This paper describes a social skills programme run in one primary school designed to promote children's cooperative skills and anger management. The programme was staffed by Child and Adolescent Mental Health professionals with educational psychologist and school support. Eight children with severe emotional and behavioural problems participated and completed the 20-week programme. Pre and post data were collected for the children, parents and teachers. Parents were supported by regular meetings and domiciliary visits from an assistant psychologist. Teaching staff met regularly with the team and had frequent supportive contact with the assistant psychologist. Two educational psychologists-in-training made an independent qualitative evaluation of the programme, interviewing the children, their parents and teachers, as well as members of the multi-agency team. After attending the group, the children showed a significant reduction in their anxiety, parents reported a significant reduction in oppositional behaviour and teachers a significant reduction in attention-deficit hyperactive difficulties type behaviour. All measures showed a significant or positive trend, although there was some disappointment in the level of parent participation in the school-based parent meetings. Reasons for this are discussed and the case for multi-agency social skills interventions is made, along with a broader discussion of the role of the educational psychologist.

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The geometrid moth Gnophos dumetata Treitschke, 1827, is restricted within Britain and Ireland to the Burren, Co. Clare. A study was initiated by the Burren National Park to investigate the distribution and food plant choice of the species in order to determine if it would be affected by management of scrub. The distribution of the species was investigated by trapping of adults and searching for larvae. This was combined with historical records to determine that the species is confined to the limestone pavement in the eastern Burren between Corofin and Gort. The larvae show a preference for small, isolated plants of Rhamnus cathartica L. growing over bare pavement. Our conclusion is that the species will not be affected by planned management which is aimed at removing dense invasive scrub from grassland areas.

This study examined the left ventricular (LV) and esophageal functions in patients with chest pain syndrome and normal coronary angiograms. The nonimaging ambulatory nuclear device which allows continuous monitoring of LV ejection fraction (EF), relative LV volume, and electrocardiographic changes was used serially to study changes during exercise, ice immersion, and provocative esophageal motility studies with edrophonium (Tensilon) and Bernstein tests. There were 16 patients, 9 women and 7 men, between the ages of 44 and 68 years. The baseline LVEF was 58 ± (SEM) 2%. The EF during Tensilon and Bernstein tests were not significantly different from baseline; the changes were 3 ± 1 and 0 ± 1 %, respectively, compared to baseline (p = NS); 4 of 15 patients (27%) had >6% decrease during ice immersion test. Exercise testing (n = 8) resulted in 16 ± 3% increase in EF compared to baseline (p = 0.0004). There were no S-T segment changes during any of the above interventions. One of the 16 patients (6%) had baseline esophageal spasm, and another patient (6%) had positive Tensilon and Bernstein tests. Thus, (1) routine baseline and provocative esophageal motility studies result in a low but definite yield of positive results (12.5%) in patients with chest pains and normal coronary angiograms, and (2) there is no significant change in LV function during provocative esophageal motility studies with either Tensilon or Bernstein test. These procedures, if deemed necessary, therefore, may be used safely as office procedures in comparable groups of patients.

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