Knowledge, Beliefs, and Decisions of Pregnant Australian Women Concerning Donation and Storage of Umbilical Cord Blood: A Population‐Based Survey

postprintBackground: Many women giving birth in Australian hospitals can choose to donate their child’s umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood bank or pay to store it privately. We conducted a survey to determine the proportion and characteristics of pregnant women who are aware of umbilical cord blood (UCB) banking and who have considered and decided about this option. The survey also sought to ascertain information sources, knowledge and beliefs about UCB banking, and the effect of basic information about UCB on decisions. Methods: Researchers and/or hospital maternity staff distributed a survey with basic information about UCB banking to 1,873 women of at least 24 weeks gestation who were attending antenatal classes and hospital clinics in 14 Public and private maternity hospitals in New South Wales. Results: Most respondents (70.7%) were aware of UCB banking. Their main information sources were leaflets from hospital clinics, print media, antenatal classes, TV, radio, friends and relatives. Knowledge about UCB banking was patchy, and respondents overestimated the likelihood their child would need or benefit from UCB. Women who were undecided about UCB banking were younger, less educated or from ethnic or rural backgrounds. After providing basic information about UCB banking, the proportion of respondents who indicated they had decided whether or not to donate or store UCB more than doubled from 30.0% to 67.7%. Conclusions: Basic information for parents about UCB banking can affect planned decisions about UCB banking. Information should be accurate and balanced, should counter misconceptions, and should target specific groups. Keywords: Antenatal care; Health information; Blood banks; New South Wales, AustraliaNational Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Grant Number: 51241

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Decisions of Pregnant Australian Women Concerning Donation and Storage of Umbilical Cord Blood: A Population‐Based Survey

Background: Many women giving birth in Australian hospitals can choose to donate their child’s umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood bank or pay to store it privately. We conducted a survey to determine the proportion and characteristics of pregnant women who are aware of umbilical cord blood (UCB) banking and who have considered and decided about this option. The survey also sought to ascertain information sources, knowledge and beliefs about UCB banking, and the effect of basic information about UCB on decisions. Methods: Researchers and/or hospital maternity staff distributed a survey with basic information about UCB banking to 1,873 women of at least 24 weeks gestation who were attending antenatal classes and hospital clinics in 14 Public and private maternity hospitals in New South Wales. Results: Most respondents (70.7%) were aware of UCB banking. Their main information sources were leaflets from hospital clinics, print media, antenatal classes, TV, radio, friends and relatives. Knowledge about UCB banking was patchy, and respondents overestimated the likelihood their child would need or benefit from UCB. Women who were undecided about UCB banking were younger, less educated or from ethnic or rural backgrounds. After providing basic information about UCB banking, the proportion of respondents who indicated they had decided whether or not to donate or store UCB more than doubled from 30.0% to 67.7%. Conclusions: Basic information for parents about UCB banking can affect planned decisions about UCB banking. Information should be accurate and balanced, should counter misconceptions, and should target specific groups. Keywords: Antenatal care; Health information; Blood banks; New South Wales, AustraliaNational Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Grant Number: 51241

Solving the stellar 62Ni problem with AMS

An accurate knowledge of the neutron capture cross sections of 62,63Ni is crucial since both isotopes take key positions which affect the whole reaction flow in the weak s process up to A=90. No experimental value for the 63Ni(n,gamma) cross section exists so far, and until recently the experimental values for 62Ni(n,gamma) at stellar temperatures (kT=30 keV) ranged between 12 and 37 mb. This latter discrepancy could now be solved by two activations with following AMS using the GAMS setup at the Munich tandem accelerator which are also in perfect agreement with a recent time-of-flight measurement. The resulting (preliminary) Maxwellian cross section at kT=30 keV was determined to be 30keV = 23.4 +/- 4.6 mb. Additionally, we have measured the 64Ni(gamma,n)63Ni cross section close to threshold. Photoactivations at 13.5 MeV, 11.4 MeV and 10.3 MeV were carried out with the ELBE accelerator at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. A first AMS measurement of the sample activated at 13.5 MeV revealed a cross section smaller by more than a factor of 2 compared to NON-SMOKER predictions.Comment: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry in Rome, Sept. 14-19, 2008; to be published in Nucl. Instr. Meth.

