Small for gestational age and anthropometric body composition from early childhood to adulthood: the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study

BackgroundIn Australia the estimated rate of small for gestational age (SGA) births is 9% among non-Indigenous births compared to 14% among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. There is limited research investigating the effect of being born SGA on body composition later in life in Indigenous Australians.MethodsUsing data from the Aboriginal Birth Cohort longitudinal study, we compared the body composition of those born SGA to non-SGA by analysing anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist circumference, fat percentage [FAT%], body mass index [BMI], waist-to-height ratio, and A body shape index [ABSI]) collected at four follow-up periods (from childhood to adult). For cross-sectional analyses, linear regression models were employed to assess factors associated with anthropometric measures. For longitudinal analyses linear mixed models were employed to assess differences in anthropometric measures among SGA versus non-SGA individuals while adjusting for repeated measures.ResultsThe analytic baseline cohort were those who participated in Wave 2 (n = 570). In cross-sectional analyses, across all waves those born SGA had smaller anthropometric z-scores compared to non-SGA individuals (β ranging from −0.50 to −0.25). Participants residing in urban environments were significantly larger in Waves 2 to 4 (β ranged 0.26 to 0.65). Those born SGA had higher ABSI scores in Waves 2 and 4 (β 0.26 and 0.37, respectively). In longitudinal analyses, those born SGA had smaller measures of body composition across the life course; these differences were larger in urban communities. In remote communities those born SGA had significantly higher ABSI scores during adolescence and young adulthood, and this difference was not observed in urban communities.ConclusionIndigenous Australians born SGA are smaller anthropometrically later in life compared to their non-SGA counterparts. In remote communities, those born SGA had higher levels of central adiposity compared to non-SGA

The Role of Incentive Spirometry in Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is the presence of air in the pleural space. Its management consists of noninvasive and invasive therapies and it is determined based on clinical manifestations, type and size of pneumothorax. We present a case of a patient with diagnosis of primary spontaneous pneumothorax treated with incentive spirometry (noninvasive therapy). A 20 year old man came to respirology clinic with chief complaint of shortness of breath. He was recently diagnosed with left pneumothorax based on previous chest X-ray in another health care facilities and was advised to undergo tube thoracostomy but he refused the procedure. On physical examination, vital signs were normal. Chest X-ray showed 33% of pneumothorax or 1.2 cm. He was asked to perform incentive spirometry therapy at home. During 12 days of therapy, shortness of breath slowly disappeared and on repeated chest X-ray, it showed minimal pneumothorax in the left upper hemithorax. Noninvasive treatment such as incentive spirometry can be considered in patient with minimal symptoms and no signs of life-threatening respiratory distress

Governance & Corruption – Developments and Issues in Ethiopia

This paper reports the results of a survey of 400 respondents in Ethiopia about factors generating corruption and the potential of e-Governance to mitigate corruption. It is suggested that e-Governance can help not only in weeding out corruption but also in the establishment of sounder government citizen relationships in Ethiopia. While e-Governance cannot cure all the structural factors that breed corruption in the society, strategic implementation of e-Governance can help improve the critical variable in combating corruption—government citizen relationships. It isargued that while e-Governance initiatives can make important contributions to improving public services they can best do so by helping improve overall relationships between governments and citizens

Assessment of heat generation and its effect during cortical bone drilling using infrared camera and histology

182-188Orthopedic bone drilling involves human as a part of action thus the role of drilling must be concise with its prime objective only. Excess heat generation and physical damage during drilling will lead to extended problems i.e. osteonecrosis and permanent death to the bone cells. To avoid that particular lose to the bone the heat generation should be as low as possible. In this study, an experiment is performed on bovine bone with varying rotational speed (600, 800, 1000, 1200 RPM) while keeping all other drilling parameters constant. Heat generation during bone drilling is measured using thermal imaging camera. After experiments, the histology examinations are performed to observe by morphological changes in drilled bones. From results, heat generation is observed to be increased with the rotational speed and results are shown with the help of thermo-graphic images. Histopathology of drilled bone specimens is also carried out for better understanding of changes in morphology of bone with change in temperature raise during bone drilling. Results conclude that heat generation in bone drilling is strongly concord with drill rotational speed (P≤0.014). Histopathology of drilled bones shows that level of osteonecrosis is increased in terms of number of empty lacunas with temperature raise

