International visibility of Rhinoplasty research

Rhinoplasty represents a widely used surgical approach to correct nasal deformities and imperfections. A scientometric investigation of the world publication output and citations on these problems was carried out in Web of Science (WoS), MEDLINE, and EMBASE for a 26-year period - from January 1985 till December 2010. Any relevant publications which had been abstracted were retrieved and analyzed. In this narrow field, 4155 publications were abstracted in MEDLINE (WoK), 2286 - in EMBASE, and 1980 - in WoS. English-language publications amounted to 1922 in EMBASE and to 1895 in WoS. There were more than 7700 author's names with papers on rhinoplasty abstracted in MEDLINE (WoK) and more than 3500 ones - in WoS. The most productive authors, institutions and countries as well as the 'core' journals were identified. Bulgaria has become internationally visible with 3 papers abstracted in WoS, with two - in EMBASE, and with one - in MEDLINE (WoK). The intensity of collaboration between the researchers within the single scientific unit, between different scientific institutions in one and the same city, in different cities of one and the same country, and between collectives from different countries permanently increased. A broader incorporation of Bulgarian scientists into the international scientific communities should be recommended.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2011;43(2): 101-10

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF PLASTINATION METHODS

Anatomy is the foundation of medicine. Practical anatomy education at Medical Universities is usually performed on cadaveric material. The proper conservation of biological material is important not only for the quality of medical education but also for the health of both students and lectors. Von Hagens offers plastination – a modern conserving method for long-time preservation of anatomical structures. The three basic techniques used in plastination are: S10, P40, and E12. In the present work we offer a comparison between them as well as tips from our practice, which can be useful for beginner plastinators

ANCIENT METHODS OF SKIN INTERVENTION – ACUPUNCTURE PREDECESSORS?

It has been proposed, that the very first therapeutic methods involved applying pressure or needling painful spots on the body surface. Ancient antropomorphic figurines and drawings, showing markings on the body, have been found. Those markings could be interpreted as special points, body painting, piercings, scarification, tattoos, or needling spots. In the present study we discuss the possibility that such historical therapeutic methods have given rise to the acupuncture. We study possible methods of skin intervention, we compare ancient tools and juxtapose the spots, in which modern acupuncture intervenes – the biologically active points (BAP). During acupuncture, needles of various materials (stone, bone, wood or metal) are temporarily inserted in specific points of the body. Body piercing and tattooing are contemporary used ancient methods, spread all over the world. We presume, that they could have been used not only ritualistically, but also as a therapeutic modality. Ancient mummies show tattoos in the form of lines, dots, or circles, often placed in BAP. Furthermore, it could be assumed, that they were therapeutically applied, since the tattooed individuals suffered from ailments, coinciding with the placement of tattoos in an attempt of treatment. Many historically used instruments that could be used in body piercing and tattooing, resemble the contemporary tools of acupuncture, points of application of tattoos and needles are also closely associated. In the present paper we presume, that different healing methods could have existed simultaneously for a long time. We also discuss the probability of acupuncture being a derivative of ancient methods of superficial skin intervention, such as tattooing and body piercing

THE FEMALE G-SPOT: ANATOMICAL FACT OR FANTASY?

Ever since its existence was suggested by Ernst Gräfenberg in the 1940s, the eponymous G-spot remains a controversial topic among anatomists, gynecologists, sexual medicine specialists, and self-proclaimed sexologists. Its assumed localization on the anterior vaginal wall, 50 to 80 mm from the introitus, has been established predominantly relying on self-report, questionnaires, and vaguely reasoned functional tests, all contributing toward the notion that a functionally important for the female orgasm zone indeed exists on the anterior vaginal wall. Despite those statements are not based on the proven fact of the presence of a discrete anatomical structure, numerous reports have speculated about possible muscular, vascular, and even neural peculiarities of the region, contributing to its functional importance. However, even though the distal anterior wall of the vagina is a highly sensitive area, included in the morphofunctional clitourethrovaginal (CUV) complex, the existence of the G-spot as a separate morphological entity is yet to be proven. The present report reviews the reports regarding the morphological essence of the G-spot and summarizes the available data on the anatomy of the anterior vaginal wall

Institutionalization of research on community-acquired pneumonia // Институционализация на изследванията върху пневмонията, придобита в обществото

