Improving Health Outcomes for New Mothers and Babies
HyperbilirubinemiaJaundice2 moreBecause adherence to postnatal care guidelines across the United States (U.S.) is poor, newborns and mothers often are placed at undue risk for adverse medical and social outcomes. This study aims to evaluate an alternative model of care and improve healthcare delivery to and reduce health disparities for "well" newborns and mothers after hospital discharge by using single postnatal home nurse visits. The principal investigator has previously shown a reduction in poor outcomes for infants who receive a home visit after discharge when studied retrospectively. The proposed research will build on the previous study and prospectively evaluate the impact of a single home nursing visit on morbidities and health disparities for newborns and mothers in a randomized, controlled trial involving 1154 mother/infant breastfeeding dyads. Home visits should guarantee detailed assessment during an at-risk period of infancy and motherhood, where medical and social problems can be recognized, anticipated, and/or treated, and can bridge the gap between hospital care and primary care. The investigators' program, The Nurses for Infants Through Teaching and Assessment after the NurserY (NITTANY) Initiative, also will consider the cost-effectiveness of home visitation compared with guidelines-adherent outpatient clinic care.
Oral Fluid Volume Expansion
DehydrationHydrationWhen subjected to fluid loss or fluid deficiency irrespective of disease or environmental factors it is discussed how to rehydrate or how to hydrate prophylactic. In medical care it is common to give infusions. However it has increasingly become common to hydrate the patient through the mouth even early after bowel surgery. Moreover it is more simple to provide energy the natural way. Which fluid to give, depends on several factors such as possibility to drink, the volume and emptying of the stomach as well as the fluid absorption in the bowel. The provided fluid can also influence this process depending on temperature, osmolality/tonicity and composition (carbohydrates or salts). In this study we wish to study the speed with which the provided fluid is absorbed by the bowels and how fast the fluid is distributed to the different body compartments depending on it's composition. The three fluids will be either tap water, high sodium chloride and a carbohydrate rich fluid.
Optimising Diagnosis and Antibiotic Prescribing for Acutely Ill Children in Primary Care
SepsisBacteraemia8 moreAcute illness is the most common presentation of children attending ambulatory care settings. Serious infections (e.g. meningitis, sepsis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia) are rare, but their impact is quite large (increased morbidity, mortality, induced fear in parents and defensive behaviour in clinicians). Early recognition and adequate referral of serious infections are essential to avoid complications (e.g. hearing loss after bacterial meningitis) and their accompanied mortality. Secondly, we aim to reduce the number of investigations, referrals, treatments and hospitalisations in children who are diagnosed with a non-serious infection. Apart from the cost-effectiveness, this could lead to less traumatic experiences for the child and less fear induction for the concerned parent. Finally, we aim to support the clinicians to rationalise their antibiotic prescribing behaviour, resulting in a reduction of antibiotic resistance in the long run.
Point of Care Device Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department
DehydrationSeizure2 moreTo compare the effect of "point-of-care" (POC) analysis of blood work with traditional laboratory methods on length of stay in a pediatric emergency department (PED).
Use of Post Operative Loperamide in Colorectal Patients After Diverting Ileostomies
DehydrationDiverting Ileostomy1 moreDehydration post creation of a diverting ileostomy is a common and debilitating problem faced by patients undergoing ileal-anal pouch anastomoses for both inflammatory bowel disease and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) syndrome. Those patients with low rectal cancers or other polyposis syndromes e.g. HNPCC hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancers, may potentially have a delay in the adjuvant therapy when faced with this complication. Studies performed in this groups of patients report a readmission rate of 17-21% for dehydration. Loperamide has been shown to significantly decrease the daily volume of weight of stool in these patients. The purpose of this study is to establish whether loperamide given at 4mg three times daily for 14 days from day of discharge empirically decreases 30 days readmission rate for dehydration. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a 15% decrease from 25% to 10% in the readmission rates, that severity of dehydration will be decreased.
The Effect of Dehydration on Intestinal Permeability
DehydrationIndomethacinIn this study, the effect of dehydration by sauna exposure on the intestinal permeability in 20 healthy subjects is investigated. Participants attend three visits: 1) Sauna visit (to achieve 3% dehydration), 2) Positive control visit (intake of indomethacin which is known to increase intestinal permeability), 3) Negative control visit. At all visits, saliva samples, blood samples, faecal samples, saliva samples are collected and the multi-sugar permeability test is performed. In this test, participants drink a sugar solution and then urine collect urine for 5 and 24 h. The ratio of the sugars detected in the urine by liquid chromatography/mass spectometry is a reflection of the intestinal permeability. Saliva samples are collected for assessment of cortisol, a stress marker. Blood and faecal samples are collected for assessment of markers of intestinal barrier function and inflammation.
