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Biomedical subjects

B J Leonard

Publications and source records attributed to B J Leonard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A home-monitoring program for parents of premature infants: a comparative study of the psychological effects.

Controversy characterizes the reported effects of home monitoring on parental well-being. However, past studies were largely retrospective and uncontrolled. The present prospective study compared the psychological effects of a home-monitoring program on 40 parents of first-born premature infants with its effect on 30 parents of similar prematures and 32 parents of normal full-term infants. Home interviews conducted within 2 weeks after discharge were complemented with standardized instruments measuring psychological symptoms, life events, and family satisfaction. All of the parents of monitored infants participated in an educational and support program and did not report increased depression, anxiety, or other psychological symptoms, compared with parents of nonmonitored premature or full-term infants. These monitoring parents reported significantly more support than did other parent groups (p = 0.005). Surprisingly, parents of non-monitored prematures reported higher psychological symptoms than those in either of the other study groups. Results suggest that a professional educational and support program protects the psychological well-being of parents of premature infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Suppression of hippocampal synaptic plasticity during slow-wave sleep.

The influence of behavioral state on the induction of long-term enhancement (LTE) of hippocampal synapses was studied in chronically prepared animals. Perforant path evoked field potentials and EEG were recorded from fascia dentata during slow-wave sleep (SWS) and waking. LTE was strongly suppressed during SWS, suggesting that hippocampal information storage may be inactivated at certain phases of the sleep cycle. Normal LTE was observed in the same animals while awake.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extended hospitalization of medically stable children dependent on technology: a focus on mutable family factors.

This study identified three factors that influenced extended hospital stay in medically stable children dependent on medical technology. A retrospective review of 50 charts in a level II nursery was conducted. Bivariate analysis identified factors contributing to extended stay: parental factors, societal factors, health care factors, and presence of disease. Multiple regression explained 98% of the variance in extended length of stay. Family factors accounted for 19.6%, nonfamily factors accounted for 42.5%, and the two sets of factors together accounted for an additional 35.9%. Family-related issues with a high potential for change were identified. Pediatric providers should develop family intervention strategies that identify the most appropriate level of care that both advocates in the best interest of the child and family and contains the rising cost of health care.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cortical representation of motion during unrestrained spatial navigation in the rat.

Neural activity related to unrestrained movement through space was studied in rat sensorimotor and posterior parietal cortices during performance of an eight-arm, radial maze task. Nearly half of the cells exhibited movement-related activity that discriminated among three basic modes of locomotion: left turns, right turns, and forward motion. Correlates ranged from strong excitation (relative to the still condition) to strong inhibition, and were distributed among the movement modes in a variety of different ways. For example, cells that discriminated between clockwise and counterclockwise turns did so with either antagonistic responses or simple excitation or inhibition. Others showed either excitation or inhibition relative to both turning and the still condition, and hence were selective for forward motion. Many cells exhibited somatosensory responsiveness; however, in agreement with findings of others, motion correlates could rarely be sensibly explained by the somatosensory response. Moreover, movement correlates sometimes varied considerably with spatial context. Some cells exhibited more complex motion correlates, such as an apparent dependence on the nature of the preceding movement. Irrespective of the specific sensory or motor determinants of cell activity, which varied considerably among cells, the posterior neocortex of the rat appears to generate a robust and redundant internal representation of body motion through space. Such a representation could be useful in constructing "cognitive maps" of the environment.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Graduate nursing education: developmental disabilities and special health care needs.

As children and adults with developmental disabilities and special health care needs are integrated into home, school, and community life, nurses are being required to provide leadership, advocacy, and training in community settings to a much greater extent than in the past. To assess the school and community need for formal graduate preparation for nurses who work with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or special health care needs, 25 nurses in leadership positions representing urban and rural health agencies throughout Minnesota took part in a 5-hour focus group discussion. Analysis of data summarized from this process shows five features of the recommended curriculum necessary for advanced practitioners in this specialty area: (a) discipline-specific core competencies, (b) discipline-specific specialty competencies, (c) genetic competencies not specific to nursing but necessary to function in nursing roles, (d) interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary learning experiences, and (e) clinical experiences with preceptors. The authors recommend the development of interdisciplinary graduate programs designed to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles in school health, public health, home health care, and systems management that will affect public policy and, ultimately, promote change in the systems charged with responsibility to serve this population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of mother-father perceptions of their child's self-management of diabetes.

This study compared mothers' and fathers' perceptions of their children's self-management of diabetes. Participants included a subsample of 29 paired parents of children and youth with diabetes, ages 8-14, who attended a diabetes camp in the Midwest. Parents completed a self-report structured questionnaire that included content specific to self-management. Results showed high ratings for child responsibility for self-management, style of care delivery, and mother-father self-efficacy in managing specific tasks of diabetes self-management. Although overall ratings were similar, in the majority of measures mothers' ratings were higher than fathers' ratings. Areas of similarity and significant differences in perceptions are identified with implications for practice stated.

Adolescent↗