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Results for “social evolution”

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PubMed1995

An evolutionary perspective on signaling in behavior and immunology.

Signaling and communication are important at different levels of biological organization. Signals exchanged between cells of the immune system initiate and coordinate the immune response; signals exchanged between individuals often coordinate social behavior. Behavioral ecologists interested in the evolution and functional design of signals exchanged between individuals have produced a theory of signaling and communication that stresses the importance of cooperation and conflict; if a conflict of interest between signaler and receiver is great enough, signals evolve towards greater reliability. We suggest that the application of signaling system theory to signals exchanged between cells within an individual will allow for a better understanding of immunity and intra-individual communication in general, with potential for novel approaches to the treatment of disease.

Allergy and Immunology↗

PubMed1991

National agenda for children with special health needs. Social policy for the 1990s through the 21st century.

The evolution in medical technology for children with special health care needs has been accompanied by an evolution in concepts of care. Broadened diagnostic categories, comprehensive concern for the whole child, and coordinated services that are family-centered and community-based have become part of the national agenda. During the 1980s this agenda was advanced both by congressional action and by joint activities of the U.S. Public Health Service and the private sector. Much remains to be accomplished. Increased parent participation and activism, an integral part of the future, will require vigilant nurturing and support.

Child↗

PubMed2001

Resilience in ecosystemic context: evolution of the concept.

The evolution of the resilience literature across diverse social science disciplines over the past two decades is reviewed and a synthesis of recent findings is offered, suggesting that resilience is a multidetermined and ever-changing product of interacting forces within a given ecosystemic context. Emerging constructions of the concept are examined, and a refined Working definition is proposed. Implications for research and practice are offered.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Optimal growth strategies of larval helminths in their intermediate hosts.

We consider optimal growth of larval stages in complex parasite life cycles where there is no constraint because of host immune responses. Our model predicts an individual's asymptotic size in its intermediate host, with and without competition from conspecific larvae. We match observed variations in larval growth patterns in pseudophyllid cestodes with theoretical predictions of our model. If survival of the host is vital for transmission, larvae should reduce asymptotic size as intensity increases, to avoid killing the host. The life history strategy (LHS) model predicts a size reduction <1/intensity, thus increasing the parasite burden on the host. We discuss whether body size of competing parasites is an evolved LHS or simply reflects resource constraints (RC) on growth fixed by the host, leading to a constant total burden with intensity. Growth under competition appears comparable with "the tragedy of the commons", much analysed in social sciences. Our LHS prediction suggests that evolution generates a solution that seems cooperative but is actually selfish.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A double-blind, randomized comparative trial of amisulpride versus olanzapine for 6 months in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Atypical antipsychotics offer advantages over earlier drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia, although few data exist on the relative merits of different atypical antipsychotics. A multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial was performed to compare amisulpride and olanzapine in the treatment of acute schizophrenia. Adult schizophrenic patients with dominant positive symptomatology received amisulpride (200-800 mg/day) or olanzapine (5-20 mg/day) for 6 months. The primary efficacy variable was change from baseline of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score, assessed with a non-inferiority analysis. The evolution of positive and negative symptomatology, depression, social functioning and quality of life were assessed. Safety evaluation included adverse event reporting, neurological status and body weight. The improvement of BPRS score was 32.7% in the amisulpride group and 33.0% in the olanzapine group; thus, the efficacy of amisulpride was not inferior to that of olanzapine. All other secondary efficacy outcome variables evolved to a similar extent in both groups. Adverse event frequency was similar in both groups. Amenorrhoea was encountered only in the amisulpride group (6.2% of patients), whereas elevations of liver transaminases were more frequent in the olanzapine group (17% versus 3.7% of patients). The incidence and mean extent of clinically relevant weight gain were higher in the olanzapine group (35.1% and 3.9 kg) than in the amisulpride group (20.6% and 1.6 kg). The efficacy of amisulpride is not inferior to that of olanzapine in the treatment of acute schizophrenia. The side-effect profile of the two drugs differed.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2001

Males of social insects can prevent queens from multiple mating.

During copulation, males of Bombus terrestris fill the queen's sexual tract with a mating plug after transferring their sperm. The sticky secretion is produced by the male's accessory glands and disappears within a couple of days. Experiments now show that the primary function of the plug is to reduce the subsequent mating probability of the queen. The plug is not efficient in preventing sperm migration into the spermatheca. Due to its low energetic value, the plug is also unlikely to serve as a nuptial gift. This type of male interference with female mating propensity has so far not been found in social insects. This finding could, at least tentatively, explain why females of B. terrestris may not be able to take advantage of the demonstrated benefits of multiple mating. Furthermore, such male interference could be a more general phenomenon in social insects, with obvious ramifications for the evolution of polyandry in this group.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Pheromone-sensitive glomeruli in the primary olfactory centre of ants.

