Exploring the factors associated with prelacteal feeds in Papua New Guinea: a population-based survey.

Background: Prelacteal feeding disrupts early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, and increases the risk of childhood illnesses and under-five mortality. Despite its negative health outcomes, newborns are given prelacteal feeds in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This study investigated the factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices among women in PNG.

Dexmedetomidine and surgical field visibility in nasal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Nasal and sinus surgery, especially using endoscopy, relies upon adequate haemostasis to be safe and effective. Often other haemostatic methods, such as cautery are not viable, and other methods must be employed. This study examines the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in controlled hypotension and for surgical field visibility in endoscopic sinus surgery and other nasal surgeries.

Normalizing arterial blood pressure in patients with aortic stenosis does not prevent grading discrepancies between pre-cardiopulmonary bypass transesophageal echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) grading discrepancies exist between pre-cardiopulmonary (pre-CPB) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Prior studies have not systematically controlled blood pressure.

Aims: We hypothesized that normalizing arterial blood pressure during pre-CPB TEE for patients undergoing valve replacement for AS would result in equivalent grading measurements when compared to TTE.

Use of dexmedetomidine for controlled hypotension in middle ear surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Microsurgical operations such as middle ear surgery rely heavily on visibility of the surgical field. Anesthetic techniques such as controlled hypotension have been developed to improve surgical field visibility by attempting to decrease bleeding. Many agents have been utilized to achieve controlled hypotension intraoperatively.

Ficus septica exudate, a traditional medicine used in Papua New Guinea for treating infected cutaneous ulcers: in vitro evaluation and clinical efficacy assessment by cluster randomised trial.

Background And Objectives: Infected cutaneous ulcers are major health problems for children living in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. The inaccessibility of affected populations and lack of access to basic healthcare, make a local plant-based therapy an attractive treatment option. We assessed Ficus septica exudate in biological assays relevant to wound healing.

Medical Students at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea: Predictors of Performance and Student Backgrounds.

Background: Papua New Guinea, a lower middle income country with a population of around 8.5 million, the majority of whom live in rural areas, produces far fewer than the number of medical graduates required to meet the WHO-recommended doctor/population ratio. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences is under pressure to increase its output and ensure the graduates are able to function in rural settings.

Guidelines for Complementary Feeding of Infants in the Asia Pacific Region: APACPH Public Health Nutrition Group.

Good nutrition in the first "1000 days," including breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods, prepares for a healthy childhood and adult life, also contributes to the prevention of the double burden of malnutrition. Exclusive breastfeeding provides all required nutrients until an infant is around 6 months of age when complementary foods are needed. A literature review was undertaken of complementary foods in the Asia Pacific region.

Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness and diabetic retinopathy in people aged 50 years and older in the National Capital District of Papua New Guinea.

Background/aims: To conduct an assessment of avoidable blindness, diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adults aged 50 years and older in the National Capital District (NCD) region of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based survey was performed for which 25 clusters of 50 people aged ≥50 years were randomly selected from the NCD region. The standardised rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) with diabetic retinopathy (+DR) methodology was used.

Results of a Flipped Classroom Teaching Approach in Anesthesiology Residents.

Background: In a flipped classroom approach, learners view educational content prior to class and engage in active learning during didactic sessions.

Objective: We hypothesized that a flipped classroom improves knowledge acquisition and retention for residents compared to traditional lecture, and that residents prefer this approach.

Methods: We completed 2 iterations of a study in 2014 and 2015.

Dietary Guidelines for the Asia Pacific Region.

Nutrition is a major determinant of health throughout all stages of life and together with smoking is the most important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the Asia Pacific Region. The workshop participants examined Dietary Guidelines and Food Guides that are in use in our region, together with additional materials from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Cancer Research Foundation. The resulting set of guidelines is meant as a reminder of the main issues to be covered in a general public health education program.

Impact of continuous paravertebral blockade infusion type on pain management over time for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a pilot study.

