UK population based study of severe retinopathy of prematurity: screening, treatment, and outcome

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the few causes of childhood blindness in which severe vision impairment is largely preventable. Ophthalmic screening for ROP is required to identify disease that requires treatment whereby the development of potentially blinding disease can be minimised. OBJECTIVES: To make the first UK population based estimate of the incidence of babies with severe ROP (stage 3 or more); to document their clinical characteristics and management and to evaluate the appropriateness of current ROP screening guidelines in the UK. PATIENTS: Cases were recruited through a national surveillance programme with 1 year ophthalmic follow up and data from clinician completed questionnaires. RESULTS: Between 1 December 1997 and 31 March 1999, 233 preterm babies with stage 3 ROP were identified. Severity (location, extent, and presence of plus disease) was associated with degree of prematurity, most severe in the most premature babies. Fifty nine percent were treated. The UK screening protocol was followed in two thirds of cases, but in the remainder it was begun too late or was too infrequent. Three quarters of the cases were followed up at 1 year, and 13% had a severe vision deficit as a result of ROP. CONCLUSIONS: Visual deficit as a result of ROP in premature babies continues to be a severe disability in some of the survivors of neonatal intensive care. Further efforts are needed to organise treatment regionally to improve outcome and standards of practice.     

A feasibility study to assess service providers' perspectives regarding the use of the child and adolescent functional assessment scale in ontario

This brief report describes a feasibility study conducted to assess the level of satisfaction with the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) rater reliability training, the ease of achieving interrater reliability in rating CAFAS, and the clinical utility of CAFAS as an outcome measurement tool for the province of Ontario, from the perspective of service providers. This study has been instrumental in the development of a 4-year province-wide measurement initiative. The study proved useful to government policy and decision-makers, mental health administrators, clinicians, and mental health service researchers interested in the implementation of outcome measurement tools. It highlighted the fact that at least 85% of respondents were satisfied with CAFAS training and the ease of achieving interrater reliability. The majority identified the usefulness of the tool in case formulation and the value in tracking changes over time.She is also affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.He is also affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health Sciences, and the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.She is also affiliated with the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.     

Office space planning and design for medical practices: Part 3, Implementation,design, and construction

The decision to build anew or remodel/add-on to your existing facility can be a tough one. Once that decision is reached, the implementation of design and construction presents many difficult hurdles on the road to achieving a functional office space in a cost effective manner. This article will continue to explore just how a practice goes about that implementation process.     

Least possible fixation of fractures of the proximal humerus

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of an unreported technique of the least possible fixation for valgus-impacted fractures. Using an open technique without any sharp deep soft tissue dissection, the split between the tuberosities is opened to allow elevation of the impacted humeral head fragment. The tuberosities are reduced and repaired with absorbable sutures between the rotator cuff insertions. No bone grafting, Kirschner wire or other fixation device was used. For 11 patients, with an average age of 55 years, who were operated between 1989 and 1998, the mean follow-up period was 69 months. The patients were assessed radiologically and clinically using the Constant-Murley score. As a percentage of the normal side, the Constant-Murley scores ranged from 55 to 100% (mean 86%); there were eight patients with scores >80%, two patients with scores between 70 and 79% and one patient with score <70%. One patient (9%) showed avascular necrosis (AVN). This fixation allows preservation of the soft tissues in an open approach and avoids the dangers of other fixation methods. There is a low risk of AVN and it allows a good functional result.     

Exercise and intestinal polyp development in APCMin mice

PURPOSE: Epidemiological evidence suggests that physical activity protects against colon cancer. We previously used a mouse predisposed to intestinal polyps (APCMin) to evaluate this association and found the suggestion of fewer polyps in exercised males but not females. The present study was designed to further explore the potential exercise x sex interaction on polyp development and to begin to look at potential mechanisms. METHODS: Six-week-old APCMin mice (N = 60 males; 60 females) were randomly assigned to one of two groups by sex: treadmill running at 20 m.min-1, 5% grade, 45 min.d-1, 5 d.wk-1 (EX) or nonrunning controls (CON) (N = 30 per group). EX mice ran in running wheels while in quarantine (weeks 0-3), followed by treadmill running weeks 3-8. Body weights were measured weekly. Urine was collected at 5 wk and fasting blood at 7.5 wk. Body composition was measured, serum was frozen, and polyp number and size were measured at sacrifice. RESULTS: EX resulted in lower body weights (P < 0.01) and reduced fat mass (P < 0.01). Fasting glucose was lower in EX (P < 0.01), and leptin was lower in EX (P = 0.05) compared with CON. EX did not affect serum insulin-like growth factor-1 or urinary corticosterone. Total polyp number and size were not statistically different between groups; however, there were fewer jejunal polyps in EX (3.6 +/- 0.7, mean +/- SE) versus CON males (5.2 +/- 0.8; P = 0.04) and an even larger difference when only the consistent runners were kept in the analysis (2.7 +/- 0.5 in EX; P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Despite favorable changes in body composition, blood glucose, and leptin, 8 wk of running resulted in only minor changes related to polyp development in male but not female APCMin mice.