Tremendous evolutional success and the ecological dominance of social insects, including ants, termites and social bees, are due to their efficient social organizations and their underlying communication systems. Functional division into reproductive and sterile castes, cooperation in defending the nest, rearing the young and gathering food are all regulated by communication by means of various kinds of pheromones. No brain structures specifically involved in the processing of non-sexual pheromone have been physiologically identified in any social insects. By use of intracellular recording and staining techniques, we studied responses of projection neurons of the antennal lobe (primary olfactory centre) of ants to alarm pheromone, which plays predominant roles in colony defence. Among 23 alarm pheromone-sensitive projection neurons recorded and stained in this study, eight were uniglomerular projection neurons with dendrites in one glomerulus, a structural unit of the antennal lobe, and the remaining 15 were multiglomerular projection neurons with dendrites in multiple glomeruli. Notably, all alarm pheromone-sensitive uniglomerular projection neurons had dendrites in one of five 'alarm pheromone-sensitive (AS)' glomeruli that form a cluster in the dorsalmost part of the antennal lobe. All alarm pheromone-sensitive multiglomerular projection neurons had dendrites in some of the AS glomeruli as well as in glomeruli in the anterodorsal area of the antennal lobe. The results suggest that components of alarm pheromone are processed in a specific cluster of glomeruli in the antennal lobe of ants.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Shades of gray: a personal view of palliation by radiotherapy.

Palliation is a significant part of the work of a radiation oncologist and yet is discussed infrequently. All too often it is considered simple when in many cases the contrary is the case. The philosophy of palliation is discussed and is defined as non-curative treatment. Further sub-division into symptom control, growth restraint/local control is helpful. The aim of palliation must be clearly defined if it is to be achieved, taking into account not only the lesion causing the problem but also many other factors including the patient's general condition, the clinical evolution of the tumour, previous treatment and social factors. The aim should be communicated to the patient and relatives. Doses for effective palliation vary from low to high and require different fractionation regimens. Examples are given from clinical practice with emphasis on difficult and controversial areas. There are as many diseases as patients and the need to individualise treatment is stressed.

Humans↗

PubMed1984

The women's movement and older women's health: issues and policy implications.

Since women are an increasing proportion of the older population, the health issues that affect older Americans must be regarded in large part as women's issues. Women experience aging differently from men. The advantage in life expectancy of women over men is not always a boon. Older women have substantially lower incomes and higher poverty rates, are more likely to be widowed and living alone, and depend more on entitlement and social service programs. This paper traces the evolution of the women's movement and identifies some of the health care problems of older women in terms of psychological, socio-cultural, and economic factors. The role of the medical establishment and federal regulations that affect older women are examined. The White House Conference on Aging (1981) is seen as a prelude to the current policies of the Administration that affect older women. Necessary policy changes on the Federal and local levels are discussed as well as the need for redirection in the women's health movement.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of early deprivation on regressive behavior in the hospital: a clinical case conference.

The purpose of this case report is to describe the evolution of a psychosocial plan of management for an "uncooperative" patient on the inpatient nephrology unit at The New York Hospital. The edited transcript of the weekly multidisciplinary Psychosocial Conference on this unit is presented in order to detail this evolution. The conference was attended by nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, a psychology intern and the patient's primary physician, who all had input into formulating the plan and joint responsibility in effecting it. A brief discussion follows the transcript.

Empathy↗

PubMed1992

Quality assurance issues.

Since 1965, when the Medicare and Medicaid programs were established by amendments to the Social Security Act, there has been an evolution from internal utilization review of hospital care to internal and external review of quality assurance. Hospitalizations for diabetes as a primary diagnosis have decreased over this period, suggesting that more diabetes care is delivered as outpatient care and is therefore not subject to quality assurance review. Although it is difficult to discern the effect of quality assurance programs and case management on the quality of diabetes care, it is certain that these programs will have a major influence in the future.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

PubMed2005

Fast forwarding: the evolution of neurosurgery. The 2005 presidential address.

Despite the major social and economic reorganization of medical practice that has taken place during the past 40 years, neurosurgery-the most fascinating specialty in all of clinical medicine-has grown and prospered. Today, this specialty is poised for an era of spectacular advancement and improvement in care; however, significant problems with the potential to retard this growth face neurosurgery. Among these problems is the medical liability situation, which has the potential to destabilize neurosurgical practices and the current health care delivery system. Other issues facing neurosurgery include the potential for loss of the unique nature of the specialty through a conversion to shift-worker surgeons and increasing reliance on profit-seeking institutions for financial stability and liability protection. Lifestyle choices are of growing importance and currently discourage women from entering the field. With a growing knowledge base, there is the recognition that it may not be possible for most individuals to master all aspects of the specialty. There is continued confusion about manpower needs. In addition, some neurosurgeons are choosing to practice in ways that fail to meet the neurosurgeon's obligations to society. There is a growing number of neurosurgeons who dislike providing trauma coverage and there is the potential for some neurosurgeons to give up intracranial neurosurgery. The author believes that it is not competition that will improve the delivery of neurosurgical care and allow for continued growth, but cooperation, and that it will be possible to alleviate many of our problems through increased regionalization of neurosurgical care delivery. This proposal has the potential to promote the formation of neurosurgical teams, ameliorate the problem of physician fatigue, allow greater development of subspecialty skills, and ease the burden of trauma call. It should allow satisfactory solutions to lifestyle considerations and encourage more women to enter the field of neurosurgery. Such a transformation would encourage advances in care to be brought rapidly into the clinical setting and allow neurosurgery to be practiced at the very highest level.

