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Biomedical subjects

Doris Campbell

Publications and source records attributed to Doris Campbell.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Geographical variation in relationships between parental body size and offspring phenotype at birth.

BACKGROUND: Size and body proportions at birth are partly determined by maternal body composition, but most studies of mother-baby relationships have only considered the effects of maternal height and weight on offspring birth weight, and few have examined the size of effects. Paternal size and body composition also play a role, primarily through the fetal genome, although few studies have investigated relationships with neonatal phenotype. METHODS: Data from the UK, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, China, DR Congo, Nigeria and Jamaica were used to investigate the effects of maternal measures (derived at 30 weeks' gestation, n=16,418), and also paternal size (n=3,733) on neonatal phenotype, for singleton, live-born, term births. RESULTS: After accounting for variation in maternal size and shape across populations, differences in neonatal phenotype were markedly reduced. Mother-baby relationships were similar across populations, although some were stronger in developing countries. Maternal height was generally the strongest predictor of neonatal length, maternal head circumference of neonatal head and maternal skinfold thickness of neonatal skinfolds. Relationships with maternal arm muscle area were generally weak. Effects of paternal height and body mass index were weaker than the equivalent maternal measurements in most studies. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in maternal body composition account for a large part of the geographical variation in neonatal phenotype. The size of the effects of all maternal measures on neonatal phenotype suggests that nutrition at every stage of the mother's life cycle may influence fetal growth. Further research is needed into father-baby relationships and the genetic mechanisms that influence fetal growth.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Geographical variation in neonatal phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown associations between size and body proportions at birth and health outcomes throughout the life cycle, but there are few data on how neonatal phenotype varies in different populations around the world. METHODS: Data from the UK, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, China, DR Congo, Nigeria, and Jamaica (n=22,067) were used to characterize geographical differences in phenotype in singleton, live-born newborns. Measurements included birth weight, placental weight, length, head, chest, abdominal and arm circumferences, and skinfolds. RESULTS: Neonates in Europe were the largest, followed by Jamaica, East Asia (China), then Africa and South Asia. Birth weight varied widely (mean values 2,730-3,570 g), but in contrast, head circumference was similar in all except China (markedly smaller). The main difference in body proportions between populations was the head to length ratio, with small heads relative to length in China and large heads relative to length in South Asia and Africa. CONCLUSIONS: These marked geographical differences in neonatal phenotype need to be considered when investigating determinants of fetal growth, and optimal phenotype for short-term and long-term outcomes.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed2005

Folic acid supplements in pregnancy and birth outcome: re-analysis of a large randomised controlled trial and update of Cochrane review.

Periconceptual folic acid prevents neural tube defects. The effect of folic acid taken throughout pregnancy is unclear, however. We re-analysed data from a large randomised controlled trial performed between 1966 and 1967 and combined the results with those from trials included in a Cochrane review. A total of 2928 women were randomised: 1977 were allocated to placebo, 466 to folic acid 200 microg/day and 485 to folic acid 5 mg/day. Folic acid supplementation was not associated with any difference in mean birthweight, placental weight or gestational age. When combined with trials in the Cochrane review folic acid at high doses was associated with reduced risk of low birthweight (pooled relative risk 0.73 [95% CI 0.53, 0.99]). We found no conclusive evidence of benefit for folic acid supplementation in pregnant women given from time of booking onwards.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Antioxidant intake in pregnancy in relation to wheeze and eczema in the first two years of life.

Two thousand women were recruited for a prospective investigation of the influence of maternal antioxidant intake in pregnancy on the development of asthma and eczema in children. A food frequency questionnaire was used to characterize diet during pregnancy and blood antioxidant levels were measured. Postal questionnaires were used to follow up the 1,924 singleton children born to the cohort at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. There were no associations between maternal antioxidant intake and wheezing symptoms and eczema in the children's first year. In the children's second year, maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy was negatively associated with wheeze in the absence of a "cold" (p for trend 0.010) and, in children whose mothers were atopic, there was a negative association between maternal vitamin E intake and childhood eczema (p for trend 0.024). Maternal vitamin C intake during pregnancy was positively associated with "ever wheeze" and eczema during the children's second year. This study suggests that maternal dietary antioxidant intakes during pregnancy may modify the risks of developing wheeze and eczema during early childhood. Further follow up of the cohort will determine whether maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with asthma and atopic disease in later childhood.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Economic and social implications of multiple birth.

This paper provides the background statistics and trends on multiple births. It highlights a number of factors that influence parents with multiples, including social situation, psychological adjustment and economic circumstances. It is often assumed that these areas of concern arise only after the babies have been born, but clinicians should be aware that many are seen in the antenatal period as well. Apart from the socioeconomic cost to individual families, multiple births also carry a cost to society. A number of self-help groups and voluntary organisations can assist parents of multiples. This is especially important if parents find that family and friends cannot or will not come forward.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2004

The Aberdeen Children of the 1950s cohort study: background, methods and follow-up information on a new resource for the study of life course and intergenerational influences on health.

