Transcervical CVS sample size: Correlation with placental location,cytogenetic findings,and pregnancy outcome

Data from 2907 transcervical CVS cases performed on singleton pregnancies were reviewed retrospectively and villus sample size was correlated with cytogenetic results, placental location, maternal age at the expected date of confinement (EDC), gestational age at the time of sampling, birth weight, gestational age at the time of delivery, and pregnancy outcome. No correlation was noted between villus sample size and maternal age, gestational age at sampling, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, or pregnancy outcome. An inverse correlation between villus sample size and percentage of abnormal cytogenetic findings was statistically significant (X² = 8·53, p <0·01). The percentage of small samples was greater when the placenta was anterior, lateral, or fundal than when the placenta was posterior.     

A review of medical error taxonomies: A human factors perspective

Although a large number of medical error taxonomies have been published, there is little evidence to suggest that these taxonomies have been systematically compared. This paper describes a study comparing 26 medical error taxonomies using a human factors perspective. The taxonomies were examined to determine if they classified systemic factors of medical errors and if they utilized theoretical error concepts in their classifications. Scope of classification was also examined. It was found that two-thirds of the taxonomies classified systemic factors of medical errors and only a third utilized theoretical error concepts. Medical error taxonomies based on theoretical error concepts were more likely to be generic in applicability and also more likely to classify systemic factors and psychological error mechanisms of medical errors. In addition to terminology, the medical error taxonomies also varied in terms of domain-specificity, granularity, and developmental process. Different medical error taxonomies provide different information; how these differences affect medical error management needs to be investigated.     

The measurement of intracellular zinc in human intestinal mucosa using x-ray microanalysis

The zinc content of intestinal epithelial cells in human jejunum and ileum has been measured using X-ray microanalysis. The range of values was wide, the highest being found in stem cells and enterocytes. Significant differences were found in jejunum from gastric carcinoma patients and ileum from Crohn's disease patients compared with patients with non malignant, non inflammatory disease.     

Comparing the usability and reliability of a generic and a domain-specific medical error taxonomy

Medical error taxonomies are used to report and analyse patient safety incidents. Medical error taxonomies can be generic or domain-specific. In comparing generic and domain-specific medical error taxonomies, the literature compares the information both type of taxonomies classify. There is little evidence the taxonomies have been compared in terms of usability and reliability. Twenty nurses and 21 pharmacists participated in a study comparing the usability and reliability of a generic medical error taxonomy and a medication error taxonomy. The medical error taxonomies utilized were the Patient Safety Event Taxonomy and the NCC MERP Taxonomy of Medication Error. The study found no significant difference in the usability ratings of both taxonomies. The taxonomies required different amount of time to classify patient safety incidents and had significantly different reliability levels. The reliability of the NCC MERP Taxonomy of Medication Error was significantly different when used by nurses and pharmacists. The taxonomy was also preferred by the majority of participants. Some recommendations are made about the design of future medical error taxonomies.     

Identification and investigation of properties of social support

In response to the charge by House and Kahn (1985) that there is lack of specificity in conceptualization and measurement of the social support construct, this paper suggests the need to identify and specifically measure discrete properties of the previously identified dimensions (type and source) of social support. Properties are defined as what it is about combinations of source and type that needs to be measured. Based on literature reviews it is suggested that the relevant properties are amount of support, adequacy of support and number of providers of support. Measures are developed for each property. Data from 186 nurses were used to assess main and moderating effects of social support properties, workload and dying patients on emotional exhaustion and physical symptoms. As predicted, support adequacy was related to perceptions of lower workload. As single predictors, amount and adequacy of support reduced physical symptoms and emotional exhaustion. With amount and adequacy controlled, number of providers increased emotional exhaustion. Amount buffered the relationship between death and emotional exhaustion. Moderate levels of adequacy and number buffered the relationship between workload and exhaustion. Both adequacy and amount of support assisted in coping with patient death. In addition, a number of ‘reverse’ buffering and coping relationships were found. It was concluded that examination of different properties of social support increases our understanding of the impact of social support, and that further research needs to examine the simultaneous effects of various combinations of property, type and source of social support.     

Assimilation of the wax esters of marine zooplankton by herring (Clupea harengus) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii)

Herring (Clupea harengus L.) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) fed frozen-thawed zooplankton for 7 days assimilated more than 90% of the dry matter in the zooplankton consumed. Less than 5% of the total lipid ingested, largely wax esters, was excreted in the faeces. Faecal lipids from both the herring and the trout, especially the latter, were rich in wax esters and free fatty alcohols. Faecal fatty alcohols were enriched in 22:1 and deficient in 16:0 and 16:1 alcohols compared to zooplankton fatty alcohols. The growth of rainbow trout fed frozen-thawed zooplankton over 3 months was about one-half of that of trout fed commercial pellets. The fish fed on zooplankton appeared normal and were more pigmented than the fish fed on commercial pellets.     

Reactions to physically dangerous work: A conceptual and empirical analysis

This study addressed some conceptual issues central to understanding human reactions to dangerous settings and empirically explored the meaning of physically dangerous work in three different occupational groups (street patrol officers, n=96; investigators, n=21; and clerical and support service workers, n=60) practicing in the same organizational setting (city police department). Objective hazards, estimated with occupational risk statistics, explained 56 per cent of the variation in experienced physical danger which, in turn, significantly heightened emotional exhaustion, dissatisfaction with pay, and disaffection from the employing organization, in the street patrol officer group only, perceived physical danger significantly correlated with task variety, task significance and feedback. The data are interpreted to mean that for street patrol officers, experienced physical danger adds a modicum of enrichment and significance to the work itself. One theme of the analysis is that potentially stigmatic features of the work can be transformed into socially meaningful illusions that enhance the personal dignity of the performer (cf. Hughes, 1958). However, the dominant theme is that physically dangerous work produces fear and related affective distress. Further research on this topic is recommended because of the affective and behavioral consequences of perceived physical danger and also because definitions and meanings of dangerous work are socially, politically and morally important.     

DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES IN A STREAM EXPOSED TO URBAN RUNOFF1

ABSTRACT: A study of benthic macroinvertebrate community composition was conducted at eight sites along Shabakunk Creek, a small stream in Mercer County, New Jersey, which receives urban runoff. The relationship between changes in substrate composition and the nature of the benthic macroinvertebrate community has been examined. Organisms were collected seasonally from natural substrates in riffles. Attempts to employ artificial substrates for invertebrate collection proved unsuccessful, as the population on the samplers was not representative of that in the stream bed. Number of total benthic macroinvertebrate taxa collected declined from 13 in relatively undeveloped upstream areas to four below heavily developed areas, while population density decreased simultaneously in the same areas. Periphyton samples collected from natural substrates were analyzed for selected heavy metals. Significantly higher heavy metal concentrations are reported from substrates sampled below heavily developed areas, and changes in these values are discussed with regard to changes in benthic macroinvertebrate distribution.