Trematode parasites as indicators of an animal component in the diet of the Water Vole Arvicola amphibius.

The intestinal trematode fauna of the Water Vole Arvicola amphibius, (previously A. terrestris), was investigated to determine whether it might provide evidence of an animal component in the diet of this aquatic herbivorous small mammal. Interrogation of the electronic Host-Parasite Database of the Natural History Museum London revealed the presence of fourteen species of intestinal trematode in water voles, infection with each of which would require the ingestion of tissue from an animal intermediate host. The results obtained using these parasite indicators provide convincing evidence of animal components in the diet of A. amphibius and support anecdotal reports of water voles feeding on animal material in the field.

A markerless motion capture system can reliably determine peak trunk flexion while squatting with and without a weighted vest.

Markerless motion capture has improved physical screening efficiency in sport and occupational settings; however, reliability of kinematic measurements from commercial systems must be established. Further, the impact of torso-borne equipment on these measurements is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of HumanTrak, a markerless motion capture system, for estimating peak trunk flexion in squat movements with and without a weighted vest. Eighteen participants completed body weight squats (BWSQ) and overhead squats (OHSQ) to their maximum depth (unrestricted-range) and to a plyometric box (fixed-range) while wearing no body armour (NBA) or 9 kg body armour (BA9). Peak trunk flexion was measured using HumanTrak. Testing was performed in two sessions on one day (intra-day) and one session on a separate day (inter-day) to assess reliability. HumanTrak had a standard error of measurement < 3.74° across all movements and conditions. Reliability was good to excellent (ICC = 0.82-0.96) with very large to nearly perfect Pearson correlations (r > 0.80) for all comparisons except unrestricted-range BWSQ with BA9 (ICC = 0.60-0.71, r = 0.71). HumanTrak was more reliable for intra- than inter-day, but reliability was still excellent for almost all inter-day comparisons (ICC > 0.82). HumanTrak is reliable for detecting differences in peak trunk flexion > 8.5° when body armour is not worn and > 10.5° when body armour is worn. Practitioners can assess meaningful changes in sagittal plane trunk motion when screening squat movements regardless of whether body armour is worn.

Scanning electron microscopy of adult Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Von Linstow, 1873) (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) from Britain.

The surface topography of 15-day-old adult Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Von Linstow, 1873) sensu stricto, from an isolate of the parasite utilizing Lymnaea peregra as first intermediate host in southern England, is described and illustrated using scanning electron microscopy, and is compared to those of other Echinoparyphium species from Europe, and with those of E. recurvatum of East Asian origin. The general morphology of tegumental features was found to be very similar to that of worms of the same age observed in a previous study on a Korean isolate of E. recurvatum. Comparison of collar and body spination of E. recurvatum with other 45-collar-spined members of the genus in Europe revealed some significant differences in morphology. Collar spines of E. recurvatum were found to be shorter and more pointed than those of Echinoparyphium mordwilkoi. The body spines of E. recurvatum are rounded and scale-like, extending just beyond the ventral sucker, contrasting with the pointed, thorn-shaped body spines of E. mordwilkoi, extending posteriorly to the level of the second testis. Body spine shape and distribution in E. recurvatum were found to be more similar to those of Echinoparyphium pseudorecurvatum. The value of SEM studies in elucidating the relationship between members of the genus Echinoparyphium in Britain/Europe and those in Africa, Asia and North America is suggested.

Psychological screening of children for participation in nontherapeutic invasive research.

BACKGROUND: The need for children to participate in research has raised concerns about ethical issues surrounding their participation. OBJECTIVES: To describe a protocol of preresearch psychological screening and postresearch outcomes and to present the results of the screening process for a nontherapeutic, invasive research study. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study carried out at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight children (mean age, 10.6 years) were screened, with 4 not completing the research study and another 4 unavailable for psychological follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prescreening interviews with parent and child and screening measures of appropriate child cognitive abilities and behavior; postscreening parent and child questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 4 children who did not complete the research study, 3 were identified with increased anxiety during the screening and were advised to not participate in the study. The primary motivator for participation was monetary reimbursement (14 parents [82%]; 15 children [75%]), followed by altruistic reasons (10 parents [59%]; 4 children [20%]). Before participating, none of the children reported concerns related to participating in the study. However, on follow-up, 9 (45%) of the children reported that they had had concerns before participating. Follow-up assessment showed that parents underestimated their children's concerns related to sexual development assessment and intravenous insertion. CONCLUSIONS: Children with increased anxiety may not be appropriate participants in potentially anxiety-provoking research. Children's reports of concerns may change from preparticipation to postparticipation, and discrepancies may exist between parent and child reports of concerns with research participation. Further research is needed to ensure children's safe participation in research.

Medication administration practices of school nurses.

