Digital Commons Network^™

Sustained Attention In Children With Two Etiologies Of Early Hydrocephalus., Maegan D. Swartwout, Paul T. Cirino, Amy W. Hampson, Jack M. Fletcher, Michael E. Brandt, Maureen Dennis

Journal Articles

Several studies have shown that children with spina bifida meningomyelocele (SBM) and hydrocephalus have attention problems on parent ratings and difficulties in stimulus orienting associated with a posterior brain attention system. Less is known about response control and inhibition associated with an anterior brain attention system. Using the Gordon Vigilance Task (Gordon, 1983), we studied error rate, reaction time, and performance over time for sustained attention, a key anterior attention function, in 101 children with SBM, 17 with aqueductal stenosis (AS; another condition involving congenital hydrocephalus), and 40 typically developing controls (NC). In SBM, we investigated the relation between cognitive …

Body Mass Index And Health Related Quality Of Life In Elementary School Children: A Pilot Study, Lei Zhang, Peter J. Fos, William D. Johnson, Vafa Kamali, Reagan G. Cox, Miguel A. Zuniga, Theresa Kittle

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: We investigated the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) indicated by baseline health status in elementary school children. Methods: Data were obtained via parents whose children enrolled in an elementary school, kindergarten to fourth grade, in southern Mississippi in spring 2004. Parents completed the SF-10 for Children, a brief 10-item questionnaire designed to measure children's HRQOL on a voluntary basis. Results: A total of 279 parents completed the questionnaires for their children. On average, physical and psychosocial summary scores, major indicators for HRQOL, were significantly higher among the elementary school children in our …

Characteristics Of A Spina Bifida Population Including North American Caucasian And Hispanic Individuals, Kit Sing Au, Phong X Tran, Chester C Tsai, Michelle R O'Byrne, Jone-Ing Lin, Alanna C Morrison, Amy W Hampson, Paul Cirino, Jack M Fletcher, Kathryn K Ostermaier, Gayle H Tyerman, Sabine Doebel, Hope Northrup

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Meningomyelocele (MM) is a common human birth defect. MM is a disorder of neural development caused by contributions from genes and environmental factors that result in the NTD and lead to a spectrum of physical and neurocognitive phenotypes.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary approach has been taken to develop a comprehensive understanding of MM through collaborative efforts from investigators specializing in genetics, development, brain imaging, and neurocognitive outcome. Patients have been recruited from five different sites: Houston and the Texas-Mexico border area; Toronto, Canada; Los Angeles, California; and Lexington, Kentucky. Genetic risk factors for MM have been assessed by genotyping and …

Blood Utilization In Children Managed Non-Operatively For Blunt Solid Organ Injury., Scott J. Keckler, Kuojen Tsao, Susan W. Sharp, G W. Holcomb Iii, Daniel J. Ostlie, Shawn D. St Peter

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Blood product utilization is an important issue in health care, given the frequent shortages in hospitals and the societal burden required to maintain the supply. Therefore, we retrospectively audited our blunt spleen/liver trauma experience to determine the percentage of cross-matched blood that was transfused to see whether more stringent typing criteria should be applied.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a recent 7-year experience with nonoperative management in patients with blunt spleen or liver injury was performed. Demographics, packed red blood cells prepared by cross-match, and transfusions were measured. Unmatched, O-type blood given in the trauma bay was excluded. Patients …

Management Of Pediatric Acute Appendicitis In The Computed Tomographic Era., Kuojen Tsao, Shawn D. St Peter, Patricia A. Valusek, Troy L. Spilde, Scott J. Keckler, Abhilash Nair, Daniel J. Ostlie, G W. Holcomb Iii

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The treatment options for complicated appendicitis in children continue to evolve. Optimal management of complicated appendicitis relies on an accurate preoperative diagnosis. We examined the accuracy of our preoperative diagnosis including computed tomography (CT) and the influence on the management of children with perforated and nonperforated appendicitis.

METHODS: Following IRB approval, a 6-year review of all patients that underwent an appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed. Treatments included immediate operations and initial nonoperative management (antibiotic therapy +/- percutaneous drainage of abscess). Appendicitis was confirmed by histological examination.