In this paper we introduce and describe in detail an addition to the UK's population-based resources for the investigation of biological and social influences on health across the life course and between generations: the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study. We also provide an account of postwar Aberdeen when study members were growing up, report on findings of analyses of data from the original survey on which this study is based and its follow-up, assess the strengths and limitations of the study, and outline current and future research directions. This cohort comprises individuals born in Aberdeen, Scotland (UK) between 1950 and 1956, and is derived from 15 thousand subjects who took part in the Aberdeen Child Development Survey, a cross-sectional study of 'mental subnormality' (learning disability) in a population of all children who were attending Aberdeen primary schools in December 1962. Data collection included information on birthweight, gestational age, childhood height and weight, tests of cognition and behavioural disorder, and a range of multilevel socio-economic indicators. In 1998 we began the process of revitalising this cohort (now termed the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study). We have been successful in ascertaining the current vital status and whereabouts of 98.5% of a target population of 12 150 subjects (6276 males, 5874 females) with full baseline data. The large majority (81%) of study participants still reside in Scotland and many (73%) have remained in the Grampian region which incorporates Aberdeen. At the present time, a total of almost 500 subjects are known to have died. Linkages to hospital admissions and other health endpoints captured through the Scottish Morbidity Records system have been completed. This includes an intergenerational linkage to approximately eight thousand deliveries in Scotland occurring to female members of the study population. A postal questionnaire to all traced surviving cohort members has also been distributed.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Could we have known? A qualitative analysis of data from women who survived an attempted homicide by an intimate partner.

OBJECTIVE: To examine in-depth the lives of women whose partners attempted to kill them, and to identify patterns that may aid in the clinician's ability to predict, prevent, or counsel about femicide or attempted femicide. DESIGN: Qualitative analysis of 30 in-depth interviews. SETTING: Six U.S. cities. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty women, aged 17-54 years, who survived an attempted homicide by an intimate partner. RESULTS: All but 2 of the participants had previously experienced physical violence, controlling behavior, or both from the partner who attempted to kill them. The intensity of the violence, control, and threats varied greatly, as did the number of risk factors measured by the Danger Assessment, defining a wide spectrum of prior abuse. Approximately half (14/30) of the participants did not recognize that their lives were in danger. Women often focused more on relationship problems involving money, alcohol, drugs, possessiveness, or infidelity, than on the risk to themselves from the violence. The majority of the attempts (22/30) happened around the time of a relationship change, but the relationship was often ending because of problems other than violence. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should not be falsely reassured by a woman's sense of safety, by the lack of a history of severe violence, or by the presence of few classic risk factors for homicide. Efforts to reduce femicide risk that are targeted only at those women seeking help for violence-related problems may miss potential victims.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Markers of endothelial activation and atherothrombosis in women with history of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.

Women who have had preeclampsia (PE) or gestational hypertension (GH) exhibit relatively high rates of circulatory diseases. PE is a disease associated with inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction. We therefore hypothesised that women with a history of PE or GH might have abnormal levels of markers of endothelial activation or inflammation, reflecting either an innate predisposition to preeclampsia or changes induced by the eclamptic process. Levels of von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein were compared in 392 women with a history of PE between 1951 and 1970, 297 women with a history of GH and 163 matched controls. Although no significant differences between those with either PE or GH and controls were noted, subjects with a history of PE had significantly higher CRP values than those with GH. No significant differences were found when the three groups were compared for von Willebrand factor or fibrinogen. Overall, the data do not support our hypothesis. In addition, our data document increasing von Willebrand factor levels increase with age, which may help explain the age dependent increase in venous or arterial thrombosis. Moderate alcohol consumption was also associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships: results from a multisite case control study.

OBJECTIVES: This 11-city study sought to identify risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships. METHODS: Proxies of 220 intimate partner femicide victims identified from police or medical examiner records were interviewed, along with 343 abused control women. RESULTS: Preincident risk factors associated in multivariate analyses with increased risk of intimate partner femicide included perpetrator's access to a gun and previous threat with a weapon, perpetrator's stepchild in the home, and estrangement, especially from a controlling partner. Never living together and prior domestic violence arrest were associated with lowered risks. Significant incident factors included the victim having left for another partner and the perpetrator's use of a gun. Other significant bivariate-level risks included stalking, forced sex, and abuse during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: There are identifiable risk factors for intimate partner femicides.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The creation of twin centile curves for size.

OBJECTIVE: To create twin centile charts for size. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. METHODS: Ultrasound measurements of abdominal circumference (AC), biparietal diameter (BPD) and femur length (FL) for 1,011 twin pregnancies were extracted from a databank. The methodology is based on that described by Altman and Chitty [Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 101 (1994) 29.]; only one measurement from each twin was used, polynomial regression models were fitted separately to the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the ultrasound parameter as functions of gestational age. The centiles were obtained assuming that at each gestation, the measurements had a normal distribution. RESULTS: The growth pattern of AC for twins appear to follow closely that of singletons until 32 weeks. Thereafter, there is a gradual but definite fall off in growth away from singleton standards. The pattern of growth of FL is largely similar to that of singletons. From mid to early third trimester, the BPD of twin babies was larger than that of singletons.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1989

Characteristics of labor pain at two stages of cervical dilation.

This study characterized the pain reported in a selected group of obstetrical patients in labor and compared the pain experienced at 2 stages of dilation, dilation of 2-5 cm and of 6-10 cm. Pain was defined as the perception of an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience with multidimensional factors that evoke behavioral responses. The characteristics of pain were operationalized as responses of 78 laboring women to 3 self-report measures, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Present Pain Intensity (PPI), and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (PRI-R), and 1 observational measure, the nurse-rated Behavioral Index of Pain (BIP). As cervical dilation increased, there were significant increases in self-reported pain and observed pain on all the cited measures. Pain was characterized as 'discomforting' during early dilation and as 'distressing, horrible, excruciating' as dilation progressed. Significant increases in pain with increased dilation occurred on all measures for multigravidas but only on the VAS for primigravidas.

Adult↗