Curriculum↗

PubMed1975

[Variability of cultures and genetic variability].

Cultural selection is defined as a modification in gene frequency distributions within a population under the effects of socio-cultural factors. The conditions are examined which determine the efficiency of such a selection mechanism as a driving force for the evolution of the genetic pool of a social group in a state of relative isolation. The possible effect of the cultural variation on the genetic variation of the human species is discussed.

Culture↗

PubMed2002

[The process of moulding knowledge about illness in patients with ischaemic heart disease].

The presented work handles the problem of the process of moulding knowledge about illness on the example of cardiologic patients. The papers cognitive frames are pointed out by the conception of transfer of knowledge. The author acknowledges that the patients convictions and behaviours can be understood more thoroughly if the following aspects are analysed: doctors convictions and attitudes, their skills in transferring the medical knowledge (to the patients) and ability to recognize the capacities and limitations of patients. Considering social changes, we can respect the gradual evolution of the present models of relations between patients and medical staff to the forms closer to the recommended ones.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychology and nutrition in the ontogenetic development in the infant-adolescence years].

The relationship between the psychic development and the nutritional condition from the fetal stage up to the teenage years is the innermost objective of this study. The importance of eating and having an adequate diet during the pregnancy period, the training of the future mother to breast feed in the first months of the baby's life and the subsequent application of the ablactación process and its relation with psychomotor development and the personality progression in the different stages of the psychological, physiological and social development of the infant-adolescent period. The results shown were obtained from various studies carried out in the Nutritional Clinical Service. They are related to the reinduction of breast feeding in children less than 4 months of age with protein energetic malnutrition, as well as other stages of the infant-juvenile obese and other chronic and genetic diseases related to the nourishment and nutrition (diabetes, fenilcetonuria, hiperamonemia, homocistinuria y fibrosis quística), in which the close relationship betweeen the Psychology, and the Nutrition stands, all through the Psychotherapeutic and educational treatments and based on the application of the clinic psychology in the prevention, promotion and treatment of the nutritional alterations and other chronic and genetic diseases related to nourishment and malnutrition. Aspects related to the psychological and social characterizations as well as the personality evolution of these patients and their relatives environment are established.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of chemical diabetes in non-specific bronchopneumopathies].

In the present conditions of industrial development and of urbanization encountered in our country clinico-statistical observations show that the risk of disease can be doubled by the increased incidence of diabetes and of bronchopneumopathies with common germs. The much higher incidence of the metabolic disturbance in the asymptomatic, as well as in the clinically manifest stages of bronchopulmonary suppurative diseases, as compared with tuberculosis demonstrate the more severe evolution, as well as the medico-social implications that tend to overtake, from the viewpoint of the severity, those known in pulmonary tuberculosis, which shows a continuous decline. The early detection of both diseases, which may prevent their association, complications or reciprocal aggravation, represent an imperative task.

Bronchial Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Plasmodium falciparum chemoresistance. The situation in Africa in 1989].

Between 1978 and 1989, some Plasmodium falciparum chloroquino-resistant (C.Q.R.) strains have been imported in all intertropical African countries. Evidence of sudden occurrence of C.Q.R. foci was obtained by some prophylactic or therapeutic failures, and culture of strains from non-immune travellers back in Europe or U.S.A., then by carrying out some field surveys. C.Q.R. heterogeneity is the rule in Africa, efficiency of other antimalarial drugs diminishes rapidly in the foci where C.Q.R. remains at high level, probably in relation with drug pressure. Non typical clinical manifestations raising of child death-rate death not avoidable by chloroquino-prophylaxis, confused therapeutic attitudes were all of them the main facts accompanying the occurrence of C.Q.R. in Africa. It is not possible nowadays to foresee the evolution of C.Q.R. situation and of its social consequences in low-immune African populations.

Africa↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis of an industrial product. The toothbrush 2].

In this work, the Author picks out the manifold aspects of the toothbrush design, in relation to the connections between ergonomics and design, including the analysis of the productive process and of the historical changements, to better understand the functional characteristics of the examined object. More precisely, the evolution of the tooth-brush, its social effects, together with the description of the possibilities and responsibilities of design, are the main topic of the study worked out.

Equipment Design↗