Nerve cross-sectional area in extremes of age

Introduction: Nerve cross-sectional area reference values have been reported for many nerves, but there have been few studies in pediatric and geriatric populations. This study was conducted to determine the influence of age on nerve cross-sectional area. Methods: Thirty-two children (3 months to 16 years) and 20 geriatric adults (67–92 years) without known neurologic conditions underwent bilateral ultrasound to measure the area of the following nerves: median at the wrist and forearm; ulnar at the wrist and elbow; radial in the spiral groove; sciatic in the distal thigh; fibular at the knee; tibial at the knee and ankle; and sural at the ankle. Results: In general, nerve cross-sectional area increased with age. Nerve size correlated most closely with age, but a correlation was also seen with body mass index. Conclusions: Nerve cross-sectional area increases with age, which is important to note when using ultrasound to evaluate children and geriatric patients. Muscle Nerve 47: 890–893, 2013     

Validity and reliability of nerve and muscle ultrasound

Introduction: Nerve and muscle ultrasound has been studied in several conditions, but validity and reliability have not been assessed systematically. Methods: Nerve cross‐sectional area and muscle thickness were measured ultrasonographically at several sites in 4 cadavers, which were then dissected, and actual measurements were obtained. To assess intrarater and interrater reliability, between 3 and 5 ultrasonographers, with varying experience levels, made repeated measurements on healthy volunteers. Results: Correlation coefficients for nerve and muscle validity were >0.968 (P < 0.001), and for intrarater reliability were >0.901 (P < 0.001) for still and real‐time images. Correlation coefficients for interrater reliability were more varied, but for still images they were all significant at the P < 0.001 (0.542–0.998) level, and for real‐time images they were significant at the P < 0.05 level for half the sites (0.243–0.981). Conclusion: Overall, nerve and muscle ultrasound is a valid and reliable diagnostic imaging technique. Muscle Nerve, 2013     

Patient and Parent Perspectives of Adolescent Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

Background

Adolescent obesity is a significant global health challenge and severely obese adolescents commonly experience serious medical and psychosocial challenges. Consequently, severe adolescent obesity is increasingly being treated surgically. The limited available research examining the effectiveness of adolescent bariatric surgery focuses primarily on bio-medical outcomes. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of the behavioural, emotional and social factors which affect adolescents’ and parents’ experience of weight loss surgery.

Methods

Patient and parents’ perspectives of adolescent LAGB were examined using a qualitative research methodology. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adolescent patients and five parents. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes in the qualitative data.

Results

Patients and parents generally considered adolescent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) to be a life-changing experience, resulting in physical and mental health benefits. Factors considered to facilitate weight loss following surgery included parental support and adherence to treatment guidelines. Many adolescents reported experiencing surgical weight loss stigma and challenging interpersonal outcomes after weight loss for which they felt unprepared.

Conclusions

Patients and parents perceived LAGB positively. There are opportunities to improve both the experience and outcomes of adolescent LAGB through parental education and enhancements to surgical aftercare programmes.

     

Caffeine Transiently Affects Food Intake at Breakfast

Background

Caffeine is frequently added to dietary supplements with claims it facilitates weight loss.

Factors Influencing Trust in Agencies That Disseminate Tobacco Prevention Information

Several health-related agencies administer national and targeted public education campaigns to provide health information and change health-related behaviors. The trust the public has in these agencies as the source of the message impacts the effectiveness of their communication campaigns. In this study, we explore the perceived trust of agencies that communicate health messages in the tobacco control field. As part of a larger tobacco regulatory science study, we conducted six 90-min focus groups comprising 41 participants. Five main themes emerged pertinent to the agency: (1) its integrity, (2) its competence, (3) its motives, (4) how it is portrayed in the media, and (5) skepticism and mistrust about it. Given the significant resources spent on health messaging to the public and potential benefits offered by this communication, an understanding of public trust in the agencies as the source of health messages is important. Findings suggest health information may be ignored or discounted when there is mistrust in the agency sending those messages.     

Negative caregiving representations and postpartum depression: The mediating roles of parenting efficacy and relationship satisfaction

Drawing on Bowlby's (1982) caregiving theoretical framework, this is the first preliminary examination of caregiving to postpartum depression (PPD) as well as the potential mediators to the psychological manifestations of caregiving in PPD. One hundred and fifty Israeli mothers completed four scales assessing PPD, parenting self-efficacy, caregiving representations and marital satisfaction, within 6 months after giving birth. Researchers indicated a significant association between deactivated caregiving and PPD that was mediated by lower levels of parental self-efficacy and lower marital satisfaction. The associations between caregiving hyperactivation and PPD were nonsignificant. Theoretical and practical implications for clinical practice and postpartum risk factor models are discussed.