RESULTS: One thousand seventy-eight patients underwent appendectomy for suspected appendicitis. Preoperative CT …

Verb Generation In Children With Spina Bifida., Maureen Dennis, Derryn Jewell, Ross Hetherington, Christine Burton, Michael E. Brandt, Susan E. Blaser, Jack M Fletcher

Journal Articles

We investigated verb generation in children with spina bifida meningomyelocele (SBM; n = 55) and in typically developing controls (n = 32). Participants completed 6 blocks (40 trials each) of a task requiring them to produce a semantically related verb in response to a target noun and an additional 40 trials on which they were simply required to read target nouns aloud. After controlling for reading response time, groups did not differ significantly in verb generation response time or learning. Children with SBM produced more non-verb errors than controls and tended to repeat their mistakes over blocks. Verb generation performance …

Current Application Of Thoracoscopy In Children., Kuojen Tsao, Shawn D. St Peter, Susan W. Sharp, Abhilash Nair, Walter S. Andrews, Ronald J. Sharp, Charles L. Snyder, Daniel J. Ostlie, G W. Holcomb Iii

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of thoracoscopy for thoracic lesions and conditions in children is evolving. Our experience with thoracoscopy has expanded in recent years. Therefore, we reviewed our most recent 7-year experience to examine the current applications for thoracoscopy in children.

METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing a thoracoscopic operation at Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, MO) between January 1, 2000, and June 18, 2007, was performed. Data points reviewed included patient demographics, type of operation, final diagnosis, complications, and recovery.

RESULTS: During the study period, 230 children underwent 231 thoracoscopic procedures. The mean age was 9.6 …

Psychosocial Functioning In Childhood Cancer Survivors, Measured By Parent, Teacher And Child Surveys, Tamara Porter Miller

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The purpose of the current study is to understand emotional and neurocognitive functioning in childhood cancer survivors. In this single-evaluation cross sectional study, 41 childhood cancer survivors (53.2% of those eligible) in the Health Education Research Outcomes in Survivors (HEROS) Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital between the ages of six and eighteen and their parents and teachers completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-II), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Patients, parents and teachers scores were compared to those of normative populations for emotional, neurocognitive and quality of life …

Treating The Whole Child: Recognizing And Addressing Depression In Children With Physical Disabilities, Kathleen A. Koehn

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a tool that would assist occupational therapy practitioners working with children with physical disabilities in recognizing and addressing symptoms of depression in that population. Ailey (2003) reported that symptoms of depression in children with developmental disabilities are frequently attributed incorrectly to a child's primary diagnosis, rather than depression. Because occupational therapists typically see these children more frequently than primary care physicians, they are in a prime position to assist in the screening and referral processes related to depression.

This project involved a comprehensive review of the literature, including data on the …

Continuous Source Of Care Among Young Underserved Children: Associated Characteristics And Use Of Recommended Parenting Practices., Esther K Chung, Leny Mathew, Kelly F Mccollum, Irma T Elo, Jennifer F Culhane

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to 1) assess sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with having a continuous source of care (CSOC) among young children and 2) determine the relationship between having a CSOC and use of parenting practices.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, community-based survey of women receiving prenatal care at Philadelphia community health centers. We conducted surveys at the first prenatal visit and at a mean age +/- standard deviation of 3 +/-1, 11 +/- 1, and 24 +/- 2 months postpartum, obtaining information on sociodemographic and health characteristics, child's health care provider, and 6 parenting practices. …

The Use Of Aquatic Therapy For Children With Neuromuscular Disorders, Chris Hydukovich, Troy Schmitz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this literature was to determine the effects aquatic intervention has on children suffering from neuromuscular disorders compared to that of traditional land-based physical and occupational therapy services.

Method: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, OT search, AJOT online, CINAHL, the Mayo Clinic Triage, and various occupational therapy textbooks regarding the use of aquatic therapy in a neuromuscular population. Information was extracted from this literature to generate educational material for parents of child receiving aquatic occupational therapy.

Results: A review of literature presented cerebral palsy as the main neuromuscular disorder of study associated with aquatic therapy. …

Promoting Children's Health In The Home Environment: A Parent/Guardian Handbook, Shannon Troje, Stacie Voth

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The World Health Organization (2003) stated that "obesity is a global epidemic". The United States (U.S.) in particular has a statistically significant higher rate of obesity in children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2003), 15.3% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old are obese as a result of unhealthy habits and routines. Because these habits and routines often begin in the home environment, health promotion activities should involve parents/guardians (Manios, Kafatos, & Mamalakis, 1998).

At this time there are few resources available for parents/guardians and their children to promote wellness in the home environment. …