This pilot study was designed to examine the impact of two different (PVB) infusion types compared to a control (no PVB) on pain management in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Acute and chronic pain over time, perioperative oral morphine milligram equivalent (MME) consumption and patient satisfaction were measured. A protracted enrollment period and participant attrition precluded target enrollment and subsequent power analysis.

Management of LVAD Patients for Noncardiac Surgery: A Single-Institution Study.

Objective: To describe the experience regarding the perioperative management of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) who require anesthesia while undergoing noncardiac surgery (NCS) at a single medical center.

Design: Retrospective chart review

Setting: Academic medical center

Participants: Patients with LVADs

Interventions: Medical records from April 1, 2009 through January 31, 2014 were reviewed for patients who underwent Heartmate II LVAD placement at this facility. Individual records were reviewed for NCS after LVAD placement, specifically investigating perioperative and anesthetic management.

The associations of sociocultural attitudes towards appearance with body dissatisfaction and eating behaviors in Hong Kong adolescents.

Objectives: Western culture has great influences on body dissatisfaction and related eating behaviors in adolescents. This study aimed to assess the sociocultural influences on eating attitudes and motivations among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents.

Methods: In 2007, 909 adolescents (mean age = 14.

The emergence of separation protest is robust under conditions of severe developmental stress in rural Bangladesh.

The response of 185 infants to their mothers' departure was assessed in a rural area of Bangladesh. Despite their poor health and nutritional status, this group of infants showed the same peak in separation protest around the end of the first year that has been documented for healthier samples in several cultural contexts; correlational analysis suggests that the healthier infants were more likely to display protest. In addition, there was an earlier rise and decline in distress at maternal departure in the first half year of life, not seen in other reports.

Echocardiography in the intensive care unit.

As ultrasound technology improves and ultrasound availability increases, echocardiography utilization is growing within intensive care units. Although not replacing the often-needed comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation, limited bedside echocardiography promises to provide intensivists with enhanced diagnostic ability and improved hemodynamic understanding of individual patients. Routine and emergency echocardiography within the intensive care unit focuses on identifying and optimizing medically treatable conditions in a timely manner.

Breakfast frequency inversely associated with BMI and body fatness in Hong Kong Chinese children aged 9-18 years.

The present study assessed the relationship between breakfast frequency and measures of obesity in Hong Kong Chinese children aged 9-18 years. A total of 11,570 children (50 % boys) underwent anthropometric measurements and completed a simple self-administered dietary behaviour questionnaire. Their parents completed a questionnaire providing demographic information.

Asian children's obesogenic diets-time to change this part of the energy balance equation?

Food intake and dietary behavior, along with physical activity, are key environmental determinants of both energy imbalance as well as achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Increasingly globalized, obesogenic diets and dietary behaviors have created a mainly urban Asian childhood obesity epidemic, which, coupled with persistent undernutrition, present a complex double burden of malnutrition. Some dietary patterns associated with Asian childhood overweight include snacking and eating out; consumption of fast food, sweetened beverages, and excessive meat; unhealthy macronutrient energy proportions; and a preference for refined grains.

Associations of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene polymorphisms with adiposity and IGF-I activity in adolescents.

Objective: To explore the genetic effect of the GH receptor (GHR) on obesity and related metabolic parameters in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents.

Context: Obesity is a growing global epidemic. Increasing evidence suggests that the GH-IGF-I axis plays an important role in regulating adiposity and insulin sensitivity.

Associations of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 gene polymorphisms with IGF-I activity and lipid parameters in adolescents.

Objective: Childhood obesity is a growing global epidemic. Recent studies indicate that obesity and related metabolic traits are highly heritable. Increasing evidence suggests that growth hormone (GH) and the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis have important functions in regulating adiposity and insulin sensitivity.

Secular changes in height, weight and body mass index in Hong Kong Children.

Background: Large population growth surveys of children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 y were undertaken in Hong Kong in 1963 and 1993. The global epidemic of obesity is a major public health concern. To monitor the impact of this epidemic in Hong Kong children and to identify secular changes in growth, a further growth survey was undertaken in 2005/6.