy and shorter intubation times in difficult airway

Securing the airway patency by firefighters with the use of CombiTube. A pilot data

INTRODUCTION: The protection of the airways with the use of vomer devices for ventilation is one of the elements of the procedure in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. One of the alternative ways to protect the airways from endotracheal intubation is the CombiTube tube. The aim of the study was to assess the ability to protect airway patency using CombiTube during simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by firefighters. METHOD: This study was a prospective randomized crossover simulation study. The study included 56 firefighters who performed airway patency protection with the use of CombiTube during simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation with and without chest compressions. RESULTS: The median duration of securing airway patency with CombiTube device during scenario without and with chest compressions was: 21 s (IQR; 14−25.5) vs. 21.5 s (IQR; 15−27), respectively. The vast majority of attempts to insert CombiTube resulted in the insertion of the device to the esophagus: 92.8% vs. 91.1% (with and without chest compressions, respectively). The insertion of CombiTube to the trachea was observed in 7.1% vs. 8.9% during scenarios with and without chest compression, respectively. Study participants assessed the easiness of performing the procedure at 19 points (IQR, 13−22) for scenario without chest compression, and 18.5 points (IQR, 14−21.5) for scenario with uninterrupted chest compressions. CONCLUSIONS: Firefighters are able to secure the airway patency with the use of CombiTube tube after a short training. Compressing the chest during resuscitation does not prolong the procedure of maintaining the airway patency with CombiTube. The tip of the CombiTube tube is inserted into the esophagus in over 91% of cases

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in Homeopathy: Recommendations for Summarising evidence from Homeopathic Intervention Studies (Sum-HomIS Recommendations).

BACKGROUND Mainly due to the use of different inclusion criteria and quality assessments, systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) with homeopathic intervention studies (HOMIS) have shown inconsistent results. We aimed to build recommendations for "Summarizing evidence from Homeopathic Intervention Studies" (Sum-HomIS recommendations) in order to approach standardization. METHODS Against the background of a framework-project to update the evidence from homeopathic intervention studies, we launched an expert panel on how to assess the quality of HOMIS and how to summarize evidence from HOMIS. The results of a literature review and the expert communications in advance of the panel as well as the consensus from the discussions are presented here. We added specific considerations for homeopathic veterinary research. RESULTS On top of the general guidelines when planning a review we report five basic Sum-HomIS recommendations. These are: 1) A broad literature search including special archives and consideration of so-called grey-literature; 2) The inclusion of controlled observational studies alongside randomized controlled trials; 3) The choice of a clear clinical research question in the terms that, if possible, the review project includes studies with predominantly homogeneous populations, interventions, comparators and outcomes (PICOs); 4) The use of a global quality assessment including the assessment of external, model and internal validity; 5) A summary of evidence using the GRADE-approach if the body of evidence is sufficiently large and homogenous or a descriptive summary if it is not so. CONCLUSIONS We present recommendations for designing, conducting, and reporting SRs and MAs with HOMIS

Treatment of Highland Frogs from the Two- Legged Stage with Homeopathically Prepared Thyroxin (10 -11 -10 -21 )

The influence of moderately diluted, agitated, i.e., homeopathically prepared, thyroxin solutions (10 -11 -10 -21 , final concentration in the basin water 0.6 × 10 -15 -0.6 × 10 -25 parts by weight after the first application) on metamorphosis in highland Rana temporaria from the two-legged stage was studied. In accordance with the homeopathic idea of effects of specially prepared dilutions being inverse to those of their mother substances, animals were treated either with thyroxin 10 -11 -10 -21 or analogously prepared blank solution (water). Development was monitored by documenting the number of animals that had entered the four-legged stage. It has been found that animals treated with the thyroxin solutions metamorphosed more slowly than the control animals, i.e., the effect of the homeopathically prepared thyroxin was opposed to the usual effect of molecular thyroxin. The number of test animals that reached the four-legged stage at defined points in time was smaller (2-13.5%) in the group treated with homeopathically prepared thyroxin at the points in time, compared to control. The results in this study sustain the previous multiresearcher findings that show that diluted homeopathically prepared thyroxin is able to slow down metamorphosis of R. temporaria

Does the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation feedback devices improve the quality of chest compressions performed by doctors? A prospective, randomized, cross-over simulation study

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the quality of chest compressions (CCs) carried out with and without the use of the TrueCPR device during simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitations conducted by trainee doctors. Methods: The study was a prospective, randomized, cross-over simulation study. The study involved 65 trainee doctors who were tasked with performing a 2-min cycle of uninterrupted CCs under conditions of a simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation of adults. CC were carried out in two scenarios: with and without TrueCPR chest compression support. Participants did not have experience in the use of CCs prior to this study. Results: The depth of compressions in regard to CC techniques were varied by 45 mm (IQR 43–48) for manual CC and 53 mm (IQR 51–55) for the TrueCPR device (p < 0.001). The incidence of CCs with and without TrueCPR was: 112 (IQR 103–113) vs. 129 (IQR 122–135) compressions (p = 0.002). The degree of complete chest relaxation with the TrueCPR device was 95% (IQR 76–99) and without the device, 33% (IQR 29–38) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the simulation study performed, the use of the TrueCPR device resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of CCs in relation to frequency and depth of CCs and correctness of chest relaxation

The effect of chest compression frequency on the quality of resuscitation by lifeguards. A prospective randomized crossover multicenter simulation trial

Background: The ability to perform high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one of the basicskills for lifeguards. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of chest compression frequency onthe quality of the parameters of chest compressions performed by lifeguards.Methods: This prospective observational, randomized, crossover simulation study was performed with40 lifeguards working in Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Poznan, Poland. The subjects then participated ina target study, in which they were asked to perform 2-min cycles of metronome-guided chest compressionsat different rates: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 compressions per minute (CPM).Results: The study involved 40 lifeguards. Optimal chest compression score calculated by manikinsoftware was achieved for 110–120 CPM. Chest compression depth achieved 53 (interquartile range[IQR] 52–54) mm, 56 (IQR 54–57) mm, 52.5 (IQR 50–54) mm, 53 (IQR 52–53) mm, 50 (IQR 49–51)mm, 47 (IQR 44–51) mm, 41 (IQR 40–42) mm, 38 (IQR 38–43) mm for 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130,140 and 150 CPM, respectively. The percentage of chest compressions with the correct depth was lowerfor rates exceeding 120 CPM.Conclusions: The rate of 100–120 CPM, as recommended by international guidelines, is the optimalchest compression rate for cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by lifeguards. A rate above 120 CPMwas associated with a dramatic decrease in chest compression depth and overall chest compressionquality. The role of full chest recoil should be emphasized in basic life support training