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Biomedical subjects

A Heywood

Publications and source records attributed to A Heywood.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Growth in children from the Wosera subdistrict, Papua New Guinea, in relation to energy and protein intakes and zinc status.

In a cross-sectional study of 123 children aged 24-120 mo from the Wosera subdistrict of Papua New Guinea, height, weight, hematocrit, hemoglobin, hair zinc, and presence of malaria were measured. Two 24-h recalls were undertaken in 67 of the children aged 72-120 mo; 52%, 73%, and 76% had energy, protein, and zinc intakes, respectively, less than two-thirds of the FAO/WHO/UNU recommendations. Stunting was prevalent (29%); 16% were moderately wasted. The prevalence of stunting and hair zinc concentrations less than 1.68 mumol/g was gender related; 38% of males vs 20% of females had Z scores for height-for-age (HAZ scores) less than -2 (P = 0.04); 26% of males vs 11% of females had hair zinc less than 1.68 mumol/g (P less than 0.05). Analysis of variance showed that age, sex, hemoglobin, and log hair zinc influenced HAZ scores, depending on the age group; both sex and the log of the hair zinc values were significant factors in the older children. Stunting in Worsera children was related to chronic deficits in energy and protein and was excerbated in the older male children by suboptimal zinc status.

Age Factors

Behavioral effects of iron supplementation in infants in Madang, Papua New Guinea.

The effect of iron supplementation on attending behavior of 96 1-y-old infants was assessed in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of iron dextran in Papua New Guinea. The treatment group received an injection of iron dextran at 2 mo; the controls received a placebo injection. Because many children had malarial parasitemia at testing, presence of malaria was used in the analysis. A significant interaction was found between iron and malaria infection on total fixation time: iron-supplemented groups and placebo-treated parasitemic children showed significantly higher total fixation scores than did placebo-treated aparasitemic children. Blood analysis of iron status showed similar results, with lowest iron status evident in the placebo-treated aparasitemic group. There was no effect of treatment on rate of habituation or dishabituation. Supplemental iron treatment has a significant effect on attention but the direction of the effect depends on the presence of malaria infection.

Anemia, Hypochromic

Survey of the practice of epidural analgesia in a regional sample of obstetric units.

An investigation into practices of the epidural services in a regional sample of obstetric units was undertaken following recent reported disasters associated with epidural analgesia for labour pain. A questionnaire was completed by all 22 obstetric units in the region, which included six teaching, 14 district and two independent centres. In three units the epidural service was shared with the obstetricians. A continuous anaesthetic presence was provided in 16 of 22 units. There was considerable variation in the attendance upon epidural patients by the anaesthetists. Instructions to midwives for top-ups and subsequent care of patients followed no uniform pattern. Midwife in-service training in the initial management of serious epidural complications and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation was inconsistent. In some units, the avoidance of aortocaval compression was not emphasised in the management of serious complications such as severe maternal hypotension, total spinal blockade or cardiac arrest of the parturient. The results obtained in this survey suggest that there is a need to review the requirements in the provision of obstetric epidural services and consideration should be given to the establishment of a generally accepted standard of practice.

Anesthesia, Epidural

Observations on the effect of immersion in Bath spa water.

Immersion in water in spas has been practised for centuries and has many proponents. Despite fierce debate about its efficacy there has been little scientific evaluation of the effect of immersion in mineral waters. Eight normal subjects were immersed in Bath spa water for two hours and the renal, haematological, and cardiovascular responses were compared with those in the control periods before and after immersion. Significant, twofold diuresis and natriuresis, 5% haemodilution, and a 50% increase in cardiac index were observed in subjects immersed, sitting, in Bath spa water at 35 degrees C. These changes may constitute part of the scientific rationale for spa treatment in many states of disease.

Adult