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Biomedical subjects

Lana Kaiser

Publications and source records attributed to Lana Kaiser.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Stress-related behaviors among horses used in a therapeutic riding program.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether therapeutic riding resulted in higher levels of stress or frustration for horses than did recreational riding and whether therapeutic riding with at-risk individuals was more stressful for the horses than was therapeutic riding with individuals with physical or emotional handicaps. DESIGN: Observational study. ANIMALS: 14 horses in a therapeutic riding program. PROCEDURE: An ethogram of equine behaviors was created, and horses were observed while ridden by 5 groups of riders (recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, at risk children, and special education children). Number of stress-related behaviors (ears pinned back, head raised, head turned, head tossed, head shaken, head down, and defecation) was compared among groups. RESULTS: No significant differences in mean number of stress-related behaviors were found when horses were ridden by recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, or special education children. However, mean number of stress-related behaviors was significantly higher when horses were ridden by the at-risk children. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that for horses in a therapeutic riding program, being ridden by physically or psychologically handicapped individuals is no more stressful for the horses than is being ridden in the same setting by recreational riders. However, at-risk children caused more stress to the horses, suggesting that the time horses are ridden by at-risk children should be limited both daily and weekly.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effects of a therapeutic riding program on at-risk and special education children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a therapeutic riding program on psychosocial measurements among children considered at risk for poor performance or failure in school or life and among children in special education programs. DESIGN: Observational study. POPULATION: 17 at-risk children (6 boys and 11 girls) and 14 special education children (7 boys and 7 girls). PROCEDURE: For the at-risk children, anger, anxiety, perceived self-competence, and physical coordination were assessed. For the special education children, anger and cheerfulness were measured, and the children's and their mothers' perceptions of the children's behavior were assessed. Measurements were made before and after an 8-session therapeutic riding program. RESULTS: For boys enrolled in the special education program, anger was significantly decreased after completion of the riding program. The boys' mothers also perceived significant improvements in their children's behavior after completion of the program. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that an 8-session therapeutic riding program can significantly decrease anger in adolescent boys in a special education program and positively affect their mothers' perception of the boys' behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Platelet function and association of bovine viral diarrhea virus with platelets of persistently infected cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether viral involvement with platelets obtained from cattle persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is associated with altered platelet function or decreased platelet counts. SAMPLE POPULATION: Platelets obtained from 8 cattle PI with BVDV and 6 age-, sex-, and breed-matched uninfected control cattle. PROCEDURE: Manual platelet counts were determined, and platelet function was assessed through optical aggregometry by use of the aggregation agonists ADP and platelet-activating factor. Identification of BVDV in serum and preparations of purified platelets was determined by use of virus isolation tests. RESULTS: No significant difference in platelet counts was detected between cattle PI with BVDV and control cattle. In response to the aggregation agonists, maximum aggregation percentage and slope of the aggregation curve were not significantly different between cattle PI with BVDV and control cattle. We isolated BVDV from serum of all PI cattle and from purified platelets of 6 of 8 PI cattle, but BVDV was not isolated from serum or platelets of control cattle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Isolation of BVDV from platelets in the peripheral circulation of cattle immunotolerant to BVDV does not result in altered platelet function or decreases in platelet counts.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Dirofilaria immitis: worm burden and pulmonary artery proliferation in dogs from Michigan (United States).

Despite the ability to prevent heartworm disease, infection with Dirofilaria immitis continues to be a major problem for domestic dogs. To determine worm burden in heartworm-positive dogs from three county animal shelters in the state of Michigan in the United States and to assess the relationship between gross intimal proliferation and worm burden, necropsy was done on 176 heartworm-positive dogs. Adult heartworms were found in the heart and pulmonary artery of 170 of the 176 (96.6%) dogs examined. Mean worm burden was 14 +/- 13 (range 0-85). Fifty-nine percent of dogs had < or =10 heartworms. In contrast, 52% of dogs in a published report from the southern US (Florida) had worm burdens >10 [C.H. Courtney, Q.Y. Zeng, The structure of heartworm populations in dogs and cats in Florida, in: Proceedings of the American Heartworm Symposium, 1989]. These data suggest that mean worm burden in northern areas may be < or = that in warmer areas. Also, since diagnostic tests are less sensitive with lower worm burdens, diagnosis of heartworm infection in Michigan and other surrounding more northern states may be a greater challenge than in areas with higher worm burdens.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Companion animals and adaptation in chronically ill children.