[EN] Problem-oriented scientometric investigations of the institutionalization, interdisciplinarity and internationalization of science contribute to enhancement of the quality and effectiveness of research activity at the forefront of science. Recently, the interest in the community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) impetuously runs high that leads to a more intensive publication activity in the whole world. A retrospective on-line literature search on these problems in the data-bases (information portals) Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, EMBASE, and MEDLINE (through EBSCO) in 1985-2008 was carried out. The following indicators were analyzed: number of abstracted publications per years; languages of publications; number of authors of these publications; number of countries of these authors; number of journals with these publications;document types; publications by Bulgarian authors;number of authors’ scientific institutions; authors and institutions presenting with the greatest number of publications as well as most-commonly cited authors. The total number of abstracted publications is 8748 in Scopus, 8009 in EMBASE, 6766 in WoS, and 4213 in MEDLINE. The numbers of abstracts, authors, journals, and institutions rise uninterruptedly. The journals Clinical Infectious Diseases and Chest, the University of Pittsburgh and Winthrop University Hospital as well as the most productive and most commonly cited authors T. J. Marrie (Canada), A.Torres (Spain) and T. M. File (US A) have been sharply outlined. Bulgaria presents only with 8 articles in 5 Bulgarian journals and with two articles in one eminent foreign journal. The created bibliographic and abstracting data-base can be used by Bulgarian investigators of the problems of CAP for the purposes of fruitful international collaboration.[BG] Проблемно-ориентираните наукометрични проучвания върху институционализацията, интердисциплинизацията и интернационализацията на науката допринасят за повишаване на качеството и ефективността на научно-изследователската дейност на предния фронт на науката. Напоследък интересът към пневмонията, придобита в обществото (ППО), нараства стремително, което води до все по-интензивна публикационна активност в целия свят. Проведено е ретроспективно търсене на литературата по тази проблематика в базите-данни (информационните портали) Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, EMBASE иMEDLINE (чрез EBSCO) през 1985-2008 г. Анализирани са следните показатели: брой реферирани публикации по години; езици на публикациите; брой автори на тези публикации;брой страни на тези автори; брой списания с тези публикации; типове документи; публикации от български автори; брой научни институции на авторите; автори и институции с най-голям брой публикации, както и най-цитирани автори. Общият брой на реферираните публикации в Scopus е 8748, в EMBASE - 8009, във WoS - 6766 и в MEDLINE - 4213. Броят на рефератите, авторите, списанията и институциите непрекъснато расте. Открояват се списанията Clinical Infectious Diseases и Chest, университетът в Питсбърг и университетската болница Уинтръп (САЩ) и учените T. J. Marrie (Канада), A. Torres (Испания) и T. M. File (САЩ), които са най-продуктивни и най-често цитирани. България е представена само с 8 статии в 5 български списания и с две статии в едно реномирано чуждо списание. Създадената библиографско-рефератна база-данни може да се използва от българските изследователи по проблемите на ППО за целите на ползотворното международното сътрудничество

Institutionalization of interdisciplinary research in terms of internationalization (scientometric-historiographical aspects of ‘memory’) // Институционализация на интердисциплинарните изследвания в условията на интернационализация (наукометрично-историографски аспекти на проблема "памет")