This study assessed the medication administration practices of school nurses. From a random sample of 1,000 members of the National Association of School Nurses, 649 (64.9%) completed the survey developed for the study. These school nurses report that during a typical day, 5.6% of children receive medication in school, with 3.3% receiving medications for ADHD. Almost all the school nurses follow written guidelines for administering medication. Potential problems were identified in documenting side effects of medications, storage of medications, student self-administration practices, and appropriate authorization of nonprescription drug use. Most nurses (75.6%) delegate medication administration to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), with secretaries (66.2%) the most common UAP. Discomfort with delegation and confusion over state nurse practice laws were noted. Errors in administering medications were reported by 48.5% of the school nurses, with missed dose (79.7%) the most common error. Factors identified as contributing to errors included use of UAP and responsibility for large numbers of students.

Parent behavior and child distress during urethral catheterization.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE: Researchers need a clear understanding of the natural behaviors parents use to help their children cope. This study describes the relationships between naturally occurring parent behaviors and child distress behaviors during urethral catheterization. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, researchers videotaped the behaviors of parent-child interactions during urethral catheterization. RESULTS: Parents used distraction to maintain calm behavior during the first part of the procedure and used more reassurance when the children started to become distressed. Seven of the nine children displayed calm behavior at least half the time following distraction. Parental reassurance did not decrease distress behavior in most children. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Early implementation of developmentally appropriate nursing interventions to decrease child distress is imperative. Parents may need specific instruction and practice to continue the use of distraction throughout procedures, even when the child is upset.

Nursing interventions used in school nursing practice.

School nurses need to define clearly their practice and identify the interventions they provide to students, families, and school employees. The purpose of this research was to identify which nursing interventions listed in Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) are used by school nurses. Of the 174 surveys mailed to school nurses, 78 usable surveys were returned, representing a 45% return rate. Of the 433 NIC interventions, 114 were used by school nurses at least monthly, with 32 of these 114 interventions identified as being used at least once a week.

The influence of temperature on the survival and infectivity of the cercariae of Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Digenea: Echinostomatidae).

Survival and infectivity characteristics are described for cercariae of the echinostome Echinoparyphium recurvatum at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees C. Cercarial survival was markedly age- and temperature-dependent, maximum survival time being reduced from 68 h at 10 degrees C to 12 h at 30 degrees C, 50% survival times falling from 47.9 h at 10 degrees C to 8.4 h at 30 degrees C. The mean instantaneous per capita death rate of cercariae increased exponentially with temperature. Cercarial infectivity was also temperature dependent, the main effect of temperature being upon the rate at which infectivity diminished with increasing age of cercariae. Infectivity increased from zero at 10 degrees C to a maximum at 25 degrees C after which it declined to a low level at 30 degrees C. Overall transmission efficiency of cercariae at each experimental temperature was calculated as the ratio of the mean instantaneous per capita death rate (mu) to the mean instantaneous per capita rate of infection (beta). Transmission efficiency of cercariae was found to be maximal at 20 degrees C and at a relatively high level between 10 and 25 degrees C. Transmission efficiency was zero at 10 degrees C and at a very low level at 30 degrees C. These results suggest that the cercariae of E. recurvatum show transmission optima at water temperatures likely to be encountered in natural habitats in Britain and Europe.

Children's responses to sequential versus simultaneous immunization injections.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare distress behaviors and perceptions of distress in 4- to 6-year-old children who received two immunization injections simultaneously with those in children who received their immunizations sequentially. METHOD: This experimental study used a convenience sample of 46 children scheduled for pre-kindergarten examinations. The children were randomly assigned to either a sequential injection or a simultaneous injection group. Direct observation and videotapes were made of the children's behaviors before and after injection. Distress behaviors were analyzed with the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised, and perceptions of distress were obtained from both children (with the Wong-Baker Pain Rating Scale [FACES]) and parents (with the Visual Analog Scale). RESULTS: Results of the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised showed no significant differences in children's distress behaviors between the two groups either before or after injection. The children's self-reports of distress also showed no group differences. Parents' perceptions of the children's distress before and after injection were lower for the sequential group but were judged to be unrelated to the intervention. Given the opportunity to state a preference, however, parents preferred the simultaneous method. DISCUSSION: The simultaneous procedure was not found to be associated with reduced distress behaviors; however, parents preferred the simultaneous method.

Evaluation of a school re-entry nursing intervention for children with cancer.

A retrospective qualitative design was used to identify and compare the concerns, parents, teachers, and children have regarding school re-entry after a cancer diagnosis and to describe the impact of a school re-entry program on parents', teachers', and children's concerns. Audiotaped, semistructured interviews were obtained from a convenience sample of 10 children with cancer (ages 5 to 13 years), 10 mothers, and nine teachers. All participants were positive about the school re-entry nursing intervention, which is described. Results of content analyses indicate that before the intervention, mothers were concerned about their child's safety and peer teasing; teachers were concerned about their own knowledge and peers' adjustment, and children were concerned with keeping up with school activities. After the intervention, mothers were less concerned about peer teasing but continued to be worried about their child's safety in the school setting and began to have concerns about academic progress and physical stamina; teachers reported increased concerns for the child's safety and academic progress, and a desire to return to normal routines in the classroom: and the children continued to have concerns with maintaining academic and/physical progress. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

The integrated health professions education program seminar.

