Measuring Knowledge of Fertility Preservation in Women With Cystic Fibrosis: Instrument Development and Psychometric Analysis

ObjectiveTo describe the development, evaluation, and psychometric properties of a new instrument that measures fertility preservation (FP) knowledge in women with cystic fibrosis (CF) titled the Knowledge of FP in Women With CF Instrument (KFP-WCFI).DesignThe 10-item KFP-WCFI was developed and evaluated through a cross-sectional survey.SettingParticipants were recruited nationally from CF Foundation–accredited CF clinics and via snowball sampling.ParticipantsFifty women with CF ages 18 through 35 years completed the instrument.MeasurementsConstruct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In the CFA, the model fit was evaluated using standardized root mean square residual, root mean square error of approximation, and comparative fit index. Cronbach’s alpha was used to examine internal consistency reliability. The criterion validity was assessed using inferential statistics.ResultsThe CFA with two subscales, General Fertility Knowledge and Transplant-Related Fertility Knowledge, demonstrated good fit, with a standardized root mean square residual of 0.07, root mean square error of approximation of 0.06, and comparative fit index of 0.97, indicating good construct validity of the instrument. This instrument demonstrated internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha of .91 for the General Fertility Knowledge subscale and .64 for the Transplant-Related Fertility Knowledge subscale. Women who reported a pregnancy scored higher than women who did not report a pregnancy (p = .02), suggesting criterion validity.ConclusionThe newly developed KFP-WCFI appears to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to measure self-assessed FP knowledge in women with CF.     

子宫颈支原体感染与胚胎停止发育的关系

目的:探讨子宫颈支原体感染与胚胎停止发育的关系。方法:病例选取起止时间为2018年7月至2019年12月,入组200例病例均为本院收治的流产患者。对其临床资料进行回顾性分析,将发生子宫颈支原体感染患者纳入研究组(100例),将未发生感染患者纳入对比组(100例)。对比分析两组患者发生胚胎停止发育的情况。结果:组间对比,研究组患者发生胚胎停止发育的例数为32例,占比32.00%,对比组发生胚胎停止发育患者例数为12例,占比12.00%,研究组胚胎停止发育比例更高(P<0.05)。两组患者胚胎停育1次、2次以及3次以上比例无统计学差异(P>0.05),支原体感染与胚胎停育次数无正相关性。结论:子宫颈支原体感染是引发胚胎发育异常的重要原因,会引发不良妊娠结局。     

Age-related changes in oral motor-control strategies during unpredictable load demands in humans

To investigate age-related changes in oral motor strategies in response to unpredictable load demands. Sixty-five healthy children (aged 3–17 yr) were divided into five age-groups based on their dental eruption stages and compared with a group of healthy adults (aged 18–35 yr). Each participant was asked to perform a standardized motor control task involving ‘pulling’ and ‘holding’ a force transducer with the anterior teeth. Different loads were attached to the force transducer in an unpredictable manner. The temporal force profile was divided into two time-segments (an initial segment and a later segment). The peak force and peak force rate during the initial time-segment, and the holding force and intra-trial variability (coefficient of variation) during the later time-segment, were measured. The results showed no differences in the peak force, peak force rate, holding force, and force variability in children compared with adults. However, the trends in the data evaluated using a segmented regression analysis showed that a breakpoint (abrupt change) consistently occurred in the late-mixed dentition group (age 9–11 yr) for most of the outcome variables. The results indicate that while the motor control strategies in children appear to be similar to those in adults, there is a shift in the oral motor developmental trend during the late-mixed dentition stage.     

Melnick-Needles syndrome associated molecule,Filamin-A regulates dental epithelial cell migration and root formation

BackgroundFilamin-A (FLNA) is one of the adaptor proteins binding to both integrin beta chain and actin filament. Several kind of mutation in human FLNA gene were observed in Melnick-Needles syndrome (MNS). However, the role of FLNA in tooth formation is still unknown.Matrials and methodsWe analyzed the tissue expression of FLNA during tooth development using immunostaining. The role of FLNA in cell migration was analyzed using a scratch assay. In addition, we analyzed the phenotype of teeth in patients with Mernick-Needles syndrome caused by FLNA gene abnormalities.ResultsFLNA expressed in inner and outer enamel epithelium in mouse tooth germ and also expressed in cervical region of dental epithelium. In postnatal stage, FLNA expressed in ameloblast and odontoblast layers. In rat dental epithelium cell line SF2, FLNA is localized at the boundary between cells and co-localized with the terminal region of F-actin filament. shRNA-FLNA transfected cells showed delayed cell migration and scratch closure compared with control cells. Analysis of actin fiber movement by time-lapse confocal microscopy showed slower fiber movement in shRNA-FLNA over expressing SF2 cells. Novel mutation in FLNA gene was observed in MNS with tooth anormaly. This patient showed tooth agenesis and short root in both primary and permanent dentition with thin enamel.ConclusionTaken together, these results suggest that filamin-A is play a key role for dental epithelium migration and root formation.     

