Development of a neonatal incubator with phototherapy,biometric fingerprint reader,remote monitoring,and heart rate control adapted for developing countries hospitals

This paper aims to develop an automatic neonatal incubator equipped with phototherapy, biometric fingerprint reader, remote monitoring and heart rate control modules for developing countries due to the lack of neonatal incubators. The proposed device consists of an acquisition module that senses temperatures (of the enclosure and the baby) and humidity, a biometric fingerprint reader to identify the user, a remote monitoring module in charge of supervising the temperature and the heart rate of the baby, a video surveillance module which allows filming and transmitting the images to the web server in order to give parents and nurses the possibility of being able to visualize whatever their location the newborn baby, a phototherapy module used to treat newborn jaundice by lowering the bilirubin levels in the baby's blood, a digital control module from a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generated by a microcontroller of Arduino Nano type for system operation monitoring, and a human machine interface module for setting parameters. The equations describing the energy balance and heat transfer for newborn baby (Ostrowski and Rojczyk, 2018) are taken into account for the implementation of power supply and the choice of the heating resistor. The desired temperature of 37 °C was obtained after only a few minutes inside the incubator.     

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy applied at acupuncture points in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised double-blind comparative trial

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) applied to acupuncture points on the knee joint in combination with exercise and advice in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Design

Randomised, double-blind, comparative clinical trial.

Participants

Forty-nine patients with knee osteoarthritis were assigned at random into two groups: active laser group (n = 26) and placebo laser group (n = 23).

Intervention

Using a gallium aluminium arsenide laser device, patients received either active or placebo LLLT at five acupuncture points on the affected knee during nine sessions.

Outcome measures

Patients were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Saudi Knee Function Scale (SKFS) at baseline, the fifth treatment session, the last treatment session, 6 weeks post intervention and 6 months post intervention.

Results

VAS scores showed a significant improvement in the active laser group compared with the placebo laser group at 6 weeks post intervention [mean difference −1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference −2.4 to −0.3; P = 0.014] and 6 months post intervention (mean difference −1.8, 95% CI of the difference −3.0 to −0.7; P = 0.003) using the independent samples test. SKFS scores also showed a significant improvement in the active laser group compared with the placebo laser group at the last treatment session (median difference −15, 95% CI of the difference −27 to −2; P = 0.035) and 6 months post intervention (median difference −21, 95% CI of the difference −34 to −7; P = 0.006) using the Mann–Whitney U test.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that short-term application of LLLT to specific acupuncture points in association with exercise and advice is effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.     

光疗治疗银屑病的研究进展

目前治疗银屑病的方法较多,但治疗效果令人满意的方法尚少。光疗是治疗银屑病的一种有效方法,与药物联合应用不仅可以提高疗效,还可减少不良反应的发生。现将近年光疗治疗银屑病的研究进展综述如下。     

日龄及性别对行光疗的新生儿高胆红素血症患儿血清总胆红素水平的影响

目的 探讨日龄及性别对行光疗的新生儿高胆红素血症患儿血清总胆红素水平的影响.方法 选取2019年1—12月医院新生儿科收治的232例行光疗的新生儿高胆红素血症患儿作为研究对象,比较不同日龄、不同性别患儿光疗前后的血清总胆红素水平变化.结果 光疗后,不同日龄、不同性别患儿的血清总胆红素水平均低于光疗前,差异有统计学意义(...     

Ergänzende Verfahren in der Aknetherapie

The mainstays of modern acne therapy include comedolytic, antimicrobial, and anti‐inflammatory substances, as well as antiandrogens. Additionally, traditional or newly developed therapeutic approaches may be considered, including pharmacologic (dapsone, zinc) and physical measures (phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, comedone extraction, abrasives). This article reviews such adjunctive therapies with regard to efficacy and their roles in acne therapy.     

