[Corporate defense, xenophobia and anti-semitism in the medical environment. The "Romanian privilege", 1930-1940]

Because of an agreement between the two governments ("the Romanian privilege"), a large number of students, most of them Jews, were allowed to study medicine in France after the first World War. This situation fed into medical xenophobia and antisemitism and lead up to Vichy laws.

From Neuroendocrinology to Neuroimmunomodulation - a tribute to Prof. Dr. Samuel McCann

One of the leading experts in the field of Neuroendocrinology and Neuroimmunmodulation, Samuel Mac Donald McCann, known by all his friends as 'Don', passed away in 2007. This article pays tribute to his outstanding scientific contribution and a glimpse on his fascinating personality. A member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States and pioneer in the field of neuroendocrine regulation, he identified numerous hormones and peptides and set the stage for basic concepts in physiology and clinical medicine.

Cherishing the past: 100 years of nursing education at the American University of Beirut

This article describes the foundation and the development of nursing education at the American University of Beirut, the first professional school in the country and the region, across 100 years (1905-2005). It talks about the early years, pioneering achievements (1905-1940), the school's leadership in nursing from 1940 to 1976, the war years from 1976 to 1993, and postwar global vision (1993-2005). Furthermore, it gives special tribute to the dedication and hard work of the founders, Ms. Jane Elizabeth Van Zandt and Ms. Mary Bliss Dale, and all the directors whose endeavors and wisdom have helped the development of the school from diploma to bachelor and master's programs.

[Yale anesthesiology: a reflection on Professor Kitahata's days]

Professor Luke Masahiko Kitahata was a professor of anesthesiology, Yale University in the United States of America. He had been employed in Yale University for 33 years, from 1964 to 1997, and acted as the chairman of the department of anesthesiology from 1973 to 1982. He endeavored not only to achieve his academic career but also to educate his juniors. The number of Japanese fellows who were trained by Professor Kitahata is more than sixty. He rendered many services for the development of anesthesiology in Japan.

The academic lineage of Sir John Carew Eccles (1903-1997)

This report reviews the academic lineage of Sir John Eccles; who trained him, whom he then trained and with whom he collaborated, and the subsequent impact of his trainees and collaborators on neuroscience and other areas. In a post-training career at five institutions in four countries (Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, back to Australia, USA) and during retirement in Switzerland, Eccles trained and collaborated with over 180 people (mostly neuroscientists) from 21 countries. Most of them have had stellar research and training records that span the cellular-behavioral-philosophical spectrum of neuroscience, with a focus from peripheral neuromuscular issues to the forebrain. Some have been equally distinguished in other areas of biomedical science. Eccles' academic contributions and lineage are a valuable colloquium topic in a neuroscience training program. His experimental work spanned much of the 20th C before the recent emphasis on the application of the techniques of molecular biology. He continually sought to integrate information from the cellular to the systems and behavioral levels of analysis and synthesis. He also devoted a substantial amount of his intellectual effort to the mind-brain and other philosophical issues. Eccles' prodigious working hours and enthusiasm for his projects were a role model for such trainees. Hard-working trainees often ask how can they retain their all-round interests, and indeed their humanity and citizenry, as they focus more and more on their necessarily narrowly focused neuroscience research. Again, Eccles' writings and overall behavior show that it can indeed be done, but only by the application of extraordinary effort and dedication.

Inhibitory circuits in the thalamus and hippocampus—An appraisal after 40 years

After scientific successes in the study of synaptic activation and inhibition of motoneurons and unraveling mechanisms underlying presynaptic inhibition, Sir John Eccles was interested in studying synaptic mechanisms governing the activity of neurons in the brain stem, cerebellum, and various cortical areas. In this new arena, his group discovered several principles, which have later been shown to generalize across brain structures and have substantial functional significance. Among these were the first identification and location of inhibitory synapses in the cerebral cortex and recurrent inhibitory systems in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and thalamus.

Daisy Ayris Lecture. Looking back, looking forward

This was the second time that Mary Spinks, a former Chairman of NATN, has given the Daisy Ayris Lecture. This unprecedented move indicates the Association's respect for Mary's influence and commitment to patient care in her current role as Director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation. Her address, given below in full, covers key themes of education, reasoning and communication.

Venny Snellman, Finnish nurses, and Rockefeller Foundation support, 1929-1956

This paper describes how the Rockefeller Foundation finally came to take an interest in Finland. All sources point to the same conclusion: it was the Finnish nursing leader Venny Snellman who opened the door for the cooperation between Finland’s healthcare organizations and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Brief history of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery--from Philipp Bozzini to the First World Congress of Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery

Since its inception, one of the major issues in transsphenoidal surgery has been the adequate visualization of anatomical structures. As transsphenoidal surgery evolved, technical advancements improved the surgical view of the operative field and the orientation. The operating microscope replaced Cushing's headlight and Dott's lighted speculum retractor, and fluoroscopy provided intraoperative imaging. These advances led to the modern concept of microsurgical transsphenoidal procedures in the early 1970s. For the past 30 years the endoscope has been used for the treatment of diseases of the sinus and, more recently, in the surgical treatment of pituitary tumors. The collaboration between neurological and otorhinolaryngological surgeons has led to the development of novel surgical procedures for the treatment of various pathological conditions in the skull base. In this paper the authors review the history of the endoscope--its technical development and its application--from the first endoscope described by Philipp Bozzini to the First World Congress of Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery held in 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Specifically, in this review the history of endoscopy and its application in endonasal neurosurgery are presented.

Challenges and Opportunities of International Clinical Practica

International clinical practica are a strategy to integrate a global dimension in nursing curricula and achieve culturally sensitive nursing practice. In this paper, a review of the history and development of international practica for nursing students is presented, and research evaluating the effectiveness and impact of international experiences is analyzed. A description of experiences working with Canadian nursing students is used to highlight the challenges and opportunities inherent to international clinical practica. International student experiences involving clinical practica pose challenges that are additional to, and often more complex than, those faced in traditional international, course-based exchanges. The significant opportunities, however, continue to make international student practica a desirable and positive experience for Canadian nursing students.