ABSTRACT
In the past, research on zoonotic diseases has been fragmented. Teresa Belcher and Diane Newell discuss the formation of Med-Vet-Net, a "virtual institute", which aims to integrate activity between researchers in human and veterinary medicine across the European Union.
Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control/organization & administration , Interdisciplinary Communication , Public Health Administration , Veterinary Medicine , Zoonoses , Animals , Europe , Humans , Internet , Veterinary Medicine/organization & administrationABSTRACT
Aggressive behaviors of two men with mental retardation were investigated during sheltered workshop and community employment. The first year of community work showed a monthly average reduction in aggressive behaviors of 93%. Changing to a typical work setting with regular expectations led to this decrease.
Subject(s)
Day Care, Medical , Employment, Supported , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Sheltered Workshops , Violence/prevention & control , Adult , Aggression/psychology , Humans , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Male , Recreation , Social Behavior , Social Environment , Violence/psychologyABSTRACT
While at a state institution for people with mental retardation Peter averaged 5.30 hr. sleep per night. At his community home he averaged 7.87 hr. per night, a 48% gain. The responsive environment of his new home engaged Peter in positive social activities which may have led to decreased stress and increased personal comfort, enabling him to sleep longer.
Subject(s)
Deinstitutionalization , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , Social Environment , Activities of Daily Living/psychology , Adult , Group Homes , Hospitals, State , Humans , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , MaleABSTRACT
Intracellular pH (pHi), apical membrane potential (Va), and fractional apical membrane resistance (FRa) were measured in principal cells of isolated frog skin (Rana pipiens) with double-barreled microelectrodes under short-circuit conditions. Basolateral exposure to 10 mU/ml arginine vasotocin (AVT) depolarized Va by 30 mV, decreased FRa by 33%, increased short-circuit current (Isc) by 17 microA, and increased pHi by 0.17 pH units. The response of Va, Isc, and pHi occurred concurrently. Forskolin, theophylline, and 8-(4-chlorophenyl-thio)-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate caused similar changes in Va, Isc, and pHi. The enhanced response of Isc, Va, and FRa to short pulses of apical amiloride applied during AVT or cAMP exposure suggests an increase in apical Na+ conductance. The presence of cAMP agonists also enhanced the response of pHi to amiloride. We conclude that the AVT- and cAMP-induced increase in Na+ transport across the apical cell membrane is associated with a change in pHi. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that changes in pHi may play a role in the second messenger cascade initiated by the antidiuretic hormone.
Subject(s)
Skin/metabolism , Sodium/pharmacokinetics , Vasopressins/pharmacology , Amiloride/administration & dosage , Amiloride/pharmacology , Animals , Biological Transport , Cell Membrane , Cyclic AMP/pharmacology , Electrophysiology , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Intracellular Membranes/metabolism , Rana pipiens , Skin/cytology , Skin Physiological Phenomena , Vasotocin/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Individuals with disabilities who move from one day program to another frequently show decreases in social adaption. Peter had four weeks of transition while James had none. After one month in the new program, James showed a 99% decrease in targeted behaviors and Peter a 100% decrease. Is a long transition necessary to move smoothly from one day setting to another?
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Day Care, Medical , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Patient Transfer , Sheltered Workshops , Adult , Employment, Supported , Humans , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Social Behavior , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Increased frequency of maladaptive behaviors regularly occurs with individuals moving from large institutions. This inquiry focused upon change in targeted behaviors exhibited after one full year living in a normalized community setting by 8 adults who had lived an average of 17 years in institutions. Results revealed that maladaptive behaviors exhibited in institutions decreased significantly after one year in a 4-person community group home. Group home staff anticipated adaptive behavior and did not recognize as many problems as did institutional staff. Appropriate behaviors started to increase very quickly and inappropriate behaviors decreased.
Subject(s)
Deinstitutionalization , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Adult , Behavior Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/etiology , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The influence of sheltered workshop and community employment on inappropriate behaviors of six people with developmental disabilities was examined. During the first 3 months of community employment the mean decrease in targeted behaviors was 94%.
