This study was a focused ethnography of a 21-bed, inpatient psychiatric unit. Patient care was provided by a multidisciplinary team, and a case coordinator role was developed to coordinate the team's efforts. The purpose of the study was to describe perceptions of the implementation of the case coordinator role. Data collection methods included document review, participant and nonparticipant observation, and personal interviews of key informants. Field notes and transcriptions were analyzed throughout data collection. Three themes were identified: role development, role confusion, and role expectation. Role development was defined as the process of recognizing the need for and instituting the position of case coordinator. Role confusion was defined as the lack of a clear distinction between the role of the case coordinator and the role of the staff nurse. Role expectation was defined as the process of directing the development of the role based on individuals' perceptions of the role. Although the role as implemented had not met initial expectations, team members were confident the role would evolve to fulfill the unit's needs.

Anthropology, Cultural↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal and pediatric PEG tubes.

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Child, Preschool↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Examination of low-incidence brain tumor responses in F344 rats following chemical exposures in National Toxicology Program carcinogenicity studies.

Neoplasms in the brain are uncommon in control Fischer 344 (F344) rats; they occur at a rate of less than 1% in 2-yr toxicity/carcinogenicity studies. Furthermore, only 10 of nearly 500 studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) showed any evidence of chemically related neoplastic effects in the brain. Generally, the brain tumor responses were considered equivocal, because the characteristics of potential neurocarcinogenic agents (such as statistically significant increased incidences, decreased latency and/or survival, and demonstration of dose-response relationships) were not observed. A thorough examination, including comparisons with a well-established historical database, is often critical in evaluating rare brain tumors. Chemicals that gave equivocal evidence of brain tumor responses were generally associated with carcinogenicity at other sites, and many chemicals were mutagenic when incubated with metabolic activating enzymes. Other factors that were supportive of the theory that marginal increases in brain tumor incidence were related to chemical exposure were that (a) some of the tumors were malignant, (b) no brain neoplasms were observed in concurrent controls from some studies, and/or (c) brain tumors were also seen following exposure to structurally related chemicals. In 2-yr studies in F344 rats (studies conducted by the NTP), equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity was observed for the following 9 chemicals: isoprene, bromoethane, chloroethane, 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine dihydrochloride, 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine dihydrochloride, furosemide, C.I. direct blue 15, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and 1-H-benzotriazole. Glycidol was the only chemical evaluated by the NTP with which there was clear evidence of brain tumor induction in F344 rats. Clarification of the potential neurocarcinogenic risks of chemicals that produce equivocal evidence of a brain tumor response in conventional 2-yr rodent studies may be aided by the use of transgenic mouse models that exhibit genetic alterations that reflect those present in human brain tumors as well as by the use of in utero exposures.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Eating habits of children with autism.

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as by stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Children with autism frequently have significant eating difficulties with highly restricted range of food choices. Eating habits and patterns are often unusual and have an impact on family life. The purpose of this article was to review pertinent information regarding this complex developmental disorder and describe a recent study based on a parent survey of feeding patterns in children with autism to give a new perspective for both parents and professionals.

Autistic Disorder↗