Historical Review Research Articles

Part 1: Pushing the boundaries of neurointerventional surgery: A historical review of the work of Dr Gerard Debrun.

French-American neurointerventionalist and pioneer, Dr Gerard Debrun, laid the groundwork for treatments which have become irreplaceable in neurointerventional surgery today. This article aims to outline the career of Dr Debrun while highlighting his accomplishments and contributions to the field of neurointerventional surgery. We selected relevant articles from PubMed authored or co-authored by Dr Debrun between 1941 and 2023. All included articles discuss the accomplishments and contributions of Dr Debrun. Dr Debrun began his career in France by investigating neurointerventional techniques, most notably the intravascular Detachable Balloon Catheter (DBC). His work was recognized by renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charles Drake, who recruited him to London, Ontario. Dr Debrun created the foundation for homemade manufacturing of DBCs, building on one of the largest series for use of DBCs in cerebrovascular disease. Dr Debrun spent time as faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Johns Hopkins Hospital, before arriving at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) where he remained until his retirement. Dr Debrun's subsequent contributions included the calibrated-leak balloon catheter, pioneering of glue embolization, setting the foundation for preoperative AVM embolizations, and as an early adopter of the Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC), including mastering the balloon remodeling technique for wide neck aneurysms. Dr Debrun established the first integrated neurointerventional surgery program at UIC, establishing a well sought-after fellowship program. Dr Debrun lectured extensively and was a prolific writer on neurointerventional surgery throughout this career. His contributions established the foundation for several techniques which have since become standard practice in present-day neurointerventional surgery.

Part 2: The development and advancement of the detachable balloon catheter; a historical and technical review.

The detachable balloon catheter (DBC) was a revolutionary technique for the treatment of cerebrovascular pathologies. It was used to treat carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs), vertebro-jugular fistulas, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and aneurysms. The DBC became the foundation for neurointerventional techniques, leading to the development of coil embolization and bioactives. Our team selected relevant articles from PubMed published between 1974 and 2023. Articles were excluded if they did not discuss the use or development of the detachable balloon catheter or subsequent technologies. The DBC was used to occlude vessels, either temporarily or permanently. Dr Gerard Debrun implemented findings from Dr Fedor Serbinenko's research to develop an intravascular detachable balloon technique. He developed many variations using type I and type II balloon catheters that differed in size, length, and material, allowing for the personalization of treatment based on the lesion. This revolutionary thinking showed that every pathology has a different shape and anatomy that require a unique approach. The DBC would offer the first alternative to the conventional practice of carotid occlusion in CCF treatment at the time. The DBC would later be used in aneurysm occlusion and the embolization of AVMs, with additional benefit in traumatic vascular sacrifice. Although the DBC has largely been replaced, it is still useful in a small subset of patients, and has financial incentive as it is more affordable than coils. This technique was a monumental stride in the history of neurointervention and helped propel the specialty to the current era of patient-specific interventions.

Serviço Social e Questão Social sob a ótica do método crítico dialético: reflexões a partir da experiência histórica brasileira

This article aims to present a bibliographic-documentary analysis of the concept of Social Question, its incursion into Brazilian Social Work and its relations with historical-dialectical materialism. Methodologically, through historical review, it demonstrated how the concept emerged in the conservative spectrum of competitive capital, later taking on a new approach through the contributions of Critical Social Theory. For Brazilian Social Work, especially after the renewal of its scope in the 1980s, the Social Question understood by historical-dialectical materialism became a fundamental element for the analysis and structure-conjuncture that supports the currently current mature form of the profession.

Linking environmental, social and economic sustainability. Case study: basin and reservoir of the Valle de Bravo Dam, Mexico

ABSTRACT Sustainability requires understanding and respecting the ecosystem functioning to plan the use of its resources. Improvised planning plus economic benefits can stimulate unsustainable decisions that lead to complications and obscures the application of appropriate adaptations when a change is required. This paper is a historical review of a reservoir when the dam changes its use from hydroelectric to water supply and then tourism is superimposed on the ecosystem. Data collected from the literature are systematically analyzed to see the effects on basin-reservoir dynamics. The main effect was the increase in the hydraulic retention time of the reservoir that facilitates the accumulation of nutrients and eutrophication, aggravated by the increase in the fixed and floating population stimulated by tourism. The consequent cyanobacteria blooms deteriorate the landscape, become a health risk and cancels the use of the reservoir to tourism. The increase in emerging compounds detected in the treatment plant effluent discharged into the reservoir poses a risk to aquatic species and the water supply. These results are analyzed in light of the objectives and dimensions of Sustainability. Recommendations include modifying Goal 1 of SDO 8, because it is shown that an annual growth of 7% of GDP in developing countries threatens their natural resources.

