RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The internet is a valuable resource for parents of typical children, who are looking for information about their children's growth and development and how to boost them. However, for parents of children with special needs, especially for non-English-speaking parents, there are anecdotal reports stating that specific and accurate information is not available on the internet. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the type of information available on the internet for French-speaking parents of children with disability as well as assess the quality of the information collected. METHODS: We carried out a search of the existing relevant websites targeted at parents of children with disability. We used a validated instrument to extract structural, textual, and visual characteristics of these websites and evaluate their usability. RESULTS: In all, 42 websites were analyzed; of these, the information had been validated by a trustworthy source in only 18 (43%) websites. Networking opportunities for parents were available in only 7 (17%) websites. Most websites provided information related to autism spectrum disorder (20/42, 42%) and learning disabilities (19/42, 45%), and only a few websites discussed other disability types such as behavorial disorders and developmental language disorders (4/42, 10% each). Community, social, and civic life (9/42, 22%); domestic life (12/42, 29%); and mobility (15/42, 36%) were the less frequently covered topics. With regard to the usability evaluation, 22 of the 42 (52%) websites received a global score <70%, whereas 20 (48%) scored ≥70. CONCLUSIONS: Although the internet is an infinite source of information, it is not necessarily actionable for parents of children with disability. Some information remains difficult to find online, and networking opportunities with other parents dealing with similar challenges are scarce.
RESUMO
During gestation, the mother is the main source of thyroid hormones for the foetus. Thus, hypothyroidism during pregnancy and/or preterm birth compromise thyroid hormone supply for the foetus. Maternal hypothyroidism increases risk of preterm birth and both conditions are associated with respiratory distress in infants. Since thyroid hormones are essential for normal brain development, it is plausible that maternal thyroid hormone deficiency plays a role in respiratory disorders related to neurological immaturity in the newborn; however, this hypothesis is yet to be tested. Here, we used methimazole treatment (MMI; 0.05% v/w) from the onset of pregnancy until two weeks postpartum to induce thyroid hormone deficiency in rat pups. At 14-15â¯days of age, we used plethysmography to measure breathing at rest and in response to hypoxia (12% O2, 20â¯min) in intact pups. We then used a urethane/chloralose anesthetised preparation to measure cardiorespiratory inhibition induced by laryngeal chemoreflex stimulation. In intact pups, basal breathing did not differ between groups but the breathing frequency response to hypoxia of MMI-treated pups was lower than controls. Following anesthesia, breathing frequency of MMI pups was 60% lower than controls; following laryngeal chemoreflex stimulation, the drop in O2 saturation that was 82% greater in MMI-treated pups than controls. Inactivation of GABAA receptors (bicuculline; 0.5â¯mg/kg) raised the frequency of anesthetised MMI pups but not control. We conclude that gestational thyroid hormone deficiency interferes with the respiratory and autonomic control systems of the offspring. Thyroid hormone supplementation could alleviate cardiorespiratory disorders in newborn, especially those born preterm.
