Nursing, midwifery, and allied health professions research capacities and cultures: a survey of staff within a university and acute healthcare organisation.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing focus on the development of research capacity and culture in Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP). However, better understanding of the existing research success and skills, motivators, barriers, and development needs of NMAHP professionals is required to inform this development. This study sought to identify such factors within a university and an acute healthcare organisation. METHODS: An online survey, incorporating the Research Capacity and Culture tool, was administered to NMAHP professionals and students at a university and an acute healthcare organisation in the United Kingdom. Ratings of success/skill levels of teams and individuals were compared between professional groups using Mann-Whitney U tests. Motivators, barriers, and development needs were reported using descriptive statistics. Descriptive thematic analysis was used for open-ended text responses. RESULTS: A total of 416 responses were received (N&M n = 223, AHP n = 133, Other n = 60). N&M respondents were more positive than their AHP counterparts about the success/skill levels of their teams. There were no significant differences between N&M and AHP in their ratings of individual successes/skills. Finding and critically reviewing relevant literature were identified as specific individual strengths; with weaknesses in securing research funding, submitting ethics applications, writing for publication, and advising less experienced researchers. The main motivators for research were to develop skills, increased job satisfaction, and career advancement; whilst barriers included lack of time for research and other work roles taking priority. Key support needs identified included mentorship (for teams and individuals) and in-service training. Open-ended questions generated main themes of 'Employment & staffing', 'Professional services support', 'Clinical & academic management', 'Training & development', 'Partnerships' and 'Operating principles'. Two cross-cutting themes described issues common to multiple main themes: 'Adequate working time for research' and 'Participating in research as an individual learning journey'. CONCLUSIONS: Rich information was generated to inform the development of strategies to enhance research capacity and culture in NMAHP. Much of this can be generic but some nuances may be required to address some specific differences between professional groups, particularly related to perceived team success/skills and priorities identified for support and development.

Next Level Health: a holistic health and wellbeing program to empower New Zealand women.

Improving equity in women's health requires gender-specific and empowering approaches. However, health programs often disempower women by adopting a 'one-size-fits-all' approach that emphasizes diet, exercise and weight loss over other important aspects like sleep and mental wellbeing. This article reports on the design of Next Level Health (NLH), a program that aims to empower women through developing a wide range of health behaviors to support their holistic wellbeing. NLH is grounded by ethics, theory and evidence to support women to make achievable, sustainable changes that are relevant to their everyday lives. Women utilized the NLH framework to develop an integrative health routine across six domains: physical activity, sleep, nutrition, eating behavior, self-care and stress management. The framework guided them to set small, incremental goals that were adaptive to their needs and built from their existing circumstances. Participants reflected on their progress with a facilitator during monthly meetings, accessed a social media support page and received monthly text messages. Health programs remain an essential approach to improving women's health alongside community- and policy-level strategies. The development of NLH exemplifies how evidence may partner with modern health promotion values to inform relevant and ethical program design for women.

In western societies, health programs often focus on weight loss through exercise and diet to promote women's health. Such approaches disempower women by undervaluing important factors affecting their health like stress and sleep and narrow their scope for 'health success'. This article reports on the development of Next Level Health (NLH) that aims to help women gain greater health-related control by broadening their approach to health. The program is designed to support women to set small, achievable goals across six domains (physical activity, sleep, nutrition, eating behavior, self-care, and stress management) toward developing positive and sustainable health behaviors. Although women work with a facilitator each month to set goals, they are ultimately in control of formulating their health plans and their progression through NLH. Women can support each other by joining a community of other NLH participants through a social media group. NLH offers a novel program that is responsive to women's individual health needs and broadens their potential for health success.

Predictors of vitamin D status in New Zealand preschool children.

