Microswitch clusters to support responding and appropriate posture of students with multiple disabilities: three case evaluations

Purpose:?This study extended the evaluation of microswitch clusters to support responding and appropriate posture with three students with multiple disabilities.

Method:?Initially, a baseline level was established for the target response selected for each student. Then, Intervention I was implemented to increase the frequency of that response through the presentation of favourite stimuli. During Intervention II, the response was followed by favourite stimuli only if the microswitch cluster detected it in combination with appropriate posture. Post-intervention checks were carried out within 2 or 3 months from the end of Intervention II.

Results and conclusions:?All students showed an increase in the frequency of the target response during Intervention I and in the percentage of times the response occurred in combination with appropriate posture during Intervention II. These changes lasted over time. The importance of microswitch clusters to enhance the performance of students with multiple disabilities was underlined.     

Microswitch clusters to enhance adaptive responses and head control: A programme extension for three children with multiple disabilities

Purpose.?We assessed the possibility of extending adaptive responding and head control in three children with multiple disabilities through the use of microswitch clusters.

Method.?The children had previously learned to perform an adaptive hand response and to control head position during that response. They were now taught one or two new adaptive responses (foot lifting, leg touching, or vocalization) and to combine such responses with appropriate head position. Microswitch clusters served to ensure that an adaptive response was followed by positive stimulation only if it was combined with appropriate head position.

Results.?The results were positive with the children learning the new adaptive responses and combining them with appropriate head position. This performance was maintained during two- or three-month post-intervention checks. During these checks, the children were also successful in using the old adaptive hand response with appropriate head position.

Conclusions.?The use of microswitch clusters was effective to extend the level of adaptive responding and enhance appropriate head position during this responding. This outcome, which indicates a successful technical replication and procedural extension of previous work in the area, has positive practical implications for educational and occupational programmes for children with multiple disabilities.     

Oral health status and treatment needs among school children in Sana’a City,Yemen

To cite this article:
Int J Dent Hygiene
DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2009.00398.x
Al‐Haddad KA, Al‐Hebshi NN, Al‐Ak’hali MS. Oral health status and treatment needs among school children in Sana’a City, Yemen. Abstract: Data on the oral health status and treatment needs among Yemeni children are lacking. Objectives: To assess caries prevalence, treatment needs and gingival health status among school children in Sana’a City and to examine how these are affected by age, gender and khat chewing. Methods: 1489 children (6‐ to 14‐year old) were randomly selected from 27 schools representing all nine districts of Sana’a City. Dental caries and treatment needs were evaluated using standard WHO oral survey methods. The plaque index (PI), calculus index (CI) and the gingival index (GI), recorded at the six Ramfjord’s teeth, were used to assess gingival health status. Results: 4.1% of the study subjects were caries‐free. Prevalence of these was significantly higher among the males. Overall, mean dmfs, dmft, DMFS and DMFT scores were 8.45, 4.16, 3.59 and 2.25 respectively. The decayed component accounted for >85% of the scores. The highest dmfs/dmft means were found among the 6–8 years age group, while the highest DMFS/DMFT means were scored by the 12–14 years age group. The need for restorative treatment and extractions was high; the former was significantly higher among the females. All subjects had gingivitis; the mean PI, CI and GI were 1.25, 0.3 and 1.36 respectively. Khat chewing did not affect caries experience; however, it was significantly associated with higher PI, CI and GI scores. Conclusions: The prevalence of caries, gingivitis and treatment needs among children in Sana’a city is high. More surveys in other Yemeni cities to generate comprehensive data are required.     

The human autosomal gene DAZLA: testis specificity and a candidate for male infertility

The DAZ (Deleted in AZoospermia) and DAZLA (DAZ-like autosomal) genes may be determinants of male infertility. The DAZ gene on the long arm of the human Y chromosome is a strong candidate for the 'azoospermia factor' (AZF). Its role in spermatogenesis is supported by its exclusive expression in testis, its deletion in a high percentage of males with azoospermia or severe oligospermia, and its homology with a Drosophila male infertility gene boule. No DAZ homologous sequences have been found on the mouse Y chromosome. Instead, a Dazla gene was isolated from mouse chromosome 17 and has been considered to be a murine homologue of DAZ. However, the homology between human DAZ and mouse Dazla is not strong, and Dazla contains only one of the seven DAZ repeats found in DAZ. We report the isolation of the human DAZLA gene by screening a human testis cDNA library with a DAZ cDNA clone. DAZLA encodes only one DAZ repeat and shares high homology with the mouse Dazla, indicating that these two genes are homologues. Using a panel of rodent-human somatic cell lines and fluorescence in situ hybridization, the DAZLA gene was mapped to 3p24, a region not known to share homology with mouse chromosome 17. The DAZLA gene may be involved in some familial cases of autosomal recessive male infertility.      

