Centerscope

Centerscope, formerly Scope, was published by the Boston University Medical Center "to communicate the concern of the Medical Center for the development and maintenance of improved health care in contemporary society.

Through the Eyes of Sailors and Citizens: How Sailors on the USS Constitution Viewed the Greek Revolution

Around noon on October 21, 1797, a crowd of men and women gathered at Hartt’s shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts to attend the launching of the USS Constitution. The Americans who witnessed the launching of the Constitution on that cold, overcast, autumn day must have marveled at the sight of the newly completed 44-gun frigate. Joshua Humphreys, a Philadelphian shipbuilder, designed the Constitution longer and thinner than the typical frigate of the time in order to facilitate the ship’s ability to sail with greater alacrity and precision through the ocean. Humphrey also ordered the ship’s hull to consist predominantly of live oak from Georgia, to help increase the Constitution’s durability. Crowds cheered with overpowering enthusiasm and pride as the ship slid into Boston Harbor. The launching of the USS Constitution was significant because it symbolized the United State’s potential as a world power

HbE β-Thalassaemia in Malaysia: revisited

HbE β – thalassaemia is a public health problem in Malaysia and the most common type of thalassaemia seen in the Malays. It shows considerable diverse phenotypes. Complete molecular analysis to identify primary/ secondary alleles of thalassaemia and gene modifiers are arbitrary predictors of possible outcome of disease. Early diagnosis is important. Patients need to be classified as minor, moderate (TI) and severe. Clinical diagnosis requires careful observations over a period of time with good record keeping of growth, sexual maturation and quality of life. Patients with haemoglobin (Hb) levels less than 7 gm/dl should be treated as transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia major to prevent complications that occur progressively with advancing age. Hb levels less than 7 gm/dl show patients are destined to be short, have splenomegaly and skeletal abnormalities. Pre transfusion mean Hb levels kept between 9-10 gm/dl by transfusion will suppress bone marrow activity and decrease iron absorption through gastrointestinal tract

Collaboration in Early Childhood Special Education: School, Staff, and Parents Becoming One Team

Our youngest learners in school settings are typically thought of as Kindergarteners. However, many students enter the school system as preschoolers through the process of Early Childhood screening where they are identified as having delays in two or more areas of development (communication, cognition, motor, adaptive, or social-emotional) and become preschoolers qualifying for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) (Minnesota Department of Education, 2018). In this setting, the parents are still with their child the majority of the day but the child also goes to school for one to ten hours a week, depending on the school district and the needs of the child. During this time Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) educators and parents work together to support the child. Collaboration can be difficult in the education setting. Many people are all working towards what they see best for the child, but these opinions can be different and cause tension. In the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) preschool setting, now more than ever, parents and school staff need to work collaboratively because an ECSE classroom may be the first exposure to school and the goal is to make a positive impact on/with the student and family. Staff need to be mindful of parents’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as the means of the family, to appropriately direct and guide at-home learning for these young children. When families and educators are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, greater effort into collaboration will need to be taken as these early years make an immense difference in a child\u27s education. This paper explored the benefits of and possibilities for collaboration between an ECSE setting and families. Based on current best practices in ECSE the author created, collected, and described artifacts to be used by staff and parents

Post-Diagnosis Changes In Dietary Patterns And Body Weight Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Background Weight gain is common after a breast cancer diagnosis and is known to be a risk factor for breast cancer recurrence and mortality independent of weight and BMI at diagnosis. Determining the factors associated with post-diagnosis weight gain will provide insight into improving weight management and ultimately improving breast cancer outcomes. Purpose This study examined dietary patterns of breast cancer survivors and whether weight gain after a diagnosis of breast cancer was associated with post-diagnosis dietary changes among breast cancer survivors. Methods The study sample consisted of 100 breast cancer survivors diagnosed an average of 3.3 ± 2.1 years prior to enrollment in the Lifestyle Exercise and Nutrition (LEAN) Study. Participants\u27 weight, height, and dietary patterns were self-reported at diagnosis and at enrollment into the LEAN study. Food frequency questionnaires were also completed at LEAN enrollment. Generalized linear models were performed to examine associations between changes in weight and dietary patterns, overall and stratified by BMI at diagnosis. Results Average weight change from diagnosis to LEAN enrollment was 2.3 ± 7.0 kg. A greater percent of women with a BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 gained weight than women with a BMI \u3e 25 kg/m2 (93% and 41%, respectively; p\u3c0.001). At LEAN enrollment, 47% and 63% of participants met the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommended fruit and vegetable intake, respectively. However, 55% of participants were surpassing the DGA recommended total caloric intake and 99% were surpassing the DGA recommended fat intake. After adjusting for age, ethnicity, race, education, cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment type, endocrine therapy, menopausal status, and time between diagnosis and LEAN enrollment, weight changes differed significantly (p\u3c0.05) among participants who changed total caloric intake, sugar intake, and fast food consumption. Significant weight change differences were seen between those who increased versus decreased their total caloric intake (5.1 ± 1.6 kg vs. -0.8 ± 1.7 kg), sugar intake (7.2 ± 2.1 kg vs. -1.0 ± 1.5 kg), and fast food consumption (11.4 ± 3.0 vs. 0.9 ± 1.3), all p\u3c0.05. Conclusions The results suggested that weight gain commonly seen in the first few years after a breast cancer diagnosis is, at least in part, associated with unfavorable post-diagnosis changes in diet composition. Dietary interventions aimed at decreasing unhealthy dietary patterns, such as high intake of total calories, fat, sugar, and fast food may be particularly effective in preventing weight gain among breast cancer survivors