Analgesic Effects of GpTx-1, PF-04856264 and CNV1014802 in a Mouse Model of NaV1.7-Mediated Pain

Loss-of-function mutations of NaV1.7 lead to congenital insensitivity to pain, a rare condition resulting in individuals who are otherwise normal except for the inability to sense pain, making pharmacological inhibition of NaV1.7 a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pain. We characterized a novel mouse model of NaV1.7-mediated pain based on intraplantar injection of the scorpion toxin OD1, which is suitable for rapid in vivo profiling of NaV1.7 inhibitors. Intraplantar injection of OD1 caused spontaneous pain behaviors, which were reversed by co-injection with NaV1.7 inhibitors and significantly reduced in NaV1.7−/− mice. To validate the use of the model for profiling NaV1.7 inhibitors, we determined the NaV selectivity and tested the efficacy of the reported NaV1.7 inhibitors GpTx-1, PF-04856264 and CNV1014802 (raxatrigine). GpTx-1 selectively inhibited NaV1.7 and was effective when co-administered with OD1, but lacked efficacy when delivered systemically. PF-04856264 state-dependently and selectively inhibited NaV1.7 and significantly reduced OD1-induced spontaneous pain when delivered locally and systemically. CNV1014802 state-dependently, but non-selectively, inhibited NaV channels and was only effective in the OD1 model when delivered systemically. Our novel model of NaV1.7-mediated pain based on intraplantar injection of OD1 is thus suitable for the rapid in vivo characterization of the analgesic efficacy of NaV1.7 inhibitors

Recurrence rate of sphenoid wing meningiomas and role of peritumoural brain edema: a single center retrospective study

Objective: To evaluate the recurrence rate of the operatively treated sphenoid wing meningiomas (SWMs) in relation to other factors and role of PTBE in recurrence as a prognostic factors in a series of 67 patients. Materials and methods: The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pathology data for 67 patients with SWM, who underwent surgery at Uzhhorod Regional Neurosurgical Center between 2007 and 2021 were examined. The recurrence rate and role of PTBE in recurrence in relation to: gender, age, extend of resection, histopathology, tumor volume, location and time of recurrence were evaluated. Follow-up period ranged from 6 to 168 months (median, 87 months) after surgical resection. Results: In our study, the mean age of patients is 47 years, ranged (20-74), at the average (53.5). Male 16 (23.9%), female 51 (76.1%). Mean tumor volume was (32.8cm3), ranged 4.2cm3-143.7cm3. Edema Index (EI) 1; 27 (40.3%) absent edema, and (EI) >1; in 40 (59.7%) present edema. Recurrence rate was 11 (16.4%) patients, 8 (20.0%) patients with PTBE, as compared to 3 (11.1%) patients without PTBE, (p=0,50). Female (8 patients, 15.7%), male (3 patients, 18.7%). The mean age of recurrence was 50.9 years, ranged (21-75), at the average 52.0 years. The mean age in female was 50.8 years, in male 51.0. Bivariate analysis of simultaneous effect of gender and age on SWM recurrence with logistic regression yield both main effect and interaction effect (β gender=M=7.56±6.44, P=0.24; β age=-0.034±0.031, p=0.28; β interaction term=-0.13±0.12, p=0.26). Out of 11 recurrence cases, (2 cases, 9.5%) with small tumour volume, (5 cases, 15.6%) with medium, (3 cases, 33.3%) with large, and (one case, 20.0%) with giant tumour volume. The effect of tumour volume on recurrence rate is insignificant, χ2=2.42, p=0.49.Location of SWM; the recurrence was in (6 cases, 25.0%) of CM location, (2 cases, 25.0%) of SOM and (3 cases, 11.5%) in lateral SWM, (p=0.19). Pathological grade, in the low grade (Gr.I) 7 recurrence cases (13.0%), as compared to 4cases (44.4%) in atypical Gr II, (p=0.01). Simpson grade, the recurrence rate was; 0% in Gr. I; 13.9% in Gr. II; 20.0% in Gr.III; and 33.3% in Gr. IV and 3 cases had died in the early post op (p<0.05). Conclusion: The factors which had a strong impact on the recurrence rate in our study,; i) pathological grade (Gr. II, atypical type) p=0.01 and ii) Simpson grade (extend of tumor resection, p<0.05), while, PTBE (P=0.50), tumor volume (χ2=2.42, p=0.49) and location (χ2=3.37, p=0.19), are weak and non strong factors for recurrence. However, time of recurrence is shorter in patients with PTBE (W=20.5, p=0.092). WHO Gr. II (Spearman’s p=-0.86, p=0.00063) and negligible for Simpson grade (Spearman’s=-0.15, p=0.66)

