Measuring the quality and quantity of professional intrapartum support: Testing a computerised systematic observation tool in the clinical setting

Background: Continuous support in labour has a significant impact on a range of clinical outcomes, though whether the quality and quantity of support behaviours affects the strength of this impact has not yet been established. To identify the quality and quantity of support, a reliable means of measurement is needed. To this end, a new computerised systematic observation tool, the ‘SMILI' (Supportive Midwifery in Labour Instrument) was developed. The aim of the study was to test the validity and usability of the ‘Supportive Midwifery in Labour Instrument' (SMILI) and to test the feasibility and acceptability of the systematic observation approach in the clinical intrapartum setting. Methods: Systematic observation was combined with a postnatal questionnaire and the collection of data about clinical processes and outcomes for each observed labour. The setting for the study was four National Health Service maternity units in Scotland, UK. Participants in this study were forty five midwives and forty four women. The SMILI was used by trained midwife observers to record labour care provided by midwives. Observations were undertaken for an average of two hours and seventeen minutes during the active first stage of labour and, in 18 cases, the observation included the second stage of labour. Content validity of the instrument was tested by the observers, noting the extent to which the SMILI facilitated the recording of all key aspects of labour care and interactions. Construct validity was tested through exploration of correlations between the data recorded and women's feelings about the support they received. Feasibility and usability data were recorded following each observation by the observer. Internal reliability and construct validity were tested through statistical analysis of the data. Results: One hundred and four hours of labour care were observed and recorded using the SMILI during forty nine labour episodes. Conclusion: The SMILI was found to be a valid and reliable instrument in the intrapartum setting in which it was tested. The study identified that the SMILI could be used to test correlations between the quantity and quality of support and outcomes. The systematic observational approach was found to be an acceptable and feasible method of enquiry

Bulletin of the Aquaculture Association of Canada 3 25 27

Dimethylacetamide (DMA) was compared with DMSO as a cryoprotectant for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spermatozoa on the basis of motility, percentage of dead spermatozoa, enzyme leakage and fertility of thawed spermatozoa. DMA performed better (P<0.05) than DMSO for all traits.

Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research 11 1 29 33

In two experiments with 57 rats, the maintenance energy requirement (MER) of adult rats with different degrees of body fatness was proportional to metabolic body size and the combined equation was MER (kJ/day) = 394.8 Wkg0.75. Results indicated that the gains in protein and fat were nonlinear, the rate of fat deposition increasing and of protein decreasing with increasing bodyweight.

Effect of seminal plasma protein on postthaw viability and fertility of Arctic char spermatozoa

abstract: Seminal plasma protein of Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus was. characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. Twelve protein bands with molecular weights of 7.2, 12.4, 15.3, 20.0, 20.4, 22.6, 39.4, 66.3, 74.0, 92.0, 94.5, and 130.1 kilodaltons (kDa) were detected. The effect of total seminal plasma protein and protein fractions of three categories (100 kDa) On postthaw sperm motility, viability, and fertility was tested. Incorporation of total seminal plasma protein, the fraction greater than 100 kDa, or the fraction less than 50 kDa into the semen extender (300 mmol of glucose/L of water, plus 10% methanol) had a deleterious effect on postthaw sperm motility, viability, and fertility in comparison with spermatozoa frozen in the semen extender only. However, adding the 50-100-kDa fraction of seminal plasma protein to the semen extender did not affect the postthaw sperm motility and fertility relative to spermatozoa frozen in the extender only. Further experiments are needed to test the effect of different concentrations of seminal plasma proteins alone or in a combination with other seminal plasma constituents on sperm physiology and viability during short-term storage and cryopreservation. Cited Reference: CR: BARRIOS B, 2000, BIOL REPROD, V63, P1531 BILGILI SF, 1984, POULTRY SCI, V63, P2275 BILODEAU JF, 2000, MOL REPROD DEV, V55, P282 BOLLAG DM, 1996, PROTEIN METHODS BRANDON CI, 1999, THERIOGENOLOGY, V52, P863 BROUWERS JF, 2005, THERIOGENOLOGY, V63, P458, DOI 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.09.046 CIERESZKO A, 1993, AQUACULTURE, V109, P367 CIERESZKO A, 2000, CRYOPRESERVATION AQU, P20 COSSON J, 1999, MALE GAMETE BASIC KN, P161 JOBIM MIM, 2004, THERIOGENOLOGY, V61, P255, DOI 10.1016/S0093-691X(03)00230-9 LAHNSTEINER F, 1993, REPROD NUTR DEV, V33, P349 LAHNSTEINER F, 1998, AQUACULTURE, V163, P163 LAHNSTEINER F, 2000, AQUAC RES, V31, P245 LAHNSTEINER F, 2004, THERIOGENOLOGY, V62, P801, DOI 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2003.12.001 LAHNSTEINER F, 2006, ANIMAL REPROD SCI, V97, P151 LOIR M, 1990, FISH PHYSIOL BIOCHEM, V8, P485 LOWRY OH, 1951, J BIOL CHEM, V193, P265 MANSOUR N, 2006, AQUAC RES, V37, P862, DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2006.01503.x MANSOUR N, 2006, THERIOGENOLOGY, V66, P373, DOI 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.12.002 MCNIVEN MA, 1992, THERIOGENOLOGY, V38, P679 MORISAWA M, 1980, SCIENCE, V210, P1145 ZAHN FS, 2005, ANIM REPROD SCI, V89, P31