The use of the micronucleus test and comet assay in wild rodents: a historical review and future perspectives.

Rodents are considered good models for investigating genotoxic damage and mutagenic alterations caused by xenobiotic agents, due to their occupation of a wide variety of habitats. However, relatively few in situ studies have focused on DNA damage in wild rodents associated with environmental exposure. In this review, we investigate trends in the application of the micronucleus test and comet assay in in situ studies of wild rodents. A total of 33 papers were identified, distributed across 14 different countries. Brazil and Spain had the most published studies (six each), followed by Bulgaria (n = 5), Mexico (n = 4) and Italy (n = 3). Only 24 of the 2,652 recognized rodent species have been the subject of in situ studies, which have most frequently focus on species of the genus Mus. The protocols used for the micronucleus test and comet assay varied widely, although blood and bone marrow were the primary types of tissue used. Given the paucity of studies on wild rodents, we recommend further research, particularly focusing on the use of this group as bioindicators of environmental quality and the standardization of protocols.

The Mechanism of Death in Electrocution: A Historical Review of the Literature.

Our present understanding of electrocution followed a long path of detours and speculation. It is now hard to appreciate how mysterious was an unexpected sudden death-without visible trauma-and we should be sympathetic to the surprising theories that came from well-intentioned attempts to find something in the autopsy of an electrocution victim.The early hypotheses (1880s) tended to favor effects on the central nervous system, but the emphasis switched to arterial and hematological mechanisms as well as respiratory arrest (ie, asphyxia) along with a widespread publication debate. While careful animal experimentation slowly established that electrocution was due to the induction of VF (ventricular fibrillation), the older hypotheses held sway for many decades. Even today, the neurogenic and asphyxial explanations reappear occasionally.Despite 170 years of research, the phenomenon of electrocution continues to generate new hypotheses for its mechanism.

Radiation Research Society Journal-based Historical Review of the Use of Biomarkers for Radiation Dose and Injury Assessment: Acute Health Effects Predictions.

A multiple-parameter based approach using radiation-induced clinical signs and symptoms, hematology changes, cytogenetic chromosomal aberrations, and molecular biomarkers changes after radiation exposure is used for biodosimetry-based dose assessment. In the current article, relevant milestones from Radiation Research are documented that forms the basis of the current consensus approach for diagnostics after radiation exposure. For example, in 1962 the use of cytogenetic chromosomal aberration using the lymphocyte metaphase spread dicentric assay for biodosimetry applications was first published in Radiation Research. This assay is now complimented using other cytogenetic chromosomal aberration assays (i.e., chromosomal translocations, cytokinesis-blocked micronuclei, premature chromosome condensation, γ-H2AX foci, etc.). Changes in blood cell counts represent an early-phase biomarker for radiation exposures. Molecular biomarker changes have evolved to include panels of organ-specific plasma proteomic and blood-based gene expression biomarkers for radiation dose assessment. Maturation of these assays are shown by efforts for automated processing and scoring, development of point-of-care diagnostics devices, service laboratories inter-comparison exercises, and applications for dose and injury assessments in radiation accidents. An alternative and complementary approach has been advocated with the focus to de-emphasize "dose" and instead focus on predicting acute or delayed health effects. The same biomarkers used for dose estimation (e.g., lymphocyte counts) can be used to directly predict the later developing severity degree of acute health effects without performing dose estimation as an additional or intermediate step. This review illustrates contributing steps toward these developments published in Radiation Research.

