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PubMed1986

The myth and the symbol of biofeedback.

This paper argues that biofeedback suffers from misrepresentation of its historical background and early development, false claims about its effects (e.g. mind-expansion) and that it now symbolizes political and social positions with which it has no connection. The myth that biofeedback arose as a revolutionary break from established science is shown to be false. The symbolization of biofeedback as antifascist and libertarian is also debunked. Unfair demands on biofeedback for miracle cures and excessive profiteering from the biofeedback technology are also criticized. It is urged that scientists and clinicians who know better about the real history and applicability of biofeedback should speak out whenever possible against these misrepresentations.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗
PubMed1982

Dr. Moreno Cañas: a symbolic bridge to the demedicalization of healing.

Costa Rica is a rapidly developing country with an expanding system of nationalized health care and a growing professional medical sector. This expansion affects the medicalization of health culture, including the symbolic and religious aspects of popular healing traditions. This study describes the myth and cult ot Dr Moreno Cañas, a physician murdered in 1938, who is prayed to, or ritually invoked for cures and good fortune. The cult of Dr Morena Cañas complements and modifies the healing role of the Costa Rican patron saint, the Virgen de Los Angeles, by idealizing modern science and technology. The cult of the doctor is a reaction of laypeople to the secularization of health problems, and to the medicalization of care. The myth and cult of Dr Morena Cañas creates a popular image of secular medicine that laypeople sacrilize by treating it in a religious manner, and in doing so demedicalize control of their own care.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

The offerings from the Hyperboreans.

The ancient Greeks believed that the fruits of agriculture could be harvested only if one first appeased the spirit of the primitive avatars from which the edible crop had been evolved over the centuries through hybridization and cultivation. On occasion, this appeasement was secured through the sacrifice of a human victim, a person who for various reasons could be considered to represent a similar primitivism. By the classical age, this extreme form of sacrificial appeasement appears to have been reserved for times of unusual crisis, such as pestilence or natural disaster, for at such times, the resurgent forces of primitivism seemed to threaten the entire civilization with regression back to its wilder origins. Other forms of appeasement were ordinarily substituted for the actual offering of a human victim. Amongst these was the enactment of puberty rites, for the natural growth and maturation of an individual could be thought to symbolize this same evolutionary process. Each infant is born as a wild creature who must develop into a socialized adult through the metaphoric death of its former self as it assumes the responsibilities of civilized life in crossing the threshold to sexual maturity. A similar symbolic victim was customarily represented by the offering of first fruits. A portion of the cultivated crop was prematurely cut and consecrated to redeem and release the ripening harvest from the dangerous contamination with the spirits of its pre-agricultural precedents. On the island of Delos, a special version of this consecration was performed. Each year, the various Greek cities would send a sheaf of unripened grain to the sanctuary of the god Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. Amongst these annual offerings, there was one that was supposed to have originated from the Hyperboreans, a mythical people who were thought to live in the original homeland of the two gods. This special Hyperborean offering differed from the others, for it was said to contain a secret item hidden within the sheaf. The mythical traditions about these Hyperboreans recalled the Hellenic peoples' Indo-European origins, back in the time before the tribal migrations that brought them eventually into the Mediterranean lands, and the secret offering pertained to Apollo's more ancient religion in that pre-Greek Hyperborean context.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Basidiomycota↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Myths and realities of the 80-hour work week.

BACKGROUND: Myths are so ingrained into cultural traditions that emotion frequently overshadows a rational evaluation of the facts. The reduction in resident work hours has resulted in the formation of several myths. The purpose of this review is to examine the published data on resident work hours to separate out myth from reality. METHODS: An electronic database was searched for publications related to resident training, work-hours, continuity of care, sleep deprivation, quality of life, patient safety, clinical/operative experience, faculty work hours, and surgical education. RESULTS: Sleep deprivation has been shown to be harmful, and residents played a role in advocating for work-hour limits. Surgical residents have seen a less dramatic improvement in quality of life compared with other disciplines. Work-hour reductions have decreased participation in clinic but have not resulted in a significant decline in clinical or operative exposure. Limiting resident work hours will unlikely result in a decrease health-care cost. Reduction in resident work hours has not resulted in an improvement or deterioration in patient outcome. Reduction of work hours has not increased faculty work hours nor made surgery a more attractive career choice. CONCLUSIONS: Despite strongly held opinions, resident work-hour reduction has resulted in little significant change in lifestyle, clinical exposure, patient well-being, faculty work hours, or medical student recruitment.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2006

Beyond the myth: the mermaid syndrome from Homerus to Andersen. A tribute to Hans Christian Andersen's bicentennial of birth.

Mermaid or sirens have been part of the cultural tradition of the sailors during the first expeditions in the western world. The Siren's Myth appeared for a first time with Homer, who described in the Odyssey some singing creatures that lured the enchanted sailors to death. More frequently described with a bird body and a female head, sometimes the female part was extended to torso, with arms prolonged in sturdy claws. In the Latin literature Publius Ovidius Naso presented in the Métamorphoses these creatures. Proposed ethymology for the word "siren" seems to confirm the prerogatives of these creatures, related to magnetism, seduction, charm. The first figuration of Sirens resembling to fish-women was in the second century bc. Hans Christian Andersen provided to leave us the strongest legend of Siren in the well-known fairy tale "The Little Mermaid". Following this story, Sirens are definitely considered as beautiful half-fish women who lived in the bottom of the sea, having a lovely voice to be used when they rise up to allow sweeter the agony of the wrecked sailors. Beyond the Myth, may the Siren really exist? It can be hypothesized that these creatures probably were individuals affected by sirenomelia. In our literature and medical review, we describe the etiology of the disease, and we illustrated the anatomical features of fetuses affected by this pathology using MDCT 3D reconstructions. Syrenomelia is a condition not compatible with the normal life, however nine cases of "mermaid" survived to reconstructive surgery have been reported until now. In our report we also presented a case of survival baby girl affected by sirenomelia, before and after surgery, with correlative radiologic imaging findings. The most important characteristic that seems to allow survival of the affected individuals is the presence of one functional kidney, displaced in pelvis. As so dramatically tragic was the history of the Andersen Little Mermaid, so unattended pleasant would be the destiny of a modern mermaid, who can hope to finally marry her prince, without the risk to "loose her head", as the Copenhagen City's Symbol did in the past years, for a story beyond the Myth.

Denmark↗
PubMed2004

Lightning injuries.

Lightning is persistently one of the leading causes of death caused by environmental or natural disaster. To understand the pathophysiology and treatment of lightning injuries one must first discount the innumerable myths, superstitions, and misconceptions surrounding lightning. The fundamental difference between high voltage electrical injury and lightning is the duration of exposure to current. Reverse triage should be instituted in lightning strike victims because victims in cardiopulmonary arrest might gain the greatest benefit from resuscitation efforts, although there is no good evidence suggesting that lightning strike victims might benefit from longer than usual resuscitation times. Many of the injuries suffered by lightning strike victims are unique to lightning, and long-term sequelae should be anticipated and addressed in the lightning victim.

Burns, Electric↗
PubMed2006

In search of the sea monster.

The sea monster played an important part in launching the Danish Galathea Deep Sea Expedition of 1950-1952. Part scientific object, part media darling and part fundraising strategy, the sea monster brought scientists, journalists and politicians together in support of the expedition. The scientific leader of the expedition, Anton F. Bruun, contended the scientific reality of such a creature; the leader of the press section attached to the expedition, Hakon Mielche, dreamt of the grand headlines finding the sea monster would attract; and everyone involved used the 'poor little thing' to promote the expedition to sponsors and in public.

Denmark↗