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Biomedical subjects

V Shea

Publications and source records attributed to V Shea.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Full inclusion and students with autism.

The concept of "full inclusion" is that students with special needs can and should be educated in the same settings as their normally developing peers with appropriate support services, rather than being placed in special education classrooms or schools. According to advocates the benefits of full inclusion are increased expectations by teachers, behavioral modeling of normally developing peers, more learning, and greater self-esteem. Although the notion of full inclusion has appeal, especially for parents concerned about their children's rights, there is very little empirical evidence for this approach, especially as it relates to children with autism. This manuscript addresses the literature on full inclusion and its applicability for students with autism. Although the goals and values underlying full inclusion are laudable, neither the research literature nor thoughtful analysis of the nature of autism supports elimination of smaller, highly structured learning environments for some students with autism.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed1994

Evidence that the acute behavioral and electrophysiological effects of bupropion (Wellbutrin) are mediated by a noradrenergic mechanism.

Bupropion (BW 323U66) has been considered a dopaminergic antidepressant based on its ability to inhibit the uptake of dopamine (DA) somewhat more selectively than it inhibits uptake of norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (5-HT). This report describes new evidence that bupropion selectively inhibits firing rates of NE cells in the locus coeruleus (LC) at doses significantly lower than those that inhibit activity of midbrain DA cells or dorsal raphe 5-HT cells. The IC50 dose (13 mg/kg i.p.) for inhibition of LC firing produced plasma concentrations that were not significantly different from those generated by the ED50 in the Porsolt test (10 mg/kg i.p.). The fourfold higher dose needed to inhibit DA cell firing (IC50 = 42 mg/kg i.p.) was similar to the dose associated with locomotor stimulation in freely moving rats. Bupropion did not change the firing rates of 5-HT cells in the dorsal raphe nucleus at any dose. In both in vitro and in vivo tests, the metabolite 306U73 (hydroxybupropion), a weak inhibitor of NE uptake, was approximately equipotent to bupropion with regard to inhibition of LC cells. Another metabolite, 494U73, had no effect on LC firing rates over a wide range of doses. Because of species variation in metabolism, 306U73 was not detected in plasma of rats after i.v. doses of bupropion that inhibited LC firing. Only trace amounts of 306U73 were detected after bupropion dosing for the Porsolt test. Pretreatment with reserpine markedly depleted catecholamines and reduced (by 30-fold) the potency of bupropion to inhibit LC firing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Electroconvulsive therapy for poststroke depression.

Of the 193 patients with stroke and depression treated at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1969 to 1981, 14 had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for poststroke depression. Among these 14 patients, depression developed less than 1 year after stroke in 9 and more than 1 year after stroke in 5. Except for 2 of the patients in whom depression developed within a year, all had marked improvement in depression after ECT. A transitory cardiac arrhythmia developed in 1 patient, but none of the patients had an exacerbation of stroke or a worsening of neurologic status. These findings indicate that ECT is safe and effective for poststroke depression.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Parental and pediatric trainee knowledge of development.

This study evaluated the fund of knowledge about normal development and developmental disabilities of parents and pediatric residents. A 23-item questionnaire was administered to 91 parents of children who were being evaluated at the Division for Disorders of Development and Learning (DDDL) and to 20 pediatric residents at the University of North Carolina (UNC). The physicians-in-training were provided with an additional 26 questions on development, as well as a rating scale of "personal comfort" in discussing three specific developmental disabilities with parents (epilepsy, hyperactivity, and mental retardation). On the series of identical questions, pediatric residents scored significantly better than parents; the mean number correct was 19.4/23 (residents) versus 15.9/23 (parents). However, in both groups there were notable errors. Incorrect responses by 25% or more of parents and/or physicians were labeled "common misconceptions." Sixteen parent and 15 physician common misconceptions were identified in the areas of normal development and developmental disabilities. The pediatric residents revealed greater comfort in discussing the medical problem (epilepsy) than the two developmental problems (mental retardation and learning disabilities/hyperactivity). The study revealed important and similar gaps in the pediatric trainees' and parents' knowledge of development. These deficiencies need to be addressed in the training of pediatric residents in order to help them better understand the needs of families of developmentally disabled and normal children.

Adult↗