Strategies for understanding. A case study of occupational therapists' communication behaviour

This study focuses on the communication strategies of occupational therapists. Many recent studies in occupational therapy emphasize the importance of having a client-oriented perspective; the needs and wishes of the patient should form the basis for treatment. Such a perspective brings to the fore the capacity of the therapist to enter into the life-world of the patient. Communication, dialogue between patient and therapist, is the basic source of such knowledge. In this paper, understanding verbal acts is seen as fundamentally problematic. The purpose is to analyse what strategies and tactics occupational therapists use to create a basis for their interpretation of patients' messages. What kinds of questions and other forms of verbal behaviour are utilized to check and verify these interpretations? A case-study of communication behaviour during five meetings between patients and therapists in the homes of the patients was undertaken. Seven types of tactics were observed and categorized as belonging to two different strategic dimensions: active-passive and abstract-concrete. Although active strategies were predominant, only one therapist consistently used a combination of ‘asking open questions’ and ‘verifying’ interpretations, the two most active tactics. Most therapists also asked the patients to concretely ‘show in action’ what they meant, but to a varying degree. A consistent use of active-concrete strategies is arguably an ideal way of seeking knowledge and understanding. Empirically, therapists differ in how closely they fit this ideal. This may be a result of training and experience, but also of degree of empathy. This study points to the importance of carefully developing communication strategies in order to fully understand the problems of the patients. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.     

Delivery of Antigens to the MHC Class I Pathway Using Bacterial Toxins

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize antigens derived from endogenously expressed proteins presented on the cell surface in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Because CTL are effective in antiviral and antitumor responses, the delivery of antigens to the class I pathway has been the focus of numerous efforts. Generating CTL by immunization with exogenous proteins is often ineffective because these antigens typically enter the MHC class II pathway. This review focuses on the usefulness of bacterial toxins for delivering antigens to the MHC class I pathway. Several toxins naturally translocate into the cytosol, where they mediate their cytopathic effects, and the mechanisms by which this occurs has been elucidated. Molecular characterization of these toxins identified the functional domains and enabled the generation of modified proteins that were no longer toxic but retained the ability to translocate into the cytosol. Thus, these modified toxins could be examined for their ability to carry peptides or whole proteins into the cytosolic processing pathway. Of the toxins studied—diphtheria, pertussis, Pseudomonas, and anthrax—the anthrax toxin appears the most promising in its ability to deliver large protein antigens and its efficiency of translocation.     

Multiple sites of action of ( +)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine (( +)-3PPP) in blood vessels

Functional effects of the σ ligand, (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)-3PPP), were explored in perfused rat tail and rabbit ear arteries in vitro. In the rat tail artery (+)-3PPP inhibited contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation, an effect which was reversed to potentiation by the dopamine D₂ receptor antagonist sulpiride. In the rabbit ear artery, however, (+)-3PPP potentiated contractile responses to nerve stimulation, an effect which was unchanged by sulpiride. In the rat tail artery, blockade of norepinephrine uptake by cocaine and deoxycorticosterone in the presence of sulpiride revealed two additional actions of (+)-3PPP. First, an inhibitory action on the monoamine uptake site was confirmed by direct measurement of [³H]norepmephrine accumulation. Second, at higher concentrations, an action to inhibit contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation was manifested at a still unidentified site. These studies demonstrate that the observed functional effect of (+)-3PPP results from its combined actions on three individual sites with the net effect dependent on the relative densities of these different receptor sites in each type of vessel.     

细胞间粘附分子在翼状胬肉中的表达及意义

目的　研究翼状胬肉组织中细胞间粘附分子1(ICAM-1)的表达水平,探讨ICAM-1在翼状胬肉病理过程中的作用。方法　采用酶联免疫吸附试验法(ELISA)检测28例翼状胬肉患者组织匀浆中的ICAM-1含量,并与正常人结膜组织进行对照。结果　翼状胬肉组织匀浆中ICAM-1含量明显高于正常对照组(P<0.01),进行期组的ICAM-1含量明显高于静止期组(P<0.05)。结论　在翼状胬肉组织中存在ICAM-1异常表达,可能是翼状胬肉发病的重要原因之一。     

Infant rat separation is a sensitive test for novel anxiolytics

1. Rat pups emit ultrasonic calls during brief episodes of social separation. These calls have been variously described as “distress” calls and may be related to the separation cries expressed by the young of many mammalian species.

2. Ultrasonic call of rat pups are modulated by environmental stimuli such as ambient temperature, olfactory and tactile stimuli associated with the nest.

3. Calls are also sensitive to a variety of purported anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs, including the benzodiazepines, serotonin agonists, and ligands at the NMDA-glycine receptor complex.

4. In addition to providing a simple test for the anxiolytic properties of drugs, this model may also provide new insights about the development and neurobiology of anxiety.     

IGFBP-1检测在妊娠晚期气囊引产中的临床意义

【目的】比较宫颈Bishop评分和宫颈胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白 1(IGFBP 1)检测在妊娠晚期气囊助产中的临床意义。【方法】将妊娠晚期有引产指征的 15 0例初产妇随机分成 3组 ,每组 5 0例。A组在气囊助产前使用宫颈IGFBP 1检测作为引产时机预测 ,B组在气囊助产前使用宫颈Bishop评分作为引产时机预测 ,C组则单纯催产素引产同时使用宫颈Bish op评分作为引产时机预测。【结果】总引产时间、潜伏期、活跃期、第一产程、第二产程 ,A、B两组较C组短 (P <0 0 1) ;A组总引产时间较B组短 (P <0 0 5 ) ;A组潜伏期、活跃期、第一产程、第二产程的较B组短 ,但差别无统计学意义 ;阴道分娩率A组 >B组 >C组 ,剖宫产率A组 相似文献