Fragile X premutation screening in women with premature ovarian failure

We have screened 132 women with premature ovarian failure for fragile X (FRAXA) premutations. Three out of 23 (13%) pedigrees with the familial premature ovarian failure and 3/106 (3%) of women with the sporadic form of premature ovarian failure have FRAXA premutations compared with an expected prevalence of 1:590 (P=0.02). The mechanism of the association between FRAXA premutations and premature ovarian failure is unknown but as a genetic marker, FRAXA screening will be particularly valuable in predicting premature ovarian failure in some pedigrees and in the identification of families at risk of transmitting fragile X syndrome.      

The epidemiology of malaria in Bolifamba, a rural community on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon: seasonal variation in the parasitological indices of transmission

The prevalences of malarial parasitaemia, fever, splenomegaly and anaemia and the levels of parasitaemia were investigated, through part of one wet season (in 2001) and the following dry season (in 2002), in 2157 subjects in the village of Bolifamba, in south-western Cameroon. Overall, 55.9% of the villagers checked in the wet season but only 49.5% of those examined in the dry season were found smear-positive for malaria (P<0.0001). Rainfall was found to be significantly associated with the mean level of parasitaemia (P=0.001). The prevalences of fever (40.3% v. 19.6%), splenomegaly (37.4% v. 4.0%) and marked splenomegaly (i.e. a Hackett's score of 2 or higher; 25.8% v. 2.4%) were all significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry (P<0.0001 for each). No seasonal difference was observed, however, in the prevalence of anaemia. Parasitaemia, fever, splenomegaly and anaemia were all significantly more common in the young children investigated (i.e. those aged < 5 years) than in the older subjects.When the data were subjected to a multiple logistic regression, age-group, anaemia, fever, and month of examination were all found to be significantly associated with the presence of malarial parasitaemia. The results of this large-scale study, the first of its kind in the Buea district of Cameroon, indicate the intense transmission of malarial parasites in rural Bolifamba, with young children at greatest risk. The data collected provide a useful 'base line' for an ongoing study to assess the immune status of the residents of Bolifamba.     

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc position in patients with TMJ pain assessed by coronal MRI

Objectives:

To assess the position of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc in patients with TMJ pain and compare it with equivalent published data of asymptomatic volunteers.

Methods:

The oblique coronal closed- and open-jaw MR images from 66 patients with TMJ pain were evaluated. Clinical examination followed the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders. In all coronal images, the transverse condylar axis and the medial and lateral edges of the disc were determined using special software. Inter-rater agreement was calculated [two raters; inter-rater correlation coefficient (ICC)]. The presence of osteoarthrosis (OA) was determined by two independent raters. The influence of OA was estimated in patients (generalized estimation equation model). The results were compared with those of healthy volunteers (t-test). Differences between closed and open jaw in patients were analysed with the Wilcoxon matched-pair test.

Results:

The ICC was good for the transverse condylar axis (0.987) and the medial edge of the disc (0.799) and fair for the lateral edge (0.355). On average, the disc projected 5.5% to the medial side; laterally, the condyle was partially uncovered by the disc (−16.6%). In the open-jaw position, both the medial and the lateral edges shifted medially (to 17.6% vs −23.6%, Wilcoxon matched-pair test, p < 0.001). OA had no significant influence (generalized estimation equation model, p = 0.952). The disc position differed significantly from asymptomatic individuals (t-test, p < 0.001) who showed a medial disc position and full coverage of the condyle.

Conclusions:

In patients with TMJ pain, the disc seems to be smaller and located less medially than in healthy volunteers. The extent of the medial shift on opening was similar.     

地西泮的肠胃循环对中枢抑制作用的影响

研究了小鼠ig不同酸度溶液和活性碳对地西泮肠胃循环的干扰,是否影响其中枢抑制作用。HPLC法测定证实,酸性液体(pH1)ig可使小鼠iv地西泮后1h胃中地西泮排泌量显著增加。以iv地西泮后睡眠持续时间、自主活动抑制及转棒试验跌落率的恢复速度和死亡率为指标,比较了酸性活性碳(2g·kg^-1)、中性活性碳和生理盐水对地西泮中枢抑制作用的影响。结果表明,酸性碳组动物其地西泮所致中枢抑制状态的恢复速度明显加快,死亡率降低。