ABSTRACT
The effects of cocaine on memory are controversial. Furthermore, the psychostimulant action of cocaine can be a critical issue in the interpretation of its effects on learning/memory models. The effects of a single administration of cocaine on memory were investigated during the presence of its motor stimulating effect or just after its termination. The plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (PM-DAT) was used because it provides simultaneous information about memory, anxiety and motor activity. In Experiment I, mice received saline, 7.5, 10, 15 or 30 mg/kg cocaine 5 min before the training session. In Experiment II, mice were trained 30 min after the injection of saline, 7.5, 10, 15 or 30 mg/kg cocaine. In Experiment III, mice received 30 mg/kg cocaine 30 min pre-training and pre-test. In Experiment IV, mice received 30 mg/kg cocaine immediately post-training. Tests were always conducted 24 h following the training session. Given 5 min before training, cocaine promoted a motor stimulant effect at the highest dose during the training session but did not impair memory. When cocaine was injected 30 min pre-training, the drug did not modify motor activity, but produced marked amnestic effects at all doses tested. This amnesia induced by cocaine given 30 min pre-training was not related to a state-dependent learning because it was not abolished by pre-test administration of the drug. Post-training cocaine administration did not induce memory deficits either. Our results suggest that the post-stimulant phase is the critical moment for cocaine-induced memory deficit in a discriminative task in mice.
Subject(s)
Amnesia/chemically induced , Amnesia/physiopathology , Cocaine/adverse effects , Cocaine/pharmacology , Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors/adverse effects , Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors/pharmacology , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Anxiety/chemically induced , Avoidance Learning/drug effects , Discrimination, Psychological/drug effects , Disease Models, Animal , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Administration Schedule , Male , Maze Learning/drug effects , Mice , Motor Activity/drug effects , Time FactorsABSTRACT
RATIONALE: Several studies have shown the amnestic effects of ethanol (ETOH). However, while memory tasks in rodents can be markedly influenced by anxiety-like behavior and motor function, ETOH induces anxiolysis and different effects on locomotion, depending on the dose. OBJECTIVE: Verify the effects of ETOH in mice tested in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (PMDAT) concomitantly evaluating memory, anxiety-like behavior, and motor behavior. METHODS: ETOH acutely or repeatedly treated mice were submitted to the training session in a modified elevated plus-maze with two open and two enclosed arms, aversive stimuli in one of the enclosed arms, and tested 24 h later without aversive stimuli. Learning/memory, locomotion, and anxiety-related behavior were evaluated by aversive arm exploration, number of entries in all the arms and open arms exploration, respectively. RESULTS: Acute ETOH: (1) either increased (1.2-1.8 g/kg) or decreased (3.0 g/kg) locomotion; (2) decreased anxiety levels (1.2-3.0 g/kg); and (3) induced learning deficits (1.2-3.0 g/kg) and memory deficits (0.3-3.0 g/kg). After repeated treatment, sensitization and tolerance to hyperlocomotion and anxiolysis induced by 1.8 g/kg ETOH were observed, respectively, and tolerance to the amnestic effect of 0.6 (but not 1.8) g/kg ETOH occurred. CONCLUSION: Neither the anxiolytic nor the locomotor effects of ETOH seem to be related to its amnestic effect in the PMDAT. Additionally, data give support to the effectiveness of the PMDAT in simultaneously evaluating learning, memory, anxiety-like behavior, and motor activity by different parameters. Possible relationships between the behavioral alterations found are discussed.
Subject(s)
Avoidance Learning/drug effects , Central Nervous System Depressants/pharmacology , Discrimination Learning/drug effects , Ethanol/pharmacology , Maze Learning/drug effects , Animals , Anxiety , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Male , Memory/drug effects , Mice , Motor Activity/drug effectsABSTRACT
Societal violence is a public health concern that confronts different countries. In this paper, the author examines the situation of community violence in Jamaica and discusses steps which could be taken by the health community to curb the pervasive and growing problem of community violence.
Subject(s)
Public Health , Residence Characteristics , Violence , Health Occupations , Humans , Jamaica/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Societal violence is a public health concern that confronts different countries. In this paper, the author examines the situation of community violence in Jamaica and discusses steps which could be taken by the health community to curb the pervasive and growing problem of community violence.
La violencia social es una preocupación de la salud pública, a la que se enfrentan diferentes países. En este trabajo, el autor examina la situación de la violencia comunitaria en Jamaica, y discute los pasos que la comunidad de la salud podría tomar para frenar el problema acuciante y creciente de la violencia comunitaria.
