Interventions for improving critical care in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Purpose: To systematically review the typology, impact, quality of evidence, barriers, and facilitators to implementation of Quality Improvement (QI) interventions for adult critical care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched on 1st September 2022.

The IMPACT study: A clustered randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of a referral algorithm for axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: A substantial number of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) have axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but early recognition of these patients is difficult for general practitioners (GPs). The Case Finding Axial Spondyloarthritis (CaFaSpA) referral strategy has shown to be able to identify patients with CLBP at risk for axSpA, but its impact on clinical daily practice is yet unknown.

Objective: To assess the effect of the CaFaSpA referral strategy on pain caused by disability in primary care patients with CLBP.

Can You Hear What I Think? Theory of Mind in Young Children With Moderate Hearing Loss.

Objectives: The first aim of this study was to examine various aspects of Theory of Mind (ToM) development in young children with moderate hearing loss (MHL) compared with hearing peers. The second aim was to examine the relation between language abilities and ToM in both groups. The third aim was to compare the sequence of ToM development between children with MHL and hearing peers.

Congenital hearing loss.

Congenital hearing loss (hearing loss that is present at birth) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in children. In the majority of developed countries, neonatal hearing screening programmes enable early detection; early intervention will prevent delays in speech and language development and has long-lasting beneficial effects on social and emotional development and quality of life. A diagnosis of hearing loss is usually followed by a search for an underlying aetiology.

Hb Olivet (HBA1: C.40G > A; p.Ala14Thr), a Novel Silent Hemoglobin Variant in Two Families of Distinct Origin.

We report two families, members of which are carriers of a novel hemoglobin (Hb) variant that was named Hb Olivet [α13(A11)Ala→Thr (α1) (GCC > ACC); HBA1: c.40G > A; p.Ala14Thr].

Synchronous Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping.

We demonstrate a new approach to precision NMR with hyperpolarized gases designed to mitigate NMR shifts due to the alkali spin-exchange field. The NMR bias field is implemented as a sequence of alkali (Rb) 2π pulses, allowing the Rb polarization to be optically pumped transverse to the bias field. When the Rb polarization is modulated at the noble-gas (Xe) NMR resonance, spin-exchange collisions buildup a precessing transverse Xe polarization.

Early identification: Language skills and social functioning in deaf and hard of hearing preschool children.

Objective: Permanent childhood hearing impairment often results in speech and language problems that are already apparent in early childhood. Past studies show a clear link between language skills and the child's social-emotional functioning. The aim of this study was to examine the level of language and communication skills after the introduction of early identification services and their relation with social functioning and behavioral problems in deaf and hard of hearing children.

National study of newborn hearing screening: programme sensitivity and characteristics of undetected children.

Unlabelled: The success of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) programmes is usually evaluated by determining the effect of the early detection of hearing loss on developmental outcome. However, in practice, these programmes do not detect all children with permanent childhood hearing impairment. In this study we determine the sensitivity of the current UNHS programme and analyse the characteristics of the children not detected by UNHS.

Suppression of spin-exchange relaxation using pulsed parametric resonance.

We demonstrate that spin-exchange dephasing of Larmor precession at near-Earth-scale fields is effectively eliminated by dressing the alkali-metal atom spins in a sequence of ac-coupled 2π pulses, repeated at the Larmor precession frequency. The contribution of spin-exchange collisions to the spectroscopic linewidth is reduced by a factor of the duty cycle of the pulses. We experimentally demonstrate resonant transverse pumping in magnetic fields as high as 0.

Cytomegalovirus DNA detection in dried blood spots and perilymphatic fluids from pediatric and adult cochlear implant recipients with prelingual deafness.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading cause of non-genetic congenital hearing loss. The contribution of congenital CMV to prelingual deafness and the pathophysiology is largely unknown.

Objective: (1) To analyze the prevalence of congenital CMV among cochlear implant (CI) recipients with prelingual deafness.

Auditory neuropathy in a low-risk population: a review of the literature.

