Evaluation of a Smartphone Based Optical Diagnostic Tool for Neonatal Jaundice
JaundiceNeonatal2 moreNeonatal jaundice is a common and most often harmless condition. However, when unrecognized it can be fatal or cause serious brain injury. Three quarters of these deaths are estimated to occur in the poorest regions of the world. The treatment of jaundice, phototherapy, is in most cases easy, low-cost and harmless. The crucial point in reducing the burden of disease is therefore to identify then children at risk. This results in the need for low-cost, reliable and easy-to-use diagnostic tools that can identify newborns with jaundice. Based on previous research on the bio-optics of jaundiced newborn skin, a prototype of a smartphone application has been developed. This prototype will be evaluated in a clinical trial in two hospitals in Norway. A smartphone will be used to take picture of the skin of the newborn, and by using an algorithm an estimate of the bilirubin concentration is made. The results from these estimates will be compared to the bilirubin levels measured in standard blood samples, as well as the results from ordinary transcutaneous measurement devices.
Effect of Timing of Umbilical Cord Clamping on Anaemia at 8 and 12 Months and Later Neurodevelopment...
AnemiaIron Deficiency1 moreThe investigators plan a study to randomize 540 children in Nepal to early (≤30 seconds) or late (≥180 seconds) clamping of the umbilical cord at birth. The children will be followed with blood tests (hemoglobin and ferritin) at 8 and 12 months of age, and their development is evaluated by questionnaire (Ages & Stages Questionnaire ) at 12 months of age, and by testing (Bayley -III) at 18-24 months of age. By implementing the project in a country with a high proportion of anemia at one year of age (about 75%), we can reduce the number of children in the study and still achieve significant results. Iron deficiency is a global health problem and causes anemia and impaired neurodevelopment in children. Anemia is estimated by WHO to occur among 25% of all children before school age, and the corresponding figure in Europe is 3-9 %. By waiting 3 minutes to clamp the cord after birth, a large part of the child's blood volume remaining in the placenta is transfused over to the child's body. Research shows that the neonate's blood volume can increase by about 40% and this blood contains 3 to 4 months' supply of iron. In Sweden, we have shown that late clamping of the umbilical cord could reduce iron deficiency in children at four months of age by 90%. Globally, most countries practice early cord clamping and the child is deprived of the placental blood transfusion. The hypothesis of the study is that by delaying the clamping of the umbilical cord, anemia at 8 and 12 months will be reduced an this in turn will be beneficial for the childrens development. The project will be implemented at Paropakar Maternity and Women 's Hospital, Kathmandu. It hosts approximately 23,000 births annually.
Transcutaneous Screening for Risk of Severe Hyperbilirubinemia in South African Newborns
Neonatal JaundiceHyperbilirubinemiaIn South Africa, healthy term newborns are usually discharged early (<72 hours after delivery). Many studies have shown that hospital readmission rates have increased with this practice, and jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia is the most common cause of readmission of newborns. Peak serum bilirubin levels usually occur on postnatal days 3-5, by when many have already been discharged putting the infant at increased risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia. Severe neonatal jaundice still constitutes an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in Africa. Screening all newborns for the risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia before hospital could help in early identification of hyperbilirubinemia and early intervention and potentially prevent unwanted consequences like bilirubin induced neurological dysfunction. However, there are conflicting recommendations on the use of universal transcutaneous bilirubin screening for jaundice in all newborns before hospital discharge.
Implementation of a Transcutaneous Bilirubinometer
Neonatal JaundiceHyperbilirubinemiaNeonatal jaundice, caused by hyperbilirubinemia, is frequently seen in healthy newborns. Assessment of the degree of jaundice is usually done visually,and if necessary serum bilirubin is investigated in a blood sample. The visual assessment is subjective and can alternatively be replaced by transcutaneous measurement.The transcutaneous bilirubinometer is a validated measurement-tool, which provides us with an estimated serum bilirubin-concentration. Little is known about the effect of the actual use of a bilirubinometer on the quality of care. Further evidence is needed to evaluate whether transcutaneous bilirubin measurements improve clinical outcome (use of blood tests, phototherapy and exchange transfusion), shorten length of stay and reduce costs. Therefore we aim to perform a Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing the use of a transcutaneous bilirubinometer in jaundiced neonates, a gestational age of 32 weeks. The assessment of jaundice by use of a transcutaneous bilirubinometer is compared to visual assessment of jaundice
Bilistick Point-of-care System 2.0 Bilirubin Validation
Neonatal ScreeningKernicterus2 moreThis is a validation study involving the Bilistick System 2.0 point-of-care bilirubin measuring device. The validation will be conducted by comparing bilirubin measurements utilizing the standard-of-care blood sample collected for both a diagnostic reference device and Bilistick System 2.0 point-of-care device. Whole blood samples collected from male or female newborns (<2-weeks of age) born at a Kettering Health Network facility to obtain a total of 80 valid comparison pairs between the reference device and the Bilistick System 2.0 point-of-care device with current laboratory standards.
Comparison of Phototherapy Using Neolight Skylife Versus Standardized Phototherapy for Hyperbilirubinemia...
