The understanding of seizures and epilepsy as a disease has accelerated to reflect advances in the understanding of the interplay of seizures and epilepsy on neurophysiology, neuroplasticity, sleep, neuropsychology, behavior and social functioning of the individual, which interact with and can be affected by an individual's quality of life, educational ...

Due to its high association with Raynaud’s phenomenon systemic sclerosis (SSc) is probably the most common connective tissue disease seen by vascular specialists. In part 1 of our systematic overview we summarize classification concepts of scleroderma disorders, the epidemiologic and genetic burden, the complex pathophysiologic background, and the clinical features ...

The 2009 European Guidelines on Pulmonary Hypertension did not cover only pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) but also some aspects of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in chronic lung disease. The European Guidelines point out that the drugs currently used to treat patients with PAH (prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors) have ...

The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of ethics committees in rural critical access hospitals across the United States. Several studies have investigated the presence of ethics committees in rural health care facilities. The limitation of these studies is in the definition of 'rural hospital' and a ...

Antimicrobial prophylaxis for cesarean delivery has been a general practice for cesarean deliveries because it significantly reduces postoperative maternal infectious morbidity. Recently, several randomized clinical trials investigated the timing of antimicrobial prophylaxis for cesarean delivery. The Committee on Obstetric Practice recommends antimicrobial prophylaxis for all cesarean deliveries unless the patient ...

International humanitarian medical efforts provide essential services to patients who would not otherwise have access to specific health care services. The Committees on Ethics and Global Women's Health of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourage College Fellows and other health care professionals to participate in international humanitarian medical ...

The creation in 1955 of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) was driven by the potential dangers of worldwide radioactive fall-out from the testing of nuclear bombs: both a cold war political issue and a complex radiological problem. Sir Raymond Appleyard was Secretary of ...

Abstract In the 10th issue of News from the Biological Stain Commission (BSC), under the heading of Regulatory affairs, the Biological Stain Commission's International Affairs Committee presents information from the meeting of ISO/TC 212/WG 1 held in London, UK, on 16-17 November 2009. Furthermore, the items ISO CEN Vienna Agreement ...

Reflecting on a three year long exploratory research of ethics committees in the Czech Republic authors discuss the current role and identity of research ethics committees. The research of Czech ethics committees focused on both self-presentation and self-understanding of ECs members, and how other stakeholders (representatives of the pharmaceutical industry) ...

The work models for the obstetric-gynecologic hospitalist and the obstetric laborist are gaining popularity and momentum in hospitals across the nation. These models could be timely solutions to the challenging demands of the general practice of obstetrics and gynecology. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports the continued development ...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two devices for hysteroscopic tubal sterilization. To minimize the failure rates of these effective methods, it is important for health care providers to understand the important role hysterosalpingography (HSG) plays in any hysteroscopic tubal sterilization procedure. The purpose of this Committee Opinion ...

The conduct of medical research led by Northern countries in developing countries raises ethical questions. The assessment of research protocols has to be twofold, with a first reading in the country of origin and a second one in the country where the research takes place. This reading should benefit from ...

Institutional Ethics Committees are commonly available in hospitals with newborn intensive care units, and may serve as a valuable resource for staff and parents dealing with difficult ethical decisions. Many clinicians may be unaware of when the committee might be helpful, or how it functions. After a brief historical introduction, ...

Bisphosphonates (BPs) have been widely, efficiently, and safely used for the treatment of osteoporosis, malignant hypercalcemia, bone metastasis of solid cancers, and multiple myeloma bone diseases. Accumulating recent reports describe that surgical dental treatments in patients with cancer or osteoporosis who have been receiving intravenous or oral BPs are associated ...

As the number of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is increasing in Japan, practical guidelines for managing AIP need to be established. Three committees [the professional committee for developing clinical questions (CQs) and statements by Japanese specialists, the expert panelist committee for rating statements by the modified Delphi method, and ...

To investigate the current status of hospital clinical ethics committees (CEC) and how they have evolved in Canada over the past 20 years, this paper presents an overview of the findings from a 2008 survey and compares these findings with two previous Canadian surveys conducted in 1989 and 1984. All ...

