Associations of maternal material hardships during childhood and adulthood with prepregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, and postpartum weight retention.

Background: We examined associations of material hardship with prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and substantial postpartum weight retention (SPPWR; ≥5 kg at 1 year).

Methods: We studied 2128 women in Project Viva, a Boston-area cohort with recruitment during1999-2002. At recruitment, women reported whether they experienced material hardship, defined as having ever received public assistance, welfare, or lacked basic necessities (food, rent, or medical care) during childhood, in adulthood before pregnancy, and/or in pregnancy.

Evaluating inpatient mortality: a new electronic review process that gathers information from front-line providers.

Importance: Accurately and routinely identifying factors contributing to inpatient mortality remains challenging.

Objective: To describe the development, implementation and performance of a new electronic mortality review method 1 year after implementation.

Methods: An analysis of data gathered from an electronic instrument that queries front-line providers on their opinions on quality and safety related issues, including potential preventability, immediately after a patient's death.

Short-term global health research projects by US medical students: ethical challenges for partnerships.

Recent interest in global health among medical students has grown drastically, and many students now spend time abroad conducting short-term research projects in low-resource settings. These short-term stints in developing countries present important ethical challenges to US-based students and their medical schools as well as the institutions that host such students abroad. This paper outlines some of these ethical issues and puts forth recommendations for ethically mindful short-term student research.