Subject(s)
Humans , Demography , Public Health , Violence , Jamaica/epidemiology , Health OccupationsABSTRACT
RATIONALE: The amnesic effects of morphine may be related to its action on nociception, anxiety, or locomotion. This effect is also suggested to be related to state dependency. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to verify the effects of morphine on mice tested in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task (DAT) that uses light and noise as aversive stimuli and allows the concomitant evaluation of learning, memory, anxiety, and locomotion and also to verify the possible role of state-dependent learning in the effects of morphine. METHODS AND RESULTS: The DAT was conducted in a modified elevated plus-maze. In the training, the aversive stimuli were applied when mice entered in one of the enclosed arms, whereas in the test, no stimuli were applied. The main results showed that (1) pretraining morphine (5-20 mg/kg i.p.) induced retrieval deficits (evaluated by the time spent in the aversive arm in the test) but not acquisition deficits (evaluated by the decrease in aversive arm exploration along the training); (2) pretest morphine (5-10 but not 20 mg/kg) counteracted this deficit; (3) morphine induced hypolocomotion (decreased number of entries in the arms), irrespective of memory alterations; and (4) morphine did not alter anxiety-like behavior (evaluated by the time spent in the open arms) during the training. CONCLUSIONS: Morphine given before training induces retrieval deficits in mice tested in the DAT, and these deficits could be related to morphine-induced state-dependent learning. Neither the memory deficit induced by pretraining morphine nor the reversal of this deficit by pretest morphine seems to be related to anxiety levels or locomotor alterations.
Subject(s)
Avoidance Learning/drug effects , Discrimination, Psychological/drug effects , Maze Learning/drug effects , Morphine/pharmacology , Animals , Anxiety , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Light , Male , Memory/drug effects , Mice , NoiseABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to verify the effects of pre- or post-training paradoxical sleep (PS) deprivation in mice tested in the passive and the plus-maze discriminative avoidance tasks. Three-month-old Swiss male mice were placed in narrow platforms in a water tank for 72 h to prevent the occurrence of PS. Control animals were kept in the same room, but in their home cages. Before or after this period, the animals were submitted to the training session of one of the behavioral tasks. The test sessions were performed 3 and 10 days after the training. The animals that were PS-deprived before the training session showed retention deficits in the test sessions performed 3 days later in both tasks (decreased latency to enter the dark chamber of the passive avoidance apparatus or increased percent time spent in the aversive arm of the plus-maze discriminative avoidance apparatus). Animals that were PS deprived after the training session showed no differences from control animals in the test sessions performed 3 days after the training in any of the tasks, but showed passive and discriminative avoidance retention deficits in the test performed 10 days after the training. The results suggest that both pre- and post-training paradoxical sleep deprivation produce memory deficits in mice. However, these effects have different temporal characteristics.
Subject(s)
Association Learning/physiology , Avoidance Learning/physiology , Maze Learning/physiology , Sleep Deprivation/physiopathology , Sleep, REM/physiology , Animals , Male , Mice , Reaction Time/physiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To better understand the paradox in the Dominican Republic of a relatively high maternal mortality ratio despite nearly universal institutionalized deliveries with trained attendants, a rapid assessment using an adaptation of the strategic assessment method was conducted. METHODS: A multi-disciplinary team reviewed national statistics and hospital records, inventoried facilities, and observed peripartum client-provider interactions at 14 facilities. RESULTS: The major referral hospitals, where more than 40% of births in the country occur, were overcrowded and understaffed, with inexperienced residents overseeing care provided by medical students, interns and nurses. Uncomplicated labor and deliveries were overmedicalized, while complicated ones were not managed appropriately; emergencies were not dealt with in a timely fashion. In the peripheral hospitals physicians were seldom present and clients were either turned away or delivered by unprepared nursing staff. Providers in the busiest facilities suffered from compassion fatigue, and were demoralized and overworked. In all facilities, quality of care was lacking and the delivery and birthing process was dehumanized. CONCLUSIONS: Access and availability of institutional delivery alone is not enough to decrease MMR, it is also the quality of emergency obstetric care that saves lives.
Subject(s)
Delivery Rooms/standards , Delivery, Obstetric/mortality , Delivery, Obstetric/standards , Maternal Mortality , Quality of Health Care/organization & administration , Attitude of Health Personnel , Clinical Competence , Dominican Republic/epidemiology , Female , Guideline Adherence , Hospitalization , Humans , PregnancyABSTRACT
The authors present two patients with dementia who displayed recurrent transient episodes of amnestic wandering and disorientation characterized by getting lost in familiar environments. At other times these patients did not wander or become disoriented. The inability to recall any information during these episodes, and the marked difference of the episodic amnesia exacerbations from the progressive amnesia characteristic of Alzheimer disease seen in these patients led to their evaluation. These clinical episodes and the bilateral interictal epileptiform electroencephalographic changes found in both patients led to the diagnosis of transient epileptic amnesia, a syndrome that can be diagnostically elusive. These transient amnestic wandering events subsided after treatment with antiepileptic drugs in both patients. The authors suggest that transient wandering of this type may be caused by ictal events or postictal confusional states. This report emphasizes the importance of recognizing transient epileptic amnesia as an easily treatable cause of episodic behavioral abnormalities responsive to antiepileptic therapy, especially in those patients who have a markedly inconsistent pattern of wandering, disorientation in familiar settings, and amnesia exacerbation manifested by no recall of the emotional stress of getting lost or of any information during these episodes. Recognition of this type of behavioral disruption and its proper treatment can lead to improved quality of life for these patients, maintain these patients in their homes and out of chronic care institutions longer, and facilitate the community's and caretaker's interactive roles with the patient.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/complications , Amnesia/etiology , Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Dementia, Multi-Infarct/complications , Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Aged , Female , Humans , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Humans , Adolescent , Fruit/poisoning , Hypoglycemia/epidemiology , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Syndrome , JamaicaABSTRACT
This article highlights promotional strategies that are currently in use in occupational health which have yielded positive results in terms of cost-effectiveness and the prevention of occupational disease. Suggestions are offered on the possible extrapolation of these strategies to disease prevention programmes in medical practice in the Caribbean Region.