A needs assessment survey of ethics review committees (ERCs) across Africa was conducted in order to establish their major needs and areas of weaknesses in terms of ethical review capacity. The response rate was 84% (31 of 37 targeted committees), and committees surveyed were located in 18 African countries. The ...

Research Ethics Committees (RECs) carry out the important task of humanizing clinical trials. While current Italian and international legislation dedicates considerable attention to REC composition, with consensus on several vital guidelines, no such univocal guidelines are available for REC training in Europe. In Italy, the activity of RECs is subject ...

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism characterized by a deficiency of the hepatic enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine, and elevated levels of Phe and Phe metabolite. All women with PKU or hyperphenylalaninemia should be strongly encouraged to ...

BACKGROUND: The Directive 2001/20/EC was an important first step towards consistency in the requirements and processes for clinical trials across Europe. However, by applying the same rules to all types of drug trials and transposing the Directive's principles into pre-existing national legislations, the Directive somewhat failed to meet its facilitation ...

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) was asked to endorse the 'The Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism.' The document has been reviewed by the ASTS Ethics Committee and their ensuing report was presented, discussed and approved by the ASTS Council. The ASTS vigorously supports the ...

The Classification Code of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), inter alia, mandates the development of evidence-based systems of classification. This paper provides a scientific background for classification in Paralympic sport, defines evidence-based classification and provides guidelines for how evidence-based classification may be achieved. Classification is a process in which a ...

BACKGROUND: Competing interests occur frequently in health care. This results in the potential for conflict of interest (COI). COI can lead to biased generation or assessment of evidence and misinform healthcare decision makers. Declaration of COI is insufficient to neutralize potentially harmful effects. Medical professional societies are obliged to develop ...

In this article, the relationship between ethics bodies and democratic concepts will be introduced. One should bear in mind that the relationship between the flourishing of ethics committees (EC) and democracy is by no means undirectional. The line of causation can easily be reversed as a higher level of democracy ...

Presents a list of the American Psychological Association's officers, boards, committees, and representatives for the year 2009. This list includes the Council of Representatives; Boards and Committees Reporting Directly to the Council of Representatives; Standing Boards and Committees; Continuing Committees; Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces; Other Organizations of Interest ...

The Canadian Heart Rhythm Society (CHRS) Device Advisory Committee was commissioned to respond to advisories regarding cardiac rhythm device and lead performance on behalf of the CHRS. In the event of an advisory, the Chair uses an e-mail network to disseminate advisory information to Committee members broadly representative of the ...

In this fifth issue of News from the Biological Stain Commission (BSC), under the heading of Regulatory Affairs, the BSC's International Affairs Committee provides more information from the meeting of the International Standards Organization ISO/TC 212 Committee that took place on June 2-4, 2008 at Vancouver, Canada. In addition, we ...

This paper presents the results of the largest Australian pastoral study concerning the perceptions of health care chaplains about their involvement on hospital research ethics committees (also known in some contexts as institutional ethics committees). Survey results from over 300 Australian health care chaplains indicated that nearly 90% of chaplains ...

To evaluate the satisfaction of clinical scientists when submitting study drafts to an ethics committee/clinical trials register (CLINICALTRIALS, EUDRACT, ISRCTN) we conducted an online survey of 240 authors publishing in anesthesia/critical care medicine (A) or in major general medical (M) journals from January to December 2007. No statistical difference between ...

In accordance with the Statutes of the International Committee of Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), the final stage in the process of making changes to the Universal Scheme of Virus Classification is the ratification of taxonomic proposals by ICTV Members. This can occur either at a Plenary meeting of ICTV, held ...

Otto Schmitt was one of the early giants in biomedical engineering. Best known in engineering circles for the Schmitt Trigger, he also made many other significant scientific contributions. Besides his scientific work Otto was involved in early organizational activities, which included the first large professional BME meeting in Minneapolis in ...

This paper estimates the effects of initial committee seniority on the career histories of Democratic members of the House of Representatives from 1949 to 2006. When more than one freshman representative is assigned to a committee, positions in the seniority queue are established by lottery. Randomization ensures that queue positions ...

The review of requests for a positive opinion of the ethics committees (application procedure) as a requirement to start a clinical trial in Germany has been completely redesigned with the transposition of EU Directive 2001/20/EC in the 12(th) Amendment of the German Medicines Act in August 2004. The experience of ...

