The Impact of a Healthy Weight Intervention Embedded in a Home-Visiting Program on Children's Weight and Mothers’ Feeding Practices

Objective

To examine whether a healthy weight intervention embedded in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting program, which was previously found to improve mothers’ body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related behaviors, changed the BMI of preschool children or maternal feeding practices.

The expression of emotion through nonverbal behavior in medical visits

Relationship-centered care reflects both knowing and feeling: the knowledge that physician and patient bring from their respective domains of expertise, and the physician’s and patient’s experience, expression, and perception of emotions during the medical encounter. These processes are conveyed and reciprocated in the care process through verbal and nonverbal communication. We suggest that the emotional context of care is especially related to nonverbal communication and that emotion-related communication skills, including sending and receiving nonverbal messages and emotional self-awareness, are critical elements of high-quality care. Although nonverbal behavior has received far less study than other care processes, the current review argues that it holds significance for the therapeutic relationship and influences important outcomes including satisfaction, adherence, and clinical outcomes of care.     

Solvent effects on free-radical polymerization, 1. Solvent effect on initiation of methyl methacrylate and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone

Initiation constant 2k_d · f, dissociation constant k_d, and efficiency factor f of AIBN were measured at 60°C for two model homopolymerization systems: methyl methacrylate (MMA) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) in methyl isobutyrate (MiB) as the solvent. The stable Banfield radical was used as inhibitor. A pronounced solvent effect was observed on the side reaction of the inhibitor with the monomers. Particular solvent sensitivity of monomers in this reaction was identified, whereby opposite solvent properties of NMP and MiB as well as of MMA and NVP were found. The initiation constant 2 k_d · f depends mainly on the dissociation constant of the initiator k_d in regard to its solvent dependence. The efficiency factor f is influenced by monomer concentration, stability (reactivity) of primary radicals and by viscosity of the reaction medium (solvent cage effect).     

Bleeding complications precipitated by unrecognized Gingko biloba use after liver transplantation

Because of its neurocognitive enhancing effects, Gingko biloba has emerged as amongst the most commonly used herbal products. We report a liver transplant recipient with potentially life-threatening toxicity resulting from Gingko biloba use. Seven days after a second liver transplantation for recurrent hepatitisB virus infection, subphrenic hematoma was documented in a 59-year-old Korean patient. Failure to control bleeding with CT-guided drainage necessitated exploratory laparotomy for the evacuation of a large subphrenic hematoma. Three weeks later, an episode of vitreous hemorrhage was documented. Unbeknownst to his care providers, the patient had been consuming Gingko biloba throughout the postoperative period. No further bleeding episodes occurred after the cessation of Gingko biloba use. Unrecognized use of herbal products may be associated with serious side effects and adverse clinical sequelae in transplant recipients. Given their increasing popularity, the use of herbal products should be routinely sought as part of the history in transplant recipients.     

Hypertension management in patients with vascular disease.

Hypertension (HTN), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, is a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, all too often, HTN is not well controlled in patients with vascular disease. Studies have demonstrated that patients whose blood pressure is controlled achieve at least a 50% reduction in cardiovascular events compared with similar patients whose blood pressure is not controlled. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recently prepared and distributed new guidelines for the management of HTN. This article will highlight the new recommendations for HTN management and how they can be applied to the patient with vascular disease.     

Medical management of Crohn's disease: A guide for radiologists

The choice of therapies for Crohn's disease has expanded greatly over the past 30 years. Increasingly it is important that we attempt to identify subgroups of patients who will benefit most from each type of therapy. This article reviews the therapeutic options currently available, organized by the goal the practitioner hopes to achieve. Imaging is one critical way of aiding the classification of Crohn's disease by attempting to accurately determine the location, extent and, most importantly, the nature of the disease.