Illegal professional conflict of interest from the viewpoint of the attorney

Since the so called "heart-valve scandal" occurred in Germany, the practice of financially or otherwise supported hospitals and practicing doctors has to be critically re-examined and may be changed. The practice and acceptance of support is common in many areas of our daily life, however, due to governmental social laws regulating the flow of money and due to the various financial forms of support for the health care system, criminal violations and sanctions may arise. Aside from the existing standard criminal violations, a new law, as of has been enacted August 13, 1997-this law specifically deals with bribery and the acceptance of such illegal payments. Proving that such a criminal violation was committed by a physician can be very difficult for the prosecutor. The mass of procedural laws--aside from the substantive law requirements--cause problems for the state. It is also very difficult to determine the exact amount of damages or that a physician has gained an illegal advantage. In these specific and other general cases, a professional defense by a competent attorney is absolutely essential to prevent an unpleasant suit or to resolve charges outside of court. In some cases, it may even be possible to persuade the prosecutor to only levy a fine, if it is not possible to persuade him to drop the charges all together--for lack of good evidence.     

Clinical anatomy of the human mental foramen

BACKGROUND: The great diffusion of the surgical technics in oral implantology and the progress of the radiological imaging produces some interest for the clinical anatomy of the mental foramen (MF). The study, in addition to the measurements that define it, considers others anatomical features of practical utility and the variableness of them. METHODS: In the Anatomic Institute of the Bologna University, it has been made a morphometric revision of the MF on 100 dried mandibles of normal young adults (78 males, 32 females) random chosen with the complete integrity of the dental apparatus and of the mandibular bone criteria. The measurements have been made by anthropometric methods on the two sides of the same mandible (n = 200) and for everyone has been reported in the tables the medium, the maximum and the minimum values with their specific variation interval. The results are applicable to the common work conditions because they take in consideration among the specific characteristics of the MF in addition to the seat, the course of the mandibular canal, the thickness and the height of the mandibular bone. RESULTS: To the clinical and diagnostic imaging object the medium values of the anatomical measurements can be considered sufficent. To anthropometric, anesthesiologic and surgical aims it is also necessary the knowledge of the maximum and the minimum values and the variation interval. In the living man the anatomicomedical study of the MF is made by the diagnostic imaging, especially by computed tomography with specific algorithm, because it makes possible absolutely exact measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, the specifications on the MF provided by the present study are important not only for an anatomical but also for a practical point of view because they are a datum point value in the patient clinical management.     

The shaping of pharyngeal cartilages during early development of the zebrafish

In zebrafish the cartilages of the pharynx develop during late embryogenesis and grow extensively in the larva before eventually being replaced by bone. Here we examine chondrocyte arrangements, shapes, numbers, and divisions in the young hyoid cartilages. We observe two distinct developmental phases, morphogenesis and growth. The first phase generates stereotypically oriented chondrocyte stacks that might form by intercalations among cells within the precartilage condensations. In mutants that have deformed cartilages the orientation of the stacks is changed, and we propose that their correct formation underlies the correct initial shaping of the organ. The following period of rapid, nearly isometric cartilage growth occurs by divisions of chondrocytes that are largely located near the joints, and appears to be under quite separate regulation.     

Relations of ability and interest to currency of professional knowledge among engineers.

Measured ability and interests of 110 engineers at the beginning of their careers in the mid 1950s. Currency of professional knowledge was measured by technical articles and patent disclosures produced during 3 stages of the Ss' 14 yr. of work experience and by recent technical competence. Results indicate that initial ability was the stronger and more consistent predictor of professional currency during the career. Interest played a more limited, independent role but appeared important in reinforcing ability for the attainment of currency via the most difficult, professional activities later in Ss' careers. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vascular anatomy of the human uterus and pregnancy wastage

In uteri removed at hysterectomy the uterine arteries were injected with radioopaque media and the vascular configuration was correlated with reproductive histories. Patients whose uteri had two ascending uterine arteries on each side had significantly more abortions and smaller newborn infants than patients with a single ascending branch of the uterine artery.     

The plasticity of human maternal brain: Longitudinal changes in brain anatomy during the early postpartum period.

