PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Kavaler

Publications and source records attributed to F Kavaler.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

The program implications of administrative relationships between local health departments and state and local government.

A typology of organizational arrangements between state and local public health agencies was used as a framework within which the organizational environment of the local health department was studied for its effects on program development and implementation by local public health departments. Data collected in a national sample of local health officers were used in measuring the effect of four different patterns of administrative relationships on the selected characteristics of local health department programs. Important differences were observed among the four organizational types with regard to constraints on programs and program priorities, and health officers' perceptions of the primary functions of local health departments and sources of local health department funding. These findings were then used as a baseline from which to consider the possible impact of recent federal health budgetary proposals (specifically, block grants) both on existing patterns of intergovernmental relations and on the funding and operation of local health department programs. It was determined that the most likely general development arising from these proposed changes in federal budgetary policy is that the administrative control of state health agencies over those at the local level is likely to be enhanced. Other likely developments include changes in the programs and priorities of local health departments related to reductions in overall funding levels for human services and forced competition for fewer dollars by an enlarged constituency.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1978

Staircase in frog ventricular muscle. Its dependence on membrane excitation and extracellular ionic composition.

Staircase was studied in frog ventricle strip preparations where it was possible to alter extracellular ionic composition extremely rapidly in the diastolic interval between beats. Several findings strongly indicate that staircase in this tissue is a result of progressively increasing calcium influx per beat, rather than a beat-by-beat augmentation of an intracellular calcium pool which contributes to activation. After a steady state of force development, the very next beat could be graded, from approximately zero force to the steady state value attained during the staircase progression, by grading the calcium concentration of a new Ringer's solution switched to perfuse the muscle in the diastolic period immediately before that beat. Also, action potentials, elicited during the "quiescent" period in the virtual absence of contraction (in 0.025 mm calcium Ringer's solution), markedly increase force development and accelerate the staircase seen upon return to normal Ringer's solution. Staircase is augmented and accelerated by prior exposure of the muscle, during the quiescent period, to calcium-poor media and markedly suppressed by prior exposure to sodium-poor media. Tetrodotoxin, in a dose that markedly slows the action potential upstroke, has no effect on staircase. Finally, staircase is seen to occur during a train of depolarizations (by voltage clamp) to inside positive levels greater than the equilibrium potential for sodium. It is concluded that changes in intracellular sodium concentration will alter the staircase response and may contribute to its genesis, but that this cannot be the sole cause of staircase.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1978

Health supervision of children in foster care.

The 1971--74 survey of the health needs and services provided to New York City children in foster care indicates a failure of the Medicaid program to ensure adequate routine care and treatment.

Child↗
PubMed1977

A survey of local public health departments and their directors.

In 1974 a questionnaire was mailed to the nation's local health officers. Responses were received from 1,345, at least 68 per cent of all local health departments. The present paper presents selected summary data from respondents concerning the health departments, their jurisdictions, organization, finance, functions, staffing, and about the training, salaries, and other characteristics of local health officers. Health departments are extensively involved in rendering health services, including direct personal services (25 per cent of all departments). For many services the health department is the sole provider of essential services in the area of jurisdiction. These services include ambulatory care (8 per cent), maternal and child health (48.5 per cent), home care (44.8 per cent), and family planning (38 per cent). The major constraints to improvement and expansion of programs are perceived as limited financial support, insufficient staff, and inadequate facilities.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1977

Statutory authorizations for the work of local health departments.

A study of public health statutes of the 50 states identifies 44 specific services or functions that are assigned to local health departments by all or some of the states. Authorizations are most commonly assigned conjointly both to local and state health departments; exceptions are identified. Data suggest striking inconsistencies between what local health departments are authorized to perform and the services they actually render with regard to a selected group of programs that involve personal health services. The full scope of authorizations for local health departments is not revealed by examination of public health statutes. For this reason, among others, development of up-to-date health codes for all states would be beneficial.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

The health status of foster children.

A study of the health care and needs of foster children in the New York City area indicated a prevalence of serious physical, mental and developmental problems. The level of pathology was roughly comparable to that of other disadvantaged child populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Frequency-force relationships of mammalian ventricular muscle in vivo and in vitro.

The change in contractility with increasing heart rate was studied in the left ventricle of dogs and in isolated trabeculae carneae of cats. For some of the studies in situ a transient isovolumic state was created by aortic occlusion. At physiological temperatures the frequency-force relationship is flatter than at room temperature and at the same temperature it is flatter in vivo than in vitro. The frequency-(dF/dt)max relationship is steeper than the frequency-force relationship at both temperatures in vivo and in vitro. The frequency-(dF/dt)max relationship is steeper in vitro than it is in situ, although the discrepancy is less marked than in the case of the frequency-force relationship. It is concluded that "staircase" plays less of a physiological role in adjustment of contractile state in situ than might be inferred from studies of isolated tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The action of ethanol upon the action potential and contraction of ventricular muscle.

Isolated isometric ventricular muscle of frogs and cats was studied. Perfusing solutions were played directly on the muscle to permit rapid exchange of the extracellular space. Developed force and maximal rate of rise of force were measured in all studies and action potentials (AP) were recorded in some. For both species low concentrations of ethanol (75 degrees mg/l) potentiate contraction. Higher concentrations ( greater than or equal to 750 mg/l) depress contraction progressively with increasing concentration. Concentrations which depress contraction, e.g., 3-4.5 gm/l, usually shorten AP duration. The shortening of AP duration can occur even though contractile force does not fall and, conversely, force may fall while AP duration is unaffected. When 10 mM caffeine is added to the perfusate of either species, AP duration is prolonged and contraction is potentiated. If both ethanol (4.5 gm/l) and 10 mM caffeine are added simultaneously to the perfusate, there is a rapid (within 4 beats) increase in AP duration and an initial depression of contraction, followed by a further increase in AP duration and a significant potentiation of contraction. The steady state contraction is less than with caffeine alone. These preliminary studies suggest that ethanol may depress contraction both by shortening AP duration and by a direct effect upon the contractile apparatus.

Action Potentials↗