Impact of Financial and Nonfinancial Constructs on Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): U.S. Retailer’s Perspective

Purpose: This customer lifetime value (CLV) study developed and refined an instrument to measure CLV from a retailer’s perspective using both financial and nonfinancial constructs. Design/methodology/approach: The authors created scale items to measure the financial (monetary value and marketing costs) and nonfinancial constructs (trust, loyalty, purchase frequency, recency, and churn rate). They assessed composite reliability as well as discriminant and convergent validity. Findings: A varimax rotation indicated strong items for trust and recency under the nonfinancial factors as well as monetary value and marketing costs under the financial factors. Additionally, the measurement model indicated a strong model fit. Practical implications: The findings reinforce the notion of using financial factors to determine CLV. However, nonfinancial factors are also relevant for explaining CLV. These findings fundamentally shift the argument about the determinants of CLV as well as open the door for further research about the financial factors of CLV. Originality: This is the first study to create scale items for measuring the financial and nonfinancial constructs of CLV. The research provides useful theoretical and managerial insights regarding the consideration of nonfinancial factors for refocusing marketing and retailing efforts toward consumers. The study findings reinforce the notion that all customers are not equally valuable

Assessment of heat generation and its effect during cortical bone drilling using infrared camera and histology

Orthopedic bone drilling involves human as a part of action thus the role of drilling must be concise with its prime objective only. Excess heat generation and physical damage during drilling will lead to extended problems i.e. osteonecrosis and permanent death to the bone cells. To avoid that particular lose to the bone the heat generation should be as low as possible. In this study, an experiment is performed on bovine bone with varying rotational speed (600, 800, 1000, 1200 RPM) while keeping all other drilling parameters constant. Heat generation during bone drilling is measured using thermal imaging camera. After experiments, the histology examinations are performed to observe by morphological changes in drilled bones. From results, heat generation is observed to be increased with the rotational speed and results are shown with the help of thermo-graphic images. Histopathology of drilled bone specimens is also carried out for better understanding of changes in morphology of bone with change in temperature raise during bone drilling. Results conclude that heat generation in bone drilling is strongly concord with drill rotational speed (P≤0.014). Histopathology of drilled bones shows that level of osteonecrosis is increased in terms of number of empty lacunas with temperature raise

Requirement for specific gravity and creatinine adjustments for urinary steroids and luteinizing hormone concentrations in adolescents

Objectives: Urinary hormone concentrations are often adjusted to correct for hydration status. We aimed to determine whether first morning void urine hormones in growing adolescents require adjustments and, if so, whether urinary creatinine or specific gravity (SG) are better adjustments. Design and Methods: The study population was adolescents aged 10.1 to 14.3 years initially who provided fasting morning blood samples at 0 and 12 months (n=343) and first morning urine every three months (n=644). Unadjusted, creatinine and SG-adjusted hormonal concentrations were compared by Deming regression and Bland-Altman analysis and grouped according to self-rated Tanner stage or chronological age. F-ratios for self-rated Tanner stages and age groups were used to compare unadjusted and adjusted hormonal changes in growing young adolescents. Correlations of paired serum and urinary hormonal concentration of unadjusted and creatinine and SG adjusted were also compared. Results: Fasting first morning void hormone concentrations correlated well and were unbiased between unadjusted or adjusted by either creatinine or SG. Urine creatinine concentration increases with Tanner stages, age and male gender whereas, urine SG was not influenced by Tanner stage, age or gender. Adjustment by creatinine or SG of urinary luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations did not improve correlation with paired serum concentrations. Conclusions: Urine steroid and LH concentrations in first morning void samples of adolescents are not significantly influenced by hydration status and may not require adjustments; however, if desired, both creatinine and SG adjustments are equally suitable