[EN] Scientometric and historiographical analysis of the structure and dynamics of international scientific communications in view of interdisciplinary problematics of memory in humans and animals is performed in this study. Problem-oriented retrospective research covers a total of 43 specific memory issues - 5 disciplines, 9 narrow scientific problems, 14 diseases and conditions, 9 memory types and 6 combinations of problems, disciplines or diseases. Abstracts of relevant publications recorded in databases MEDLINE (1965-2004 years) and EMBASE (1980-2004) - via OVID; SCI Expanded (1980-2009), SSCI, CPCI-S and CPCI-SSH (1985-2009), Biological Abstracts and MEDLINE (1980-2007) – via The Web of Science portal, and PsycLit (on CD-ROM) (1884-1983) have been researched. Bibliometric, citation, linguistic and statistical analysis have been applied. The results achieved are summarized in 131 tables and 61 figures. Trends of dynamic increase in publishing, reference and citation activity are observed in terms of the analyzed memory problems. This involves the number of publications and authors, types and number of the respective institutions, number and thematic scope of journals, number of authors’ country of origin and journals’ country of origin. A specific generative mechanism of the origin and progressive development of closer scientific direction and relationships with other interdisciplinary fields has been established. Original ‘interdisciplinary index’ of journals has been approved. Specific constellations of scientometric-historiographical and linguistic indicators with significant socio-cognitive value are developed. Essential scientometric characteristics of the institutionalization of science are identified. It proved to be a stimulus for optimization of continuous quality improvement and efficiency of research. The diversification of institutionalized scientific structure types in modern interdisciplinary biomedical science is revealed in its international aspect. The international visibility of the Bulgarian scientific community has been highlighted in matters of its social importance. A model algorithm for cognitive and professional institutionalization of interdisciplinary research structure in a small country has been developed.[BG] Проведени са наукометрични и историографски анализи на структурата и динамиката на международните научни комуникации по интердисциплинарната проблематика на паметта при човека и животните. Проблемно-ориентираното ретроспективно търсене обхваща общо 43 конкретни проблема на паметта - 5 научни дисциплини, 9 тесни научни проблема, 14 заболявания и болестни състояния, 9 вида памет и 6 комбинации от проблеми, дисциплини или заболявания. Издирени са рефератите на релевантните публикации, отразени в базите-данни MEDLINE (1965-2004 г.) и EMBASE (1980-2004 г.) - чрез OVID; SCI Expanded (1980-2009 г.), SSCI, CPCI-S и CPCI-SSH (1985-2009 r.), Biological Abstracts и MEDLINE (1980-2007 г.) - чрез портала Web of Science, както и PsycLit (на CD-ROM) (1884-1983 г.). Приложени са методите на библиометричния, цитационен, лингвистичен и статистически анализ. Резултатите са систематизирани в 131 таблици и 61 фигури. Налице са тенденции на динамично нарастване на публикационната, рефератна и цитационна активност при анализираните проблеми на паметта - на броя на публикациите и на авторите им, на типовете и броя на институциите им, на броя и тематичния обхват на списанията, на броя на страните на авторите и на страните на списанията. Установен е специфичен генеративен механизъм за зараждането и прогресивното развитие на тясно научно направление и на взаимовръзките му с други интердисциплинарни области. Апробиран е оригинален "индекс на интер дисциплинността" на списанията. Разработени са специфични констелации от наукометрично-историографски и лингвистични показатели със значителна социо-познавателна стойност. Идентифицирани са същностните наукометрични характеристики на институционализацията на науката. Разкрита е стимулиращата роля на нейното оптимизиране за непрекъснатото повишаване на качеството и ефективността на научната дейност. Представено е разнообразяването на типовете институционализирани научни структури в съвременната интердисциплинарна биомедицинска наука в международен аспект. Откроена е международната видимост на българската научна общност по тази социално-значима проблематика. Разработен е примерен алгоритъм за познавателно и професионално институционализиране на интердисциплинарна научна структура в малка страна

Visible Meridian Phenomena after Acupuncture: A Series of Case Reports

Background: In accordance with the meridian theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), meridian phenomena are observed along the course of a meridian following acupuncture. Their visible manifestations include alterations in the color (reddening or whitening) of the skin as well as papule and vesicle formation. Objectives: The aim of the present work is to report a series of visible meridian phenomena manifested in human subjects and to correlate them to TCM concepts. A total of 1,200 patients, on whom classical acupuncture (with standard single-use needles without electrostimulation or moxibustion) was applied, were carefully observed and documented. Methods: Visible meridian phenomena were photographed using standard photographical equipment and compared to classical acupuncture channels used by TCM. Results: Ten patients (5 male, 5 female) exhibited visible meridian phenomena. Lines, concurring with the meridians, were observed: white lines in seven cases and red lines in three cases. The duration of the two kinds of phenomena was different. White lines remained visible for a shorter period (10-15 min), whereas red lines were seen for up to one hour after needle removal. Conclusion: These observations indicate that visible meridian phenomena following acupuncture are objective, albeit rare, findings that coincide with the acupuncture channels described in the classical works of TCM. The presence of such phenomena provides a new insight into the concept of meridians and explains the development of the idea in its historical context