Tranexamic acid attenuates inflammatory response in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery through blockade of fibrinolysis: a case control study followed by a randomized double-blind controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal circulation induces hemostatic alterations that lead to inflammatory response (IR) and postoperative bleeding. Tranexamic acid (TA) reduces fibrinolysis and blood loss after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, its effects on IR and vasoplegic shock (VS) are not well known and elucidating these effects was the main objective of this study. METHODS: A case control study was carried out to determine factors associated with IR after CPB. Patients undergoing elective CPB surgery were randomly assigned to receive 2 g of TA or placebo (0.9% saline) before and after intervention. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis, comparing the incidence of IR and VS. We also analyzed several biological parameters related to inflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis systems. We used SPSS version 12.2 for statistical purposes. RESULTS: In the case control study, 165 patients were studied, 20.6% fulfilled IR criteria, and the use of TA proved to be an independent protective variable (odds ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.81; P < 0.01). The clinical trial was interrupted. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive TA (24) or placebo (26). Incidence of IR was 17% in the TA group versus 42% in the placebo group (P = 0.047). In the TA group, we observed a significant reduction in the incidence of VS (P = 0.003), the use of norepinephrine (P = 0.029), and time on mechanical ventilation (P = 0.018). These patients showed significantly lower D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and creatine-kinase levels and a trend toward lower levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor and interleukin-6 within the first 24 hours after CPB. CONCLUSION: The use of TA attenuates the development of IR and VS after CPB. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN05718824

THE ELDERLY PERCEPTION ABOUT HIS/HER HEALTH STATUS AND FAMILY SUPPORT

This paper is part of results of the research “A profile of the elderly as a user of public health services in the county of Florianópolis - SC, Brazil”. It aims at contributing with a diagnosis, giving support to plannig, assessment, revision of policies and specific health care to the aged. The findings demonstrate that: older women look for health care more than men; women are more often found as caregivers to the elderly in regards to daily activities or in case of illness. Finally, this research also concludes, that, the support to the elderly is still restricted to the family members.O trabalho constitui parte dos resultados da pesquisa “Perfil do Idoso no Município de Florianópolis, Usuário dos Serviços Públicos de Saúde”. Tem como objetivos: (1) descrever algumas características e condições de vida dos idosos, e (2) explanar as percepções dos idosos quanto ao seu estado de saúde e apoio familiar. Os achados evidenciaram: que as mulheres idosas procuram mais do que os idosos os postos de saúde; entre os familiares indicados pelos idosos como apoio, as mulheres aparecem em primeiro lugar, tanto como cuidadoras para as atividades de vida diária quanto cuidadoras por ocasião da doença dos idosos; e finalmente, que o apoio ao idoso tem se restringido essencialmente à esfera familiar