Aquaculture Nutrition 12 5 363 371 Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.

The lipoprotein and lipid composition of the serum in postabsorptive haddock was characterized. A low level of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL; <50 mg/dl) was observed in serum. High density lipoprotein (HDL) was the predominant lipoprotein class followed by low density lipoproteins (LDL). Of the lipoprotein classes, the highest proportions of triacylglycerol (28%) and phospholipid (64%) were observed in the lipid of VLDL and HDL, respectively. Serum lipid (48%), phospholipid (50%) cholesterol ester (65%) and HDL (51%) contained a high level of polyunsaturated FA, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Serum triacylglycerol (38%) and VLDL (36%) contained a lower proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid. The phospholipid, triacylglycerol, cholesterol ester and cholesterol contents of the whole serum were 739, 214, 201 and 141 mg/dl, respectively. On the basis of total acyl carbon number, the 38C (36%) and 36C (24%) molecules were the predominant phospholipids. The 50C (11%), 52C (17%), 54C (21%), 56C (21%) and 58C (15%) molecules were the major triacylglycerols. High molecular weight apo B-like proteins were observed in the VLDL, LDL and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) fractions. An apo AI-like protein was predominant in the HDL fraction. The prevalence of enlarged fatty livers in cultured gadoid fish (i.e. haddock and cod) is a major constraint to their commercialization and has been associated with the level of dietary lipid. Information on lipid (triacylglycerol) transport out of the liver through the serum as lipoproteins (VLDL) has implications for our understanding of fatty liver development in cultured gadoid fish. The low level of VLDL triacylglycerol (<12 mg/dl) circulating in the serum of postabsorptive haddock suggests either a low level of lipid transport out of the liver as triacylglycerol or relatively rapid turn over of VLDL.

Aquaculture Research 37 9 862 868 Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.

The effects of extender composition and freezing rate on motility and fertility of frozen-thawed Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, spermatozoa were investigated. Three freezing rates, two semen diluents and three cryoprotectants were tested. Semen frozen in 0.3 mol L-1 glucose diluent with 10% methanol as a cryoprotectant or in a diluent described by Lahnsteiner with 10% N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) resulted in the highest sperm motility. Fertility was the highest for semen frozen in a glucose-methanol extender but was not significantly different than that for semen frozen in Lahnsteiner's diluent with 10% DMA. Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) at 10% was a relatively ineffective cryoprotectant with either semen diluent. Semen frozen at 6 cm above the surface of liquid nitrogen resulted in a higher post-thaw sperm motility and fertility than semen frozen at 5 cm. The addition of 7% fresh egg yolk to glucose diluent containing methanol or DMSO did not improve the fertility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. However, the addition of 7% fresh egg yolk to glucose-DMA extender significantly improved the fertilization percentages of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. In conclusion, dilution of semen 1:3 in 0.3 mol L-1 glucose with 10% methanol and freezing 6 cm above the surface of liquid nitrogen (freezing rate of 40+or-8 degrees C min-1, mean+or-SD from -5 to -55 degrees C) is a promising protocol for cryopreservation of Arctic char semen.