Subject(s)
Employment , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Sheltered Workshops , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , ViolenceABSTRACT
1. The relationship between Va and pHi was studied with double-barrelled microelectrodes in principal cells of frog skin (Rana pipiens) when (i) the transepithelial potential (Vt) was clamped at different values of Vt and (ii) when the pH of the apical solution was altered. 2. Under all conditions examined here, depolarization of Va was associated with an increase in pHi and hyperpolarization of Va was accompanied by a decrease in pHi. However, the changes in the basolateral cell membrane potential occurred, either in the same or opposite direction to that of Va depending on the conditions. 3. The voltage-dependent changes in pHi were not affected by H+ transport inhibitors or the complete removal of Na+, Cl- and HCO3- but were effectively inhibited by the application of amiloride (10(-4) M) or benzamil (10(-6)M) on the apical side. 4. A decrease in pH of the apical solution hyperpolarized Va and decreased pHi, an effect that was significantly attenuated when benzamil was present on the apical side. 5. The results indicate the presence of an H+ and/or OH- conductive pathway in the apical cell membrane of the principal cells. The effect of Na+ channel blockers suggests that this pathway proceeds through the apical Na+ channels.
Subject(s)
Skin/metabolism , Sodium Channels/metabolism , Amiloride/analogs & derivatives , Amiloride/pharmacology , Animals , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , In Vitro Techniques , Membrane Potentials/drug effects , Rana pipiens , Skin/drug effects , Sodium Channels/drug effectsABSTRACT
Intracellular pH (pHi), apical membrane potential (Va), and fractional apical membrane resistance (FRa) were measured in principal cells of isolated frog skin (Rana pipiens) with double-barreled microelectrodes under short-circuit and open-circuit conditions. Basolateral exposure to high K+ concentration or Ba2+ depolarized V(a), decreased short-circuit current, and increased FRa and pHi. However, an increase in K+ subsequent to Ba2+ application did not induce additional changes in these parameters. High basolateral K+, previously shown to increase apical K+ secretion (N. S. Bricker, T. Biber, and H. H. Ussing. J. Clin. Invest. 41: 88-99, 1963), also increased apical Na+ conductance. The depolarization and intracellular alkalinization induced by high K+ were also observed in absence of Na+, Cl-, and HCO3- and in presence of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. Under all these conditions pHi moved toward electrochemical equilibrium. Reduced basolateral K+ hyperpolarized V(a) and decreased pHi. The data suggest that depolarization and hyperpolarization of the apical and/or basolateral membrane are associated with an increase and decrease, respectively, in pHi without involvement of Na(+)-H+, Cl(-)-HCO3-, or K(+)-H+ exchange and are apparently also independent of an active H+ secretion pathway. This indicates the presence of a potential-dependent H+ and/or OH- conductance in the apical and/or basolateral cell membrane that may play an important role in pHi regulation and signal transduction.
Subject(s)
Extracellular Space/metabolism , Intracellular Membranes/metabolism , Potassium/metabolism , Skin/metabolism , 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid , 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid/analogs & derivatives , 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid/pharmacology , Animals , Barium/pharmacology , Bicarbonates/metabolism , Chlorides/metabolism , Electrochemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Ion Exchange , Rana pipiens , Skin/cytology , Sodium/metabolismABSTRACT
A 60-year-old chronically schizophrenic man who displayed verbally aggressive hallucinatory outbursts in a nursing home was placed on a contingent exercise program to decrease the hallucinations. Baseline demonstrated a daily average of 4.66 episodes per day. A 20-week intervention decreased these episodes to 0.34 per day. This 92% decrease was accomplished by contingently walking the subject in a hallway until he was quiet. Psychotropic medication increased during baseline had no effect on the target behavior. This mildly aversive program indicates that overt hallucinatory behavior seems to have at least a partial environmental base.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy , Hallucinations/therapy , Schizophrenic Psychology , Chronic Disease , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Physical Exertion , Schizophrenia/therapyABSTRACT
A blind 19 yr old severely retarded man was referred for behavior therapy because of violent and disruptive tantrums. Previous behavioral strategies had failed for various reasons. A very mild, brief, vestibular oriented physical procedure was designed to provide a low level disruptive effect. Intervention consisted of loud teacher demands to stop and work appropriately as well as guiding him through one 360 degrees turn while standing. The data demonstrated rapid and long term success in eliminating the client's tantrums. The results were interpreted in terms of a behavioral interruptor of a chained sequence allowing refocusing of client attention and increased levels of reinforcement.
