Mental health professionals with expertise in child sexual abuse (CSA) often testify as expert witnesses in court. There is significant controversy over the admissibility of this type of evidence. To be admissible, the testimony of an expert must be beyond the common knowledge of the jury and based on information generally considered to be reliable within the professional community in which it is used. To date, no empirical data have existed to allow courts to make an informed judgement as to the extent of either juror knowledge or professional acceptance of CSA data. The present study addresses this issue. Jurors and experts completed a questionnaire designed to reveal their understanding of CSA. Results indicate that experts demonstrated strong consensus on 29 of 40 items included in the questionnaire, and that relative to experts, jurors have limited knowledge of these issues. These results suggest that many of the scientific findings concerning CSA are reliable and that the information is often beyond the common knowledge of the jury. These findings argue for the use of expert testimony in select cases of child sexual abuse.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Degeneration of hippocampal fibers and spatial memory deficit in the aged rat.

Old and young Fisher 344 rats were compared for their ability to learn a delayed alternation task. The old animals displayed significant impairment of alternation learning, and were slower than the young animals. The brains of these animals were examined using a silver degeneration stain, and among old rats there was conspicuous degeneration. The greatest density of degenerating fibers was seen in the hippocampus and in anatomically related tracts, but there was substantial fiber staining in the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, and internal capsule. Examination of the young brains revealed only an occasional fiber. There were no signs of cortical atrophy in the old animals. The histopathology of the aged animals' hippocampus and fiber tracts supports the possibility that the delayed alternation impairment shown by these animals was a result of age related degenerative changes.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral effects of lesions of precommissural and postcommissural fornix.

Lesions which sever different parts of precommissural or postcommissural fornix were compared to the effects of control lesions in several behavioral tasks. Spatial learning and avoidance was impaired by lesions of the descending columns, or by lesions which sever the precommissural communications passing to and from medial septum. Damage to precommissural fibers through lateral septum produced a measurable change only on the avoidance task. This pattern of deficits, considered together with the anatomical relationship of the system, suggests a model in which the medial septum relays kinesthetic information to dorsal hippocampus, which in turn serves as a memory system in the performance of spatial habits. It is less clear what kind of information is relayed by lateral septum, but it may communicate with ventral hippocampus regarding the consequences of punishment, and thus serve as part of a system for defensive suppression of behavior.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral role of the mammillary efferent system.

The present study examined the effects of lesions of the mammillary system on spatial memory and arousal. Destruction of the medial mammillary nucleus or the mammillotegmental tract produces impairments on a delayed alternation task and greatly increases activity in the open-field. Lesions of the mammillothalamic tract produce a differential effect in that the spatial alternation deficit is accompanied by a general lethargy and unresponsiveness. It is suggested that the mammillary system plays a crucial role in the short-term storage of proprioceptive information necessary for the successive execution of maze choices. It also appears to play a role in the arousal state of the animal.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health promotion and education in youth correctional facilities.

In 1997 a comprehensive perinatal/pediatric needs assessment was conducted in the two counties comprising the region. As a result, the Regional Perinatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Inc. submitted both a perinatal and a pediatric plan that addressed the strengths and the needs of the region to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. One of thirteen pediatric action plans, Pediatric Health Care and Educational Services in Correctional Facilities, set the stage for the start of ongoing and wide-ranging health programs for the youth in one of the county youth detention centers. Beginning with "Alternatives to Violence," Consortium staff have met monthly with the incarcerated youth to plan and provide these much needed sessions. As expected, these sessions have produced many responses from the youth, some anticipated and many pleasantly surprising, as they have begun to recognize the helpful intent and nature of our programs. The youth are encouraged to participate in planning for upcoming programs and their input is appreciated and respected. As many of these teens are parents themselves, this program has also been able to incorporate parenting skills in some of the sessions, with a major focus on child abuse prevention. Health-education services for incarcerated youth open the door to an exciting frontier for pediatric nurses to deliver prevention in this much-needed setting. This program is a model for planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs in the pediatric arena.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Significance of serum haptoglobin in rheumatic fever.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Blood Protein Electrophoresis↗