Lethal small bowel obstruction due to pica

Up to 25% of institutionalized patients with cognitive deficiencies display pica-like behavior, with an estimated annual incidence of small bowel obstruction of 2%. We present a case based on the forensic autopsy of a 41-year-old woman who died as a result of a missed diagnosis of small bowel obstruction after ingesting a foreign body. The case underlines the importance of precaution when treating patients with cognitive deficiency and/or language deficits and gastrointestinal symptoms. In such cases, it is important to employ a liberal threshold for radiological investigations and, if possible, obtain a medical history from a person close to the patient.     

A view from the policy community: a new strategic narrative for Europe?

ABSTRACT

Reflecting on the results presented in articles in this special issue, European leaders should take greater account of external perceptions in crafting the European Union's strategic narrative and guiding its actions. Failure to do so has impaired external policies like the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. Leaders emerging from the Arab uprisings perceived the EU as complicit with their countries’ former anciens régimes and Russian leaders see EU support for democracy and the market economy in former Soviet states as duplicitous and instrusive. Awareness of such perceptions should be filtered into EU decision-making, without validating views that European officials and diplomats consider misleading.     

Beyond royal politics: state transformation and foreign policy in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi politics is commonly portrayed as reflecting a system of centralised personal rule in which decision-making power trickles down from the tightly knit power circles within the House of Saud. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the empowerment of quasi-autonomous state organisations in Saudi Arabia as a result of state transformation and regional integration. At its most extreme, state transformation in Saudi Arabia has created institutional and regulatory enclaves with vested interests and areas of competence that cross Saudi borders. This paper illustrates the foreign policy ramifications of transformed statehood in Saudi attempts to further Gulf regional integration in the context of the Gulf Monetary Union project.     

中国利用外资新特点及其思考

随着改革开放的更进一步纵深展开,中国利用外资在近几年也呈现出了一些新特点。本文旨在介绍我国在利 用外资上的新模式和新领域,并针对这些新特点,对外资的宏观管理提出一些建议。     

试论山区县市公安基层基础工作

洪江市公安局在强化公安基层工作中,结合山区特点,坚持以“苏州”、“杭州”会议精神为指导,围绕派出所“防范、管理、打击、服务”这一基本职能,狠抓思想认识提高。狠抓社区警务规范建设,狠抓治安联防队伍等群防群治建设,狠抓村级警务站建设,确保了警务前移、警务下沉,着力开创派出所新型警务运行机制的局面,努力实现警民共刨安全文明社区。     

中国外资银行监管与中国入世承诺的履行

WTO规则促进了国际金融一体化的进程 ,加入WTO对我国金融业既是机遇又意味着挑战 ,本文针对WTO规则中有关银行业的规定与我国相关承诺中涉及的外资银行监管问题进行了客观分析 ,并就我国完善对外资银行的监管提出了自己的看法。     

法律的统一对民法法典化的影响

自19世纪以来,大陆法系各国纷纷制定颁布了自己的民法典,掀起了制定民法典的浪潮。然而,在论及制定颁布民法典的原因时,多数学者往往忽视法律的统一这一因素对其的影响。实际上,从大陆法系各主要国家制定颁布民法典的最直接、最现实的目的来看,都是基于对已有分散的法律进行统一的需要。基于同样的原因,英美法系的国家也制定颁布了民事单行法。     

观念在外交决策中的作用--对《观念与外交政策》一书的解读

如何看待观念在外交决策中的作用一直是西方国际关系理论中争论的焦点问题之一.理想主义和建构主义强调观念建构是第一性的,现实主义强调物质实力至上,美国学者戈尔茨坦和基欧汉在主编的<观念与外交政策>一书中则强调物质因素和观念因素同是影响外交决策的重要变量.他们还将观念分解为世界观、原则性信念和因果信念3种形式,它们通过提供行动指南,增进共识和建构制度等方式对外交决策产生影响.这些争论提示我们,我国的外交战略既要立足于物质实力的增强,又不能忽视观念的作用;既要积极参与国际社会的观念建构,又要避免意识形态对抗.     

法治视角下的群体性事件——以当前群体性事件的三个热点为例

法的功能在于调节、调和与调解各种错杂和冲突的利益。本文以当前群体性事件的三个热点为例,分析了由于法律缺失和不完善,不依法行政、滥用权力,司法不公及司法权威受损与群体性事件的发生的关系。提出一方面我们应当教育群众通过合法途径保护自身的合法权益,另一方面应通过加强法制建设,约束行政权力、规范行政行为,采取切实可行的政策措施,保护群众的利益不受侵害。     

The GMO food arena in the EU (1998–2001)

A highly politicised arena in the EU has been caused by the 1998 Commission legislative proposal with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The debate over different interests became more intense. During the EU decision‐making process concerning GMOs, two larger coalitions cutting across institutions and countries waged the fight: one was led by industry and was in favour of GMOs and the other was against and mainly rooted in nongovernmental lobby groups. In mid‐2001, the ‘anti’ movement had gained a (temporary) winning position. In an attempt to explain this, it was concluded that the industrial lobby has been nonchalant in its preparatory work for public affairs management, by not carefully studying the various stakeholders, issues, time developments and the boundaries of this arena. With the benefit of hindsight it can be seen that the industrial lobby itself has missed opportunities and made unforced errors. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications