Feline post-sterilization hyphema.

OBJECTIVE: To determine incidence and risk factors of post-sterilization hyphema in shelter cats. ANIMALS STUDIED: Retrospective medical record review of 1204 cats and prospective screening of 195 cats. PROCEDURES: The study consisted of three parts: (a) Survey responses were collected from 20 veterinarians, who perform high-quality high-volume spay-neuter (HQHVSN) in both shelter and public clinic settings; (b) medical records of 1204 cats were analyzed retrospectively over a 14-month time period; and (c) ophthalmic examinations, including tonometry, were performed prospectively on 195 cats before and after sterilization surgery over 8 weeks. RESULTS: Nine of 20 surveyed veterinarians reported having witnessed hyphema in cats following sterilization surgery. Retrospective review of 1204 medical record and prospective screening of 195 cats showed that three juvenile (<1 year of age) male cats (<2 kg) developed hyphema within 1 hour following surgery (0.2% incidence). In all three affected cats, anesthesia was induced with tiletamine/zolazepam (3 of 523 cats induced with this drug combination; 0.6% incidence), and hyphema resolved within 20 hours. Mean intraocular pressures as measured by Icare® TonoVet were (mean ± standard deviation) 11.5 ± 3.8 mm Hg and 21.7 ± 4.6 mm Hg for juvenile (<1 year of age) and adult (>1 year of age) cats, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Survey responses and three observed cases confirm the existence of feline post-sterilization hyphema with an estimated incidence of 0.2%. The underlying mechanism for this occurrence remains unknown.

Prevention of osteoporosis: a randomized clinical trial to increase calcium intake in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of a behavioral intervention (BI) compared to an enhanced standard of care (ESC) dietary counseling on increasing dietary calcium (Ca) intake in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: Three-day food diaries collected at baseline and posttreatment were analyzed for Ca intake in 49 children with JRA randomly assigned to either BI or an ESC treatment. RESULTS: Children in the BI (N = 25) demonstrated a significantly greater increase in average dietary Ca intake (M = 839) than children in the ESC (N = 24; M = 420) (F = 14.39; p < .001). Post hoc analysis revealed that children in both groups demonstrated significant gains in dietary Ca intake baseline to posttreatment. A significantly greater percentage of children in the BI (92%) attained the goal of 1500 mg/Ca at posttreatment compared to the ESC (17%), X2= 28.09; p < .001. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral intervention can have a positive impact on increasing dietary Ca intake. Future research will need to evaluate the maintenance of gains in dietary Ca intake following treatment cessation and the impact of increased Ca intake on bone mineral density.

Relationships between tattling, likeability, and social classification: a preliminary investigation of adolescents in residential care.

Little research has been published on tattling, even less on its social impact, and we found none directly investigating tattling by adolescents. This study assessed the extent to which tattling, as perceived by peers and caregivers of adolescents in a residential care program, was associated with various dimensions of social status and other behavioral correlates. Eighty-eight adolescent participants rated their housemates on likeability, perceived rates of tattling, and other behavioral descriptors. In addition, caretakers also rated each youth in terms of perceived tattling. On the basis of likeability ratings, participants were classified into one of five categories: popular, average, controversial, neglected, and rejected. Results showed a significant negative correlation between likeability and perceived tattling rates. In addition, youth classified as socially rejected were more likely to be perceived by both their peers and care providers as engaging in high rates of tattling.

The validity of the ADHD section of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children.

The purpose of this study was to assess the concurrent criterion validity of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) portion of the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV (NIMHDISC-IV). Fifty-seven adolescent participants were divided into three groups on the basis of whether participants met criteria for ADHD on caretaker and adolescent responses on the DISC: (a) 18 participants for whom both the caretakers and adolescents endorsed ADHD, (b) 17 participants for whom the caretakers but not the youth endorsed ADHD, and (c) a clinical control group with no ADHD diagnosis (n = 22). These three groups were compared across parent, teacher, and adolescent checklists; clinician diagnosis; and three objective measures of behavior (continuous performance task, actigraphy monitoring, and a structured observation). Findings lend partial support to the concurrent criterion validity of the ADHD section of DISC.

Parent perceptions of mealtime behaviors in children fed enterally.

BACKGROUND: Parent reports of mealtime behavioral problems were examined within a sample of medically complicated young children with documented feeding difficulties. Mealtime behavior problems of children who were fed orally were compared with children who received their total nutrition enterally. METHODS: A chart review of 140 pediatric patients presenting to an outpatient Interdisciplinary Feeding Team (IFT) clinic was conducted. The sample consisted of 81 males and 59 females ranging from 1.5 months to 12.6 years of age (mean age, 36.5 months). Information included for analyses was obtained from the IFT intake form, final IFT report, and the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). RESULTS: Parents of children in both groups found child mealtime behaviors equally problematic according to mean intensity ratings and frequency of problems regarding both parent behavior and child behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of feeding status (enteral versus oral feeding) of the child, parents of children with feeding and nutrition concerns benefit from intervention and support surrounding mealtimes. The specific mealtime strategies and needs of the parents, however, may differ depending on the feeding status of the child.

Relationship between feeding difficulties, medical complexity, and gestational age.

BACKGROUND: This study examined feeding skills differences in medically complex children born prematurely and full term and sought to determine whether later feeding difficulties within this medically complicated sample were related to medical factors or factors related to preterm status. METHODS: A total of 143 pediatric patients referred to an outpatient clinic for feeding, nutrition, or growth problems were compared by their gestational age at birth across a variety of dependent variables related to feeding development and behaviors. RESULTS: Full-term and preterm children did not demonstrate significant differences in feeding difficulties at first oral feeding. By the time of introduction to solid (cereal) feeding, however, preterm children more often continued to demonstrate difficulty than full-term children. Regression analyses indicated that medical factors, primarily the need for breathing assistance, accounted for more of the variance than prematurity alone. CONCLUSIONS: Medically complex children, especially those with an early need for respiratory support, will benefit from ongoing oral-motor feeding intervention.