This Classic Article is a reprint of the original work by E. F. Sanger, Report of the Committee on Suits for Malpractice. An accompanying biographical sketch of E. F. Sanger, AM, MD, is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-008-0640-6 . The Classic Article is (c)1879 and is reprinted with courtesy from Sanger ...

Key influences may be hard to identify. In this personal paper I reflect on the role of the Chair of the Committee for Ethical Issues in Medicine (CEIM) and on ethical issues that have involved the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). The committee has a diverse membership including several distinguished ...

This paper is an examination of how research ethics committees have evolved from being advisory committees to more formal regulatory authorities. It is argued that the role of ethics committees should be broader than simple ethical review. Inconsistency in outcome should not be taken to signal failure. Procedural fairness is ...

Clinical ethics committees have recently been established in nearly all Norwegian hospital trusts. One important task for these committees is clinical ethics consultations. This qualitative study explores significant barriers confronting the ethics committees in providing such consultation services. The interviews with the committees indicate that there is a substantial need ...

Since its beginning, Bioethics has been related to medical decision making. In health settings, difficult dilemmas, critical situations, controversial decisions are problems that clinical Bioethics reflects on. Institutional Ethics Committees is a general and ambiguous denomination to many different activities. In Brazilian hospitals, we have three different kinds of ethics ...

Ethical responsibilities are described for obstetrician-gynecologists who choose to participate in surrogacy arrangements by 1) advising couples who are considering surrogacy, 2) counseling potential surrogate mothers, 3) providing obstetric services for pregnant women participating in surrogacy, or 4) offering assisted reproductive technologies related to surrogacy. Although the obligations of physicians ...

CONTEXT: Confidentiality of personal health information is an ethical principle and a legislated mandate; however, the impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on ethics committees ethics committees is limited. PURPOSE: This study investigates the prevalence, activity, and composition of ethics committees located in rural central and ...

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) are the primary organizational embodiments of the specialties of, respectively, general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry in the United States. Professional organizations set guidelines and standards for the expected behaviors of their members. To ...

The ethical review process is an important component of contemporary health research worldwide. Sudan started an ethical review process rather late in comparison with other countries. In this study, we evaluate the structure and functions of existing ethics review committees. We also explore the knowledge and attitudes of Sudanese researchers ...

Newborn screening tests are designed to detect infants with specific conditions whose families also benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. These conditions include disorders of metabolism, endocrinopathies, hemoglobinopathies, hearing loss, and cystic fibrosis. Each state program must have a system in place for notification, timely follow-up, and evaluation of any ...

In October 2006, a new revision of the draft guideline (OECD Guideline for the Testing of Chemicals, Proposal for a New Guideline 426. Developmental Neurotoxicity Study) and Draft Document of the Retrospective Performance Assessment (RPA) of the Draft Test Guideline 426 on Developmental Neurotoxicity were distributed following incorporation of the ...

As Ethics Committee Chair, I am pleased to introduce the first in an ongoing series of ethics vignettes. These columns, which are based on true-to-life situations that arise in oncology research and practice, are intended to identify and explore important ethical issues and provide commentary that is specific to oncology. ...

Summary (En)Job number added acc. to DOCREP assignment

The Seamen's Hospital Society, which was to become a great Victorian charity, with the object of caring for both the physical and spiritual health of seafarers (most merchant seamen) in the Port of London, was founded at a meeting on 8 March 1821. However, it is not widely known that ...

BACKGROUND: Ethics committees and their system of research protocol peer-review are currently used worldwide. To ensure an international standard for research ethics and safety, however, data is needed on the quality and function of each nation's ethics committees. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and developments ...

In June 2005, an ad hoc Expert Committee formed by the Pituitary Society convened during the 9th International Pituitary Congress in San Diego, California. Members of this committee consisted of invited international experts in the field, and included endocrinologists and neurosurgeons with recognized expertise in the management of prolactinomas. Discussions ...

Prominent international and national ethics commissions such as the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee rarely achieve anything remotely resembling gender equality, although local research and ethics committees are somewhat more egalitarian. Under-representation of women is particularly troubling when the subject matter of modern bioethics so disproportionately concerns women's bodies, and when ...