口腔颌面头颈肿瘤诊治的挑战

发生于口腔颌面部的肿瘤严重威胁身心健康,随着科学技术的进步与生活水平的提高,口腔颌面头颈肿瘤的诊治面临着新的机遇与挑战。本文通过回顾口腔颌面头颈-肿瘤学科的发展历史,从精准医学、多学科协作、功能康复及学科发展等多层面总结临床现状,以期为口腔颌面头颈肿瘤的诊疗提供新的思路。     

Cross-country validity of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale using a Brazilian sample

BackgroundPrevious validity studies of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), using raw scores and percentile curves for group comparisons, showed that infants in Brazil achieved gross motor milestones at later ages. Validity of the AIMS norms were later reassessed using a logistic regression model that placed the AIMS items on an age scale.ObjectivesOur study examined the validity of the AIMS norms for Brazilian infants using the recommended method for calculating and comparing item locations.MethodsData from 732 Brazilian infants (2009–11), 3 days to 18 months old, were compared to the AIMS normative sample (n = 2202). Logistic regression placed the AIMS items of both samples on age scales representing the age at which 50% of infants passed an item and compared the two datasets. Pearson correlation coefficient tested the association across samples.Results47 of the 58 AIMS items met the criterion for stable regression to calculate item locations of the Brazilian dataset. Based on the age when 50% of the infants passed a criterion, most of the items from the Brazilian sample (n = 28) differed by two weeks or less compared to the Canadian normative sample.ConclusionThe sequence and age for the emergence of AIMS items were similar between the Brazilian and Canadian samples. Canadian norms are appropriate for clinical decisions and research with Brazilian infants.     

The development and psychometric evaluation of the Clinicians' Attitudes towards Responding and Escalating care of Deteriorating patients scale

BackgroundValidated measures of ward nurses' safety cultures in relation to escalations of care in deteriorating patients are lacking.ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Clinicians' Attitudes towards Responding and Escalating care of Deteriorating patients (CARED) scale for use among ward nurses.MethodsThe study was conducted in two phases: scale development and psychometric evaluation. The scale items were developed based on a systematic literature review, informant interviews, and expert reviews (n = 15). The reliability and validity of the scale were examined by administering the scale to 617 registered nurses with retest evaluations (n = 60). The factor structure of the CARED scale was examined in a split-half analysis with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent validity, and known-group validity of the scale were also analysed.ResultsA high overall content validity index of 0.95 was obtained from the validations of 15 international experts from seven countries. A three-factor solution was identified from the final 22 items: ‘beliefs about rapid response system’, ‘fears about escalating care’, and ‘perceived confidence in responding to deteriorating patients’. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was supported with a good Cronbach's alpha value of 0.86 and a Spearman-Brown split-half coefficient of 0.87. An excellent test–retest reliability was demonstrated, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92. The convergent validity of the scale was supported with an existing validated scale. The CARED scale also demonstrated abilities to discriminate differences among the sample characteristics.ConclusionsThe final 22-item CARED scale was tested to be a reliable and valid scale in the Singaporean setting. The scale may be used in other settings to review hospitals' rapid response systems and to identify strategies to support ward nurses in the process of escalating care in deteriorating ward patients.     

Action research as a catalyst for change: Empowered nurses facilitating patient participation in rehabilitation

Based on action research as a practitioner‐involving approach, this article communicates the findings of a two‐year study on implementing patient participation as an empowering learning process for both patients and rehabilitation nurses. At a rehabilitation facility for patients who have sustained spinal cord injuries, eight nurses were engaged throughout the process aiming at improving patient participation. The current practice was explored to understand possibilities and obstacles to patient participation. Observations, interviews and logbooks, creative workshops and reflective meetings led to the development and testing of four new rehabilitation initiatives aimed at enhancing patient participation. This study suggests that skills of critical reflection from action research toolbox shed light on both the notion of patient participation and caring in nursing rehabilitation. By actively involving nurses in research, the knowledge development stems from practice and the solutions therefore became practice‐oriented. In addition, the personal and professional development experienced by the involved nurses points to a secondary gain in the form of an analytical and reflective approach to complex issues in relation to patient participation, rehabilitation in general and the individual nurses' sense of professional pride.