Biomedical subjects

R Freedman

Publications and source records attributed to R Freedman.

311 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The contribution of social science research to population policy and family planning program effectiveness.

Social science research has made important contributions to population policy and to the effectiveness of family planning programs. Social science concepts, theories, and methods potentially are relevant to all aspects of reproductive behavior, including actual fertility, proximate variables, and desired family size. Social science research also contributes to the understanding of the social, economic, and political institutions that potentially affect, either directly or indirectly, the whole biosocial reproductive system and family planning programs. At least as important as its specific theories and findings is the role of social science in testing how to adapt such knowledge to distinctive national and local cultural circumstances of family planning programs. A central point is that carefully monitored pilot projects are desirable before launching full-scale national programs, as well as being continuing resources for program development. The research on early programs in Asia has been important, because those programs encountered and overcame some of the presumed obstacles to new programs.

Asia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Electrophysiological effects of cyclazocine on rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons: comparison with phencyclidine.

Cyclazocine is a benzomorphan which, in addition to more classical opiate properties, binds to the sigma opiate receptor site. Recently, it has been suggested that the sigma opiate receptor is identical to the binding site responsible for the actions of phencyclidine (PCP). Since the electrophysiological actions of PCP have already been demonstrated on rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons, the effects of cyclazocine were also studied in this system with the goal of comparing the electrophysiological effects of cyclazocine to those of PCP. Cyclazocine inhibited the spontaneous firing rates of Purkinje neurons. These responses were stereospecific and qualitatively appeared similar to the effects of PCP. Antipsychotic drugs, haloperidol and fluphenazine, partially antagonized the actions of cyclazocine, suggesting a catecholaminergic involvement similar to the mechanism proposed for PCP. Unlike PCP, the effects of cyclazocine were also partially reversed by the opiate antagonist, naloxone. Taken together, these results suggest that in the rat cerebellum cyclazocine may be interacting with at least two receptor mechanisms: a naloxone-sensitive opiate site, and a naloxone-insensitive site which might involve catecholaminergic mediation similar to the PCP mechanism of action. The naloxone-sensitive effects of cyclazocine, however, may be related to an interaction of the drug with kappa receptors rather than with the more classical mu or delta opiate mechanisms.

Action Potentials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Electrophysiological effects of low dose alcohol on human subjects at high altitude.

Low dose alcohol significantly altered auditory evoked potentials in normal human subjects. Effects of alcohol were studied on the P50 evoked potential wave following click stimulation, which was presented in a conditioning-testing paradigm. The conditioning-testing paradigm uses paired stimuli to demonstrate inhibitory sensory gating, measured as suppression of the amplitude of the second or "test" response following the first or "conditioning" response. Alcohol at blood levels under 0.1 g per dl caused significant decrement in the size of the P50 wave in the initial conditioning response and also decreased the suppression normally seen in the conditioning-testing paradigm. These data suggest that low doses of alcohol affect both the excitatory mechanisms responsible for the formation of the P50 wave in the conditioning response and the inhibitory mechanisms responsible for its suppression in the test response. Nine of the 17 subjects studied using this paradigm were recorded both at Denver, Colorado (5,280 feet above sea level) and on Mt. Evans (14,264 feet above sea level). Despite the commonly held belief that alcohol causes more intoxication at high altitudes there was no significant difference in the effects of alcohol on evoked potentials in these subjects at these two attitudes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An hypothesis about heroin addiction, murder, prostitution, and suicide: acting out parenting conflicts.

From interviews with forty subjects, we have developed a preliminary hypothesis which can be refined and deepened and then tested by psychotherapeutic investigation. These murderers, prostitutes, heroin addicts and successful suicides all demonstrated various aspects of difficulty with their capacity for reciprocal tenderness. This arose from their experiences of exploitation and derprivation with their own parents. Their unique characteristics included primitive rage, insatiable demands and capacity for unconflicted manipulation. These characteristics colored the expression of their intrapsychic conflict between the wish to parent successfully and the fear of perpetrating their own childhood experiences upon their children.

Acting Out↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Taiwan's transition from high fertility to below-replacement levels.

This article compares the fertility experience of Taiwanese in the eight years since the total fertility rate reached 2.1 with that before fertility reached replacement levels. During the earlier period, two-thirds of the fertility decline resulted from falling marital fertility and one-third from higher age at marriage. The changing age distribution retarded this decline. Since 1983, the further decline to 1.7-1.8 has been entirely the result of the trend toward later marriage. Older age distributions now facilitate the decline. Births postponed by those marrying later make the conventional TFR misleading. Computation based on parity-progression ratios raise TFRs from 1.7 to 2.0, a number less alarming to policymakers. Contraceptive prevalence is at saturation levels in all major populations strata. The "KAP-GAP" has disappeared. What would have happened without Taiwan's effective family planning program is impossible to determine, but clearly, contraceptive services supplied by the program were the major proximate cause of Taiwan's fertility decline.

Adolescent↗