Premature or Just Small? Training Guatemalan Birth Attendants to Weigh and Assess Gestational Age of Newborns: An Analysis of Outcomes

We describe Guatemalan birth attendants’ identification of vulnerable newborns, their evaluation of gestational age and anthropometry, and the validity of the Capurro and New Ballard newborn gestational age assessment methods. We interviewed 49 birth attendants and trained 10 of these women to assess 63 newborns. The Capurro and Ballard methods were correlated (Spearman rho = .75, p < .001) and showed agreement (Bland-Altman plot, difference and bias, ?0.33 ± 1.3 weeks). Prematurity was estimated at 27% (Ballard) and 24% (Capurro); low birth weight (LBW) was 30%. Capurro provided a simplified, equivalent estimate of gestational age compared with New Ballard that could be used by birth attendants.     

Patterns of Inpatient and Outpatient Care for Asthma in Erie and Niagara Counties,Western New York State

We surveyed cognitively normal teens with and without chronic illness regarding the perceived physical and social impact of various chronic diseases including asthma.

The overall physical impact of asthma was perceived equivalently to diabetes and arthritis, but less than epilepsy, Down's syndrome, leukemia, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, asthma was rated to more commonly cause physical disability (p < 0.001) and restrict activities (p < 0.0005). The social impact of asthma was perceived equivalently to diabetes, but more favorably than the other chronic diseases surveyed. Specifically, teens with asthma were perceived as having fewer behavior problems, being more honest, popular, and fun to be around, but less adept at sports. Only 6 of 149 (4%) teens surveyed expressed any degree of reluctance to befriend peers with asthma.     

Association of Atopy to Asthma Severity and Medication Use in Children

The importance of aeroallergens as triggers for asthma is well recognized, but the relationship between asthma severity and atopic profiles in childhood has not been elucidated. This study assessed the relationship of allergen sensitization to asthma severity in a study of 114 asthmatic children followed for 8 weeks in three Southern California areas. Increased controller medication and β-agonist use were positively associated with number of positive skin tests and allergy to mold and pollens. Mold was associated with increased asthma symptoms. Degree of atopy and reactivity to mold and pollens plays a significant role in asthma severity in asthmatic children.     

Unweaving the Web: An Exploratory Study of Low-Literate Adults' Navigation Skills on the World Wide Web

For traditionally underserved populations, the Web can potentially unlock resources that could fundamentally improve health and wellbeing. However, there are many barriers to using Web-based content. While physical access issues are well documented, there is little understanding of how nonmainstream populations use or will use the Web. Based on an ethnographic study of a group of low-literate adults, we have identified specific navigational and content issues that present barriers to this population. We discuss preliminary assumptions that can be used to inform the development of Web tools for this target audience, and directions for future applied research.     

Neuropeptide Y is analgesic in rats after plantar incision

Previous work has demonstrated that neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), Y₁ receptor and Y₂ receptor are critical in modulation of pain after nerve injury. We hypothesized that NPY was important for nociception after surgical incision. As a model of postoperative pain, rats underwent a plantar incision in one hindpaw. Western blots were used to quantify changes in protein expression of NPY, Y₁ receptor and Y₂ receptor after incision in skin, muscle, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Pain-related behaviors were tested after incision in rats treated with intrathecal NPY, Y₁ receptor antagonist (BIBO3304 – Chemical Name: N-[(1R)-1-[[[[4-[[(Aminocarbonyl)amino]methyl]phenyl]methyl]amino]carbonyl]-4-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino]butyl]-α-phenyl-benzeneacetamide ditrifluoroacetate), Y₂ receptor antagonist (BIIE0246 – Chemical Name: N-[(1S)-4-[(Aminoiminomethyl)amino]-1-[[[2-(3,5-dioxo-1,2-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolidin-4-yl)ethyl]amino]carbonyl]butyl]-1-[2-[4-(6,11-dihydro-6-oxo-5H-dibenz[b,e]azepin-11-yl)-1-piperazinyl]-2-oxoethyl]-cyclopentaneacetamide), combined NPY+antagonists, morphine, or vehicle. Pain behaviors were tested after incision in rats treated with locally applied intraplantar injections of NPY, Y₁ receptor and Y₂ receptor antagonists or vehicle. NPY protein expression was significantly downregulated in muscle for two days after incision. In contrast, Y₁ receptor and Y₂ receptor protein expression was upregulated in both skin and muscle. A single intrathecal injection of NPY reduced cumulative guarding pain scores, as did morphine. The intrathecal administration of Y₂ receptor antagonist also reduced pain scores; findings that were not observed when drugs were administered locally. Intrathecal Y₂ receptor antagonists and NPY improved mechanical threshold and heat withdrawal latency 2 h after incision. Intrathecal administration of NPY and/or central blockade of Y₂ receptor attenuated pain behaviors early after incision (postoperative day (POD) 1–2). Y₁ receptor antagonist administration blocked the anti-hyperalgesic effect of NPY. Together these data suggest a role for spinal NPY in postoperative pain.