FETAL SCALP BLOOD SAMPLING

Fetal scalp blood sampling (FSBS), in conjunction with fetal heart rate monitoring, is a method of fetal surveillance that may avoid cesarean delivery of the healthy fetus or indicate the need for immediate delivery of a compromised fetus. Some researchers have recently begun to question the efficacy of FSBS. In this article, three nurse-midwives discuss FSBS as a tool in assessing fetal well-being during labor and consider whether FSBS is a nurse-midwifery procedure.     

Body mass index and age affect Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores in male subjects

This cross-sectional analysis evaluated the effect of age and body mass index (BMI) on Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores in males. Subjects (n = 60) were recruited according to BMI status. Each completed the 51-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. The group was split at the median age to produce a “younger” and “older” group for statistical analysis. A 2-way between-groups analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of BMI on disinhibition (P = .003) and hunger (P = .041) with higher levels found in overweight males compared to healthy-weight counterparts. A significant main effect of age on hunger (P = .046) demonstrated older males were less susceptible to hunger than younger males. These insights provide a better understanding of eating behavior across the male life cycle and may assist health professionals to better guide men in weight management in the light of rising overweight/obesity.     

Femoral shaft fractures in children

We report our experience with elastic stable intramedullary titanium nailing (ESIN) of femoral shaft fractures in children. From 1998 to 2001, we treated 31 children (20 boys), median age 6 (4-11) years, with ESIN for 29 closed and 2 grade I open femoral shaft fractures. We reviewed 30 children clinically after median 1.5 (1-3) years. Their median hospital stay was 6 (2-20) days. All fractures were radiographically united at a median of 7 (5-9) weeks. The nails were removed in 29 children after a median of 22 (6-38) weeks postoperatively. At follow-up, we found a leg-length discrepancy up to 1 cm in 6 children and 10 degrees of internal rotational deformity in 1 child. No angular deformity had occurred. Elastic stable intramedullary nailing seems to be a safe method for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children between 4 and 11 years of age.     

The effect of seated positioning quality on typical 6- and 7-year-old children's object manipulation skills.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of optimal seated positioning in individually fitted furniture versus suboptimal seated positioning in standard classroom furniture on typical 6- and 7-year-old children's object manipulation skills as measured by the In-hand Manipulation Test (IMT). METHOD: An experimental research design was used to compare IMT performance of two groups of 20 children. One group was positioned in standard, too-large classroom furniture that did not support an optimal seated position, and one group was positioned optimally in furniture fitted to each child for tabletop activities, which allowed for hip flexion to 90 degrees, and foot placement on the floor, and the table to be at flexed elbow height. RESULTS: Independent groups' t tests indicated that children who were optimally positioned performed significantly better (t = -2.77, df = 38, p < .01) than children who were tested in the too-large standard classroom furniture. The difference between groups was greater on the more difficult object manipulation items (t = -3.29, df = 38, p = .001) than on the easier items (t = -1.38, df = 38, p = .08). Age and gender may have differentially affected the results. CONCLUSION: The study's results suggest that the fit of furniture relative to the child's size may have a significant impact on a young, typical child's object manipulation skills. Complex hand skills, such as those involving in-hand manipulation with stabilization, appear to be more affected by the quality of the child's seated position than are simpler, more well-established skills. Findings suggest that test administrators should strive to test young children in the most optimal seated position possible, particularly when the test involves complex hand skills. Further study is needed to assess the impact of the fit of furniture on hand skills in children with disabilities and on children's performance of other tasks.     

Physician fury mounts in Ontario as MDs seethe over cuts, prepare to take on government

Obstetricians have been leading the fight against government fee clawbacks and income thresholds in Ontario, but the anger has quickly spread to other specialties. Ontario doctors probably haven't been this angry since their walkout in 1986, and Charlotte Gray warns that job actions, in the form of refusals to take new patients or work in hospitals, lie ahead. If health care funding restrictions continue in Ontario, warns Dr. Dick Johnston, “sooner or later, there'll be a disaster.”