SHATTERING THE GLASS CEILING Women’s Roles and Images in Iranian Architectural Magazines (1946-2001)

This paper examines the evolution of Iranian architectural magazines, focusing on discernible shifts in the involvement and portrayal of women during three distinct periods spanning from 1946 to 2001. From 1946 to 1969, female contributions to the magazines were markedly scarce initially, with depictions limited to non-progressive representations of women in traditional roles and endorsements directed towards the Queen. Along with the modern cultural initiatives of the Pahlavi state in the 1970s, the magazines transitioned from a prior disregard for female figures to occasionally recognising them as equally capable professionals. In contrast to this shift and the gradual growth in the number of educated and professional women before and after the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic embarked on a systematic effort to marginalise women and censor their images from public view. Challenging the post-revolutionary moments of limitation and censorship, few charismatic figures succeeded in redefining their roles and images in architectural magazines, especially after the revivals of 1991 and 1998 that were marked by the publication of two ground-breaking magazines. This study, supported by a comprehensive historical review, employs Theo van Leeuwen’s discourse analysis, revealing the intricate interplay of four discursive strategies in shaping women’s representation in Iranian architectural magazines across the three periods. The text underscores the impact of pre- and post-revolutionary societal and political changes. It highlights how the resilience of Iranian women led to an unprecedented redefinition of female professional roles in the 1990s.

Amigos de la Hoja de Coca: history of a pioneering coca leaf fair-trade

Purpose The leaves of the Erythroxylum “coca” plant are a well-known food, beverage, and nutraceutical in their native Andean region. A decade ago, the European non-profit “Amigos de la Hoja de Coca” (Friends of the Coca Leaf) operated a short-lived fair-trade in raw coca leaves between Bolivia and the European Union. The chronicles of this initiative can be insightful, as interest in natural, wellness, and self-care products continues rising in Europe. Design/methodology/approach Historical review of the inception, and documentation of the organisation of the scheme and its outcome, via all primary sources available. Findings From the 1990s to the early 2010s, civil society groups organised several campaigns to normalise coca leaf in Europe, finding echo at the European Parliament, culminating in 2012-2013 when a periodical distribution system was set-up: growers in Bolivia shipped 150 g. coca leaf packets directly to Friends of the Coca Leaf members in Europe. Initially, most parcels reached their recipients without issue but after technical hurdles and reduced political support, the scheme was eventually discontinued. Originality/value European civil society campaigns surrounding coca have been poorly documented. Historically, Friends of the Coca Leaf emerged alongside Cannabis social clubs, but only the latter has prospered. While Friends of Coca Leaf was short-lived, its political outcomes (both at the institutional level and via a fair and do-it-yourself trade initiative) may prove inspirational to current drug policy reform discussions.

Scientific achievements in Siberian agriculture and their development

A historical review of the formation and development of scientific farming in Siberia is given. The main achievements of the leading research institutes of the region are highlighted. The contribution of Siberian scientists to the development of scientific farming, including its constituent directions, is shown. It presents almost 100 years of development of research on agriculture - from the Omsk experimental farm (XIX century), agricultural experimental stations - to modern federal scientific centers. The evolution of farming from individual crop cultivation techniques to the formation of zonal and then adaptive-landscape farming systems and modern agro-technologies is demonstrated. Examples of completed scientific developments on farming, ready for implementation in production, the number of which runs into thousands, are given. Implementation of knowledge-intensive agro-technologies guarantees grain production in Siberia up to 25-30 million tons, sustainable development of farming, stable food supply and high return on non-renewable resources. The evolution of plant protection from individual methods against the most dangerous pests to the formation of integrated systems that take into account the phytosanitary state of agrocenoses and agro-ecological conditions of agricultural crops cultivation is shown. The most important techniques to optimize the relationship between the crop and pests are the selection of plant species and varieties resistant to their effects, optimization of mineral nutrition of plants and sowing dates. At present, the development of scientific farming is associated with the design of adaptive-landscape farming systems, selection and support of agro-technologies, rational use of land resources, improvement of approaches to the conservation and reproduction of soil fertility, soil treatment systems, fertilizers and integrated plant protection, formation of adaptive crop rotations, research of technological and biological processes in the cultivation of crops, use of GIS-technologies, remote sensing, and the use of remote sensing.

