Purpose-Interest in the eVects of neighbourhood or local area social characteristics on health has increased in recent years, but to date the existing evidence has not been systematically reviewed. Multilevel or contextual analyses of social factors and health represent a possible reconciliation between two divergent epidemiological paradigms-individual risk factor epidemiology and an ecological approach. Data sources-Keyword searching of Index Medicus (Medline) and additional references from retrieved articles. Study selection-All original studies of the eVect of local area social characteristics on individual health outcomes, adjusted for individual socioeconomic status, published in English before 1 June 1998 and focused on populations in developed countries. Data synthesis-The methodological challenges posed by the design and interpretation of multilevel studies of local area eVects are discussed and results summarised with reference to type of health outcome. All but two of the 25 reviewed studies reported a statistically significant association between at least one measure of social environment and a health outcome (contextual eVect), after adjusting for individual level socioeconomic status (compositional eVect). Contextual eVects were generally modest and much smaller than compositional eVects. Conclusions-The evidence for modest neighbourhood eVects on health is fairly consistent despite heterogeneity of study designs, substitution of local area measures for neighbourhood measures and probable measurement error. By drawing public health attention to the health risks associated with the social structure and ecology of neighbourhoods, innovative approaches to community level interventions may ensue. (J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:111-122)

Among children, having health insurance is strongly associated with access to primary care. The new children's health insurance program enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 may substantially improve access to and use of primary care by children.

Postpartum maternity leave may have a positive effect on breastfeeding among full-time workers, particularly those who hold nonmanagerial positions, lack job flexibility, or experience psychosocial distress. Pediatricians should encourage patients to take maternity leave and advocate for extending paid postpartum leave and flexibility in working conditions for breastfeeding women.

In 2012, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) designated ultrasound (US) as one of 23 milestone competencies for emergency medicine (EM) residency graduates. With increasing scrutiny of medical educational programs and their effect on patient safety and health care delivery, it is imperative to ensure that US training and competency assessment is standardized. In 2011, a multiorganizational committee composed of representatives from the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD), the Academy of Emergency Ultrasound of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), the Ultrasound Section of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEM), and the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association was formed to suggest standards for resident emergency ultrasound (EUS) competency assessment and to write a document that addresses the ACGME milestones. This article contains a historical perspective on resident training in EUS and a table of core skills deemed to be a minimum standard for the graduating EM resident. A survey summary of focused EUS education in EM residencies is described, as well as a suggestion for structuring education in residency. Finally, adjuncts to a quantitative measurement of resident competency for EUS are offered. 1 Soon thereafter, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) endorsed this position and recommended the development of a training curriculum.2 In 1994, Mateer and colleagues 3 published the model curriculum for physician training in EUS and by 1996 the EM core content curriculum required EUS competency for residency graduates. A landmark resolution by the American Medical Association in 1999 (Resolution 802 and policy H-230.960) stated that ultrasound (US) is "within the scope of practice of appropriately trained physicians" and that each specialty should decide the necessary training requirements for sonography competency.4 ACEP further developed the standard recognition of EUS as "a skill integral to the practice of EM" in the 2001 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine (EM Model), which resulted in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandating that all EM residents attain competency in the use of EUS by the completion of residency training. 5 In 2008, as an update and revision, ACEP published more comprehensive specialty-specific guidelines as a standard for EUS.6 Subsequently, SAEM, the Council of Emergency Medicine

In addition to individual socioeconomic characteristics, living in neighborhoods that are less socioeconomically advantaged may differentially influence birthweight, depending on women's ethnicity and nativity.

Although early ultrasound (<20 weeks' gestation) systematically underestimates the gestational age of smaller fetuses by approximately 1-2 days, this bias is relatively small compared with the large error introduced by last menstrual period (LMP) estimates of gestation, as evidenced by the number of implausible birthweight-for-gestational age. To characterise this misclassification, we compared gestational age estimates based on LMP from California birth certificates with those based on early ultrasound from a California linked Statewide Expanded Alpha-fetoprotein Screening Program (XAFP). The final sample comprised 165 908 women. Birthweight distributions were plotted by gestational age; sensitivity and positive predictive value for preterm rates according to LMP were calculated using ultrasound as the 'gold standard'.For gestational ages 20-27 and 28-31 weeks, the LMP-based birthweight distributions were bimodal, whereas the ultrasound-based distributions were unimodal, but had long right tails. At 32-36 weeks, the LMP distribution was wider, flatter, and shifted to the right, compared with the ultrasound distribution. LMP vs. ultrasound estimates were, respectively, 8.7% vs. 7.9% preterm (<37 weeks), 81.2% vs. 91.0% term (37-41 weeks), and 10.1% vs. 1.1% post-term (Ն42 weeks). The sensitivity of the LMPbased preterm birth estimate was 64.3%, and the positive predictive value was 58.7%. Overall, 17.2% of the records had estimates with an absolute difference of >14 days. The groups most likely to have inconsistent gestational age estimates included African American and Hispanic women, younger and less-educated women, and those who entered prenatal care after the second month of pregnancy. In conclusion, we found substantial misclassification of LMP-based gestational age.The 2003 revised US Standard Certificate of Live Birth includes a new gestational age item, the obstetric estimate. It will be important to assess whether this estimate addresses the problems presented by LMP-based gestational age.

, on behalf of the California Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening Consortium abstract OBJECTIVES: This article describes the methods used and the program performance results for the first 5 years of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) in California.METHODS: From July 16, 2007, to June 30, 2012, a total of 2 573 293 newborns were screened for CF by using a 3-step model: (1) measuring immunoreactive trypsinogen in all dried blood spot specimens; (2) testing 28 to 40 selected cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations in specimens with immunoreactive trypsinogen values $62 ng/mL (top 1.6%); and (3) performing DNA sequencing on specimens found to have only 1 mutation in step 2. Infants with $2 mutations/variants were referred to CF care centers for diagnostic evaluation and follow-up. Infants with 1 mutation were considered carriers and their parents offered telephone genetic counseling.RESULTS: Overall, 345 CF cases, 533 CFTR-related metabolic syndrome cases, and 1617 carriers were detected; 28 cases of CF were missed. Of the 345 CF cases, 20 (5.8%) infants were initially assessed as having CFTR-related metabolic syndrome, and their CF diagnosis occurred after age 6 months (median follow-up: 4.5 years). Program sensitivity was 92%, and the positive predictive value was 34%. CF prevalence was 1 in 6899 births. A total of 303 CFTR mutations were identified, including 78 novel variants. The median age at referral to a CF care center was 34 days (18 and 37 days for step 2 and 3 screening test-positive infants, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:The 3-step model had high detection and low false-positive levels in this diverse population. WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT:Several newborn screening models for cystic fibrosis (CF) exist, including DNA-based models that use mutation panels. There is limited experience with models (such as used in California) that include comprehensive DNA sequence testing methods as part of newborn screening.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: California' s 3-step newborn screening model for CF showed high efficiency, sensitivity, and positive predictive value. More than 300 mutations were found, reflecting the state' s diverse population. Some CF transmembrane conductance regulator-related metabolic syndrome cases converted to CF over time.

ETS exposure in pregnant women adversely affects pregnancy by increasing fetal mortality and preterm delivery at higher exposure levels and slowing fetal growth across all levels of ETS exposure.