Weight management across pregnancy and postpartum care: The need for interprofessional education and collaboration

The journey from pregnancy to caring for a new infant is a significant experience for many women and crucial period for obesity prevention. During this time, a large portion of care is allocated to midwives and maternal and child health nurses (MCHN). These professions have the potential to play a crucial role in supporting women with weight management across pregnancy and postpartum; however, both midwives and MCHNs report barriers to doing this. Upskilling achieved through midwifery and MCHN education that equips midwives and MCHNs with the skills and knowledge to provide evidence-based advice for weight management could assist in addressing some of these barriers. Interprofessional collaboration should be fostered so healthy lifestyle messages and support are reinforced consistently by midwives and MCHNs throughout pregnancy and postpartum

Genomic investigations of unexplained acute hepatitis in children

Since its first identification in Scotland, over 1,000 cases of unexplained paediatric hepatitis in children have been reported worldwide, including 278 cases in the UK1. Here we report an investigation of 38 cases, 66 age-matched immunocompetent controls and 21 immunocompromised comparator participants, using a combination of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and immunohistochemical methods. We detected high levels of adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) DNA in the liver, blood, plasma or stool from 27 of 28 cases. We found low levels of adenovirus (HAdV) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) in 23 of 31 and 16 of 23, respectively, of the cases tested. By contrast, AAV2 was infrequently detected and at low titre in the blood or the liver from control children with HAdV, even when profoundly immunosuppressed. AAV2, HAdV and HHV-6 phylogeny excluded the emergence of novel strains in cases. Histological analyses of explanted livers showed enrichment for T cells and B lineage cells. Proteomic comparison of liver tissue from cases and healthy controls identified increased expression of HLA class 2, immunoglobulin variable regions and complement proteins. HAdV and AAV2 proteins were not detected in the livers. Instead, we identified AAV2 DNA complexes reflecting both HAdV-mediated and HHV-6B-mediated replication. We hypothesize that high levels of abnormal AAV2 replication products aided by HAdV and, in severe cases, HHV-6B may have triggered immune-mediated hepatic disease in genetically and immunologically predisposed children

Maternal and perinatal outcomes amongst low risk women giving birth in water compared to six birth positions on land : a descriptive cross sectional study in a birth centre over 12 years

Background: the option of giving birth in water is available to most women in birth centres in Australia but there continues to be resistance in mainstream delivery wards due to safety concerns. Women in birth centres are more likely to give birth in upright positions and be attended by experienced midwives and obstetricians who are comfortable facilitating normal birth. The aim of this study was to determine rates of perineal trauma, postpartum haemorrhage and five-minute Apgar scores amongst low risk women in a birth centre who gave birth in water compared to six birth positions on land. Methods: this was a descriptive cross sectional study of births occurring in a large alongside Sydney birth centre from January 1996 to April 2008. Handwritten records were kept by midwives on each birth in the birth centre over twelve and a half years (n=6,144). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied controlling for risk factors for perineal trauma, postpartum haemorrhage and the five-minute Apgar score. Findings: waterbirth (13%) and six main birth positions on land were identified: kneeling/all fours (48%), semi-recumbent (12%), lateral (5%), standing (8%), birth stool (10%) and squatting (3%). Compared to waterbirth, birth on a birth stool led to a higher rate of major perineal trauma (second, third, fourth degree tear and episiotomy) (OR 1.40 [1.12-1.75]) and postpartum haemorrhage (OR 2.04 [1.44-2.90]). Compared to waterbirth, babies born in a semi-recumbent position had a significantly greater incidence of five-minute Apgar scores <7 (OR 4.61 [1.29-16.52]). Conclusions: waterbirth does not lead to more infants born with Apgar score <7 at 5. mins when compared to other birth positions. Waterbirth provides advantages over the birth stool for maternal outcomes of major perineal trauma and postpartum haemorrhage

Neonatal nurses' perspectives of family-centred care : a qualitative study

Aims and objectives. The aim of this study is to explore neonatal nurses’ perspectives of their role in facilitating family centred care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Background. The philosophy of family centred care focuses on the health and wellbeing of the newborn and their family, through the development of a respectful partnership between the health care professional and the infant’s parents. Many studies report family centred care in the context of paediatric care; however, few studies explore neonatal nurses’ perspective of family centred care in the context of neonatal care. Design. Qualitative interpretative approach. Methods. Four focus groups and five individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with neonatal intensive care nurses (total n = 33) currently practicing in a tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Australia. Each focus group and face to face interview was audio-taped and transcribed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results. Four dominant themes emerged from the data: (1) Getting to know parents and their wishes (2) Involving family in the day to day care (3) Finding a ‘happy’ medium (4) Transitioning support across the continuum. Conclusion. These findings revealed a general understanding of family centred care principles. Nurses reported the potential benefits and challenges of adopting a family centred care approach to deliver optimal care for neonates and their families. The study highlighted that nurses need ongoing organisation support, guidance and further education to assist them in delivering family centred care effectively. Relevance to clinical practice. Family centred care is a central tenet underpinning neonatal care. Understanding neonatal nurses’ perspectives will be useful when developing strategies to strengthen family centred care in the neonatal intensive care unit, and potentially improve neonatal care and family outcomes

