Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Giorgia Brambilla Pisoni, Christine Gaulis, Silvan Suter, Michel A. Rochat, Solomzi Makohliso, Matthias Roth-Kleiner, Michiko Kyokan, Riccardo E. Pfister, Klaus Schonenberger
Summary: Neonatal death is a significant burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to conditions like prematurity and infections exacerbated by hypothermia. Lack of awareness and essential infant devices hinder the reduction of neonatal deaths associated with hypothermia. This highlights the urgent need for infant incubators tailored to the context, needs, and end-users in SSA.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Alka Dev, Michelucia Casseus, Wilhermine Jean Baptiste, Emma LeWinter, Patrice Joseph, Peter Wright
Summary: Haiti has the highest rate of neonatal mortality in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Despite the increasing rate of facility births, maternal and neonatal mortality rates have not significantly improved. Little data is available on the clinical characteristics of complications and morbidities among newborns requiring hospitalization after birth and their impact on neonatal mortality. This study found that with modest investments, the mortality rate in a neonatal unit in Haiti was halved.
Review
Pediatrics
Suresh Victor, Eridan Rocha-Ferreira, Ahad Rahim, Henrik Hagberg, David Edwards
Summary: Around 0.75 million babies suffer from HIE each year, leading to neurodevelopmental impairment. Therapeutic hypothermia is effective but improvements are needed. Challenges for the next decade include better animal models, industry support, and well-designed clinical trials to enhance treatment outcomes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Giuliana Ferrante, Giuseppe Carota, Giovanni Li Volti, Mario Giuffre
Summary: Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in neonatal lung disease, but there are currently no clinically validated biomarkers suitable for neonatal lung diseases. The complex technical procedures and high cost are the main hindrances to the application of oxidative stress biomarkers in clinical practice.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Chengyin Ye, Jinghua Wu, Jonathan D. Reiss, Tiffany J. Sinclair, David K. Stevenson, Gary M. Shaw, Donald H. Chace, Reese H. Clark, Lawrence S. Prince, Xuefeng Bruce Ling, Karl G. Sylvester
Summary: By studying the metabolic patterns during the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants, this research identified 27 metabolic variables associated with BPD. The findings have implications for the prevention and management of BPD.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Xiuyun Liu, Aylin Tekes, Jamie Perin, May W. Chen, Bruno P. Soares, An N. Massaro, Rathinaswamy B. Govindan, Charlamaine Parkinson, Raul Chavez-Valdez, Frances J. Northington, Ken M. Brady, Jennifer K. Lee
Summary: This study suggests that maintaining blood pressure above the optimal mean arterial pressure (MAPopt) during therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) may reduce the risk of brain injury. Wavelet methodology and correlation-derived indices may help identify these blood pressure values associated with brain injury, with potential for future randomized studies in neonates with HIE.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Timothy Tuti, Gary Collins, Mike English, Jalemba Aluvaala
Summary: This study evaluates the predictive accuracy of two neonatal prediction models and demonstrates the importance of external validation and model updating. The updated models perform better in predicting in-hospital mortality in low-resource settings compared to existing models.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
R. Peng, Y. Tong, M. Yang, J. Wang, L. Yang, J. Zhu, Yu Liu, H. Wang, Z. Shi, Ya Liu
Summary: This study used 2019 Global Burden of Disease data to analyze the incidence, prevalence, death, and DALYs of maternal and neonatal disorders. The study found that the global burden of maternal and neonatal disorders remains high, and socioeconomic-related inequality tends to remain unchanged during the study period.
