The First Thousand Days of Life.

The first thousand days of life, composing the 270 days of pregnancy and the first two years (730 days) of life, is at once a critical and vulnerable time for human development. It is a time in which the human person is to a large extent "embodied," becoming the integrated mind-brain-body-spirit that defines every human being. This embodiment is set in motion at fertilization and continues with the unfolding development of the embryo.

Compassionate Conservation Clashes With Conservation Biology: Should Empathy, Compassion, and Deontological Moral Principles Drive Conservation Practice?

"Compassionate Conservation" is an emerging movement within conservation science that is gaining attention through its promotion of "ethical" conservation practices that place empathy and compassion and the moral principles of "first, do no harm" and "individuals matter" at the forefront of conservation practice. We have articulated elsewhere how Compassionate Conservation, if adopted, could be more harmful for native biodiversity than any other conservation action implemented thus far, while also causing more net harm to individuals than it aims to stop. Here, we examine whether empathy, compassion and inflexible adherence to moral principles form a solid basis upon which to meet the goals of conservation biology as specified by pioneers in the discipline.

Deconstructing compassionate conservation.

Compassionate conservation focuses on 4 tenets: first, do no harm; individuals matter; inclusivity of individual animals; and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. Recently, compassionate conservation has been promoted as an alternative to conventional conservation philosophy. We believe examples presented by compassionate conservationists are deliberately or arbitrarily chosen to focus on mammals; inherently not compassionate; and offer ineffective conservation solutions.

Validation and Testing of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Standards Compliance: Data Analysis.

Background: There is wide recognition that the lack of health data interoperability has significant impacts. Traditionally, health data standards are complex and test-driven methods played important roles in achieving interoperability. The Health Level Seven International (HL7) standard Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) may be a technical solution that aligns with policy, but systems need to be validated and tested.

Safe Passages: Pro-Life Response to the Tragedy of Maternal Deaths.

Maternal mortality in Africa remains unacceptably high. The prevailing response to reducing maternal mortality has emphasized "reproductive health" and has failed to clearly focus on those causes responsible for 90 percent of maternal deaths. In contrast, the "Safe Passages" model directs training and resources toward interventions that save the lives of mothers and babies.

Long-term protective effects of hypothermia on reperfusion injury post-testicular torsion.

Objective: As many as two-thirds of salvaged testes post-torsion will atrophy within 2 years. Subsequent testicular damage is due at least in part to an ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Thus we analysed the long-term protective effects of subjecting the ischaemic testis to hypothermia in an attempt to prevent or attenuate subsequent testicular damage.

Cutaneous squamous carcinoma leading to acute abdomen after renal transplantation.

Skin carcinoma is the commonest malignant complication of renal transplantation. We report the first case of a renal transplant recipient who presented with ileal obstruction as a consequence of squamous cell carcinoma metastases to the small intestine. This complication highlights the unusual presentation of malignancies associated with prolonged exposure to immunosuppression and the need for extra vigilance in such cases.