Animal studies suggest that structural changes occur in the maternal brain during the early postpartum period in regions such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, parietal lobe, and prefrontal cortex and such changes are related to the expression of maternal behaviors. In an attempt to explore this in humans, we conducted a prospective longitudinal study to examine gray matter changes using voxel-based morphometry on high resolution magnetic resonance images of mothers' brains at two time points: 2–4 weeks postpartum and 3–4 months postpartum. Comparing gray matter volumes across these two time points, we found increases in gray matter volume of the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobes, and midbrain areas. Increased gray matter volume in the midbrain including the hypothalamus, substantia nigra, and amygdala was associated with maternal positive perception of her baby. These results suggest that the first months of motherhood in humans are accompanied by structural changes in brain regions implicated in maternal motivation and behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA and AIDS: The evolution of a scientific and professional initiative in the public interest.

Reports that the public was slow to recognize the relevance of psychology to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related issues of coping, education, and behavior change, but such awareness came about, largely because of pressure from the American Psychological Association (APA) and its members. To make research information accessible as soon as possible, APA began "fast tracking" AIDS-related information into its print products and electronic database in 1986 and released a comprehensive bibliography on abstracts of AIDS-related psychological and behavioral literature in June of 1988 (A. Y. Dessaint et al [1988]). Other legislative and educational efforts are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vascular anatomy of the human cruciate ligaments and surrounding structures

A method is reported for the correction of the depressed nasal tip in the cleft lip deformities. Open exposure of the nasal frame, septal chondral anterior reinsertion, and lipocutaneous composite graft taken from the submastoid or retroauricular region and positioned at the basis of the columella are the main points of the method. The first results, in 22 patients, are discussed and seem promising.     

Peer versus professional models for study skills training.

Compared a peer model and professional model for teaching study skills to college freshmen. 17 freshmen in the professional model received 10 hrs of instruction in study skills in 2 groups taught by 1 professional. In the peer model, freshmen were divided into 16 pairs of tutors and tutees. The tutors learned the study skills in 5 90-min weekly seminars. Between meetings, the tutors individually taught these skills to the tutees. Ss in both models significantly improved study skills relative to attention and waiting-list control groups. The peer model was as effective as the professional model in study skills change. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Simulation of the shaping of blanks for large-diameter pipe

An analytical method is outlined for calculating the bending parameters of thick sheet (thickness up to 40 mm) used in pipe production: the size and shape of the punch-blank contact zone; the elasticity coefficient of the blank and its residual surface curvature; the maximum force of the punch at different stages of stepwise shaping on a press. At all stages of the process, the model of an elastoplastic medium is employed. The results may be used in developing production technologies for large-diameter steel pipe used in pipelines.     

Microsurgical anatomy of the human ophthalmic artery: a mesoscopic study of its origin, course and collateral branches

In the present paper we have studied the gross (mesoscopic) anatomy of the ophthalmic a. in humans, using magnification by microsurgical systems to obtain data on the origin and course of this artery and its main collateral branches. Comparison of our results with previous reports indicates that, although the anatomical variations of the vascular system are well known, some patterns of frequency may be emphasised. Thus, the ophthalmic a. was usually found as a collateral branch of the internal carotid a., although other origins were also found. The ophthalmic a., once inside the orbit, followed a course above the optic nerve in most cases. All the collateral branches of the ophthalmic a., with the exception of the muscular branches, showed great constancy.     

Improved shaping of the blank for welded large-diameter pipe

A new method of shaping single-seam welded large-diameter pipe is proposed. This method employs an additional deforming tool.     

The variational anatomy of the external aperture of the human vestibular aqueduct

A study was undertaken to demonstrate the variational anatomy of the external aperture of the vestibular aqueduct in 90 human temporal bones obtained from 58 cadavers. Topographic landmarks of the posterior surface of the petrous bone are useful for general orientation and include the external aperture of the vestibular aqueduct, internal auditory meatus, sigmoid sinus, subarcuate fossa, superior petrosal sinus and cochlear canaliculus. We determined the mean distances from the external aperture of vestibular aqueduct to the above structures to be 10.98, 11.21, 9.42, 10.27 and 13.90 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the length of the external aperture of the vestibular aqueduct revealed significant differences between the right and left sides. The distances between the EAVA and certain anatomical structures on the posterior surface of the temporal bone should be taken into consideration during surgery. Knowing the variability of the position of the external aperture of the vestibular aqueduct may help surgeons avoid traumatizing, and thus producing inadvertent lesions to the hearing mechanism.