Women\u27s awareness of the importance of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption during pregnancy: knowledge of risks, benefits and information accessibility

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pregnant women\u27s knowledge regarding the importance of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) consumption during pregnancy and assess their views on current information availability. DESIGN: A 27-item demographic and food safety/behaviour questionnaire was administered to pregnant women during their antenatal clinic visits. chi2 tests were performed using SPSS. SETTING: Antenatal clinics at two regional hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. SUBJECTS: One hundred and ninety (n 190) pregnant women. RESULTS: Three quarters of the women had not received information regarding LC n-3 PUFA. Approximately half of the women were aware of issues relating to LC n-3 PUFA; however, their knowledge was limited, with most obtaining their knowledge from books and magazines. Women generally had low (30 %, 29 %) to moderate (28 %, 24 %) levels of concern about LC n-3 PUFA and mercury, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women lack knowledge of LC n-3 PUFA and health-care services do not provide pregnant women with adequate information on the importance of eating foods high in LC n-3 PUFA during pregnancy

Expanding Awareness of Docosahexaenoic Acid during Pregnancy

Pregnant women do not currently meet the consensus recommendation for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (≥200 mg/day). Pregnant women in Australia are not receiving information on the importance of DHA during pregnancy. DHA pregnancy education materials were developed using current scientific literature, and tested for readability and design aesthetics. The study aimed to evaluate their usefulness, the desire for pregnant women to receive these materials and whether a larger separate study (using a control group) is warranted to evaluate the influence the materials may have on increasing DHA consumption in pregnant women in Australia. Pregnant women (N = 118) were recruited at antenatal clinics at two NSW hospitals. Participants completed a 16-item questionnaire and DHA educational materials (pamphlet and shopping card) were provided. Participants were contacted via phone two weeks later and completed the second questionnaire (25-item, N = 74). Statistics were conducted in SPSS and qualitative data were analysed to identify common themes. Ninety three percent of women found the materials useful, with the main reason being it expanded their knowledge of DHA food sources. Only 34% of women had received prior information on DHA, yet 68% said they would like to receive information. Due to the small sample size and lack of a control group, this small study cannot provide a cause and effect relationship between the materials and nutrition related behaviours or knowledge, however the results indicate a potential positive influence towards increased fish consumption and awareness of DHA containing foods. This suggests a larger study, with a control group is warranted to identify the impact such materials could have on Australian pregnant women

Osseous alterations at the interface of hydrogel expanders and underlying bone

INTRODUCTION: In plastic and reconstructive surgery, self-activating hydrogel expanders are used to augment soft-tissue space. The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological response of underlying bone to the constant pressure exerted by a hydrogel expander. METHODS: Eighteen Lewis rats were randomly divided into three groups. In group 1, a hydrogel expander was placed subperiosteally directly onto the calvaria of the rats. In group 2, the expander and the underlying bone were separated by a polydioxanone (PDS) foil. Group 3 animals served as controls. Before and 14 days after the insertion of the expanders, micro-computed tomography (CT) images were obtained and fused. We analysed hydroxyapatite density beneath and at the periphery of the expander and performed a histomorphometric bone analysis. RESULTS: Whereas there were no significant differences (p<0.05) (groups 1 and 2) in bone density at the periphery of the expanders between the study groups, a significant decrease in hydroxyapatite density beneath the expanders was observed in those animals in which the devices were placed directly onto the calvaria (group 1). Whereas bone thickness was unaffected at the periphery of the expanders in all groups, it was significantly decreased beneath the expanders in all implanted animals. A morphological examination revealed resorption lacunae with a diameter of 218.4+/-56 mICROm in those rats in which the expanders had been placed directly onto the calvaria. CONCLUSION: This study shows the direct influence of hydrogel expanders on underlying bone. Whereas bone resorption and connective tissue formation also occur underneath hydrogel expanders, these effects can be avoided if the expander and the underlying bone are separated by PDS foil. The key to success is to ensure the appropriate placement of expanders and thus to avoid bone resorption

Registration for computer-navigated surgery in edentulous patients: A problem-based decision concept

BACKGROUND: Surgical navigation is a commonly used tool in cranio-maxillofacial surgery. Registration is the key element for precision, and a number of studies have shown different techniques to be accurate. Nonetheless, uncertainty surrounds the special situation in edentulous patients and a practical approach to what can be a challenging problem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four registration strategies for the Brainlab VectorVision(2) system are presented for surgical navigation of edentulous patients: three landmark-based, point-to-point techniques and one surface-based matching strategy are evaluated. RESULTS: The methods described differ in overall accuracy as well as in the region covered. In general, the more time-consuming and invasive the technique, the more precise it is. The non-invasive techniques are less precise, and they cover only small regions with sufficient accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account which type of accuracy is clinically relevant and that the whole skull does not always need to be covered with the greatest possible accuracy, all the described techniques have their indications. The simpler and less invasive techniques can spare time, decrease costs, and harm patient. A decision tree is presented to the reader