Wind power development: A historical review

Wind power only received occasional attention since the introduction of electricity until the 1970s, when a revived interest in alternative energy sources spurred the development thread that led to today’s wind turbines. Although attention and financial support at the time were directed toward government-funded MW-scale wind turbines, the small models developed in the late 1970s for the Danish market were ultimately the way forward. The wind industry has since matured, as evidenced by the lower specific power and higher capacity factors of recent turbine models and the similarity between their power curve shapes. Moreover, this study highlights two historical accomplishments by Europeans that are sometimes incorrectly credited to Americans: the first wind turbine to generate electricity was built in 1883 by Austrian Josef Friedländer and the Danish Agricco (1919) became the first public grid-connected wind turbine.

The relationship between science fiction and science popularization: A discussion based on literature review and conceptual analysis

The relationship between science fiction and science popularization has long been a controversial issue. Based on a brief historical review of the development of science fiction and science popularization in China, this paper analyses related literature and concepts and argues that the science–literature dispute can be somewhat lessened in that science fiction can be incorporated into science popularization under the framework of general science popularization.

Prenatal Care Evolution Over 100 Years: Prenatal Checklist Tool Development

Determining essential care items in a prenatal appointment efficiently and accurately has become more challenging because prenatal care has become increasingly complex over the last 100 years. When providing prenatal care, it is helpful to understand its background, origin, slow evolution, and need for further research on best practices. This short historical review and presentation of a newly developed prenatal checklist tool can help prenatal care providers be thorough, efficient, and consistent in their practice. This will especially benefit students and clinicians who are new graduates or those for whom obstetrics is not their primary specialty.

Prevalence and Modes of Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Historical Worldwide Review.

Hepatitis C virus infection affects over 58 million individuals and is responsible for 290,000 annual deaths. The infection spread in the past via blood transfusion and iatrogenic transmission due to the use of non-sterilized glass syringes mostly in developing countries (Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Egypt) but even in Italy. High-income countries have achieved successful results in preventing certain modes of transmission, particularly in ensuring the safety of blood and blood products, and to a lesser extent, reducing iatrogenic exposure. Conversely, in low-income countries, unscreened blood transfusions and non-sterile injection practices continue to play major roles, highlighting the stark inequalities between these regions. Currently, injection drug use is a major worldwide risk factor, with a growing trend even in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Emerging high-risk groups include men who have sex with men (MSM), individuals exposed to tattoo practices, and newborns of HCV-infected pregnant women. The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy as a tool to eliminate infection by interrupting viral transmission from infected to susceptible individuals. However, the feasibility of this ambitious and overly optimistic program generates concern about the need for universal screening, diagnosis, linkage to care, and access to affordable DAA regimens. These goals are very hard to reach, especially in LMICs, due to the cost and availability of drugs, as well as the logistical complexities involved. Globally, only a small proportion of individuals infected with HCV have been tested, and an even smaller fraction of those have initiated DAA therapy. The absence of an effective vaccine is a major barrier to controlling HCV infection. Without a vaccine, the WHO project may remain merely an illusion.

Diverse Scripts, Same Mistakes

The writing traditions of Indonesia are characterized by scriptural diversity, although today most of the traditional scripts have been supplanted by Latin in everyday use. There are revitalization efforts and design attempts to use these scripts in more contemporary settings. However, many efforts suffered from substandard typographic quality that does not represent the inherent nature or design spirit of authentic materials. To better understand and problematize this phenomenon, this study conducts historical and literature review using qualitative methods. The typographic quality of some key materials is described and presented in chronological order to show how flawed representation in some materials seem to be perpetuated into contemporary design. A review of archival materials from the 20th century onward reveals that a drop in typographic quality happens concurrently with the disappearance of traditional script from everyday use. The public’s unfamiliarity with traditional scripts was then exacerbated by flawed representation in secondary material references published privately and by the government alike throughout the 1980s to the early 2000s. Notwithstanding their scholarly content, their representation of traditional scripts often shows typographic sloppiness that poorly represent normative and variant letterforms found in primary materials. Some contemporary designs pitfalls of traditional scripts can be traced to the uncritical over-reliance to these secondary materials, such as diacritic miniaturization and graphic stereotyping. There are some indications that typographic awareness and quality is improving in some communities in conjunction with increase of digital use and better access to primary materials. But whether this improvement proved sustainable in the long run remains to be seen. The author hopes that by identifying these pitfalls, future designers will pay more attention to typographic issues in Indonesian traditional scripts and can apply more informed design decisions that contribute to the revitalization of this heritage.

