Is cranial molding preventable in preterm infants? A systematic literature review of the effectiveness of interventions

Aims: A systematic review of published studies was conducted to study the evidence supporting interventions to prevent or reduce cranial molding of the preterm infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Background: Incidence of cranial molding has increased over recent decades. Cranial molding is identified as a contributor for negative physical and psychosocial developmental effects. Design and Method: A systematic literature review and critical appraisal according to the Cochrane Collaboration Center assessment criteria was performed. Results: Eight intervention studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Most studies used the anterior-posterior: bi-parietal ratio as measurement of cranial molding. One multicenter quasi-experimental intervention study showed that infants who received regular repositioning had a statistically significant reduction of bilateral head flattening compared to infants who did not receive this intervention. Other studies had either methodological weaknesses or showed no effect for the intervention studied. Conclusion: Evidence is poor and restricted to one intervention; regular body repositioning. More well-designed randomized studies are needed to confirm the effect of regular head and body positioning

Protocolized Versus Nonprotocolized Weaning to Reduce the Duration of Invasive Mechanical Weaning in Neonates A Systematic Review of All Types of Studies

Mechanical ventilation is one of the most commonly used treatments in neonatology. Prolonged mechanical ventilation is associated with deleterious outcomes. To reduce the ventilation duration, weaning protocols have been developed to achieve extubation in adult and pediatric care in a safe and uniform manner. We performed a systematic review to obtain all available evidence on the effect of protocolized versus nonprotocolized weaning on the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation in critically ill neonates. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform were searched until January 2018. Quantitative and qualitative studies involving neonates that investigated or described protocolized versus nonprotocolized weaning were included. Primary outcome was the difference in weaning duration. A total of 2099 potentially relevant articles were retrieved. Three stud

Tourism in Conflict Areas: Complex Entanglements in Jordan.

In this article the workings of tourism in areas of socio-political turmoil are critically examined. In so doing the aim is to scrutinize interconnections between tourism, safety and conflict as I contend that tourism, tourists and the danger generated by ongoing socio-political conflicts are intimately connected. The empirical focus is on tourism in Jordan, a country in a region troubled by ongoing conflicts. Fieldwork for this project was carried out in 2009 and 2010 and data was collected from local tourism industry representatives and international tourists in Jordan. Findings indicate that a safety/danger binary is destabilized by industry representatives who operate a ‘sanitization’ process in Jordan meant to erase danger and conflicts from tourism spaces. Tourists in the region also disrupt this binary as they travel to the region in spite of the conflict and downplay violent incidents

The bilirubin albumin ratio in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants to improve neurodevelopmental outcome: A randomized controlled trial - BARTrial

Background and Objective: High bilirubin/albumin (B/A) ratios increase the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity. The B/A ratio may be a valuable measure, in addition to the total serum bilirubin (TSB), in the management of hyperbilirubinemia. We aimed to assess whether the additional use of B/A ratios in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants improved neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods: In a prospective, randomized controlled trial, 615 preterm infants of 32 weeks' gestation or less were randomly assigned to treatment based on either B/A ratio and TSB thresholds (consensus-based), whichever threshold was crossed first, or on the TSB thresholds only. The primary outcome was neurodevelopment at 18 to 24 months' corrected age as assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III by investigators unaware of treatment allocation. Secondary outcomes included complications of preterm birth and death. Results: Composite motor (100±13 vs. 101±12) and cognitive (101±12 vs. 101±11) scores did not differ between the B/A ratio and TSB groups. Demographic characteristics, maximal TSB levels, B/A ratios, and other secondary outcomes were similar. The rates of death and/or severe neurodevelopmental impairment for th

Perspectives on hyperhomocysteinaemia and arterial atherosclerosis

GesondheidswetenskappeHematologiese PatologiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

Die rol van matige wynverbruik tydens maaltye in die voorkoming van hartsiektes

CITATION: Van Velden, D. P. & Mansvelt, E. P. G. 2000. Die rol van matige wynverbruik tydens maaltye in die voorkoming van hartsiektes. South African Family Practice, 22(6):5-8.The original publication is available at http://www.safpj.co.zapidemiological evidence consistently link moderate red wine consumption with reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease. lt has been found that there is a much lower mortality from cardiovascular disease, mainly coronary artery disease (CAD),in the countries borderingthe Mediterranean compared with that in Northern Europe. This was coined "The French Paradox", describing the phenomenon that the French have a low incidence of CAD despite the hct that they follow a diet rich in saturated fat. lt is well known that the French regularly consume red wine with their meals. Platelet aggregability plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CAD.Various phytochemicals in red wine may reduce platelet rggregation, serum lipid peroxidation and hence thrombosis. We investigated the effects of regular moderate red wine consumption on platelet aggregability ex vivo and on the serum lipid profile and antioxidant status.We concludehttp://www.safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/2143Publisher's versio

The senescent human red blood cell : a biochemical and morphological study

One copy microfiche.Thesis (M.D.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1991.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record