Vitamin D deficiency has adverse health effects in young children. Our aims were to determine predictors of vitamin D status and then to use these factors to develop a practical tool to predict low 25(OH)D concentrations in preschool New Zealand children. A cross-sectional sample of 1329 children aged 2 to <5 years were enrolled from throughout New Zealand in late-winter to spring 2012. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured on dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected using finger-prick sampling. Caregivers completed a questionnaire. Mean (SD) DBS 25(OH)D concentration was 52(19)nmol/L. 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L was present in 86(7%), 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L in 642(48%), 25(OH)D 50- < 75 nmol/L in 541(41%) and 25(OH)D > 75 nmol/L in 146(11%) of children. Factors independently associated with the risk of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L were female gender (OR 1.92,95%CI 1.17-3.14), other non-European ethnicities (not including Maori or Pacific) (3.51,1.89-6.50), had olive-dark skin colour (4.52,2.22-9.16), did not take vitamin D supplements (2.56,1.06-6.18), had mothers with less than secondary-school qualifications (5.00,2.44-10.21) and lived in more deprived households (1.27,1.06-1.53). Children who drank toddler milk (vitamin D fortified cow's milk formula marketed to young children) had a zero risk of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L. The predictive tool identified children at risk of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L with sensitivity 42%, specificity 97% and ROC area-under-curve 0.76(95%CI 0.67-0.86, p < 0.001). Predictors of low vitamin D status were consistent with those identified in previous studies of New Zealand children. The tool had insufficient predictive ability for use in clinical situations, and suggests a need to promote safe, inexpensive testing to determine vitamin D status in preschool children.

'Just in case': the fertility information needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer.

Understanding the reproductive and fertility concerns of teenagers and young adults with cancer (TYA) is one aspect of comprehensive age appropriate care. However, limited options for fertility preservation, coupled with vague policy recommendations, give rise to variations in information-sharing between health care professionals and TYAs, particularly as it involves sensitive discussions regarding the short- and long-term effects of cancer and treatments on fertility and reproduction. This paper presents findings from a wider evaluation at a specialist unit for TYAs with cancer. Forty people participated in semi-structured interviews, including 20 young people, parents and partners. Young people were between 2 months and 4 years from finishing treatment. Most young people received mixed levels of information on fertility and counselling before treatment. Diagnosis in the early teens meant how, and from whom, young people received information varied. Young women tended to receive incomplete information. The majority of young people were unaware of their fertility status after treatment had finished. Findings point to the inherent challenges that exist in ensuring young people aged between 13 and 25 years receive comprehensive information on their fertility and potential risk, as well as advice on how to determine their fertility status after treatment has finished.

Social spaces for young children in hospital.

BACKGROUND: In the last number of years heightened interest has been attributed to the impact of hospital environments on children's psychosocial well-being. With policy largely built around adult assumptions, knowledge about what constitutes a child-friendly hospital environment from young children's perspectives has been lacking. If hospital environments are to aspire to being child friendly then the views of younger aged children must be taken into account. The current study investigated young children's perspectives of hospital social spaces to inform the design of the built environment of a new children's hospital. METHODS: An exploratory qualitative participatory design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews (one-to-one and group workshops) which incorporated art-based activities to actively engage young children. Fifty-five young children aged 5 to 8 years with various acute and chronic illnesses were recruited from inpatient, outpatient and emergency departments of three children's hospitals. RESULTS: Young children want a diversity of readily available, independently accessible, age, gender and developmentally appropriate leisure and entertainment facilities seamlessly integrated throughout the hospital environment. Such activities were invaluable for creating a positive hospital experience for children by combating boredom, enriching choice and control and reducing a sense of isolation through enhanced socialization. When in hospital, young children want to feel socially connected to the internal hospital community as well as to the outside world. Technology can assist to broaden the spectrum of children's social connectivity when in hospital - to home, school and the wider outside world. CONCLUSION: While technology offers many opportunities to support children's psychosocial well-being when in confined healthcare spaces, the implementation and operation of such services and systems require much further research in the areas of ethics, facilitation, organizational impact and evaluation.

The importance of identity and empowerment to teenagers with developmental co-ordination disorder.