The efficacy of home phototherapy for physiological and non-physiological neonatal jaundice: A systematic review

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of home phototherapy for physiological and non-physiological neonatal jaundice compared to in-patient phototherapy.MethodA systematic review of English articles using Medline, CINAHL complete, SCOPUS, and Informit was completed. Additional articles were obtained by a hand-search of the reference lists of obtained articles and Google Scholar. All types of quantitative and qualitative studies were included.Results20 articles were identified from our search. Home phototherapy conveyed equal efficacy with inpatient phototherapy with the daily decrement in total serum bilirubin. Home phototherapy was not associated with an increased risk of developing adverse effects. Most of the parents preferred home phototherapy to inpatient phototherapy. Treatment with home phototherapy is more cost effective than inpatient phototherapy.ConclusionsHome phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment for uncomplicated pathological and physiological jaundice. Implications include reduced parental anxiety and decreased healthcare expenditure.     

Evaluation of the effects of phototherapy on cochlear function in newborns

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate any potential effects of phototherapy on cochlear function in newborns using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs).Methods and materialsFifty-seven newborns, undergoing phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia without any other risk factors, and a control group of 53 healthy newborns, were administered the TEOAE test prior to and following phototherapy. In the newborns undergoing phototherapy, otoacoustic emission (OAE) measurements obtained at baseline and following phototherapy were compared. Moreover, pre-phototherapy OAE measurements obtained in the newborns undergoing phototherapy were compared with the OAE measurements of the control group.ResultsIn newborns undergoing phototherapy, there was no significant difference between pre- and post-phototherapy TEOAE amplitudes, nor in the reproducibility ratios. Similarly, no difference was found in the pre-treatment measurements of amplitude and reproducibility ratios between phototherapy-receiving newborns and controls (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe normal TEOAE results observed in the newborns undergoing phototherapy suggest that phototherapy does not exert negative effects on the cochlea.     

Retinaschäden bei Ratten nach einer Fototherapie

Zusammenfassung Es wird über Retinaatrophien bei Ratten nach der Bestrahlung mit künstlichem Licht aus Leuchtstoffröhren berichtet. Die Bestrahlungs-intensität entsprach einer Fototherapie beim Menschen. Die Netzhäute junger Ratten, die kurz nach der Geburt unter das Licht gegeben und dort ununterbrochen 28 bis 44 Tage lang verblieben, waren weniger stark verändert als die erwachsener Tiere, die nur 12 Tage lang bestrahlt wurden. An den Augen von Babyratten, deren Lider noch ständig geschlossen waren, ließen sich nach 12tägiger Bestrahlung, auch wenn besonders hohe Beleuchtungsstärken einwirkten, histologische keine Retinaveränderungen nachweisen. Es wird darauf higewiesen, daß bei der Fototherapie neugeborener Menschen sorgfältiges Abdecken der Augen erforderlich und sinnvoll erscheint.

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Retinal atrophy in rats following phototherapy

Retinal atrophy in rats following illumination with artificial fluorescent light is reported. The intensity of irradiation was equivalent to that applied in phototherapy of human newborns. The retinas of infant rats exposed to irradiation soon after birth for periods of 28 to 44 days, were less affected than those of adult animals illuminated over a period of 12 days only. After 12 days of illumination no retinal damage was found in the eyes of infant rats, whose eye lids were still closed, even when they were exposed to an especially high light dosage. Therefore, utmost care to shield the eyes of newborn babies during phototherapy seems advisable and may be regarded as effective.

Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt.     

Crigler-Najjar Type 1 Syndrome: Absence of Hepatic Bilirubin UDP-Glucuronyl Transferase Activity and Therapeutic Response to Light

Abstract: Crigler-Najjartype 1 syndrome: absence of hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity and therapeutic response to light. G. C. Farrell, J. L. Gollan, S. M. B. Stevens and J. M. Grierson, Aust. HZ. J. Med., 1982, 12, pp. 280–285.
A 16-year-old boy with severe congenital unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia is described in whom mental retardation occurred as an isolated neurological deficit. The diagnosis of Crigler-Najjar type 1 syndrome was supported by an extreme and persistent elevation of serum unconjugated bilirubin (650 nmol/), failure of administered phenobarbitone to lower serum bilirubin concentration and family history of a similarly affected sibling. Hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity determined in vitro by a sensitive new enzyme assay was found to be absent using bilirubin or bilirubin monoglucuronide as substrate. Phototherapy for 12 hours each night produced a partial but highly significant reduction in serum bilirubin concentration, which was not influenced further by the administration of cholestyramine.