Effective models for medical and health response coordination: summary and action plan.

INTRODUCTION: To effectively respond to this relatively new, complex mandate, it is essential to find effective models of coordination to ensure that medical and health services can meet the standards now expected in a disaster situation. This theme explored various models, noting both the strengths that can be built on and the weaknesses that still need to be overcome. METHODS: Details of the methods used are provided in the preceding paper. The chairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. Since the findings from the Theme 1 and Theme 4 groups were similar, the chairs of both groups presided over one workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of Action Plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates. RESULTS: The main points developed during the presentations and discussion included: (1) preplanning (predisaster goals), (2) information collection (assessment), (3) communication (materials and methods); and (4) response centres and personnel. There exists a need for institutionalization of processes for learning from experiences obtained from disasters. DISCUSSION: Action plans presented include: (1) creation of an information and data clearinghouse on disaster management, (2) identification of incentives and disincentives for readiness and develop strategies and interventions, and (3) action on lessons learned from evidence-based research and practical experience. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to proactively establish coordination and management procedures in advance of any crisis. A number of important insights for improvement in coordination and management during disasters emerged.

Multidisciplinary team interaction: summary and Action Plan.

INTRODUCTION: Multidisciplinary team interaction has become a commonplace phrase in the discussion of disaster response. Theme 6 explored multidisciplinary team interactions and attempted to identify some of the key issues and possible solutions to the seemingly intractable problems inherent in this endeavour. METHODS: Details of the methods used are provided in the introductory paper. The Cochairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. The Cochairs then presided over a workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of Action Plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates. RESULTS: Main points developed during the presentations and discussion included: (1) promotion of multidisciplinary collaboration, (2) standardization, (3) the Incident Command System, (4) professionalism, (5) regional disparities, and (6) psychosocial impact. DISCUSSION: Action plans recommended: (1) a standardized template for Needs Assessment be developed, implemented, and applied using collaboration with international organizations, focusing on needs and criteria appropriate to each type of event, and (2) team needs assessments be recognized for local responses and for determination of when international assistance may be required, for planning a command system, and for evaluating the psychosocial impact. CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear need for the development of standardized methods for the assessment of needs, development and implementation of a command structure, and for appreciation of regional differences and the psychosocial impact of all interventions.

Pharmacological analysis of slow potentials recorded in frog olfactory bulb during natural stimulation.

Pharmacological agents (strychnine, picrotoxin, pentobarbital, chloralose, GABA, penicillin, morphine) were used to investigate the nature of the slow potential recorded in the frog olfactory bulb in response to natural stimulation. Three possible hypotheses were tested: 1) The slow potential is neuroglial in nature; 2) it is the analog of the dorsal-root potential of the spinal cord and reflects depolarization of primary afferents arising in the terminals of the olfactory nerve and responsible for presynaptic inhibition in the frog olfactory bulb; 3) the slow potential reflects postsynaptic processes. The results showed great similarity between changes in the slow and dorsal-root potentials of the spinal cord in response to the action of pharmacological agents. However, the slow potential is evidently a complex response and incorporates at least one other component - depolarization of the dendrites of unknown nature.

[A pharmacologic analysis of the slow potential arising in response to adequate stimulation of the frog olfactory bulb]. / Farmakologicheskii analiz medlennogo potentsiala, voznikaiushchego v otvet na adekvatnoe razdrazhenie v oboniatel'noi lukovitse liagushki

The nature of slow potential recorded in the frog olfactory bulb in response to natural stimulation was studied using application of different pharmacological substances. Three suppositions were checked up: 1) if the slow potential is of neuro-glial nature; 2) whether it reflects the primary afferent depolarization in the terminations of olfactory fibres which is responsible for the presynaptic inhibition in the olfactory bulb (as the dorsal root potential in the spinal cord); 3) if it reflects postsynaptic potentials. The slow potential was found to have many pharmacological properties similar to those of the dorsal root potential in the spinal cord. However, the slow potential appears to be more a complicated response and includes at least one more component--a depolarization of dendrites of unknown nature.