Socioemotional Understanding and Recreation

A socioemotional framework for conducting clinical sociology is introduced. Case studies are presented as examples of two essential clinical sociological processes: socioemotional understanding and recreation. Special emphasis is placed upon the role that specific and general sociocultural contexts have upon the emotional profiles of individuals and society as a whole. Discussed is how clinical sociologists are especially skilled at facilitating individuals developing responsible emotionality and emotional responsibility as they singly and jointly explore, reflect upon, understand, and choose to recreate particular self and other destructive emotional patterns and processes as well as the sociocultural contexts that contribute to those patterns and processes

Imaging African trypanosomes

Trypanosoma brucei are extracellular kinetoplastid parasites transmitted by the blood-sucking tsetse fly. They are responsible for the fatal disease human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. In late-stage infection, trypanosomes cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and invade the central nervous system (CNS) invariably leading to coma and death if untreated. There is no available vaccine and current late-stage HAT chemotherapy consists of either melarsoprol, which is highly toxic causing up to 8% of deaths, or nifurtimox–eflornithine combination therapy (NECT), which is costly and difficult to administer. There is therefore an urgent need to identify new late-stage HAT drug candidates. Here, we review how current imaging tools, ranging from fluorescent confocal microscopy of live immobilized cells in culture to whole-animal imaging, are providing insight into T. brucei biology, parasite-host interplay, trypanosome CNS invasion and disease progression. We also consider how imaging tools can be used for candidate drug screening purposes that could lead to new chemotherapies

The Subjective Dimension of a Bipolar Family Education/Support Group: A Sociology of Emotions Approach

This article reports on the predominant emotions experienced by members of an education/support group for the relatives and partners of individuals with bipolar manic-depression. Identified are the specific types of emotions experienced as well as the situational, definitional, and behavioral frameworks in which particular emotions or combinations of emotions were generated, experienced, interpreted, expressed, and managed. Special attention is focused on emotional uncertainty, mixed and fluctuating emotions, the erosion of positive by negative emotions, and emotional stalemates. In addition, the personal and social consequences of members\u27 adopting particular emotion management roles are examined. Finally, the article outlines the education/ support group contexts and processes through which members were able to normalize, alter, or reduce a number of particularly distressful emotions and create or reinforce specific positive emotions

Expressive writing for high-risk drug dependent patients in a primary care clinic: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that expressive writing is beneficial in terms of both physical and emotional health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of a brief expressive writing intervention for high-risk drug dependent patients in a primary care clinic, and to determine the relationship between linguistic features of writing and health outcomes. METHODS: Participants completed four 15-minute expressive writing tasks over a week, in which they described their thoughts and feelings about a recent stressful event. Self-report measures of physical (SF-12) and psychological health (DASS-21) were administered at baseline and at a two-week follow-up. Fifty-three participants were recruited and 14 (26%) completed all measures. RESULTS: No statistically significant benefits in physical or psychological health were found, although all outcomes changed in the direction of improvement. The intervention was well-received and was rated as beneficial by participants. The use of more positive emotion words in writing was associated with improvements in depression and stress, and flexibility in first person pronoun use was associated with improvements in anxiety. Increasing use of cognitive process words was associated with worsening depressive mood. CONCLUSION: Although no significant benefits in physical and psychological health were found, improvements in psychological wellbeing were associated with certain writing styles and expressive writing was deemed acceptable by high-risk drug dependent patients. Given the difficulties in implementing psychosocial interventions in this population, further research using a larger sample is warranted

Law Clinics: What, why and how?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’) is intending to introduce a new qualification regime for solicitors. During the relevant consultation process, there was strong support for retaining the requirement for solicitors to undertake a period of legal work experience before qualification. The SRA has, accordingly, decided to keep a two-year work experience requirement which will in future be known as qualifying work experience (‘QWE’). At the time of writing, it is anticipated that QWE will replace the current ‘period of recognised training system’ in September 2021. When the new system is introduced, a broader range of work experience will potentially be able to qualify as QWE. There will also be more flexibility about when such QWE can be undertaken and there will be scope to satisfy the requirement within up to four different firms, educational institutions or other organisations. This means that, in future, clinical legal education (‘CLE’) work undertaken by students at university/within a student law clinic could ‘count’ towards QWE. Universities and law clinics will not be mandated to offer QWE, but may choose to do so if they wish. The SRA hopes that the changes will promote access to and diversity within the profession.The background and detail of the SRA’s plans will be discussed in this section and the practical considerations clinicians will need to take into account should they decide to confirm CLE as QWE will be analysed. The arguments for and against offering CLE as QWE, and how employers might perceive solicitors with such experience, are outside the scope of this section, but such issues are explored in the authors’ 2018 Law Teacher article, ‘Clinical legal education as qualifying work experience for solicitors’

Stereotaxic Exposure of the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala to Corticosterone Increases Colonic Permeability and Reduces Nerve-Mediated Active Ion Transport in Rats

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by visceral pain and abnormal bowel habits that are worsened during stress. Evidence also suggests altered intestinal barrier function in IBS. Previously, we demonstrated that stereotaxic application of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) onto the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) induces colonic hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behavior in a rat model, however the effect on intestinal permeability and mucosal function remain to be evaluated.Methods: Male Fischer 344 rats underwent bilateral stereotaxic implantation of CORT or inert cholesterol (CHOL)-containing micropellets (30 μg) onto the dorsal margin of the CeA. Seven days later, colonic tissue was isolated to assess tissue permeability in modified Ussing chambers via transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and macromolecular flux of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Secretory responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) of submucosal enteric nerves as well as activation with forskolin were used to assess movements of ions across the isolated colonic tissues. In a separate cohort, colonic histology, and mast cell infiltration was assessed.Key Results: Compared to CHOL-implanted controls, we determined that exposing the CeA to elevated levels of CORT significantly increased macromolecular flux across the colonic epithelial layer without changing TEER. Nerve-mediated but not cAMP-mediated active transport was inhibited in response to elevated amygdala CORT. There were no histological changes or increases in mast cell infiltration within colonic tissue from CORT treated animals.Conclusion and Inferences: These observations support a novel role for the CeA as a modulator of nerve-mediated colonic epithelial function

Adapting and responding to a pandemic: Patient and family advisory councils in children\u27s hospitals during COVID-19

This mixed-methods study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) within children’s hospitals in the United States. Specifically, the study sought to understand how PFACs adapted operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how patient and family advisors (PFAs) were engaged in the response to COVID-19, and the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic with PFAC diversity, equity, and inclusion. The study consisted of a survey distributed to 228 children’s hospitals, with a 73% response rate, and in-depth interviews with selected survey respondents (n=12). While COVID-19 temporarily disrupted PFAC operations and forced rapid adaptations, most children’s hospital PFACs transitioned successfully to virtual meetings, with 86% reporting that their PFAC met at least once from March to December 2020 and 84% indicating that their PFAC planned to meet as frequently or more frequently than before the pandemic. The majority of respondents (72%) reported that attendance at virtual PFAC meetings was the same as or better than with in-person meetings. Interview participants reported benefits associated with virtual meetings, including the potential ability to recruit and engage PFAs who better reflected the diversity of the patients and families served by the hospitals. Children’s hospitals are well-positioned to be leaders in the field, contributing to the development of new approaches, lessons learned, and best practices moving forward. This is especially true as hospitals continue to navigate the evolving realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as PFACs address challenges associated with maintaining diverse, equitable, and inclusive councils. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens