The Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) is a Valid Eating Disorder Questionnaire to Use With Transgender Youth

Transgender youth experience elevated rates of eating disorders, yet few screening measures have been validated with transgender patients. The purpose of this study was to provide initial evidence for the internal consistency and convergent validity of the Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) in a sample of transgender youth. Two hundred eight participants completed the SCOFF as part of a routine screening protocol. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to establish the factor structure of the SCOFF in this sample. Relationships between the SCOFF, Adolescent Binge Eating Disorder (ADO-BED), Nine-Item Avoidant/Restrictive Intake Disorder (NIAS), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and demographic characteristics were explored. The SCOFF was significantly related to all convergent validity variables, with moderate correlations with other eating disorder scales (ADO-BED and NIAS). The SCOFF is a valid measure to screen for eating disorders among transgender youth and young adults.

Validation of the adolescent binge eating disorder measure (ADO-BED) among transgender youth and young adults

BACKGROUND

Transgender youth and young adults are at increased risk for eating disorders, including binge eating disorder, yet few measures have been validated for screening purposes with the transgender population.

METHODS

The purpose of this study was to provide initial evidence for the internal consistency and convergent validity of the Adolescent Binge Eating Disorder questionnaire (ADO-BED) in a sample of transgender youth and young adults. 208 participants completed the ADO-BED as part of a routine nutrition screening protocol at a gender center. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis was used to establish the factor structure of the ADO-BED. Relationships between the ADO-BED, Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF), Nine Item Avoidant/restrictive Intake Disorder (NIAS), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and demographic characteristics were explored.

RESULTS

Analyses revealed a one-factor structure of the ADO-BED with good fit to the data in the present sample. The ADO-BED was shown to be significantly related to all convergent validity variables, except the NIAS.

CONCLUSIONS

The ADO-BED is a valid measure to screen for BED among transgender youth and young adults. Healthcare professionals can screen all transgender patients for BED, regardless of body size, in order to effectively identify and manage binge eating concerns.

Evidence of Effectiveness of a Home Visitation Program on Infant Weight Gain and Breastfeeding

OBJECTIVES

Adequate weight gain is important to reduce the risk of infant morbidity and mortality. Breastfeeding is also important to prevent infant morbidity. Home visitation programs have been used for many years to prevent infant and child morbidity and maltreatment. Nurses for Newborns is a home visitation model with the goals of preventing infant mortality and maltreatment. This study evaluated the impact of the Nurses for newborns program on infant weight gain and breastfeeding.

METHODS

We used a retrospective case-control propensity matched model to evaluate outcomes. We received secondary data from Vanderbilt Research Derivative Group and Tennessee Office of Health Statistics to conduct the analysis. Data were accessed for infants born in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and limited to those with at least four NFN visits and no more than 2 days in the NICU. We conducted chi square analysis and logistic regression to test our hypotheses.

RESULTS

NFN infants were two times more likely to triple their birth weight in the first year. NFN infants were also two times more likely to be breast fed at 2 weeks, but this finding was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

Home visitation models can be effective in encouraging adequate weight gain in the first year of life. In addition, home visitors can encourage women to breastfeed. Significance Home visitation models can prevent infant morbidity and mortality. Few studies, however, have demonstrated that infant weight gain, an important factor in the health of infants, can be enhanced using this approach. In addition, home visitation can positively impact breastfeeding, another important factor in preventing infant morbidity. Findings from this study suggest that the NFN model of home visitation can improve weight gain and breastfeeding, indicating the impact of this model.

Health-related quality of life in narcolepsy

OBJECTIVES

To describe health-related quality of life in Norwegian patients with narcolepsy compared with data from the general population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seventy-seven patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy were included in the final analysis. Health-related quality of life was assessed by SF-36 questionnaire.

RESULTS

Men and women with narcolepsy had lower scores in all SF-36 domains, except vitality. Most profoundly affected were bodily pain (men: p = 0.0001, women: p = 0.0001), social function (men: p = 0.0001, women: p = 0.0001) and general health (men p = 0.04, women: p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Narcolepsy has a clear negative effect on quality of life which is not sufficiently counteracted by medical treatment. We suggest that earlier diagnosis and treatment after onset of symptoms may be important in reducing the negative effects on quality of life. Special attention should be paid to the patients social functioning and general well-being.

Response to methylphenidate in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

The response to methylphenidate was examined in 36 boys, aged 7-11 y, with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Hyperactivity and conduct problems were significantly reduced during methylphenidate treatment. Stimulant medication was associated with improvements on tests of sustained attention, working memory and motor steadiness. When individual changes were studied, it was found that 83% showed a significant improvement in their hyperactivity at home or at school, and for 60% their levels of hyperactive behaviour were within the normal range. High levels of hyperactivity at school and relatively low age were significant predictors of normalization of hyperactivity in at least one setting. However, these predictors could only classify correctly 71% of the children. In clinical practice a trial with stimulants is indicated in ADHD children who show symptoms that are sufficiently severe to cause impairment at home and at school.

[Tourette syndrome in children. An analysis of everyday problems--neurology or emotional conflicts?]

Over a three year period, 109 children aged 5-17 were diagnosed as having Tourette syndrome. They were all evaluated by a team composed of persons with backgrounds in special education, physiotherapy or neuropsychology, and a paediatrician with experience in child neurology. All the children satisfied the criteria of several motor tics and at least one vocal tic lasting more than one year. Besides the tics the most common symptoms were attention deficit disorder and motor hyperactivity. These symptoms were present in 79 children (73%). 42 children (39%) met the criteria for minimal brain dysfunction. Problems relating to attention, activity, perception, motor control and language are generally considered to be part of a neurological dysfunction. We also investigated the children's emotional profile by looking into factors such as aggression, fluctuations of mood, peer relationships and impulsiveness. More than half of the children experienced serious problems in these areas. We believe that emotional problems of this nature are an integral part of their neurological dysfunction and that they can seldom be attributed to psychological factors in their families or to other events related to everyday life.

Dust in dental laboratories. Part II: Measurement of particle size distributions

It has been demonstrated in a previous study that threshold limit values of various elements or compounds could be considerably exceeded in various work operations in the dental laboratories when appropriate ventilation systems were not used. This refers to working with chromium-cobalt alloys, amalgam dies, porcelain, and gypsum. In the present study, size distributions of particles arising from cutting, grinding, or polishing of alloys, gypsum, porcelain, or denture base material in dental laboratories have been measured. The particle size distributions were evaluated by means of light and electron microscopy as well as by coulter-counting techniques. The measurements revealed the occurrence of a high proportion of respirable dust associated with these operations. consequently, the use of efficient ventilation systems is strictly necessary to ensure industrial safety with respect to air pollution in the working environment of dental laboratories.