AIMS: The aim of the current study was to gain an understanding of the experiences and aspirations of young people living with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in their own words. METHODS: Eleven young people aged 11-16 years with a prior diagnosis of DCD were identified from child health records of two participating NHS trusts. The sample included seven boys and four girls, from different socio-economic backgrounds living in different parts of one large urban area in England. In depth one-to-one semi-structured interviews and subsequent follow-up small group interviews were carried out with the young people. Interviews were enhanced using participatory arts-based techniques. All interviews were recorded verbatim and transcribed. Narrative data were analysed using Lindseth's interpretive phenomenology. RESULTS: The central theme of 'We're all different' described how the young person saw themselves and encompassed the formation of identity. Subthemes illustrated the attitude of the young people to their day to day lives, their difficulties and strategies used by the young people to overcome these difficulties in school and at home. The attitude of the school to difference, the presence of bullying, the accepting nature of the class, teachers and peers were vitally important. Areas of life that encouraged a positive sense of identity and worth included being part of a social network that gave the young people a sense of belonging, potentially one that valued differences as well as similarities. CONCLUSION: The current work highlights the need for services to adopt a model of DCD where the young person talks about what they can do and considers strategies of overcoming their difficulties. This has implications for education and future intervention strategies that focus on fostering psychological resilience and educational coping strategies rather than simply attempting to improve motor skills.

'Providing more scaffolding': parenting a child with developmental co-ordination disorder, a hidden disability.

BACKGROUND: Few studies exist reporting the experiences of parents of children with developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) a common disorder with a prevalence of 1.8-6%. DCD is characterized by poor motor co-ordination, not caused by a general medical condition, but significantly affecting daily living. This study explores the experiences of parents living with a child with DCD in obtaining a diagnosis; the impact of the diagnosis on parenting and the effect on parents as individuals. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 15 parents of children with DCD data were recorded and then transcribed. Data were analysed using a coding framework and themes identified similar to Attride-Stirling (2001, Qualitative Research, 1, 385-405). FINDINGS: DCD was an all-encompassing condition that dominated all aspects of family life and was a 'hidden disability'. Parents were frustrated by the poor knowledge and expertise of health and education professionals working with children with DCD and the lack of good quality accessible information and support services. Parents became by default the 'expert' on DCD for schools and other services; they were advocates for DCD and their own children. They provided additional support for longer to their child with DCD and had concerns for their future. Parenting a child with DCD was frustrating, exhausting, guilt-ridden as well as rewarding. There was little available time to provide for the needs of other family members. CONCLUSION: A better-trained, knowledgeable workforce would redress the balance for families with DCD by providing better information, support and advocacy freeing parents to parent their families.

SHP2 is up-regulated in breast cancer cells and in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, implying its involvement in breast oncogenesis.

AIMS: To determine whether Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is up-regulated in breast cancer and, if so, to determine whether its up-regulation has any relationship with clinical variables of breast cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to assess the state of SHP2 expression in breast cancer cells and in infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast. The possible role of SHP2 in breast cancer cell transformation was determined by dominant-negative expression and anchorage-independent growth assays. All of the breast cancer cell lines tested and 72% of IDC breast tumours analysed had increased amounts of the SHP2 protein. In support of its positive role, dominant-negative SHP2 blocked anchorage-independent growth of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, overexpression of SHP2 seemed to have a positive relationship to HER2 overexpression, nuclear accumulation of hormone receptors, higher tumour grade and lymph node metastasis, but not to age of breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION: SHP2 is a widely overexpressed signalling protein in IDC breast tumours. Given SHP2's positive role in cell growth, transformation and stem cell survival, the positive relationship of its overexpression to lymph node metastasis, nuclear accumulation of hormone receptors and higher tumour grade suggests that SHP2 promotes breast oncogenesis.

Dominantly inherited beta thalassaemia intermedia caused by a new single nucleotide deletion in exon 2 of the beta globin gene: Hb morgantown (beta91 CTG>CG).

Family members in multiple generations of an Irish-American family were investigated for moderate to severe microcytic anaemia, inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. A novel frameshift mutation of the beta globin gene was discovered. This study highlights the importance of considering dominantly inherited beta thalassemia in the investigation of anaemia, even in patients with ethnic backgrounds not usually associated with beta thalassaemia.

Late-developing Philadelphia chromosomes in a case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A child with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is presented who at relapse acquired two Philadelphia chromosomes (Ph). Molecular studies at relapse revealed a rearrangement of the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) on chromosome 22. No rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain or T-cell beta receptor gene loci were demonstrated. This case supports the hypothesis that leukemogenesis in Ph-positive malignancies is a multi-step process, the first step of which may not necessarily involve acquisition of the Ph.

