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Objective: To provide an in-depth analysis of offspring attitudes toward their means of conception and the practice of sperm donation in the United States., Design: Survey-based study using a 46-item questionnaire., Patient(s): Eighty-five adult offspring of sperm donation., Intervention(s): Participants were recruited through an Internet-based support group for adults conceived through sperm donation. Eighty-five of them completed the questionnaire provided through a link to another Internet site., Main Outcome Measure(s): Responses to a 46-item questionnaire., Result(s): A majority of offspring learned of their conception at age >18 years during a planned conversation; had no information about their donor; viewed their donor as their "biological father"; had searched for and wanted identifying information on their donor and half-siblings; and supported the provision of extensive nonidentifying information or identity release in the practice of sperm donation. Participant attitudes toward their means of conception were evenly distributed from "very good" to "very bad." Other descriptive information on participants contributed to an understanding of their attitudes., Conclusion(s): Participant ratings of their conception were evenly distributed from "very good" to "very bad." Most believed that identifying information should be provided to recipients and that they themselves would not participate in the practice of gamete donation., (Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Body temperature is often the sole determinant of whether or not the neutropenic cancer patient is admitted to the hospital for empiric antibiotic therapy. Recently developed infrared tympanic thermometers offer rapid readings, but their accuracy has not been established. We studied two infrared thermometers (FirstTemp and Thermoscan) and a thermistor (IVAC) in children with cancer. Mean infrared measurements did not differ significantly between right and left ear canals, and the mean IVAC temperature did not differ significantly from the left to the right axilla (P greater than 0.05, paired t test). IVAC predictive mode mean temperature was 0.2 degrees C lower than monitor mode mean temperature in the axilla (P less than 0.0001), but 0.1 degree C higher than monitor mode orally (P less than 0.0001). Aiming the infrared instrument at the tympanic membrane using an ear tug resulted in a 0.2 degree C higher mean temperature than casual placement in the ear canal (P less than 0.0001). After compensation for the mean difference in reference oral glass-mercury versus test instrument temperatures, the FirstTemp, Thermoscan, and oral and axillary predictive mode IVAC measurements yielded sensitivities for the detection of fever of 84%, 84%, 82%, and 86%; specificities of 100%, 99%, 100%, and 100%; positive predictive values of 100%, 93%, 100%, and 100%; and negative predictive values of 95%, 98%, 98%, and 98%, respectively. We conclude that each of these instruments detects fever with comparable reliability. Infrared instruments are especially attractive alternatives due to their time efficiency.