JaundiceNeonatal2 morePhototherapy has served as a primary treatment for hyperbilirubinemia in newborn populations. The light emitted through phototherapy interacts with bilirubin at the skin level to transform it into water-soluble products eliminated in urine and stool. Efficacy of phototherapy relies on the irradiance dispensed at the skin level by the treatment and on the surface area of skin exposed. The purpose of this Investigator-initiated, prospective, two-arm, randomized control investigation is to compare the effect of a novel, newly available, FDA cleared, phototherapy device (Neolight Skylife) with the standard phototherapy treatments used in HonorHealth newborn nurseries (Natus-Neo Blue Blanket and GE Bili Soft Blanket) on healthy, newborns ≥ 35 weeks + 0 days Gestational Age (GA) at the time of birth in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. We hypothesize that the unconjugated bilirubin level will be comparably reduced across each treatment arm from baseline to 12 and 24 hour intervals.
Fenofibrate Therapy in Pathological Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia in Full Term Infants
Neonatal JaundiceBackground: Despite widespread phototherapy usage, many newborn infants remain in need of other lines of invasive therapy such as intravenous immunoglobulins and exchange transfusions. Objective: To assess the efficacy and the safety of adding fenofibrate to phototherapy for treatment of pathological jaundice in full term infants. Design/Methods: We conducted a double blinded randomized control study on 180 full-term infants with pathological unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia admitted to the NICU of Mansoura University Children's Hospital. They were randomly assigned to receive either oral fenofibrate 10 mg /kg /day for one day or two days or placebo. Primary outcome was total serum bilirubin values after 12, 24, 36, 48 hours from intervention. Secondary outcomes were total duration of treatment, need for exchange transfusions and intravenous immunoglobulin, exclusive breast-feeding on discharge, and adverse effects of fenofibrate.
Influence of Breast Milk Smell on Newborns Bilirubin Level, Duration of Time Phototherapy and Comfort...
Newborn JaundiceABSTRACT Purpose: This research was done for the purpose of determining the impact of breast milk smell administered to term infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) due to physiological jaundice on their bilirubin levels, length of remaining in phototherapy and comfort. Material and Method: It is an experimental, randomisation, controlled research. Target population of the research consisted of a total of 72 term infants who were hospitalized in the NICU of Bilecik Bozuyuk Public Hospital and met the sample selection criteria. Our research includes two groups. Breast milk smell group and control group. The infants were assigned to the groups via randomization method. Sample assignment to the groups was performed using stratification and blocking methods. The infants meeting the research sample selection criteria were stratified according to their postnatal age and then assigned to each group equally (blocking) by lot. However, two infants in the control group were excluded from the research at the request of their parents as the research continued. Thus, the research was completed with a total of 72 infants; 37 in the breast milk smell group and 35 in the control group. In the research, the data were collected using "Personal Data Collection Form", "Phototherapy Follow-up Chart" and "Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale". The data were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 21.0 (IBM corp. Relased 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21.0 Armonk, NY: IBM corp.) package software.
Evaluating the Effects of SMS Text Messaging Support System Among Frontline Health Workers in Ghana...
Maternal DeathNeonatal Death8 moreIntroduction Maternal and neonatal mortality continue to be to be prominent public health issues in sub Saharan Africa including Ghana, with slow progress made towards attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 & 5. Studies have identified poor quality of maternal and child healthcare as a major challenge to the prevention of neonatal and maternal deaths. Effective interventions are required to make significant inroads in these areas. Objective To evaluate the effect of a SMS text messaging intervention to support clinical decision making by frontline health care professionals on neonatal and maternal mortality. Methods We propose to conduct a randomized controlled trial in the Eastern region of Ghana, involving 8 intervention and 8 control districts. The intervention consists of text messaging of standard protocols for maternal and neonatal care to front line health care providers in the region. A total of 17,040 pregnant women who are receiving care (including antenatal, delivery and post-natal) at any of the hospitals in the selected districts in the region will be monitored through monthly aggregate data on outcome measures such as neonatal and maternal deaths from eclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage, puerperal sepsis, birth asphyxia, low birth weight and neonatal sepsis. Cord sepsis will also be included as neonatal sepsis for this study. Also, a quality of care assessment in four sampled districts to measure adherence to the safe motherhood protocol will be conducted. Stata software package.55 and MLwiN software version 2.2456 will be employed in data analysis. Descriptive analysis will be carried out to explore baseline characteristics of study groups while logistic regression will be applied to evaluate the effect of the intervention. A two-tailed statistical significant level of 0.05 will be used. Expected outcome We hypothesize that the intervention will improve both maternal and neonatal service delivery and health outcomes in the intervention areas.
Understanding Neonatal Jaundice in Rwanda
JaundiceNeonatalThis study exploits the distribution of low-cost high-quality phototherapy devices (Brilliance by D-Rev) to public hospitals in Rwanda to assess whether the provision of improved technology improves health care for infant jaundice. Specifically, the investigators are interested in measuring whether the provision of an additional high-quality phototherapy device, a known effective treatment for jaundice, successfully translates into improved care of neonatal jaundice in Rwanda where the burden of jaundice is particularly high.