Objective: Collect all available published evidence on the prevalence of auditory neuropathy in the well baby population and calculate the contribution of this to the false negative rate of oto-acoustic emission based newborn hearing screening programs.

Method: PubMed and EMBASE were searched for relevant articles published between 1996 and 2010. Medical Subject Headings terms included 'Auditory disease', 'Prevalence' and 'Child' and their relevant synonyms.

Rapid genotyping of cytomegalovirus in dried blood spots by multiplex real-time PCR assays targeting the envelope glycoprotein gB and gH genes.

Genotyping of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is useful to examine potential differences in the pathogenicity of strains and to demonstrate coinfection with multiple strains involved in CMV disease in adults and congenitally infected newborns. Studies on genotyping of CMV in dried blood spots (DBS) are rare and have been hampered by the small amount of dried blood available. In this study, two multiplex real-time PCR assays for rapid gB and gH genotyping of CMV in DBS were developed.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in the Netherlands: birth prevalence and risk factors.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital viral infection worldwide. The sequela encountered most frequently is hearing impairment, affecting approximately one out of five infants congenitally infected. Data on the birth prevalence and risk factors of congenital CMV infection in the Netherlands are scarce.

Causes of permanent childhood hearing impairment.

Introduction: The causes of Permanent Childhood Hearing Impairment (PCHI) are often quoted as being hereditary in 50%, acquired in 25%, and unknown in 25% of cases. Interest in the causes of PCHI has grown recently due to increasing diagnostic possibilities. We investigated the evidence for the reported distribution of these causes.

Newborn hearing screening vs later hearing screening and developmental outcomes in children with permanent childhood hearing impairment.

Context: Newborn hearing screening programs have been implemented in many countries because it was thought that the earlier permanent childhood hearing impairment is detected, the less developmentally disadvantaged children would become. To date, however, no strong evidence exists for universal introduction of newborn hearing screening.

Objective: To study the effect of newborn hearing screening vs distraction hearing screening, conducted at 9 months of age, on development, spoken communication, and quality of life.

DECIBEL study: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in young children with permanent bilateral hearing impairment in the Netherlands.

Background: A significant number of asymptomatic newborns infected with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) will present with permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) during early childhood.

Objectives: To investigate the role of congenital CMV infection in causing PCHI in the Netherlands, and assess the efficacy of two different hearing screening strategies and the developmental outcome following each strategy.

Study Design: We included 192 children with PCHI at the age of 3-5 years, who were offered hearing screening in their first year of life.

Awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus among doctors in the Netherlands.

Background: Because of limited treatment options for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, preventive strategies are important. Knowledge and awareness are essential for the success of preventive strategies.

Objectives: To investigate the knowledge of congenital CMV among doctors involved in mother and child care in the Netherlands.

[Permanent hearing loss in the prelingual phase in children with a non-aberrant neonatal hearing screening result].

--Neonatal hearing screening is fully implemented in the Netherlands since June 2006 using otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) technology. --A normal neonatal hearing screening result unfortunately does not guarantee childhood normal hearing. Hearing loss may not become manifest until after the neonatal period.

[Serious complications of umbilical venous catheterisation].

Three male newborns, born at 30 weeks, 36 weeks and at term, respectively, developed serious complications related to umbilical venous catheters. The first patient had persistent bacteraemia due to a cardiac thrombus. He recovered after treatment.

Pentalogy of Cantrell : successful early correction.

The pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare midline developmental field complex often with a dismal outcome. We present a newborn qualifying for Cantrell's pentalogy with an abdominal wall defect, a diaphragmatic defect and a heart defect, a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and a left ventricular diverticulum. Early operative correction following accurate diagnostic work-up was prompted at the age of 11 weeks because of progressive heart failure.

[Diagnostic image (329). A girl with haemorrhagic bullae].

In a 10-year-old girl diffuse purpura and bullous lesions were observed as manifestations of Henoch Schönlein purpura.