QJM-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Viktoria Kovacs, Gabor Remzso, Timea Kormoczi, Robert Berkecz, Valeria Toth-Szuki, Andrea Penzes, Laszlo Vecsei, Ferenc Domoki
Summary: The study investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of the KYNA analog SZR72 in piglets with HIE. While SZR72 enhanced neuronal activity and EEG recovery, it did not ameliorate early neuronal damage post-asphyxia. In comparison, hypothermia treatment showed the best preservation of EEG complexity, VEP, and neuronal integrity in all examined brain regions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tadesse Guadu Delele, Gashaw Andargie Biks, Solomon Mekonnen Abebe, Zemene Tigabu Kebede
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with neonatal illness symptoms reported by mothers delivering in health facilities in Northwest Ethiopia. The results showed a high prevalence of neonatal illness symptoms, with possible serious bacterial infections, localized bacterial infections, low birth weight, diarrhea, prematurity, and jaundice being the most common symptoms reported. Maternal factors such as having up to 3 children, having twins or triplets during pregnancy, and lack of antenatal counseling were associated with neonatal illness, while neonatal factors such as low birth length and poor breastfeeding quality were also identified as contributing factors.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Fedine Urubuto, Faustine Agaba, Jaesok Choi, Raban Dusabimana, Raissa Teteli, Muzungu Kumwami, Craig Conard, Cliff O'Callahan, Peter Cartledge
Summary: The study found that 27% of eligible neonates admitted to the hospital had hypothermia, with extremely preterm babies being significantly more likely to experience hypothermia compared to term neonates.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ceyda Acun, Sreenivas Karnati, Swetha Padiyar, Subhash Puthuraya, Hany Aly, Mohamed Mohamed
Summary: This study investigated the trends in prevalence and mortality of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the United States. The results showed that the prevalence of the condition remained stable, while the use of therapeutic hypothermia increased and the mortality rate decreased. Placental infarction or insufficiency, placental abruption, cord prolapse, and maternal anemia were identified as the strongest factors associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Hailemichael Gebremariam, Berhe Tesfai, Seltene Tewelde, Samsom Abay, Danait Tekeste, Fitsum Kibreab
Summary: This study retrospectively evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Dekemhare Hospital in Eritrea. The study found that low birth weight, delivery at a health facility, and length of hospital stay were predictors of neonatal mortality.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yunhee Kang, Lee Shu Fune Wu, Saijuddin Shaikh, Hasmot Ali, Abu Ahmed Shamim, Parul Christian, Alain Labrique, Keith P. West
Summary: This study examined multiple birth measurements, particularly chest circumference, as predictors of neonatal and infant mortality. The results showed that combining chest circumference with other measurements can provide a more accurate prediction of mortality risk.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davide De Francesco, Yair J. Blumenfeld, Ivana Maric, Jonathan A. Mayo, Alan L. Chang, Ramin Fallahzadeh, Thanaphong Phongpreecha, Alex J. Butwick, Maria Xenochristou, Ciaran S. Phibbs, Neda H. Bidoki, Martin Becker, Anthony Culos, Camilo Espinosa, Qun Liu, Karl G. Sylvester, Brice Gaudilliere, Martin S. Angst, David K. Stevenson, Gary M. Shaw, Nima Aghaeepour
Summary: The study introduces a multitask deep neural network model that can predict twelve neonatal morbidities, providing a new data-driven approach to defining prematurity. Analyzing data from 11,594,786 livebirths in California from 1991 to 2012, the model outperformed traditional models in assessing prematurity with better predictive performance.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jason H. Park, Davidson H. Hamer, Reuben Mbewe, Nancy A. Scott, Julie M. Herlihy, Kojo Yeboah-Antwi, Katherine E. A. Semrau
Summary: The study found that the use of clean delivery kits was associated with a reduction in early newborn mortality, especially when certain components such as gloves, cord clamps, plastic sheets, and razor blades were used. However, there was no significant reduction in late newborn mortality (7-28 days) with CDK use.
Article
Parasitology
Neda Firouraghi, Alireza Mohammadi, Davidson H. Hamer, Robert Bergquist, Sayyed Mostafa Mostafavi, Ali Shamsoddini, Amene Raouf-Rahmati, Mahmoud Fakhar, Elham Moghaddas, Behzad Kiani
Summary: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a significant public health concern worldwide, with Iran being one of the most affected countries. A study in Mashhad, Iran showed a decreasing trend in CL incidence rates, with high-risk areas mainly located in the south-western part and high-risk period from March to July.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hannah E. Landsberg, Jacquelyn Turcinovic, Madison Sullivan, John H. Connor, Davidson H. Hamer, Judy T. Platt
Summary: This article reports a cluster of SARS-CoV-2 Delta cases detected in Boston, Massachusetts in May 2021, involving a recent traveler from India and subsequent transmission to two of three close contacts. The effectiveness of partial vaccination in blocking transmission of the Delta variant to vaccinated individuals is demonstrated in this case series, where the probability of transmission for unvaccinated individuals is high.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lucy Thairu, Hanna Gehling, Sarah Kafwanda, Kojo Yeboah-Antwi, Davidson H. Hamer, Karsten Lunze
Summary: In resource-limited areas such as rural Lufwanyama District in Zambia, mothers face barriers in seeking healthcare for their ill newborns. This study found that mothers and grandmothers were able to identify danger signs in newborns and had a hierarchy of care-seeking based on the severity of the signs. However, factors such as transportation costs, inaccessible healthcare facilities, high medication costs, lack of respectful treatment, and fear of newborns dying in the hospital prevented timely care-seeking. Traditional birth attendants and community health workers had limited roles in newborn care, leading mothers to turn to traditional healers. The study suggests that training both traditional birth attendants and community health workers in providing community-based newborn care and appropriate referrals could improve care-seeking and prevent newborn mortality in rural Zambia.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
