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Biomedical subjects

K Kirk

Publications and source records attributed to K Kirk.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Stereotypic behavior as a reinforcer: effects and side effects.

This study assessed the effects and side effects of using stereotypic behavior as a consequence for correct responding with two autistic children. The children were cued through a model to engage in stereotypic behavior contingent upon correct responses in task-training sessions. This instructional arrangement produced increases in the percent of correct responses. Measures of the stereotypic behavior used as a reinforcer, other stereotypic behaviors, and appropriate behaviors were collected during daily 5-minute free operant settings before and after the task-training sessions. No replicable, systematic changes in the percent of intervals in which subjects engaged in those side effect measures were noted. Thus, a new method for delivering stereotypic behavior as a reinforcer was investigated and produced reinforcing effects; the rate of that behavior in free operant settings was not adversely affected.

Child↗
PubMed1983

Leukocyte function in the etiology of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

Patients with the diagnosis of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) and their controls, matched for age, sex, race and general plaque accumulation, donated blood for differential white blood cell counts and for assay of several leukocyte functions. The leukocyte function assays included polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) responsiveness to chemotaxis and phagocytosis, and lymphocyte responsiveness to stimulation by nonspecific mitogens. The differential leukocyte counts were within the normal range for all subjects tested, and there was no difference between ANUG patients and controls. The ANUG patients did, however, display significantly depressed PMN responsiveness in both chemotaxis and phagocytosis, compared to the controls. There was also reduced DNA synthesis by ANUG patients' lymphocytes upon stimulation by a nonspecific mitogen (Con A). The data presented in this report suggest that depression of some host defense mechanisms, particularly PMN chemotaxis and phagocytosis, may be important in the pathogenesis of ANUG.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗
PubMed1980

Perceptual deficit in schizophrenia: a defect in redundancy utilization, filtering or scanning?

The perception by schizophrenic patients of stimuli with more than one feature (dimension) was investigated using psychiatric and non-psychiatric control groups. Indices of the ability (a) to make use of redundant stimulus cues, (b) to 'screen out' or filter irrelevant stimulus features, and (c) to scan the perceptual field for relevant stimulus features, indicated that only filtering was consistently poor in schizophrenia. It has been suggested that the schizophrenic patient may tend to perceive his environment in an undifferentiated holistic manner rather than in an analytic manner and the implication for the theory of left hemisphere pathology in schizophrenia is discussed. However, the performance of the schizophrenic subjects did not differ significantly from that of the group of depressed patients, which suggests that the selective attention deficits previously observed in schizophrenia are not specific to the disorder.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronically ill patients' perceptions of nursing care.

Chronically ill patients' perceptions of nursing care are particularly significant because such patients are more likely than others to have repeated and extended contact with nurses. Knowledge of which nursing interactions are perceived positively by the chronically ill can help nurses provide care that is satisfying to the patient. This phenomenological study found the definitive factor in positively perceived care to be the development and maintenance of confidence. The informants believed they would be well cared for and that the nurses were reliable and trustworthy. The respect and interest shown by the nurses reassured the informants that they were capable of coping with the future to the best of their abilities. Most informants felt unprepared to judge the nurses' competence but described a caring, compassionate approach combined with gentle handling, self-assurance, and recognition of the patient's own knowledge as contributing to confidence. Management of pain, facilitation of independence, and keeping the patient informed also were valued.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Utilization of dental sealants by Alabama Medicaid children: barriers in meeting the year 2010 objectives.

PURPOSE: As a national objective, 50% of US children are expected to have dental sealants on at least one permanent molar by the age of 14 years. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of dental sealants among Alabama Medicaid children and to evaluate the characteristics of the sealant users and non-users so the potential barriers in meeting the year 2000/2010 sealant objectives can be identified. METHODS: Alabama Medicaid 1990-1997 claims for children (N = 3,683,842) were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics, likelihood ratio, Chi-Square and t-tests, and ANOVA. Logistic regression analysis was used in identifying the predictors of dental sealant utilization. RESULTS: Nearly 22 percent of children had at least one sealant claim by 12 to 14 years of age (white = 28.3%; Black = 19.8%; OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.4-1.8; female = 23.6%; male = 19.7%; OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.4). 5- to 9-year-olds were more likely to have sealants compared to 11- to 14-year-olds (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 2.7-6.1). The availability of a Medicaid accepting dentist within the county of residence was a significant predictor (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-2.2). Less than 2% of the annual amount claimed for total dental services in Alabama was related to sealants and the providers were reimbursed only for 50% to 70% of the amount claimed for sealant procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Racial and gender disparities in obtaining care, non-availability of a Medicaid-participating dentist within the county, and lower payment/claim ratio may make the national sealant objective difficult to achieve in Alabama.

Adolescent↗