Aquaculture 188 1/2 47 63

The influence of food deprivation on the rate of oxygen consumption and the rate of mobilization/utilization of energy reserves in F2 generation growth-enhanced transgenic Atlantic salmon were compared relative to their non-transgenic counterparts, over a pre-smolt weight interval of 8 to 55 g. Throughout most of the 8 weeks of food deprivation, transgenic fish exhibited a greater rate of oxygen consumption compared to control salmon, but also exhibited a more rapid decline in oxygen consumption as starvation progressed. Consequently, depending on initial weight and length of food deprivation, the rate of oxygen consumption of transgenic fish declined to where it equalled or was less than the oxygen consumption of control fish. Transgenic fish depleted body protein, dry matter, lipid and energy at a faster rate than did the controls. Additionally, in both groups, lipid was catabolized faster than was protein. Although transgenic fish demonstrated the ability to reduce their metabolic rate during starvation, as also observed in the non-genetically modified control salmon, their persistence in maintaining a higher metabolic rate, combined with their lower initial endogenous energy reserves, suggests that the likelihood of growth-enhanced transgenic salmon achieving maximum growth or even surviving outside intensive culture conditions may be lower than that of non-transgenic salmon.

Aquaculture 188 1/2 33 45

In 1996 at AquaBounty Farms (Prince Edward Island, Canada) the rates of routine oxygen consumption of 660 growth-enhanced transgenic Atlantic salmon (carrying a chinook salmon growth hormone gene driven by an ocean pout antifreeze gene promoter) were compared with that of 660 non-transgenic salmon, over a pre-smolt body interval of 8-55 g to determine whether or not the transgenic salmon had a greater metabolic rate. Routine oxygen consumption rates (mg O2/h), inclusive of the heat increment associated with feeding, were 1.54- to 1.70-fold higher for transgenic fish compared to the controls. Integrated over time from first feeding to smolt size, the transgenic salmon actually consumed 42% less total oxygen than the non-genetically modified controls to reach smolt size. In a post-absorptive state (24 h starvation), corresponding oxygen consumption rates of transgenic fish were 1.58- to 2.30-fold greater than that of regular salmon. The added cost to smolt producers for the short-term delivery of more water or oxygen to support the elevated metabolism of such growth-enhanced fish would appear to be justified in light of the benefits in reducing smolt production time.

Aquaculture Research 32 Supplement 1 225 234 Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science.

The effects of dietary lipid levels on growth, feed utilization, hepatosomatic index (HSI), liver lipid deposition and tissue fatty acid composition in haddock were investigated. Triplicate tanks of juvenile haddock (6.9 g) were fed graded levels of herring oil to supply 14, 16, 19 and 22% lipid (DM, dry matter) in fish meal-based, isonitrogenous diets. Growth and feed conversion ratio of juvenile haddock was not significantly (P<0.05) affected by increasing the lipid content of the diet. A significant increase in HSI (9.8-12.1%), total liver lipid (63.2-69.0%) and whole body gross energy content (6.03-6.39 kcal/g DM) were observed in haddock fed 14 vs. 22% lipid. Although the HSI of these cultured haddock was high in comparison to wild gadoids, histological analyses of these haddock livers did not reveal any overt pathology. Muscle lipid levels (1.0%) did not increase significantly with dietary lipid. Liver fatty acid levels mirrored dietary fatty acid (FA) composition. The muscle consisted mainly of polar lipid (84.3+or-2.5% of total lipid) and a large proportion (52.6+or-0.8%) of polyunsaturated FA. A dietary lipid level of 14% DM or less is recommended for juvenile haddock.