The attitude of students of European universities to euthanasia from the point of view of religious ethics

Если человечество вступит на путь легализации медицинских убийств и оправдания из чувства милосердия, велика вероятность перехода к чувству целесообразности, и масштабы такой деятельности тяжело предсказать. В этой связи необходимо вспомнить принцип «наклонной плоскости» который, описал Архиепископ Сан-Францисский Иоанн. Если наложить суть данного принципа «наклонной плоскости» на проблему эвтаназии то мы получим следующее: если сегодня узаконить искусственное лишение жизни безнадежных больных, за час до их предполагаемой смерти, то завтра такое человеколюбие пришло бы к выводу о необходимости искусственно прерывать жизнь больных за 3 дня до их возможной смерти, далее — за один месяц, за полгода, год. Идея классовой политики, расовой чистоты, экономической целесообразности, и подобные идеи, будут требовать себе новые человеческие жертвы. Основные религии мира имеют не однозначные взгляды на эвтаназию, сравнительный анализ начнем с позиции православной церкви. Биологическую смерть Православная церковь рассматривает не как отмирание жизненно важных органов, а как таинство, великое благословение, которое наполнено скрытым духовным смыслом. Эвтаназия в Европе больше не является запретной темой, и доказательством этого является тот факт, что она была легализована в Нидерландах, Бельгии, Люксембурге, Албании. Некоторые формы эвтаназии также используются в Швейцарии, где можно приписать гипнотический препарат, но пациент должен принимать это близко к сердцу. If humanity takes the path of legalizing medical murders and justifying them out of a sense of mercy, there is a high probability of a transition to a sense of expediency, and the scale of such activities is difficult to predict. In this regard, it is necessary to recall the principle of the "inclined plane", which was described by Archbishop John of San Francisco. If we impose the essence of this principle of the "inclined plane" on the problem of euthanasia, we will get the following: if today we legalize the artificial deprivation of life of hopeless patients, an hour before their expected death, then tomorrow such philanthropy would come to the conclusion that it is necessary to artificially interrupt the life of patients 3 days before their possible death, then one month, six months, a year. The idea of class politics, racial purity, economic expediency, and similar ideas will demand new human sacrifices. The main religions of the world have ambiguous views on euthanasia, a comparative analysis will begin with the position of the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church considers biological death not as the death of vital organs, but as a sacrament, a great blessing that is filled with hidden spiritual meaning. Euthanasia in Europe is no longer a taboo topic, and the proof of this is the fact that it has been legalized in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Albania. Some forms of euthanasia are also used in Switzerland, where a hypnotic drug can be attributed, but the patient must take it to heart.

Qua-Alluding to the Past: A Case of Methaqualone Analog Ingestion

Methaqualone, known previously under the brand name Quaalude, is a Schedule I sedative hypnotic drug that may cause neurotoxicity in overdose, characterized by somnolence, hyperreflexia and muscular hyperactivity. We present a case of a 21-year-old male who reportedly ingested methaqualone in addition to insufflation of street cocaine. He subsequently developed hypoxia, hyperreflexia, myoclonus, and altered mental status. His laboratory results were notable for the presence of methemoglobinemia, which was most likely due to a cocaine contaminant. Laboratory analysis of the alleged methaqualone pills identified the substance as SL-164, a dichlorinated methaqualone analog. Urine toxicology results were positive for SL-164 (and presumed metabolites) as well as for cocaine and tetrahydrocannabinol metabolites. The patient was treated with supplemental oxygen and a benzodiazepine (lorazepam) and observed in the Emergency Department (ED) until his symptoms resolved. This case highlights current community access to methaqualone analogs. The case also focuses on laboratory techniques used to identify the methaqualone analog.

BDZs, designer BDZs, and Z-drugs: pharmacology and misuse insights

: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a widely prescribed class of sedative-hypnotics compounds for the treatment of a broad range of conditions as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias, sleep related problems associated with insomnia and for the management of alcohol and GHB withdrawal. Zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon, commonly known as Z-drugs are non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug with pharmacology similar to BDZs. Despite their usefulness, BDZs and Z-drugs present a potential for abuse and dependence. Moreover, the non-medical use of BDZs is a well-known phenomenon and represents an increasingly widespread public health problem since is associated with an elevated risk of serious health consequences or fatal overdose, especially among specific group of users. The spectrum of BDZs and Z-drugs misuse is extended by new synthetic BDZs, which may pose high risks to users, since the majority have never undergone clinical trials or tests and consequently their pharmacology and toxicology is largely unknown.

Organophotoredox-Catalyzed C–H Alkylation of Imidazoheterocycles with Malonates: Total Synthesis of Zolpidem

Organophotocatalytic C–H bond functionalization has attracted a lot of attention in the past several years due to the possibility of catalyzing reactions in a metal- and peroxide-free environment. Continuing on these lines, an organophotoredox-catalyzed C–H functionalization of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and related heterocycles with bromomalonates under mild conditions is reported, providing excellent yields of the products at room temperature. This is the first report involving malonates as coupling partners leading to the synthesis of a range of functionalized products including total synthesis of zolpidem, a sedative­-hypnotic drug molecule.

Preoperative risk factors for delirium in patients aged ≥75 years undergoing spinal surgery: a retrospective study

Objective The increasing number of spinal surgeries being performed in the elderly has increased the incidence of postoperative delirium. The prediction of delirium is complex, and few studies have been performed to examine the preoperative risk factors for delirium after spinal surgery in the elderly. This study was performed to clarify such risk factors in patients aged ≥75 years undergoing spinal surgery. Method This retrospective observational study included 299 patients aged ≥75 years. Comorbidities, medication history, preoperative examination findings, surgery-related characteristics, and health scale assessments, including the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) score and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were examined as potential risk factors for delirium. Results Delirium occurred in 53 patients (17.7%). The preoperative risk factors for delirium were a history of stroke and mental disorders, hypnotic drug use, malnutrition, hyponatremia, anemia, respiratory dysfunction, and cervical surgery. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent predictors of delirium were a history of stroke, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug use, preoperative hyponatremia, the PNI, and the SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) score. Conclusions Independent preoperative predictors of delirium in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery included a history of stroke, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug use, preoperative hyponatremia, the PNI, and the SF-36 PCS score.