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Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Improving communication between health and infant mental health professionals utilizing ongoing Collaborative Peer Supervision Groups

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004
Michael Thomasgard
This article discusses the use of Collaborative Peer Supervision Groups (CPSG) to promote ongoing professional development for those who work with infants, toddlers, and their families. Our model's strength and clinical utility result from its three major components: (a) a relationship-based perspective that acknowledges the important role that feelings and emotions play across the life span, (b) a peer supervision model that helps to ensure that no individual or discipline is "the expert," and (c) a collaborative case-based continuing-education experience. Salient features of forming and maintaining a CPSG group are discussed including access to a Web site containing many key start-up and evaluation materials. Existing barriers to effective communication between disciplines are discussed as are specific methods to structure case data. Additional tools to help anchor a CPSG are considered as are methods of evaluation. Two case presentations are considered to illustrate group process. Lessons learned from such groups are highlighted. Our intent is to provide sufficient background material so that others with a similar interest will be comfortable starting and maintaining a CPSG group on their own. ©2004 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [source]

MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC5B in the mucus of a patient with pseudomyxoma peritonei: Biochemical and immunohistochemical study

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 8 2007
Anwar S. Mall
A 58-year-old man with a 1 year history of progressive abdominal distension underwent a laparotomy for pseudomyxoma peritonei. The mucin was identified and characterized in the present study. Approximately 6 L of crude mucus in the sol (highly viscous) and gel (semisolid) phases was obtained from the patient's peritoneal cavity. The sol material was briefly homogenized followed by slow stirring at dilutions of up to 1:10 with 6 mol/L guanidinium chloride and proteolytic inhibitors for periods of up to 48 h. Preparative and analytical gel filtration on Sepharose 2B showed some PAS-positive material eluting in the void volume accompanied by equal or larger amounts of protein in the void and included volumes of the columns. Sodium dodecylsulfate,polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified mucin on a 4,20% gradient gel showed PAS-positive material on the top of the running gel and a distinct smaller-sized species of mucin of higher electrophoretic mobility with background material in between the large and small mucin. Western blot (confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis) after agarose gel electrophoresis showed the presence of MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC5B in the mucus. There was no MUC1, MUC1core or MUC6 in the tissue. Histopathological examination confirmed a mucinous appendicular adenocarcinoma. Histology showed the mucin to be predominantly of the sulfated and non-sulfated acidic type. Serine, threonine and proline comprised 21.6% of the total amino acid composition of the sample. The viscous nature of the material is due to the presence of three gel-forming mucins and possibly to its high content of protein. [source]

Gravitoelectromagnetic cavitons in the kinetic regime

ANNALEN DER PHYSIK, Issue 6 2009
X.Q. Li
Abstract We consider the interaction of gravitational fields (including "gravitoelectromagnetism") with interstellar matter dealing with resonant wave-particle and wave-wave interactions on the basis of magnetic-type Maxwell-Vlasov equations. It is found that the behavior of the perturbed GEM fields, the perturbed density and self-generated gravitomagnetic field with very low frequency, can be described by the nonlinear coupling Eqs. (98,100). Numerical results show that they may collapse. In other words, due to self-focusing, a stronger GEM fields magnified up to 103 times, could be produced; they are the GEM cavitons, describing gravity shielding and filament effects. And the self-generated gravitomagnetic field is concurrently focused by the background material to a small space where it may be detected. [source]

What should be given a priority , costly medications for relatively few people or inexpensive ones for many?

HEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 2 2008
The Health Parliament public consultation initiative in Israel
Abstract Background, In the past two decades, government and civic organizations have been implementing a wide range of deliberative public consultations on health care-related policy. Drawing on these experiences, a public consultation initiative in Israel called the Health Parliament was established. Goals, To implement a public consultation initiative that will engage members of the public in the discussion of four healthcare policy questions associated with equity in health services and on priorities for determining which medications and treatments should be included in the basket of national health services. Method, One hundred thirty-two participants from the general population recruited through a random sample were provided with background materials and met over several months in six regional sites. Dilemma activities were used and consultants were available for questions and clarifications. Participants presented their recommendations in a national assembly to the Minister of Health. Outcomes, Across the regional groups the recommendations were mostly compatible, in particular regarding considering the healthcare system's monetary state, even at the expense of equity, but for each policy question minority views were also expressed. A strong emphasis in the recommendations was pragmatism. Conclusion, Participants felt the experience was worthwhile; though the actual impact of their recommendations on policy making was indirect, they were willing to participate in future consultations. However, despite enthusiasm the initiative was not continued. Issues raised are whether consultation initiatives must have a direct impact on healthcare policy decisions or can be mainly a venue to involve citizens in the deliberation of healthcare policy issues. [source]