Relationships between matrix mineralization, oxidative metabolism, and mitochondrial structure during ATDC5 murine chondroprogenitor cell line differentiation.

The mechanistic relationships between the progression of growth chondrocyte differentiation, matrix mineralization, oxidative metabolism, and mitochondria content and structure were examined in the ATDC5 murine chondroprogenitor cell line. The progression of chondrocyte differentiation was associated with a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) ~2-fold increase in oxidative phosphorylation.

Oxidative metabolism is impaired by phosphate deficiency during fracture healing and is mechanistically related to BMP induced chondrocyte differentiation.

Prior studies of acute phosphate restriction during the endochondral phase of fracture healing showed delayed chondrocyte differentiation was mechanistically linked to decreased bone morphogenetic protein signaling. In the present study, transcriptomic analysis of fracture callus gene expression in three strains of mice was used to identify differentially expressed (FDR = q ≤ 0.05) genes in response to phosphate (Pi) restriction.

Incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after Distal Radius Fracture.

Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can present following distal radius fracture (DRF) and may progress to require carpal tunnel release (CTR). The primary aim of this study was to determine the incidence of CTS within 6 months of a DRF and the rate of CTR in this population.

Methods: We used the PearlDiver national insurance database to determine the incidence of CTS after DRF.

Open Ankle Fractures: What Predicts Infection? A Multicenter Study.

Objective: To identify the patient, injury, and treatment factors associated with an acute infection during the treatment of open ankle fractures in a large multicenter retrospective review. To evaluate the effect of infectious complications on the rates of nonunion, malunion, and loss of reduction.

Design: Multicenter retrospective review.

Are Continuous Femoral Nerve Catheters Beneficial for Pain Management After Operative Fixation of Tibial Plateau Fractures? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine whether a continuous femoral nerve block after open reduction internal fixation of tibial plateau fractures would diminish Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and/or systemic narcotic intake.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Level 1 academic trauma center.

Serum proteomic assessment of the progression of fracture healing.

A targeted proteomic analysis of murine serum over a 35-day course of fracture healing was carried out to determine if serum proteomic changes could be used to monitor the biological progression of fracture healing. Transverse, closed femoral fractures where generated and stabilized with intramedullary fixation. A single stranded DNA aptamer-based multiplexed proteomic approach was used to assay 1,310 proteins.

Correlation between RUST assessments of fracture healing to structural and biomechanical properties.

Radiographic Union Score for Tibia (RUST) and modified RUST (mRUST) are radiographic tools for quantitatively evaluating fracture healing using a cortical scoring system. This tool has high intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs); however, little evidence has evaluated the scores against the physical properties of bone healing. Closed, stabilized fractures were made in the femora of C3H/HeJ male mice (8-12 week-old) of two dietary groups: A control and a phosphate restricted diet group.

ECM stiffness primes the TGFβ pathway to promote chondrocyte differentiation.

Cells encounter physical cues such as extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness in a microenvironment replete with biochemical cues. However, the mechanisms by which cells integrate physical and biochemical cues to guide cellular decision making are not well defined. Here we investigate mechanisms by which chondrocytes generate an integrated response to ECM stiffness and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), a potent agonist of chondrocyte differentiation.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury after transfusion of maternal blood: a case-control study.

Study Design: This is a single-center retrospective case-control study of 7 transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) cases and 28 controls in the pediatric spinal surgery population.

Objective: To determine the association between maternal transfusion and risk of TRALI in pediatric spinal surgery patients.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies support a "2-hit" model for the pathogenesis of TRALI-activation and sequestration of neutrophils in the pulmonary vasculature followed by transfusion of a biologic response modifier such as antileukocyte antibodies.

Increasing the use of evidence in health policy: practice and views of policy makers and researchers.

Background: Better communication is often suggested as fundamental to increasing the use of research evidence in policy, but little is known about how researchers and policy makers work together or about barriers to exchange. This study explored the views and practice of policy makers and researchers regarding the use of evidence in policy, including: (i) current use of research to inform policy; (ii) dissemination of and access to research findings for policy; (iii) communication and exchange between researchers and policy makers; and (iv) incentives for increasing the use of research in policy.

Methods: Separate but similar interview schedules were developed for policy makers and researchers.

An evaluation of strategies to improve the quality and content of hospital-based postnatal care in a metropolitan Australian hospital.

Aim And Objective: This study aimed to design, implement and evaluate strategies to improve the quality and content of hospital-based postnatal care.

Background: Following birth, women report physical health problems, difficulties with breastfeeding, a lack of parenting self-efficacy and there is high occurrence of postnatal distress and depression. Despite these significant needs, women are frequently dissatisfied with the advice and support they receive from hospital-based postnatal care.

Effective antenatal education: strategies recommended by expectant and new parents.

Antenatal education is a crucial component of antenatal care, yet practice and research demonstrate that women and men now seek far more than the traditional approach of a birth and parenting program attended in the final weeks of pregnancy. Indeed, women and men participating in this study recommended a range of strategies to be provided during the childbearing year, comparable to a "menu in a restaurant." Their strategies included three program types: "Hearing Detail and Asking Questions," "Learning and Discussing," and "Sharing and Supporting Each Other.