Subject(s)
Health Promotion , Occupational Health , Preventive Medicine , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Occupational Diseases/economics , Occupational Diseases/prevention & control , West IndiesABSTRACT
This article highlights promotional strategies that are currently in use in occupational health which have yielded positive results in terms of cost-effectiveness and the prevention of occuptional disease. Suggestions are offered on the possible extrapolation of these strategies to disease prevention programmes in medical practice in the Caribbean Region. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Health Promotion/methods , Health Education/methods , Occupational Health , Health Status Indicators , Quality of Life , West IndiesABSTRACT
This article highlights promotional strategies that are currently in use in occupational health which have yielded positive results in terms of cost-effectiveness and the prevention of occuptional disease. Suggestions are offered on the possible extrapolation of these strategies to disease prevention programmes in medical practice in the Caribbean Region.
Subject(s)
Humans , Health Education/methods , Occupational Health , Health Promotion/methods , Quality of Life , West Indies , Health Status IndicatorsABSTRACT
This article highlights an outbreak of food poisoning, the result of ingestion of Ciguatoxin-infected fish in a community. The case presentations of the patients involved are used to illustrate the clinical aspects of Ciguatoxin poisoning. The public health aspects of this incident and their relevance to disease surveillance are then discussed. Information of significance to general medical practice in relation to this particular type of fish poisoning, the effect of which could prove fatal in some cases, is also discussed.
Subject(s)
Ciguatera Poisoning , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Fishes, Poisonous , Foodborne Diseases/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Foodborne Diseases/therapy , Humans , Jamaica/epidemiology , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
This article highlights an outbreak of food poisoning, the result of ingestion of Ciguatoxin-infected fish in a community. The case presentations of the patients involved are used to illustrate the clinical aspects of Ciguatoxin poisoning. The public health aspects of this incident and their relevance to disease surveillance are then discussed. Information of significance to general medical practice in relation to this particular type of fish poisoning, the effect of which could prove fatal in some cases, is also discussed (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Male , Female , Ciguatoxins/poisoning , Foodborne Diseases/etiology , Fishes, Poisonous , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Jamaica , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
This article highlights an outbreak of food poisoning, the result of ingestion of Ciguatoxin-infected fish in a community. The case presentations of the patients involved are used to illustrate the clinical aspects of Ciguatoxin poisoning. The public health aspects of this incident and their relevance to disease surveillance are then discussed. Information of significance to general medical practice in relation to this particular type of fish poisoning, the effect of which could prove fatal in some cases, is also discussed
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Male , Female , Fishes, Poisonous , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Ciguatoxins/poisoning , Foodborne Diseases/etiology , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , JamaicaABSTRACT
The importance of occupational health practice principles in the delivery of health care to the working population is stressed by the authors' management of an incident of occupational pesticide poisoning. The clinical management of the patients involved, as well as the occupational and environmental health management of that incident, is discussed. An illustrative case report is used to describe an occurrence of carbofuran pesticide poisoning in three female farm workers in Jamaica. This report highlights the implications and significance of this incident in terms of the sensitivity of the medical profession to similar occupational health problems.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/chemically induced , Carbofuran/adverse effects , Insecticides/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Carbofuran/toxicity , Environmental Exposure , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Protective ClothingABSTRACT
The importance of occupational health practice principles in the delivery of health care to the working population is stressed by the authors' management of an incident of occupational pesticide poisoning. The clinical management of the patients involved, as well as the occupational and environmental health management of that incident, is discussed. An illustrative case report is used to describe an occurrence of carbofuran pesticide poisoning in three female farm workers in Jamaica. This report highlights the implications and significance of this incidence in terms of the sensitivity of the medical profession to similar occupational health problems (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Female , Insecticides/poisoning , Occupational Diseases , JamaicaABSTRACT
The importance of occupational health practice principles in the delivery of health care to the working population is stressed by the authors' management of the an incident of occupational pesticide poisoning. The clinical management of the patients involved, as well as the occupational and environmental health management of that incident, is discussed. An illustrative case report is used to describe an occurrence of carbofuran pesticide poisoning in three female farm workers in Jamaica. This report highlights the implications and significance of this incident in terms of sensitivity of the medical profession to similar occupational health problems