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Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants who had feedings withheld during all blood transfusions had a lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) compared with infants who were fed during transfusions. Study Design A retrospective chart review over a 3-year period in a level-3 neonatal intensive care unit was conducted. A total of 108 inborn VLBW infants (weight range: 500-1,500 g) who had received a transfusion before 36 weeks were reviewed. Diagnosis of NEC (≥ Bell stage II), demographics, feeds, transfusions, outcomes, and variables associated with NEC were collected. Results The percentage of NEC cases was lower in infants who had feeds withheld during transfusions: 5/64 (7.8%) compared with 16/116 (13.8%) infants who were fed during transfusions. While potentially clinically important (6% absolute difference), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.33 by two-tailed Fisher exact test). Conclusions No significant decrease in the incidence of NEC was found when feeds were withheld during blood transfusions. Holding feeds during transfusions is not without consequences such as the need for intravenous access, additional fluids, and the disruption of optimum nutrition. Further studies are needed to establish the relationship between blood transfusions, feeds, and NEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better understand faculty perceptions of group work, a survey was deployed to online teaching instructors. Results suggest that most faculty find student socialization (e.g., being supportive, caring about each other), communication, reliability, and dependability important in the group process. However, very few faculty rated the development of deeper interpersonal relationships as very important. Finally, most faculty said it was important for group members to have a role, though most suggested group roles were decided upon by group members. Implications for group project implementation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focus group interviews with university instructors (tenured, tenure-track, and adjunct) were conducted to explore perceptions of online group work. Results indicated that instructors believe that group work is an essential tool for students' future lives and, therefore, a key component of the online classroom. They believe that professional development should be offered to distance instructors to encourage the use of best practice teaching (including group work) in online courses. Specific strategies for the successful implementation of online group projects were shared. Implications for practice related to faculty development, supporting outstanding teachers, and successful implementation of online group projects are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality training placements are crucial to producing professional practitioner psychologists. However, as in other professions, accessing high-quality placements remains a struggle for trainee counselling psychologists. There is also a lack of information regarding where UK counselling psychology trainees typically work on placement and the level of support provided to students. This project attempted to gather data on programme placement support and placement/training mapping. Method: A confidential, anonymous online survey was created to gather quantitative and qualitative data, broadly based on the annual US survey, and each BPS accredited counselling psychology programme was invited to complete one questionnaire. Data was collated and reported descriptively; thematic analysis was used to organise the qualitative data. Findings: 9 of the 13 programmes took part. The average FTE of academic staff allocated to placement support across the participating programmes was 0.5. There was no correspondence between the number of placement contacts per programme and the number of students enrolled on the programme. CBT was the most commonly taught approach on these programmes. For six of the surveyed programmes, there was a strong correspondence between the approaches taught and the number of placement contacts held where students could practice those approaches. NHS placements are now prevalent, but variety in placement settings remains. The qualitative data gathered in this study could be summarised by four themes: 'Placement problems'; 'Counselling psychology and clinical psychology'; 'An improving profile'; and 'National issues'. Discussion: The results suggest that there may be a good level of correspondence between the therapeutic approaches taught on UK counselling psychology training programmes and training placements offered. They also illustrate the range of experience offered by graduates, gained from a variety of placement settings. Some suggestions are offered for future national surveys of counselling psychology programmes based on this pilot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Higher socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in national surveys. Less is known about how socioeconomic factors affect CAM use in US subpopulations. We examined whether the relationship between SES and CAM use differs by racial/ethnic groups.Methods: Using national survey data, we assessed education and income effects on women's CAM use in four racial/ethnic groups (Whites, Blacks, Mexican Americans, and Chinese Americans), controlling for age, health status, and geographic region. CAM use was defined as using any of 11 domains in the prior year.Results: Adjusted effects of SES on CAM use were similar among Mexican American and non-Hispanic White women--education had a distinct gradient effect, with each increasing level of education significantly more likely to use CAM; household income > or = $60,000 was associated with CAM use compared to income < $20,000. For Chinese American women, socioeconomic factors were not associated with CAM use when controlling for confounders. Although income was not associated with CAM use among African American women, college graduates were three times more likely to use CAM than those with less than a high school education, adjusting for confounders.Conclusion: SES effects on CAM use are not uniform across racial/ethnic populations. Other factors, such as culture and social networks, may interact with SES to influence CAM use in minority populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the result of a telephone survey that examined patterns of and reasons for use of complementary and alternative therapies among women with depression. The result shows that 54 percent of women with depression reported use of complementary and alternative medicine, such as manual therapies, herbals, and vitamins. They conclude that it is important for health professionals to increase their own awareness of the types of therapies that their patients may be using.

Objective: To determine whether the conservative management versus medical/surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants leads to improved morbidity, mortality, and length of stay (LOS). Study Design: A cohort observational study was conducted on infants born October 31, 2017, through June 30, 2021, weighing = 1000 grams with a confirmed PDA by echocardiogram. Median growth rate, LOS, ventilator days, need for oxygen at NICU discharge, major comorbidities, mortality, and the type of PDA treatment were collected. Subjects were divided into those who received only conservative management (Cohort 1) and those who received medical and/or surgical treatment to close the ductus (Cohort 2). Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare baseline demographics and to determine any statistical significance in outcomes between the two cohorts. Results: 225 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 79 (35%) in Cohort 1 and 146 (65%) in Cohort 2. Upon comparison, demographics were similar among the two groups. There were no significant differences in weight gain, LOS, or ventilator days, nor in need for oxygen at NICU discharge, rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or mortality (P > .05). Conclusion: The management of ELBW infants with a PDA proved varied, with more than half receiving a medical and/or surgical intervention. This study failed to demonstrate significant improvement in several important outcomes or common comorbidities in Cohort 2. This suggests that while treating a PDA may benefit an infant's day-to-day clinical course, it may not improve their outcomes at NICU discharge. Further research is needed to increase statistical power and obtain generalizable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Kava, a substance derived from the Piper methysticum plant, is enjoying a surge in popularity in the United States due to its purported anxiolytic and analgesic effects. Though ichthyosiform dermopathy is a known adverse effect associated with chronic kava exposure in adults, dermopathy in a newborn due to maternal kava use has not yet been described. Case Report: This is a case of a 41-year-old woman who was taking a combination kava/kratom product throughout her pregnancy. She developed an ichthyosiform dermopathy that resolved after she stopped using the product postpartum. Her male infant had a neonatal course complicated by both neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, attributed to maternal kratom and buprenorphine use, as well as a diffuse ichthyosiform rash similar to descriptions of kava ichthyosiform dermopathy in adults. His neonatal course was complicated by Group B streptococcus and Serratia marscecens bacteremia (treated with antibiotics) and seizures (treated with lorazepam and phenobarbital). His rash resolved completely by day of life 22. At 9-month outpatient follow-up, he had no dermatologic abnormalities or rash recurrence. Discussion: Maternal kava use during pregnancy may cause fetal dermopathy presenting as an acquired ichthyosis. More public education is needed about the potential consequences of kava use, particularly during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]