Time to listen: strategies to improve hospital-based postnatal care.

Background: In Australia and internationally, women report high levels of dissatisfaction with hospital-based postnatal care.

Aim: To design and implement strategies to improve hospital-based postnatal care at a Sydney metropolitan hospital.

Method: This was an Action Research study.

Antenatal education as perceived by health professionals.

This article aims to identify the learning needs of expectant and new parents for antenatal education as perceived by health professionals. In Australia, antenatal education programs are predominantly designed by health professionals, and recent research has challenged the efficacy of this approach. The data collected from 73 health professionals, reported here, demonstrates that their perceptions of the concerns and interests of expectant and new parents were divided into three interrelated categories: "need to know.

'Soothing the ring of fire': Australian women's and midwives' experiences of using perineal warm packs in the second stage of labour.

Objective: to determine women's and midwives' experiences of using perineal warm packs in the second stage of labour.

Design: as part of a randomised controlled trial (Warm Pack Trial), women and midwives were asked to complete questionnaires about the effects of the warm packs on pain, perineal trauma, comfort, feelings of control, satisfaction and intentions for use during future births.

Setting: two hospitals in Sydney, Australia.

Perineal outcomes and maternal comfort related to the application of perineal warm packs in the second stage of labor: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Perineal warm packs are widely used during childbirth in the belief that they reduce perineal trauma and increase comfort during late second stage of labor. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of applying warm packs to the perineum on perineal trauma and maternal comfort during the late second stage of labor.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was undertaken.

The concerns and interests of expectant and new parents: assessing learning needs.

Antenatal education is an important component of antenatal care in the developed world, but research indicates that it may not be meeting consumer needs. This article provides an overview of a needs assessment that aimed to determine the concerns and interests of expectant and new parents and how they prefer to learn during the periods of pregnancy and the early weeks of parenthood. The findings could be used to develop an innovative approach to antenatal education in order to prepare expectant and new parents for the birth experience and the early weeks of parenthood.

Randomised-controlled trial of two antenatal education programmes.

Objective: to determine whether a new antenatal education programme with increased parenting content could improve parenting outcomes for women compared with a regular antenatal education programme.

Design: a randomised-controlled trial. Data were collected through self-report surveys.

Preparing expectant couples for new-parent experiences: a comparison of two models of antenatal education.

This paper describes a pilot antenatal education program intended to better prepare couples for the early weeks of lifestyle changes and parenting. Eight weeks after birth, data were collected by questionnaire from 19 couples who participated in a pilot program and from 14 couples who were enrolled in a routine hospital program. Women in the pilot program were significantly more satisfied with their experience of parenthood.

Peripheral blood leukocyte counts in cytomegalovirus infected heart transplant patients: impact of acute disease versus subclinical infection.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated leucopenia in heart transplant patients is poorly characterized.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of timing, degree, and type of leukopenia in four groups of patients: cases (n=20); controls (n=20); subclinical early infection (n=21), and subclinical late infection (n=22). In the cases, white blood cells (WBC) count at diagnosis was compared to prediagnosis; and cases were compared to controls.

An Australian prospective cohort study of risk factors for severe perineal trauma during childbirth.

Objective: to determine risk factors for the occurrence of severe perineal trauma (third and fourth degree tears) during childbirth.

Design: a prospective cohort study was conducted using the hospital's computerised obstetric information system. Additional data were gathered on women who sustained severe perineal trauma.

An exploration of the relationship between postnatal distress and maternal role attainment, breast feeding problems and breast feeding cessation in Australia.

Objectives: To explore the relationships between maternal distress, breast feeding cessation, breast feeding problems and breast feeding maternal role attainment.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Three urban hospitals within Sydney, Australia.

The use of record linkage to examine illicit drug use in pregnancy.

Aims: To examine the obstetric and perinatal outcomes for women with a drug-related hospital admission during pregnancy.

Design: Antenatal and birth admissions to New South Wales (NSW) hospitals from the NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection were linked to birth information from the NSW Midwives Data Collection over a 5-year period (1998-2002).

Measurements: Birth admissions were flagged as positive for drug use where a birth admission or any pregnancy admission for that birth involved an opioid, cannabis or stimulant-related International Classification of Diseases version 10 Australian modification (ICD-10AM) code.

Use of record linkage to examine alcohol use in pregnancy.

Background: To date, no population-level data have been published examining the obstetric and neonatal outcomes for women with an alcohol-related hospital admission during pregnancy compared with the general obstetric population. This information is critical to planning and implementing appropriate services.

Methods: Antenatal and delivery admissions to New South Wales (NSW) hospitals from the NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection were linked to birth information from the NSW Midwives Data Collection over a 5-year period (1998-2002).

Australian women's stories of their baby-feeding decisions in pregnancy.

Objective: To describe the baby-feeding decisions of a group of Australian women prior to birth.

Design, Setting And Participants: A qualitative study using face-to-face in depth interviews was undertaken with 29 women. All interviews were audio-tape recorded and transcribed verbatim.