Clinical and epidemiological data of COVID-19 from Regensburg, Germany: a retrospective analysis of 1084 consecutive cases

Background COVID-19 is a syndrome caused by the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2. We collected clinical and epidemiologic data in an almost complete cohort of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals from Regensburg, Germany, from March 2020 to May 2020. Methods Analysis of a retrospectively documented cohort of consecutive COVID-19 cases recorded between March 7, 2020 and May 24, 2020 as part of an infection control investigation program, with prospective follow-up interviews gathering information on type and duration of symptoms and COVID-19 risk factors until June 26, 2020. Results Of 1089 total cases, 1084 (99.5%) cases were included. The incidence during the time period was 315.4/100,000, lower than in the superordinate government district Oberpfalz (468.5/100,000) and the overall state of Bavaria (359.7/100,000). The case fatality ratio (CFR) was 2.1%. Among fatal cases, the mean age was 74.4 years and 87% presented with known risk factors, most commonly chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. 897 cases (82.7%) showed at least one symptom, most frequently cough (45%) and fever (41%). Further, 18% of cases suffered from odour/taste disorder. 17% of total cases reported no symptoms. The median duration of general illness was 10 days. During follow-up, 8.9% of 419 interviewed cases reported at least one symptom lasting at least 6 weeks, and fatigue was the most frequent persistent symptom. Discussion We report data on type and duration of symptoms, and clinical severity of nearly all (99.5%) patients with SARS-CoV-2 recorded from March 2020 to May 2020 in Regensburg. A broad range of symptoms and symptom duration was seen, some of them lasting several weeks in a considerable number of cases. The case-fatality ratio was 2.1%. Asymptomatic cases may be underrepresented due to the nature of the study

Association of epidemiological and clinical features with PCR cycle threshold values of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional study

The cycle threshold (Ct) in quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is inversely correlated to the amount of viral nucleic acid or viral load and can be regarded as an indicator of infectivity. We examined the association of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive cases with PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values at the time of diagnosis. SARS-CoV-2 cases reported between 12 October 2020 and 24 January 2021 in Regensburg were analyzed employing bivariate and multivariable methods. We included 3,029 SARS-CoV-2 cases (31% asymptomatic at diagnosis) and analyzed the association of case characteristics with Ct values in 2,606 cases. Among symptomatic patients, cough (38.0%), rhinitis (32.4%), headache (32.0), and fever/chills (29.9%) were the most frequent complaints. Ct values ≤20 were more frequent in symptomatic cases (20.9% vs. 11.3%), whereas Ct values >30 were more common in asymptomatic cases (32.6% vs. 18.0%). Ct values >20 and ≤30 were most common in symptomatic and asymptomatic cases (48.0% vs 40.7%). We observed lower median Ct values of E and N gene in symptomatic cases. In a random forest model, the total number of symptoms, respiratory symptoms, and age were most strongly associated with low Ct values. In conclusion, certain symptoms and age were associated with lower Ct values. Ct values can be used as a pragmatic approach in estimating infectivity at the first notification of a case and, thus, in guiding containment measures.</p

Incidence and risk factors for suicide, death due to substance use, and violent/accidental death in persons living with HIV

OBJECTIVE: Deaths due to suicide, substance use and violence/accidental may reflect similar risk factors and be overlapping in their classification. This study aimed to investigate incidence and risk factors of mortality among people with HIV (PWH) due to these three related causes. DESIGN: Prospectively collected data from PWH ≥18 years old and under active follow-up in the EuroSIDA study from 2007 to 2019 were analysed. METHODS: Cause-specific Cox regression analysis was used to assess risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 17 881 participants were included, comprising 149 327 person-years of follow-up (PYFU). Forty participants died by suicide (IR [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.3/1000 PYFU [0.2, 0.4]), 93 from substance use (IR [95% CI]: 0.6/1000 PYFU [0.5, 0.8]), and 57 by violence/accident (IR [95% CI]: 0.4/1000 PYFU [0.3, 0.5]). An AIDS diagnosis within the last 12 months was associated with nine-fold increased risk of suicide vs. no history of AIDS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 9.06; 95% CI: 2.07, 39.7). Male gender was associated with double the risk of violent/accidental death (aHR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.09, 4.78). PWH in Eastern Europe and those who acquired HIV by injection drug use (IDU) demonstrated a greater risk of death due to substance use or violence/accident. CONCLUSIONS: The association between a recent diagnosis of AIDS and suicide highlights a critical period for intervention. HIV infection acquired through IDU demonstrated an expected relationship with death due to substance use and violent/accidental deaths. Increased risk of death due to substance use and violence/accident in Eastern Europe demands investigation into specific differences that may drive that association

‘It's those first few weeks’: Women's views about breastfeeding support in an Australian outer metropolitan region

To examine factors that influence the establishment and continuation of breastfeeding among women living in a southern region of Victoria

Maternal overweight and obesity: a survey of clinicians' characteristics and attitudes, and their responses to their pregnant clients

Background: Statewide (Queensland) Clinical Guidelines reflecting current best practice have recently become available for the management of pregnancy-related obesity. Our aim was to assess staff knowledge about, adherence to, and characteristics that influence delivery of care according to these Guidelines