Almost 20 million children in the U.S. have a chronic illness. Chronic illness requires ongoing management in the home, often with complex, stressful regimens. The increased lifespan of chronically ill children may lead to increased long term psychosocial and physical sequelae. Enhancing the quality of life for these children could promote optimal long-term adaptation. Health benefits of companion animals have been described across psychosocial, physiological. and behavioral spheres for healthy children and children with disabilities. These benefits have not been empirically examined for chronically ill children. This paper uses a stress-coping model to examine the role animals may play in adaptation for children with chronic illnesses. The contribution of companion animals to the constructs within the model and the adaptation process is discussed. This model provides a potential theoretical framework for synthesizing literature and pursuing empirical work on the role of companion animals in chronic childhood illness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

A dog and a "happy person" visit nursing home residents.

Recent recognition of the importance of the human-animal bond has led to the proliferation of programs designed to improve the lives of nursing home residents through the use of animals. Because human-human interaction in the nursing home setting is often of an obligatory nature, we wondered if a visit from a nonjudgmental, outgoing, enthusiastic young adult ("a happy person") could elicit the same positive influence as a visit from a nonjudgmental dog. The purpose of this study was to determine if elderly residents of a midwestern nursing home had a preference for the type of visitor (dog vs. person) when both visits were nonobligatory and nonjudgmental. Behaviors were evaluated to determine if one visitor was more likely to influence prosocial behaviors (moving closer, patting, smiling). Six residents were visited by both the dog and the happy person: 5 of 6 completed the final interview. Residents were equally likely to smile at and move closer to both visitors. Residents were more likely to pat the dog. Three residents liked both visits equally: 1 preferred the dog, and 1 preferred the happy person. These data suggest that nonobligatory visits to nursing home residents from a happy person may be as beneficial to the resident as visits from a dog.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Development of a sensitive immunoradiometric assay for detection of platelet surface-associated immunoglobulins in thrombocytopenic dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a direct assay to measure platelet surface-associated immunoglobulins (PSAIg) in dogs and to determine whether the assay is useful in the diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT). ANIMALS: 20 healthy dogs were used to develop reference intervals, and 23 dogs with IMT and 17 with non-IMT were used to evaluate the clinical use of this assay. PROCEDURE: After optimization of platelet collection and assay conditions, concentrations of PSAIg were measured, using radiolabeled staphylococcal protein A (SpA) and polyclonal antibodies against canine IgG (anti-gamma) and IgM (anti-micro). Concentrations of PSAIg were expressed as the percentage of radiolabeled immunoglobulin detector bound. RESULTS: Cut-off values (mean + 3 SD) were as follows: SpA, 1.1%; anti-gamma, 1.3%; and anti-micro, 3.5%. Values greater than these cut-off values were considered positive. Values determined by use of radiolabeled SpA for all dogs with IMT were greater than the cut-off value; values were considered high positives (> 5 times cut-off value) for 22 of these 23 dogs. Although 9 of 17 dogs with non-IMT also had PSAIg concentrations greater than the cut-off value, values were considered high positives for only 3 of these 9 dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The immunoradiometric assay developed is a reliable and sensitive method to detect PSAIg in dogs. However, to obtain accurate results, optimum temperature, time, and storage conditions must be used. Detection of increased concentrations of PSAIg in dogs presumed to have non-IMT should alert clinicians to reconsider an immune-mediated basis for the thrombocytopenia.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Navigating the course of scholarly productivity: the protégé's role in mentoring.

BACKGROUND: The importance of mentoring for professional success, including mentoring in writing, has become increasingly emphasized in academic nursing during the past decade. Although much has been published on how to write for publication, as well as the roles of mentors themselves, surprisingly little has been written about how protégés (those who are the recipients of mentoring) can take an active role in assisting themselves to obtain mentorship. How newer faculty can obtain adequate mentoring is often less straightforward. PURPOSE: The main goal of this article is to describe some ideas about how faculty can actively help themselves to obtain adequate mentoring, with a particular focus on mentoring in writing. METHOD/DISCUSSION: Five principles are illustrated as follows, with case examples of hypothetical new faculty members: know yourself, develop realistic expectations, reach out and get to know others, negotiate for what is needed, and learn from every experience. CONCLUSION: We hope that this discussion will foster further exchange among mentors, protégés, and administrators about approaches to seeking mentoring and high-level success in writing for publication along career journeys.

Education, Medical↗