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。     

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。     

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.     

俄罗斯外债问题研究

自20世纪90年代以来,俄罗斯走上了从计划经济向市场经济转轨的道路,并迅速积累了巨额外债。近年来,俄罗斯外债余额递减,但规模仍然庞大,外债结构亦日趋合理。俄罗斯外债危机后的外债重组任务艰巨,解决外债问题,可以考虑以货抵债、以股抵债和外债资本化。综观俄罗斯国内外形势,从总体上看,俄罗斯外债形势仍不容乐观。2003年是俄罗斯的偿债高峰年,其1 301亿美元巨额外债的偿还进程举世瞩目,对世界各国的外债实践都有着重要的借鉴意义     

中美经贸摩擦分析

中美经贸关系在迅速发展的同时,经贸摩擦不断。究竟如何看待中美经贸摩擦无疑是个需要认真思考和探讨的重要课题。作者围绕着中美经贸摩擦与日美经贸摩擦是否相同、近几年中美经贸摩擦的主要原因以及中美经贸摩擦是否是必然的、不可避免的等问题阐述了个人观点。作者认为,中美经贸摩擦与日美经贸摩擦比较既有相同之处,也有重要区别;近些年的中美经贸摩擦主要是经济原因而非政治原因引起的;中美经贸摩擦在某种程度上是可以避免或减少的。     

蒙古国“多支点”外交政策及其对我周边安全环境的影响

前苏联解体后,蒙古国基于自身实际构建的“多支点”全方位外交政策,已经对我北部战略安全环境产生了一定影响,分析蒙古国外交政策的动因、走向及其趋向,制订符合我国国家利益的应对措施,已经成为当前国家战略的一项重要课题。