P R Health Sci J
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Small island exigencies and a legacy of colonial jurisprudence set the stage for this three-year study in 2001-2003 of abortion practice on several islands of the northeast Caribbean: St. Martin, St. Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua and St Kitts. ⋯ Whereas doctors may have the liberty and knowledge to practise illegal abortions, women have no legal right to these services. Interviews suggest that an increasing number of women are self-inducing misoprostol abortions to avoid doctors, high fees and public stigma. The Caribbean Initiative on Abortion and Contraception is organising meetings, training providers and creating a public forum to advocate decriminalisation of abortion and enhance abortion care.
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In 2003, the American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) made significant changes in the medical postgraduate training policies, especially the 80 Duty Hours per Week regulation. The Neurological Surgery Department at Mayo Clinic performed a national survey regarding the perceptions of program directors and residents on how compliance with the ACGME requirements has changed neurosurgery training. Using a similar methodology, we analyzed the University of Puerto Rico's Medical Sciences Campus, Neurological Surgery Division's resident and faculty staff perceptions with regard the way its training is currently performed. ⋯ Considering the results from the surveys, the performance of residents in the Board examination, and their surgical experience, it is concluded that the general perception of the educational experience in neurosurgery is satisfactory but improvements could be made.
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Coarctation of the Aorta is frequently associated with bicuspid aortic valve. This is a risk factor for infective endocarditis. Aneurysm of a sinus of Valsalva is a rare defect with a prevalence of 0.09%. ⋯ An secundum atrial septal defect was found and was also closed. Surgical correction of the coarctation of the aorta was postponed for a future time. The patient had a successful postsurgical recovery and was discharged home with anticoagulation treatment.
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Comparative Study
Factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) with Puerto Rican elderly.
The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II; (1) is one of the most useful measures for depressive symptomatology in many countries (2). The psychometric properties of this inventory, however, have not been reported with Puerto Rican elderly. This paper reports, exploratory psychometric results with a sample of 410 elderly Puerto Rican (65 years and older; men=94, women=316). ⋯ This analysis revealed that the BDI-II was a good measure of the dimensions of depressive symptomatology in the present sample, which resembled prior findings reported with the general Puerto Rican Population (3). This study also reports further data supporting the reliability, validity, and practical utility of the BDI-II for the Puerto Rican population including elders. Implications for potential research with minorities and clinical uses of the BDI-II are also discussed.
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To examine the recent evidence that marijuana and other cannabinoids have therapeutic potential. ⋯ Cannabinoids may be useful for conditions that currently lack effective treatment, such as spasticity, tics and neuropathic pain. New delivery systems for cannabinoids and cannabis-based medicinal extracts, as well as new cannabinoid derivatives expand the options for cannabinoid therapy. More well-controlled, large clinical tests are needed, especially with active placebo.