In patients who have been successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, therapeutic mild hypothermia increased the rate of a favorable neurologic outcome and reduced mortality.

The alcoholic beverage absinthe is recently experiencing a revival after a yearlong prohibition. This review article provides information on all aspects of this bitter spirit and its major components, especially wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.), which contains the toxic monoterpene thujone. Over 100 references on historic and current literature are provided. The topics comprise the history of the alcoholic drink starting from its invention in the eighteenth century. Historical and modern recipes are discussed in the context of different quality categories and possibilities to reduce the content of thujone are given. The analytical techniques used to verify compliance with the maximum limit of thujone as well as further possibilities for quality control of absinthe are discussed. The toxicology of absinthe is reviewed with regard to the cause of a syndrome called "absinthism," which was described after chronic abuse of the spirit in the nineteenth century. Finally, a food regulatory and food chemical evaluation is provided and minimum requirements for absinthe are suggested. Absinthe should have a recognizable wormwood flavor and after dilution with water the characteristic clouding should arise (louche-effect). Products, which are advertized as being of premium grade should be made by distillation, should have an alcoholic strength of at least 45%vol, and should not contain artificial dye.

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The cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is an unresolved problem of high relevance. Previous studies indicate a role of infections. In our prospective study, we investigated the frequency of virus-induced myocardial affections in SIDS. Postmortem samples from SIDS victims and control subjects were investigated prospectively. Pediatric cases of unnatural death served as controls. Samples were studied for enteroviruses, adenoviruses, parvovirus B19, and Epstein-Barr virus applying PCR. Immunohistochemical investigations for inflammatory cells, the necrosis marker C5b-9 (m) complement complex, and the enteroviral capsid protein VP1 were performed. Overall, 62 SIDS victims were studied. As controls, 11 infants were enrolled. Enteroviruses were detected in 14 (22.5%), adenoviruses in 2 (3.2%), Epstein-Barr viruses in 3 (4.8%), and parvovirus B19 in 7 (11.2%) cases of SIDS. Control group samples were completely virus negative. Compared with controls, immunohistochemical investigations partially revealed a significant increase in the number of T lymphocytes in SIDS myocardial samples (p Ͻ 0.05). Furthermore, cases with elevated numbers of leukocytes and macrophages, microfocal C5b-9 (m) ϩ necroses, and enteroviral VP1 capsid protein within the myocardium were detected. Applying a comprehensive combination of molecular and immunohistochemical techniques, our results demonstrate a clearly higher prevalence of viral myocardial affections in SIDS. Our results emphasize the importance of PCR-based diagnosis of viral myocardial affections. We suggest preliminary criteria for cellular immunohistochemical diagnosis of viral myocardial affections derived from our findings. The diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is established by comprehensive exclusion of all other possible causes of death in the age group. Myocarditis is a widely known explanation for sudden death in cases of suspected SIDS as well as in older children (1). Recent clinical studies and anecdotal communications reported on different viruses in such cases applying molecular techniques to detect the genome sequences of enteroviruses (EV) (2), adenoviruses (AV) (3), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (4), and parvovirus B19 (PVB19) (5) in clinical and autopsy samples, respectively. Until recently, a maximum percentage of up to 17% of cases of sudden unexpected death in infancy showing-if at all-histologic hints of viral myocardial affections was assumed (6). The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of virus-induced myocardial affections in cases of SIDS with modern immunohistochemical and molecular pathologic methods. METHODS

Employees of generation Y challenge leadership in hospitals by increasing the demands. However, generation Y can significantly increase professionalization and competitiveness for hospitals.