Historical review of surveillance methods, insecticide spray, and epidemiology of malaria in Bannu zone, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Historical review of surveillance methods, insecticide spray, and epidemiology of malaria in Bannu zone, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Biology of Exfoliation of Plasma Membrane-Derived Vesicles and the Radiation Response: Historical Background, Applications in Biodosimetry and Cell-Free Therapeutics, and Quantal Mechanisms for Their Release and Function with Implications for Space Travel.

This historical review of extracellular vesicles in the setting of exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) traces our understanding of how vesicles were initially examined and reported in the literature in the late 1970s (for secreted exosomes) and early 1980s (for plasma membrane-derived, exfoliated vesicles) to where we are now and where we may be headed in the next decade. An emphasis is placed on biophysical properties of extracellular vesicles, energy consumption and the role of vesiculation as an essential component of membrane turnover. The impact of intercellular signal trafficking by vesicle surface and intra-vesicular lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and metabolites is reviewed in the context of biomarkers for estimating individual radiation dose after exposure to radiation, pathogenesis of disease and development of cell-free therapeutics. Since vesicles express both growth stimulatory and inhibitory molecules, a hypothesis is proposed to consider superposition in a shared space and entanglement of molecules by energy sources that are external to human cells. Implications of this approach for travel in deep space are briefly discussed in the context of clinical disorders that have been observed after space travel.

Theological appraisal of the satisfaction theory of atonement

The doctrine of atonement is central to the logic of the Christian faith. As a core part of Christian theology, the subject of atonement has received much scholarly attention since the emergence of the Christian church. Different scholars have interpreted Christ’s atoning sacrifice in different ways based on their socio-political milieu. One of such interpretations is Anselm’s satisfaction theory which considers the atonement as a supererogatory act that provided satisfaction for humankind’s disobedience of God. Like any other model of atonement, Anselm’s model has its strengths and limitations. The lack of literature on the contextual application of Anselm’s satisfaction theory to the Ghanaian context has prompted this study which appraises the theory and then discusses how it might address selected challenges facing the contemporary Ghanaian society. The methodology used for the first task comprised a synchronic historical review and conceptual analysis of existing literature on the satisfaction theory. Among other things, the study found that the satisfaction theory rightly considers God as the receiver of the atonement but fails to address pertinent issues regarding God’s redemptive and covenantal nature. This was followed by a comparative study between Anselm’s socioeconomic and political contexts and those of contemporary Ghana. Based on this, contextual applications of the theory were deduced for contemporary Ghana. The article contributes to the contemporary Christian discourse on the doctrine of soteriology and its relevance for the human society.

False Alarm: XMRV, Cancer, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus (XMRV) was first described in 2006 in some human prostate cancers. But it drew little attention until 2009, when it was also found, as infectious virus and as MLV-related DNA, in samples from people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This discovery was rapidly followed by efforts of the international research community to understand the significance of the association and its potential to spread widely as an important human pathogen. Within a few years, efforts by researchers worldwide failed to repeat these findings, and mounting evidence for laboratory contamination with mouse-derived virus and viral DNA sequences became accepted as the explanation for the initial findings. As researchers engaged in these studies, we present here a historical review of the rise and fall of XMRV as a human pathogen, and we discuss the lessons learned from these events.

A historical and analytical timeline of the African geographical review

ABSTRACT This paper provides a comprehensive review of the African Geographical Review (AGR) from 1963 to 2024, highlighting its evolution, thematic shifts, and impact on geographical scholarship within Africa. It explores the journal’s historical context, examining its geographical dynamics and how it has adapted to changing socio-political and environmental landscapes over the decades. The analysis draws from an interview with a past editor of the AGR and other secondary sources, including the journal’s scope and publications from the 1960s to the present, to provide a historical review of its content and identify key thematic trends across different periods and spaces. The paper also examines how the AGR has addressed pressing socioeconomic and sustainable development issues over time. This historical overview illustrates the AGR’s role in fostering a deeper understanding of Africa’s complex geographical narratives and its ongoing contribution to global academic discussions.