Clinical and cognitive characteristics of Angelman syndrome

Introduction. Angelman syndrome, as a rare genetic and neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe intellectual deficit and falling behind in psychomotor development, represents a challenge for adequate and correct creation of individual (rehabilitation procedure. More precise determination of cognitive and speech profile is difficult due to integrative hypermotor behavior and attention and speech deficits. Objective. The aim of this paper was to analyze and summarize empirical data on clinical, cognitive and speech characteristics of Angelman syndrome. Methods. A systematic review of the literature published in peer-reviewed publications, from 2001 to June 5, 2021, was performed by searching electronic databases available through the service of the Serbian Library Consortium for Coordinated Acquisition - KOBSON. A "hand search" (Research Gate and Google Scholar) was also used. Results. The analyzed results of the research indicate that the presence of sensorimotor schemes that represent cognitive structures of the earliest childhood is characteristic for Angelman syndrome. Receptive speech skills are more developed than expressive ones, which usually do not exist. Supportive therapy, which includes interventions in early childhood, speech therapy and occupational programs, is very important for treatment within this clinical picture. Conclusion. It is necessary to improve the process of assessing cognitive and speech skills due to the targeted creation of an individual cognitive-speech developmental profile. It is also crucial to identify urgent areas that require treatment and in which individual and family support should be provided.

CONSIDERING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY DEMENTIA INTERVENTION, COMBINING BEHAVIORAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Behavioral therapy for people diagnosed with dementia and their informal caregivers can enhance the quality of life and the accomplishment of daily routines. The effectiveness of occupational therapy in dementia has also been proven several times. Still those therapies are often not part of the regular treatment. Through literature analyses and three focus group discussions with experts of both professions four occupational (ESP, WHEDA, Ergodem and HED-I) and two behavioral interventions (CBTAC, cordial-program) were compared to clarify how much and in what ways behavioral and occupational therapy in dementia overlap and differ. The interventions are similar with respect to intervention characteristics: They are non-pharmacological, client-centered, put a major emphasis on involving the caregivers and are similarly structured. Whilst occupational programs focus on practical issues, such as empowerment to perform daily activities or adjustment of the environment, cognitive-behavioral interventions specialize on planning activities, communication and reminiscence. These differences result from the theoretical basis and the primary goals of the professions. Behavioral therapy developed from learning theories and cognitive techniques. In contrast occupational therapy is based on environmental theories and the idea of empowerment. In addition two activating programs were included (CST, MAKS-active) to promote physical activity and social interactions since both positively influence the course of the disease. The focus group participants supported the idea of an interdisciplinary cooperation. The results suggest, that an intervention offered by both professions, ideally in cooperation, encompassing key elements identified in the studied programs would be an advance in dementia therapy.

Career aspirations of undergraduates studying at some strategic occupational programs

This paper aims to classify career aspirations by identifying career anchors and self-monitoring for a second-year undergraduates studying at two top of range universities in St. Petersburg. The participants major in strategical professions. The study involved 202 people from the following bachelor programs: «Logistics and Supply chain management» (n=98), «Sociology» (n=92) and «Human Resource Management» (n=22). The findings illustrate that peculiarities of undergraduates’ career aspirations are possible to estimate using career anchors developed by Schein and level of self-monitoring developed by Snyder which are varied for students studying at different educational programs. The results also indicate the significant differences of career aspirations between young girls and young men at each bachelor’s program. The male groups, having the same level of self-monitoring with female ones, demonstrate some differences in career anchors.

Situating Ontario's Colleges Between the American and European Models for Providing Opportunity for the Attainment of Baccalaureate Degrees in Applied Fields of Study

During the last third of the twentieth century, college sectors in many countries took on the role of expanding opportunities for baccalaureate degree attainment in applied fields of study. In many European countries, colleges came to constitute a parallel higher education sector that offered degree programs of an applied nature in contrast to the more academically oriented programs of the traditional university sector. Other jurisdictions, including some Canadian ones, followed the American approach, in which colleges facilitate degree attainment for students in occupational programs through transfer arrangements with universities. This article offers some possible reasons why the Ontario Government has chosen not to fully embrace the European model, even though the original vision for Ontario’s colleges was closer to that model to than to the American one.

Promoting Hearing Loss Prevention in Audiology Practice

An audiologist should be the principal provider and advocate for all hearing loss prevention activities. Many audiologists equate hearing loss prevention with industrial audiology and occupational hearing conservation programs. However, an audiologist’s involvement in hearing loss prevention should not be confined to that one particular practice setting. In addition to supervising occupational programs, audiologists are uniquely qualified to raise awareness of hearing risks, organize public health campaigns, promote healthy hearing, implement intervention programs, and monitor outcomes. For example, clinical audiologists can show clients how to use inexpensive sound level meters, noise dosimeters, or phone apps to measure noise levels, and recommend appropriate hearing protection. Audiologists should identify community events that may involve hazardous exposures and propose strategies to minimize risks to hearing. Audiologists can help shape the knowledge, beliefs, motivations, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals toward self-protection. An audiologist has the education, tools, opportunity, and strategic position to facilitate or promote hearing loss surveillance and prevention services and activities. This article highlights real-world examples of the various roles and substantial contributions audiologists can make toward hearing loss prevention goals.

UMA REFLEXÃO SOBRE A SAÚDE DO TRABALHADOR DE ENFERMAGEM E OS AVANÇOS DA LEGISLAÇÃO TRABALHISTA

Neste artigo apresenta-se uma retrospectiva da Legislação Trabalhista no Brasil e suas relações para a saúde dos trabalhadores de enfermagem com base na revisão da literatura. Verificou-se que desde 1904 existia a tentativa de criar uma legislação especial para acidentes causados pelo trabalho, mas a primeira Lei só foi editada em 1919 sendo que, esta e as seguintes foram mudando a concepção do acidente de trabalho e suas implicações à saúde do trabalhador e no que diz respeito à inserção no processo de trabalho. Relata-se as transformações ocorridas na Legislação Trabalhista, suas implicações e adequações com o intuito de maximizar a saúde do trabalhador. A partir de determinações legais os responsáveis pelos serviços médicos das empresas foram obrigados a se preocupar com os resultados de seus programas ocupacionais.A retrospective on nursing professionals’ health and the advancement of Brazilian labor legislationAbstractThis article presents, founded on a literature review, a retrospective on the Brazilian Labor Legislation abn its relations to nursing professionals’ health. It was evidenced that there had been an attempt to elaborate a specific legislation on labor accidents since 1904. However, the first law was only passed on in 1919. The afore mentioned law and the ones that have followed it, have changed the conception of labor accident and its implications for workers’ health regarding their insertion in the job process. Changes, implications, and adaptations of Labor Legsilation were described: they have aimed to optimize workers’ health. Due to legal enforcement, companies’ medical teams have had to deem responsible for the results of their occupational programs.