Relieve the Patient's Thirst, Refresh the Mouth First (ICU-MIC)
HypernatremiaDehydrationThirst is considered as one of the most distressing symptoms experienced by patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Whereas pain is a permanent concern for all caregivers, thirst is often ignored and its complications are poorly known. Mechanisms involved in thirst regulation are numerous and complex. To date, care of thirst is still non optimal. Critically ill patients are usually rehydrated intravenously or using a naso-gastric tube, thus shunting the mouth as a therapeutic target to relieve the patient's thirst. Water, cold and mint applied in mouth were studied separately and were shown to decrease thirst significantly on animal models and healthy humans. Therefore, the hypothesis of this study is that application of small mint ice cubes in mouth of very dehydrated ICU patients should allow decreasing quickly and significantly thirst for these patients, before the correction of their biological parameters, like natremia and osmolarity.
Dehydration, Rehydration, and Blood Viscosity
DehydrationThe purpose of this study is to examine and compare the rehydration effect of Essentia Water, an electrolyzed high-pH bottled water, with industry-standard bottled water purified by reverse osmosis with minerals added, on (1) whole blood viscosity, (2) plasma osmolality, (3) bioelectrical impedance analysis, and (4) body mass change, using serial measurements in apparently healthy adults following exercise-induced dehydration in a controlled environment.
Dehydration Among School Children- Mali
DehydrationThere is a large body of evidence from adult populations suggesting cognition in adults is affected by hydration status. The few studies conducted in the global North in populations of schoolchildren indicate that drinking water has an impact on pupil performance on basic cognitive tasks. No studies assessing the impact of dehydration and cognition in schoolchildren have been carried out in the global South, where access to water is the poorest and dehydration prevalence is likely higher. This study will examine the effect of drinking supplementary water during the school day on hydration status and on cognitive test scores in schoolchildren in Mali, West Africa. The investigators hypothesize that providing supplemental water will result in a decrease in prevalence of dehydration in the study group and will result in an improved performance on cognitive test scores. Data will be collected from up to four purposively-selected schools in the Sikasso region of Mali, from up to a total of 300 children. At each school pupils in grades 3-6 will be eligible for recruitment. Research staff will explain the study to pupils at the school and individually request informed oral assent for participation. A waiver of parental consent for pupil interviews will be secured from the Ministry of Education. At each school, school directors will be asked to sign in loco parentis ("in the place of parent") on behalf of the pupil participants. Children that assent to participate in the study will be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. Data collection will take place at each school over two days within a one-week period, with one study group tested on each of the two days. On the intervention testing day, all study participants will receive supplementary water. On the control testing day, no study participants will receive supplementary water. Testing procedures in both groups is identical and will include a five-minute interview, two cognitive testing sessions of 45 minutes each, and collection of two urine samples during the day. None of these activities collect personal data or identifiers, and the urine sample will not be stored. All data collection will occur at the school and will be conducted by trained local enumerators. There are no risks to participation other than a small amount of class time missed by pupils, and great efforts will be made to minimize time outside of class.
Feasibility of Risk Sign Displays to Prevent Falls, Dehydration and Pulmonary Aspiration in Nursing...
Nursing Home ResidentsBACKGROUND: Prior research has shown a relationship between dehydration, falls and pulmonary aspiration among older adults in nursing and health care facilities, which contributes to its loss of independence and quality-of-life. Is believed that improving communication among health professional decreases the number of adverse events in institutionalized patients. This study will evaluate the feasibility of a set of sign displays designed to communicate fall, dehydration and pulmonary aspiration risks and will reflect on tailored interventions to manage these events in nursing homes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This will be a national, single-center, feasibility study. All patients, with chronic neurologic diseases selected from a nursing home, will be invited to participate. At baseline patients will undertake a screening risk assessment and it will be attributed a correspondent risk display. Study duration will be a minimum of 3 months per participant, including daily record of events and monthly interview assessments. Events data will be compared with historical data extracted retrospectively from medical and nursing charts.