G. M. Rabiul Islam, Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman, Mohammed Imrul Hasan, Amare Worku Tadesse, Jena Derakhshani Hamadani, Davidson H. Hamer
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between environmental chromium exposure and cognitive development in children. The results showed no significant differences in hair, serum, and urine chromium levels between children with cognitive deficits and healthy control children. Larger studies using standardized criteria and longitudinal assessment are needed to further investigate the dose-response effect of childhood chromium exposure on cognitive development.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hiwote Solomon, Elizabeth G. Henry, Julie Herlihy, Kojo Yeboah-Antwi, Godfrey Biemba, Kebby Musokotwane, Afsah Bhutta, Davidson H. Hamer, Katherine E. A. Semrau
Summary: This study analyzed the discrepancies between planned and actual delivery locations in a chlorhexidine application trial conducted in Zambia. The majority of women delivered where they intended, and older age, higher education level, and higher wealth index were associated with a higher likelihood of achieving their intended delivery location.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jules Canfield, Ve Truong, Agata Bereznicka, Carly Bridden, Jane Liebschutz, Daniel P. Alford, Richard Saitz, Jeffrey H. Samet, Alexander Y. Walley, Karsten Lunze
Summary: This study evaluated a student clinical addiction research program by analyzing its components, evaluation survey data, and scientific outputs. The program successfully introduced students to addiction medicine and research, with high peer-reviewed publication productivity. However, it needs to improve equity by increasing the recruitment of trainees from disadvantaged groups and engaging underrepresented faculty.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Watcharapong Piyaphane, Rhett J. Stoney, Hilmir Asgeirsson, Grace D. Appiah, Marta Diaz-Menendez, Elizabeth D. Barnett, Philippe Gautret, Michael Libman, Patricia Schlagenhauf, Karin Leder, Katherine Plewes, Martin P. Grobusch, Ralph Huits, Kunjana Mavunda, Davidson H. Hamer, Lin H. Chen
Summary: International travellers may seek healthcare during their trip or plan healthcare abroad. The study indicates that many travellers encounter health problems during travel that could be prevented and managed through pre-travel consultations.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Irene H. Falgas-Bague, Thandiwe A. Thembo, Jeanette Kaiser, Davidson Hamer, Nancy Scott, Thandiwe C. Ngoma, Ravi Paul, Allison Juntunen, Peter Rockers, Gunther Fink
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased mental health concerns and the risk of psychiatric illness worldwide, especially among vulnerable groups such as women and children in low-resourced settings with limited access to mental health care. This study examines the mental health distress among mothers of children under 5-years-old living in rural areas of Zambia during the pandemic. The findings suggest that the prevalence of mental health distress is high in this population and has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with young mothers with limited educational attainment being at highest risk.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Peter Rockers, Jukka Leppanen, Amanda H. Tarullo, Lezanie K. Coetzee, Gunther Fink, Davidson Hamer, Aisha Yousafzai, Denise Evans, Beryne Odeny
Summary: This study integrated a home visit intervention into community health worker operations in South Africa, aiming to expand access to early childhood development services in low- and middle-income countries. The intervention did not significantly impact children's linear growth or skills, but there was a significant improvement in visual processing speed.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Ralph Huits, Erika Wallender, Kristina M. M. Angelo, Michael Libman, Davidson H. H. Hamer
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Jennifer J. Carroll, Sarah L. Rossi, Marina V. Vetrova, Elena Blokhina, Yuliia Sereda, Dmitry Lioznov, Jason Luoma, Tetiana Kiriazova, Karsten Lunze
Summary: This study explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people who inject drugs (PWID) living with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia. The findings show that the pandemic has worsened the economic and psychological challenges faced by PWID with HIV, but at the same time reduced barriers to accessing HIV care and safety due to disruptions in normal operations. The study concludes that pandemic responses should consider the unique vulnerabilities of PWID with HIV to avoid worsening the structural violence they already experience.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Shanyin Yang, Jiegang Huang, Li Ye, Jianyan Lin, Zhiman Xie, Baodong Guo, Yanjun Li, Bingyu Liang, Zhigang Zheng, Karsten Lunze, Abu S. Abdullah, Hao Liang, Lisa M. Quintiliani
Summary: This study aims to explore the perspectives of smoking, barriers and facilitators to quitting, and perceptions related to a smoking cessation intervention delivered through behavioral counseling sessions and brief daily messenger service (WeChat)-delivered messages among people with HIV in China. A total of 24 participants were enrolled and five main themes were identified. Targeting cessation interventions to the unique needs and preferences of people with HIV in China may be needed to increase the effectiveness of future interventions.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Taryn Vian, Jeanette L. Kaiser, Thandiwe Ngoma, Allison Juntunen, Kaluba K. Mataka, Misheck Bwalya, Viviane I. R. Sakanga, Peter C. Rockers, Davidson H. Hamer, Godfrey Biemba, Nancy A. Scott
Summary: This study reviewed the experience in planning and implementing maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in Zambia and found that planning for MWH capacity is difficult due to high variability. Planners should gather actual recent monthly birth data and estimate capacity using the highest expected utilization months. Further research is needed to document and share data on MWH operations.
ANNALS OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)