Methylation status of the major breakpoint cluster region in Philadelphia chromosome negative leukemias.

It has been shown that a 600 bp long cluster of cell lineage specific hypomethylated sites in the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) on chromosome 22 exists in hematopoietic cells. To determine possible relationships between methylation patterns within the M-bcr and the stage of hematopoietic cell development, the M-bcr methylation status of 39 patients with leukemia and lymphoma and two patients with myelodysplastic syndrome with non-rearranged M-bcrs was examined by BgIII-HpaII digestion. In the myeloid malignancies, the presence of a hypermethylated 4.8 kb BgIII-BgIII M-bcr allele was directly proportional to the combined myeloblast and promyelocyte percentage of the specimen, whereas the presence of a 2.5 kb BgIII-HpaII allele was directly proportional to the combined percentage of monocytic cells and neutrophils. All five acute monoblastic leukemias showed a methylation pattern that closely resembled neutrophils. All of thirteen surface immunoglobulin positive B-cell malignancies showed a distinct methylation pattern consisting of three or more BgIII-HpaII restriction fragments of 2.5 kb or less in length. The B-cell precursor leukemias showed heterogeneous M-bcr methylation patterns, with four of seven showing a B-cell pattern and three showing a hypermethylated pattern with 4.8, 3.1/3.0 and/or 2.5 kb BgIII-HpaII M-bcr alleles. It is concluded that the M-bcr methylation status is related to the maturation of the neutrophil series; the surface immunoglobulin positive B-cell malignancies are characterized by a distinct, extreme hypomethylation pattern of the M-bcr; and the B-cell precursor malignancies appear to have a heterogeneous M-bcr methylation pattern.

Transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia to small non-cleaved cell lymphoma: a cytogenetic, immunological, and molecular study.

A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) transforming into a small non-cleaved cell lymphoma (SNCL) with the occurrence of a t(8;22) is described. The SNCL and the CLL were both found to have a germline lambda light chain gene configuration and the same heavy chain and kappa light chain gene rearrangements. The SNCL was CD10 (CALLA) negative and appeared to be CD5 negative. It is concluded that the SNCL is derived from the CLL and that activation of the c-myc oncogene may have played a role in this transformation.

Wound fluid from venous leg ulcers degrades plasminogen and reduces plasmin generation by keratinocytes.

Plasminogen, the pro-enzyme of plasmin, aids various processes essential for normal, acute wound healing, such as fibrinolysis and cell migration. We have investigated if plasminogen is available to perform these functions in chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers. We report that plasminogen is degraded by fluid from venous leg ulcers to a number of fragments, including kringle domains 1-3, an angiostatin-related protein. The enzyme responsible was inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor phenyl-methylsulfonyl fluoride, but was not inhibited by alpha1-anti-trypsin, an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, by alpha2-anti-plasmin, an inhibitor of plasmin, or by the matrix metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10 phenanthroline. Plasminogen degraded by wound fluid was a weaker substrate than intact plasminogen for plasmin generation by the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. These results suggest that serine protease activity in leg ulcer fluid degrades plasminogen and support the hypothesis that keratinocyte migration may be impaired in leg ulcers because of a reduced availability of intact plasminogen for plasmin generation.

Correlation of PCR-detected clonal gene rearrangements with bone marrow morphology in patients with B-lineage lymphomas.

