The effect of various pharmacologic agents on the noradrenergic innervation of rat cerebellum was observed. It was found that the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopa (6-OHDOPA), when given to rats at birth, caused a 46% reduction at 5 weeks of age in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the locus coeruleus, the nucleus of origin for noradrenergic fibers innervating the cerebellum. At the same time, however, both tyrosine hydroxylase activity and NE content were elevated by 50% in the cerebellum. By treating gravid mice with the 6-OHDOPA, which crosses the placental barrier to affect the brains of developing pups, a dissociation has been shown between the elevated cerebellar NE levels and reduced telencephalic NE content. None of the other assorted pharmacological agents--namely amphetamine, metaraminol, apomorphine, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. L-dihydroxyphenylalanine and tyramine--when given at birth, caused a permanent elevation in cerebellar NE content. This series of studies suggests that a reduced number of noradrenergic perikarya are providing a greater innervation of the cerebellum than in control rats. Also, alteration of the telencephalic noradrenergic fibers, which are also derived from the locus coeruleus, does not appear to be a necessary event for the initiation of sprouting of noradrenergic fibers in the cerebellum. Because none of the acute-acting pharmacological agents caused a permanent elevation of NE in the cerebellum, it appears that damage, and not mere stimulation or blockade, is a necessary event for initiation of sprouting.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Descriptive analysis of multiple response topographies of challenging behavior across two settings.

Time-based lag sequential analyses were conducted on 23 topographies of challenging behavior shown by five young people with severe mental retardation across two settings. Potential behavioural functions were identified for 21 of the 23 behaviors. Responses classes, including two or more distinct behaviors, were identified for four of the five participants. Two participants showed evidence of two functionally distinct response classes; for one person each response class included both self-injurious and stereotypic behaviors. For 9 of the 11 behaviors for which data were available, the hypothesised function of behaviors was consistent across settings. For one person, data suggested that the function of one self-injurious behavior was contextually determined. Cross-validation with brief experimental analyses resulted in agreement on the general behavioral function for 12 of the 14 instances in which both approaches positively identified a potential function for a behavior. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The quality and costs of residential services for adults with multiple disabilities: a comparative evaluation.

The costs and quality of four different service models for 40 adults with multiple disabilities were compared. The four service models were: specialised institution-based units; a specialised, campus-style, further education service; specialised community-based group homes; and "ordinary" community-based group homes. Some information was also available from five adults with multiple disabilities living in traditional institutions for people with mental retardation. On almost all measures of service outcome the specialised group-home model was the "preferred" service model, although this model was not associated with particularly high service costs. There was, however, considerable variation in quality within, as well as between, service models, with some residents in all service models experiencing levels of support and engagement similar to those found in traditional institutions. The results of the study are discussed in relation to notions of typical practice and normative standards. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A call for action--prevention of fetal exposure to isotretinoin. A position paper by The Organization of Teratology Information Services Public Affairs Committee.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lifestyle related risk factors for poor health in residential settings for people with intellectual disabilities.

Little information is available on the prevalence and determinants of lifestyle related risk factors for poor health (obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol abuse) among people with intellectual disabilities. This study reports the prevalence of these risk factors for 500 people with intellectual disabilities living in different forms of residential provision in the UK. Variables which predict the presence of these risk factors are also identified. While levels of smoking and alcohol abuse were low, the prevalence of poor diet, obesity in women and physical inactivity was high. Analyses of predictors of risk factors present a mixed pattern with regard to participant and service characteristics, with greater ability and less restrictive residential settings being associated with poor diet, smoking and obesity, but physical inactivity being associated with lower ability and more restrictive settings. It is argued that increasing levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity among people with intellectual disabilities would be the single most effective way of improving the health of people with intellectual disabilities.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The adaptive behavior scale-residential and community (part I): towards the development of a short form.

A potential 24-item short form (SABS) of the 73-item Adaptive Behavior Scale-Residential and Community (Part I) (ABS-RC2; Nihira et al., 1993a, b) was developed, based on data from two diverse UK samples of adults with intellectual disabilities living in residential services (n = 560 and 254). SABS factor and total scores showed good internal reliability in both samples (alpha 0.89-0.98), and were highly correlated with their full ABS-RC2 Part I equivalents (r = 0.97-0.99). Regression equations were calculated for SABS factor and total scores against their full ABS-RC2 Part I equivalents. Levels of agreement between predicted quartile scores (derived from the regression equations) and actual full ABS-RC2 Part I quartile scores were high (kappa 0.75-0.89; percentage agreement 82%-92%). It is concluded that the SABS is a potentially useful research tool, although further work is clearly needed to establish the reliability and cross-cultural validity of the instrument.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Environmental opportunities and supports for exercising self-determination in community-based residential settings.

Information was collected on the environmental opportunities for exercising self-determination among 281 adults with mental retardation receiving community-based residential supports. The results indicated that: (1) the majority of participants had little or no opportunity to exercise self-determination over major life decisions (e.g., with whom and where to live, the recruitment and retention of care staff); (2) even in more mundane areas, such as where and when to eat, the majority of participants were not supported to exercise effective control; (3) variation in environmental opportunities to exercise self-determination was strongly related to a range of factors including participant ability, previous residential history, and structural and procedural aspects of the residential supports currently provided.

Activities of Daily Living↗