Doctors and Drug Companies Create an Unhealthy Dynamic

This commentary reflects on the influence of pharmaceutical company marketing on doctors' prescribing habits and the use of biomedical devices

Letter to the Editor

Whilst the article by Nicholson AN [1] comprehensively reviews medical and environmental stresses associated with commercial flight, recent widespread increase in press coverage and community perceptions regarding compromised flight safety and security require emphasis. Adverse psychological sequelae resulting from terrorist threat to passenger aircraft leads to avoidance of commercial flights [2] as well as stress and anxiety in flight [3]. There is now community-wide anxiety about flight security in view of recent terrorist attacks such as commercial jets being flown into The Twin Towers in New York City on September 11th 2001 [2] and more recent security fears on trans-Atlantic flights [4]. Psychological stresses associated with increased pre-departure security checks and flights delayed or cancelled by security concerns have increased since September 11th [3]. Libyan involvement in the 1988 mid-air bomb explosion of a Pan-Am flight over Lockerbie was widely speculated at the time and further highlighted in 2001 [5]. Air-rage (passengers being verbally or physically aggressive or disruptive during flight) related to substance and alcohol use/refusal is increasing, poses physical and psychological risks to others on the plane and occasionally requires costly and inconvenient diversion of the flight [6]. Passengers with flight anxiety who already have fears out of proportion to the excellent safety of commercial flight pre-September 11th [7] will now have to contend with random unpredictable acts of violence and terrorism. Fear of flying possesses significant public health implications [7], affecting 10-40% of adult passengers [8] and up to 9.2% of crew staff [9]. In extreme cases it leads to severe anxiety reactions including panic attacks in-flight [3]. On the ground, avoiding flights exposes individuals to risks associated with using alternative transport [7]

Solving non-Markovian open quantum systems with multi-channel reservoir coupling

We extend the non-Markovian quantum state diffusion (QSD) equation to open quantum systems which exhibit multi-channel coupling to a harmonic oscillator reservoir. Open quantum systems which have multi-channel reservoir coupling are those in which canonical transformation of reservoir modes cannot reduce the number of reservoir operators appearing in the interaction Hamiltonian to one. We show that the non-Markovian QSD equation for multi-channel reservoir coupling can, in some cases, lead to an exact master equation which we derive. We then derive the exact master equation for the three-level system in a vee-type configuration which has multi-channel reservoir coupling and give the analytical solution. Finally, we examine the evolution of the three-level vee-type system with generalized Ornstein-Uhlenbeck reservoir correlations numerically.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

A shift from passive teaching at medical conferences to more interactive methods improves physician learning

Conferences that deliver interactive sessions designed to enhance physician participation, such as role play, small discussion groups, workshops, hands-on training, problem- or case-based learning and individualised training sessions, are effective for physician education

Emergent topological mirror insulator in t2g-orbital systems

The electronic band structure of iron pnictides exhibits four Dirac cones, which are due to crystal symmetry and orbital bonding orientation. This hallmark signature presents the pnictide family as an ideal candidate in the search for quasi-two-dimensional topological crystalline insulators. In this report, we explore interaction-induced topological phases which cannot be described by conventional local order parameters. Based on a model Hamiltonian our symmetry analysis shows that sponta- neous novel topological phases may be realized in compounds with tetragonal crystal field symmetry, where the electrons occupy the two degenerate t2g energy levels at low temperature. We identify two stable topological phases in the ground state, which emerge from spontaneous orbital current order. These currents are driven by electronic correlations caused by inter-orbital Coulomb interactions. The first topological phase is an anomalous orbital Hall phase, characterized by a nonzero Chern number, while the second topological phase has a vanishing Chern number, though with an extra Z2-like invariant that preserves parity. More specifically, the interaction-induced novel phase of the quasi-two-dimensional topological crystalline insulator is protected by mirror reflection symmetries and therefore may be realized in pnictides

Hyperosmolar Diabetic Non-Ketotic Coma, Hyperkalaemia and an Unusual Near Death Experience

Generally, cardiac arrest due to pulseless electrical activity has a poor outcome, except when reversible factors such as acute hyperkalaemia are identified and managed early. Hyperosmolar diabetic non-ketotic coma may lead to acute hyperkalaemia. Hyperosmolar diabetic non-ketotic coma is a metabolic emergency usually seen in elderly non-insulin dependent diabetics, characterized by severe hyperglycaemia, volume depletion, altered consciousness, confusion and less frequently neurological deficit. Cerebrovascular accident or transient ischaemic attack may be mistakenly diagnosed, particularly if the patient has no history of diabetes mellitus. Delays in diagnosis and management of glycaemic emergencies presenting as a constellation of neurological abnormalities can be avoided by routine early measurement of blood glucose. Hyperosmolar diabetic non-ketotic coma should be considered in any patient with altered consciousness or neurologic deficit in conjunction with hyperglycaemia. As hyperosmolar diabetic non-ketotic coma results in severe fluid depletion, electrolyte disturbance, profound hyperglycaemia and an altered mental state, the guiding principles of therapy include aggressive rehydration, insulin therapy, correction of electrolyte abnormalities and treatment of any underlying illnesses. Treatment of acute hyperkalaemia includes calcium ions, insulin with dextrose, salbutamol and haemodialysis

Some Phenomenology of Intersecting D-Brane Models

We present some phenomenology of a new class of intersecting D-brane models. Soft SUSY breaking terms for these models are calculated in the u - moduli dominant SUSY breaking approach (in type IIA). In this case, the dependence of the soft terms on the Yukawas and Wilson lines drops out. These soft terms have a different pattern compared to the usual heterotic string models. Phenomenological implications for dark matter are discussed.Comment: 29 pages, 1 figure, References adde