Bone marrow biopsy is the conventional staging and posttherapy evaluation method for assessing marrow involvement by lymphoma. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for antigen receptor rearrangements have the potential to increase the detection of minimal degrees of marrow involvement. The present study is a concurrent morphologic and PCR evaluation of 225 staging or posttherapy marrow biopsies from 127 patients with B-lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The biopsies were morphologically categorized into four groups: group 1 (positive for lymphoma), 60 biopsies (27%); group 2 (suspicious for lymphoma), 20 biopsies (9%); group 3 (lymphocytic lesions of indeterminate biology), 22 biopsies (10%); and group 4 (negative for lymphoma), 123 biopsies (54%). Molecular studies were performed on concurrently obtained aspirates and used consensus immunoglobulin-heavy-chain (IgH) and IgH/bcl-2 gene PCR primers. A molecular clone was detected in 53 of the 225 aspirates (24%): group 1, 34 aspirates (57%); group 2, five aspirates (25%); group 3, one aspirate (5%); and group 4, 13 aspirates (11%). A PCR-positive aspirate was present in 47% of follicular lymphomas, 58% of diffuse large cell lymphomas, and 72% of the other lymphomas in the group I specimens. Morphology or PCR was positive in 79 of the 225 cases (35%). The molecular detection of clonality in the aspirate DNA from cases with positive morphologic findings was lower than anticipated. The discordance between morphology and PCR results may be related to sample variation between the trephine biopsy and aspirate, a failure to aspirate sufficient lymphoma cells, or insufficient primer homology for amplification. DNA extracted from trephine sections may provide results more concordant with morphology, because PCR detected a clone in 10 of 11 DNA specimens extracted from trephine biopsies with positive morphologic findings and PCR negative aspirates.

Separate and joint effects of marine oil and simvastatin in patients with combined hyperlipidemia.

Marine oil plus simvastatin is an effective therapy for improving serum triglycerides, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with combined hyperlipidemia. Concurrent administration does not attenuate the individual effects of either marine oil or simvastatin on the serum lipid profile.

Microcephaly with agenesis of corticospinal tracts and arthrogryposis, hypospadias, single umbilical artery, hypertelorism, and renal and adrenal hypoplasia--previously undescribed syndrome.

We describe a small, term, male infant with corticospinal tract aplasia secondary to motor cortex dysplasia from a neuronal proliferation and/or migrational defect. The infant also had microdolichocephaly, sloping forehead, hypertelorism, flat nose, apparently low-set ears, micrognathia, arthrogryposis without muscle wasting, cortical thumbs, rocker-bottom feet, scoliosis, single umbilical artery, and hypospadias with chordee. Oligohydramnios was present prenatally. Neurologic examination showed a comatose state, seizures, minimal spontaneous movement, minimal response to pain, and absent primitive reflexes. At autopsy, hypoplasia of kidneys and adrenal glands was found. There was no aqueductal stenosis or pulmonary hypoplasia. Chromosomes were apparently normal. These manifestations do not correspond to those of any recognized syndrome; therefore, this patient may represent a previously undefined syndrome.

Perinodular hydropic degeneration of a uterine leiomyoma: a diagnostic challenge.

Perinodular hydropic degeneration of a uterine leiomyoma is a rare form of the more common hydropic change observed in leiomyomas. With minimal discussion in the surgical pathology literature, appropriate evaluation may be challenging because the differential diagnosis includes other uncommon uterine disorders such as intravenous leiomyomatosis, diffuse leiomyomatosis, myxoid leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, angiofibroma, and angiomyxoma. We describe such a diagnostic challenge in a 42-year-old woman with a left adnexal mass discovered during an annual examination. With only three cases of perinodular hydropic degeneration previously reported, this case is the first with extrauterine extension and was initially concerning for a more aggressive process.

Splenectomy in lymphoproliferative disorders: a report on 70 cases and review of the literature.

Between February, 1970 and September, 1991, we performed splenectomies on 70 patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders including primary leukemias: 19 B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, 22 hairy cell leukemias, 4 large granular lymphocytic leukemias, 1 T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL): 10 splenic lymphomas with villous lymphocytes, 4 follicular lymphomas, 5 mantle cell lymphomas, 3 lymphoplasmacytic and 1 large cell NHL. The primary indications for surgery in this series were therapy-resistant disease (40%) and therapeutic splenectomy (38%). Postsplenectomy, 70% of patients had a complete hematological response, 23% had a partial response, and 7% were nonresponsive. Median treatment-free survival correlated with the hematologic response postsplenectomy and the underlying diagnosis. Better treatment-free survivals were seen in patients with lesser degrees of anemia and thrombocytopenia. Overall, improvements were more pronounced in the B-cell than in the T-cell disorders. Indications for further therapy, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and survival times are discussed along with a review of the literature. These findings advocate a continuing role for splenectomy in symptomatic lymphoid malignancies running with splenomegaly and hypersplenism.