Why parents consent to their children’s participation in genetic research: A study of parental decision making

Parents need to be asked to provide informed consent on behalf of their child for participation in genetic research. Decision making for such parents is difficult because ethical challenges in paediatric genetic research studies are different from similar adult studies. This paper focuses on interviews conducted with parents who were asked to consent to their children’s participation (or not) in a genetic research study of intellectual disability and/or autism.

Variations Of The Nutrient Foramina In Dried Human Femur

Background: An understanding of the location, number, direction and size of nutrient foramina in long bones isvery important clinically, especially in orthopaedic surgical procedures such as fracture repair, bone grafting,vascularized bone microsurgery, intramedullary reaming and plating,as well as in medico legal cases. An accurateknowledge of the location of the nutrient foramina in long bones should help prevent intraoperative injuries inorthopaedic, as well as in plastic and reconstructive surgery.Aims & Objectives: The aim of our study is to observe the variations in number, location, direction and size of thenutrient foramina of Dried Human Femur.Materials and Methods: The study comprised 200 dry normal adult femur bones of unknown sex obtained fromthe Department of Anatomy of various medical colleges of Telangana, India.Results: The total number of nutrient foramina obtained in 200 femurs was 326. 82 bones had single nutrientforamen (41%), 111 bones had double nutrient foramina (55.5%), 6 bones had triple nutrient foramina (3%), andonly 1 bone 4 nutrient foramina (0.5%) and none of the bones showed zero foramen. The size of nutrient foraminawere also noted in 200 bones, 60 bones presented small sized foramina (18%), 130 bones presented with mediumsized foramina (40%), and rest of 136 bones presented with large sized foramina (42%). The nutrient foraminaobeyed the general rule that is, directed away from the growing end of the bone. Among 326 nutrient foramina149 were located on posterior surface (46%), about 126 foramina were located on medial surface (38.50%), 38were located on the lateral surface (12%), and the remaining 12 were located on the popliteal surface (6%), andnone on the anterior surface.Conclusion: Knowledge of the localization and number of the nutrient foramina is useful in certain surgicalprocedures such as bone grafting and microsurgical vascularized bone transplantation, to preserve the circulationintact and for open reduction surgeries.

Effect of Valethamate Bromide on the First Stage of Labor.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of intramuscular valethamate bromide on the duration of labor, rate of cervical dilatation and the effect of the drug on the mother and the fetus. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology at ESIC MC-PGIMSR Bangalore involving 200 women with fullterm pregnancy in active labor. Group A received valethamate bromide intramuscular injection. Group B was control group. Results: There was no significant difference in the parity, mean age of patients and mean duration of gestation in both the groups. But, there was difference in the mode of delivery. Valethamate bromide caused significant decrease in the duration of cervical phase of labor as compared to control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the Apgar score of new borns, and there were no maternal and fetal side effects. Conclusion: Valethamate bromide can be used in the management of labor for reducing the duration of first stage of labor without any untoward effects on mother and fetus.

Acute Pancreatitis in Pregnancy.

Acute pancreatitis is a rare event in pregnancy, which can have a high maternal mortality and fetal loss. Gallstone disease is thought to be responsible for about 70% of these cases. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman, who presented with severe pain confined to the upper abdomen, which was radiating to the back. Investigation undertaken led to the diagnoses of acute pancreatitis.