Valenzuelaolsen2013

Serial third trimester ultrasound examinations for fetal biometry are recommended for women with risk factors of fetal growth restriction (FGR). We conducted a retrospective cohort study on all singleton births in Victoria from 2009 to 2017 to assess how many women with major risk factors for FGR had serial third trimester biometry. Only 19.5% of women with at least one major risk factor for FGR had evidence of serial third trimester ultrasound assessments. The development and implementation of a state-wide or nationwide guideline for early pregnancy risk factor assessment in FGR may be beneficial. © 2020 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.PURPOSE Portion control can be an effective weight-loss strategy for people with serious mental illnesses (SMI). This study aimed to examine the feasibility of portion-control intervention (PCI) for people with SMI. DESIGN AND METHODS A randomized experimental design was used. The PCI group received weekly, telephone-delivered behavioral counseling over 12 weeks. Newsletter group received monthly newsletters regarding healthy eating. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data collected at baseline and at 12 weeks. FINDINGS The acceptability of the PCI and significant decreases in waist circumference among the participants of the PCI group were reported. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Simple and structured guidelines to manage portion size, akin to those featured in our PCI, can benefit those with SMI. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.PREMISE Abscission zones (AZ) are specialized cell layers that separate plant parts at the organ junction upon developmental or environmental signals. Fruit or seed abscission has been well studied in model species because of its crucial role for seed dispersal. Previous work showed that AZ localization differs among species of Poaceae and that AZ formation is histologically and genetically distinct in three distantly related grass species, refuting the idea of a broadly conserved module. However, whether AZ structure is consistent within subfamilies is unknown. METHODS Eleven species were selected from six subfamilies of Poaceae, and their AZ was investigated using paraffin-embedded, stained material. Observations were added from the literature for an additional six species. Data were recorded on AZ location and whether cells in the AZ were distinguishable by size or lignification. Characteristics of the AZ were mapped on the phylogeny using maximum likelihood. RESULTS Abscission zone anatomy and histology vary among species, and characteristics of the AZ do not correlate with phylogeny. Twelve of the seventeen studied species have an AZ in which the cells are significantly smaller than surrounding cells. Of these, eight have differential lignification. check details Differential lignification is often associated with differential cell size, but not vice versa. CONCLUSIONS Neither smaller cells in the AZ nor differential lignification between the AZ and surrounding cells is required for abscission, although differential cell size and lignification are often correlated. Abscission zone anatomy does not correlate with phylogeny, suggesting its rapid change over evolutionary time. © 2020 The Authors. American Journal of Botany published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Botanical Society of America.In order to combine high-quality research with minimal harm to animals, a prospective severity assessment for animal experiments is legally required in many countries. In addition, an assessment of the evidence-based severity level might allow realistic harm-benefit analysis and the appraisal of refinement methods. However, only a few examples describe the distress of animals by simple, cost-efficient, and noninvasive methods. We, therefore, evaluated the severity of an orthotopic mouse model for pancreatic cancer using C57BL/6J mice when pursuing two different chemotherapies. We assessed fecal corticosterone metabolites, body weight, distress score, and burrowing, as well as nesting activity. Moreover, we established a multifactorial model using multivariate logistic regression to describe animal distress. This multifactorial analysis revealed that metformin + galloflavin treatment caused higher distress than metformin + α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate therapy. Similar results were obtained by using the best cutoff calculated by Youden's J index when using only single parameters, such as burrowing activity or fecal corticosterone metabolite concentration. Thus, the present study revealed that single readout parameters, as well as multivariate analysis, can help to assess the severity of animal experiments and detect side effects of therapies. © 2020 The Authors. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of New York Academy of Sciences.BACKGROUND Seasonal influenza and pertussis cause significant morbidity and mortality among expectant mothers and infants. Vaccination during the antenatal period is an important public health intervention, minimising rates of maternal, neonatal and infant infection. AIMS The primary aim of this project was to establish the rates of antenatal vaccine uptake. Secondly, the study aimed to determine socio-demographic factors significant to vaccine uptake. Thirdly, the project aimed to produce a thematic analysis of the factors affecting vaccination uptake during pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among women attending a large maternity hospital, in the western suburbs of Melbourne, for perinatal care. Data were collected via self-completed questionnaires after delivery. Data from the questionnaires were entered into an electronic database, and STATA was used to undertake correlation analysis. RESULTS Over a 12-month period 1678 women completed questionnaires and 1305 were eligible for further analysis. The uptake of influenza vaccine was 48.3%, pertussis vaccine uptake was higher, at 82.9%. Uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccines strongly correlated with recommendations from healthcare providers (odds ratios 29.7 and 63.8 respectively). Maternal country of birth, age and parity were significant predictors of vaccine uptake. In thematic analysis, healthcare provider recommendation and the perceived risk of the disease were factors resulting in vaccination. CONCLUSION This study determined the rate of antenatal vaccine uptake and significant socio-demographic determinants affecting uptake at a large maternity hospital in metropolitan Melbourne. Ensuring healthcare providers recommend vaccination is likely to improve coverage. © 2020 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.