Powerful dynamics of change require practitioners from all disciplines to be prepared to work in interdisciplinary teams, competently access health and information technologies, and understand the multiple functions required for adequate healthcare provision. The University of Iowa's Integrated Health Professions Program is a state-funded effort designed to provide students with a common educational experience to enable them to work collaboratively in underserved or rural settings. Students take part in a series of team-building seminars including technology-based instruction and activities in conjunction with visits to community clinical sites. The authors discuss the experiential, collaborative, and cooperative forms of learning that take place during the seminar series.

Cognitive behavioral interventions for children during painful procedures: research challenges and program development.

The purpose of this report is to describe a pilot program designed to introduce the use of cognitive behavioral interventions for painful pediatric procedures at a university hospital, and to discuss the challenges that occurred during this process. Participants in the program included ten parents and their children who were newly diagnosed with leukemia, and staff who provided treatment for these children. Measures included direct videotaped observations of the children, perceptions of pain and anxiety completed by children, parents, and staff, and parent and staff ratings of satisfaction with the program. Results indicated strong acceptance of the interventions. This report discusses the challenges encountered, implications of the findings, and plans for future program development.

Children with chronic conditions: educators' views.

The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory study was to identify the concerns and resource needs of educators for effectively teaching children with chronic health conditions, Semistructured audiotaped telephone interviews were conducted with 23 teachers and six principals from urban and rural public schools, grades K-12. The interview included questions in four areas: (a) experiences with children with chronic health conditions, (b) concerns in providing educational services to these children, (c) resources used by educators, and (d) recommendations regarding how information and services can best be provided to educators. The most common concerns were unanticipated medical emergencies and increased absence rates. The major resource for these educators was the school nurse. Educators preferred information specific to a child in their class, provided to them by the school nurse. Results suggest that interventions for teachers are more likely to be effective when they are coordinated with the school nurse and focus on the impact of the condition on a child's ability to function in the classroom. Subsequent research is necessitated to determine effective strategies for specialty nurses to aid school nurses in providing optimum care for these children.

Cognitive behavioral pain and anxiety interventions in pediatric oncology centers and bone marrow transplant units.

Although research conducted on the treatment of pain and anxiety in children has found a number of cognitive behavioral interventions to be effective, it is not known to what extent this research has been put into practice. The purpose of this project was to obtain information on the use of cognitive behavioral interventions to help children and families cope with the pain and anxiety experienced during lumbar punctures and bone marrow aspirations. In this descriptive study, 15 Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Units and 32 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Centers from across the country were surveyed using a questionnaire developed to obtain information on the use and effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions and the availability of support services. This survey indicates that most centers use a number of cognitive behavioral interventions to help children cope with painful procedures. However, some interventions, such as providing information before procedures and positive reinforcement after procedures, are used more frequently than interventions, such as rhythmic breathing, distraction, and imagery, that require more time and training. A variety of support services were available, although psychological services were primarily available on an as needed basis and support groups were not usually offered on an ongoing basis. In general, nurses are the major providers of these interventions, with other professionals providing interventions specific to their training. Nurses need to continue to study appropriate ways to incorporate use of effective cognitive behavioral interventions into the routine care of children with cancer.

Strigea falconispalumbi (Trematoda: Strigeidae): argentophilic structures of the miracidium.

A study of the argentophilic structures of the miracidium of the strigeid digenean Strigea falconispalumbi VIBORG, 1795 was carried out. Miracidia were hatched under laboratory conditions from eggs obtained from adult S. falconispalumbi from the intestine of a naturally infected Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Miracidia were stained with 0.5%. Silver Nitrate solution using standard techniques. The epidermal plates of the miracidium are arranged in four tiers according to the formula (6 + 8 + 4 + 3) = 21. The terabratorium bears 20 papillare. Papillae are also present at the bases of the epidermal plates of the first tier, and also at the margins of the terabratorium between the epidermal plates. The two pores of the excretory ducts are positioned laterally between the third and fourth tiers of epidermal plates.

Speciation of echinostomes: evidence for the existence of two sympatric sibling species in the complex Echinoparyphium recurvatum (von Linstow 1873) (Digenea: Echinostomatidae).

Evidence for the existence of 2 first intermediate host-specific sibling species of the 45 collar-spined echinostome Echinoparyphium recurvatum is presented. Experimental studies on their life-cycles were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. The two entities were found to be morphologically indistinguishable in all major respects, yet they exhibited distinct biological characteristics. One of the sibling species utilizes the freshwater lymnaeid pulmonate snail Lymnaea peregra as first intermediate host, and the adults occur in the anterior small intestine of the wildfowl experimental definitive host Anas platyrhynchos. The other utilizes the freshwater mesogastropod prosobranch snail Valvata piscinalis as first intermediate host, and the adults occur in the posterior small intestine and rectum of A. platyrhynchos. The existence of the two sibling species in sympatry may be explained by the fact that the life-cycles of the two forms represent two distinct cycles of transmission serving to reduce excessive competition between them.