An evaluation of the impact of lifestyle interventions on body weight in postpartum women: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

The established efficacy in postpartum lifestyle interventions has not been translated into better outcomes. This systematic review and meta‐analysis assess the penetration (the proportion of women invited within the target population), implementation (fidelity), participation (the proportion of those invited who enrolled), and effect (weight loss compared to controls) (PIPE) of randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions in postpartum women (within two years after birth). MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pubmed, and other databases and clinical trial registries were searched up to the 3rd of May 2019. Data was extracted from published reports and missing data was obtained from study authors. The quality of the studies was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (2·0). Main outcomes were the PIPE impact metrics and changes in body weight. Thirty‐six trials (49 publications) were included (n=5,315 women). One study provided sufficient information to calculate the population penetration rate (2·5%). All studies provided implementation (fidelity) information, but over half had low program fidelity. The participation rate was calculated for nine studies (0·94% to 86%). There was significant change in body weight (mean difference (MD) (95% confidence interval, CI) of ‐2·33 (‐3·10 to ‐1·56). This highlights the inadequacy of conventional RCTs to inform implementation. Future research should broaden methods to pragmatic trials.     

Missed Opportunities for HIV Testing Among STD Clinic Patients

Current HIV testing guidelines recommend that all adolescents and adults aged 13–64 be routinely screened for HIV in healthcare settings. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients represent a population at increased risk for HIV, justifying more frequent risk assessment and testing. This analysis describes missed opportunities for HIV testing among a sample of STD clinic patients to identify areas where HIV testing services may be improved. Secondary analysis was conducted using data from Project AWARE, a randomized trial of 5012 adult patients from 9 STD clinics in the United States, enrolled April–December 2010. HIV testing history, healthcare service utilization, and behavioral risks were obtained through audio computer-assisted self-interview. Missed opportunities for HIV testing, defined as having a healthcare visit but no HIV test in the last 12 months, were characterized by location and frequency. Of 2315 (46.2%) participants not tested for HIV in the last 12 months, 1715 (74.1%) had a missed opportunity for HIV testing. These missed opportunities occurred in both traditional (54.9% at family doctor, 20.3% at other medical doctor visits) and non-traditional (28.5% at dental, 19.0% at eye doctor, 13.9% at correctional facility, and 13.3% at psychology visits) testing settings. Of 53 participants positive for HIV at baseline, 16 (30.2%) had a missed testing opportunity. Missed opportunities for HIV testing were common in this population of STD clinic patients. There is a need to increase routinized HIV screening and expand testing services to a broader range of healthcare settings.     

Obesity and Postpartum Depression: Does Prenatal Care Utilization Make a Difference?

To identify (1) the association between pre-pregnancy BMI (PP-BMI) and PPD symptoms, and (2) the association between PP-BMI and PPD symptoms after considering PNC utilization as a moderating variable. Data from the 2004 and 2005 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) were analyzed from 15 states. The study design utilized two risk-adjustment approaches. One approach included all women in the dataset and used statistical analyses to risk-adjust for pregnancy risk status, and the other approach, through a sensitivity analysis, modified the design of the study by truncating the sample to include only women with healthy pregnancies. An initial association was seen between obesity and PPD symptoms, and PNC and PPD symptoms in the multivariate analyses. However, the inclusion of case-mix variables into the multivariate models removed these associations. Overall, for both approaches, there was no indication of a moderating effect of PNC utilization. Results also revealed that many of the women were significantly affected by a variety of high-risk maternal morbidity (case-mix) variables. Although PNC is important for the health of mothers and babies, it does not appear to moderate the association of PP-BMI and PPD symptoms. However, since this study revealed associations between several high-risk maternal morbidities (included as case-mix variables), and PPD symptoms, it is recommended that future research further investigate the possible association of these morbidities with PPD symptoms. For practice, it is suggested that PNC providers focus on their patients, and establish suitable interventions accordingly.     

High K diets markedly reduce atherosclerotic cholesterol ester deposition in aortas of rats with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension

High K diets prevent hypertensive endothelial injury and intimal thickening. Cholesterol esters often deposit during hypercholesterolemia. Would a high K diet influence cholesterol ester deposits? In a normal rat on a normal diet, no cholesterol esters are detected in the aorta. Stroke prone SHR rats were fed for 3 months a basic diet containing 4% cholesterol, 14% coconut oil and 7% NaCl. One group of 13 rats had normal (.5%) K in the diet. Another group of 10 rats ate high (2.1%) K. Mean intraarterial blood pressures averaged 165 mm Hg in the normal K group and 161 mm Hg in the high K group (P = NS). The serum cholesterol averaged 229 mg/dL in the normal K group and 214 in the high K group (P = NS). Total aortic cholesterol esters per rat involving 16 and 18 carbon chain fatty acids averaged 187 micrograms in normal K v 68 micrograms in high K, measured by gas chromatography. These were the main esters; other esters were negligible. Thus high K reduced cholesterol ester deposits by 64% (P less than .0003), even though blood pressure and cholesterol levels were quite similar in the two groups. Both high cholesterol and high BP injure endothelial cells and increase invasion of macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells into the intima and increase endothelial permeability to proteins. With high plasma cholesterol, these processes lead to atherosclerosis with cholesterol ester deposition. The high K diet, by protecting endothelial cells, can greatly decrease this cholesterol ester deposition. This effect could possible be useful for preventing atherosclerotic complications such as heart attacks in human hypertension.     

Mental health nursing practice in rural and remote Canada: Insights from a national survey

Access to and delivery of quality mental health services remains challenging in rural and remote Canada. To improve access, services, and support providers, improved understanding is needed about nurses who identify mental health as an area of practice. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics and context of practice of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) in rural and remote Canada, who provide care to those experiencing mental health concerns. Data were from a pan-Canadian cross-sectional survey of 3822 regulated nurses in rural and remote areas. Individual and work community characteristics, practice responsibilities, and workplace factors were analysed, along with responses to open-ended questions. Few nurses identified mental health as their sole area of practice, with the majority of those being RPNs employed in mental health or crisis centres, and general or psychiatric hospitals. Nurses who indicated that mental health was only one area of their practice were predominantly employed as generalists, often working in both hospital and primary care settings. Both groups experienced moderate levels of job resources and demands. Over half of the nurses, particularly LPNs, had recently experienced and/or witnessed violence. Persons with mental health concerns in rural and remote Canada often receive care from those for whom mental health nursing is only part of their everyday practice. Practice and education supports tailored for generalist nurses are, therefore, essential, especially to support nurses in smaller communities, those at risk of violence, and those distant from advanced referral centres.