| 1. |
- Aalto, Mikko, et al.
(author)
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Viskeraalinen leishmaniaasi tunnistamattomana tappavana tautina : [Visceral leishmaniasis as an unrecognized deadly disease]
- 2023
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In: Duodecim. - : Finnish Medical Society Duodecim. - 0012-7183 .- 2242-3281. ; 139:11, s. 885-891
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania parasites and transmitted by Phlebotomine sandflies. It affects primarily children and is fatal without treatment but curable with early treatment. Its clinical features are prolonged fever, wasting, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. Doctors have limited knowledge about its diagnostics. This leads to incorrect diagnoses and deaths, and the disease remains unrecognized. To break this vicious circle, active search of the disease is needed also where environmental factors are conductive to its presence, but it has never been reported. We describe discovering new foci of visceral leishmaniasis in Northern Somalia, Somaliland and Tanzania.
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| 2. |
- Brown, Nick, et al.
(author)
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Efficacy of zinc as adjunctive pneumonia treatment in children aged 2 to 60 months in low-income and middle-income countries : a systematic review and meta-analysis
- 2020
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In: BMJ Paediatrics Open. - : BMJ. - 2399-9772. ; 4:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Despite advances in vaccination and case management, pneumonia remains the single largest contributor to early child mortality worldwide. Zinc has immune-enhancing properties, but its role in adjunctive treatment of pneumonia in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is controversial and research still active.Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of zinc and placebo in pneumonia in children aged 2 to 60 months in LMICs. Databases included MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, SciELO, the WHO portal, Scopus, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov. Inclusion criteria included accepted signs of pneumonia and clear measure of outcome. Risk of bias was independently assessed by two authors. ORs with 95% CI were used for calculating the pooled estimate of dichotomous outcomes including treatment failure and mortality. Time to recovery was expressed as HRs. Sensitivity analyses considering risk of bias and subgroup analyses for pneumonia severity were performed.Results: We identified 11 trials published between 2004 and 2019 fulfilling the a priori defined criteria, 7 from South Asia and 3 from Africa and 1 from South America. Proportional treatment failure was comparable in both zinc and placebo groups when analysed for all patients (OR 0.95 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.14)) and only for those with severe pneumonia (OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.14)). No difference was seen in mortality between zinc and placebo groups (OR 0.64 (95% CI 0.31 to 1.31)). Time to recovery from severe pneumonia did not differ between the treatment and control groups for patients with severe pneumonia (HR 1.01 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.14)). Removal of four studies with high risk of bias made no difference to the conclusions.Conclusion: There is no evidence that adjunctive zinc treatment improves recovery from pneumonia in children in LMICs.Trial registration number: CRD42019141602.
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| 3. |
- Gonzalez Lindh, Margareta, 1965-, et al.
(author)
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Swallowing difficulties in adolescents : A case report and suggestion of treatment model
- 2022
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In: Clinical Case Reports. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2050-0904. ; 10:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing in childhood necessitates multi-disciplinary evaluation and management. This case report highlights the teamwork required for diagnostic work-up to distinguish functional dysphagia from organic and psychiatric conditions in an adolescent girl. Treatment model based on cognitive behavioral therapy is also presented.
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| 4. |
- Kahn, Robin, et al.
(author)
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Population-based study of multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 found that 36% of children had persistent symptoms
- 2022
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In: Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 111:2, s. 354-62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: Our aim was to describe the outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. Methods: This national, population-based, longitudinal, multicentre study used Swedish data that were prospectively collected between 1 December 2020 and 31 May 2021. All patients met the World Health Organization criteria for MIS-C. The outcomes 2 and 8weeks after diagnosis are presented, and follow-up protocols are suggested. Results: We identified 152 cases, and 133 (87%) participated. When followed up 2weeks after MIS-C was diagnosed, 43% of the 119 patients had abnormal results, including complete blood cell counts, platelet counts, albumin levels, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms. After 8weeks, 36% of 89 had an abnormal patient history, but clinical findings were uncommon. Echocardiogram results were abnormal in 5% of 67, and the most common complaint was fatigue. Older children and those who received intensive care were more likely to report symptoms and have abnormal cardiac results. Conclusion: More than a third (36%) of the patients had persistent symptoms 8weeks after MIS-C, and 5% had abnormal echocardiograms. Older age and higher levels of initial care appeared to be risk factors. Structured follow-up visits are important after MIS-C.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Kukka, Antti, et al.
(author)
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Incidence and outcomes of intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2022
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In: BMJ global health. - : BMJ. - 2059-7908. ; 7:12
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To examine the incidence of intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy, and neonatal mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with it in low-income and middle-income countries.Reports were included when neonatal encephalopathy diagnosed clinically within 24 hours of birth in term or near-term infants born after intrapartum hypoxia-ischaemia defined as any of the following: (1) pH≤7.1 or base excess ≤-12 or lactate ≥6, (2) Apgar score ≤5 at 5 or 10 min, (3) continuing resuscitation at 5 or 10 min or (4) no cry from baby at 5 or 10 min. Peer-reviewed articles were searched from Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science and WHO Global Index Medicus with date limits 1 November 2009 to 17 November 2021. Risk of bias was assessed using modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Inverse variance of heterogenicity was used for meta-analyses.There were 53 reports from 51 studies presenting data on 4181 children with intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy included in the review. Only five studies had data on incidence, which ranged from 1.5 to 20.3 per 1000 live births. Neonatal mortality was examined in 45 studies and in total 636 of the 3307 (19.2%) infants died. Combined outcome of death or moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disability was reported in 19 studies and occurred in 712 out of 1595 children (44.6%) with follow-up 1 to 3.5 years.Though there has been progress in some regions, incidence, case mortality and morbidity in intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy has been static in the last 10 years.CRD42020177928.
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| 7. |
- Kukka, Antti Juhani, et al.
(author)
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NeuroMotion Smartphone Application for Remote General Movements Assessment : a Feasibility Study in Nepal
- 2024
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 14:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of using the NeuroMotion smartphone application for remote General Movements Assessment for screening of infants for cerebral palsy in Kathmandu, Nepal. METHOD: Thirty-one term born infants at risk of cerebral palsy due to birth asphyxia or neonatal seizures were recruited for the follow-up at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, 1st October 2021 to 7th January 2022. Parents filmed their children at home using the app at 3 months’ age and the videos were assessed for technical quality using a standardized form and for fidgety movements by Prechtl’s General Movements Assessment. Usability of the app was evaluated through a parental survey. RESULTS: Twenty families sent in altogether 46 videos out of which 35 had approved technical quality. Sixteen children had at least one video with approved technical quality. Three infants lacked fidgety movements. The level of agreement between assessors was acceptable (Krippendorf alpha 0.781). Parental answers to the usability survey were in general positive. INTERPRETATION: Engaging parents in screening of cerebral palsy with the help of a smartphone-aided remote General Movements Assessment is possible in the urban area of a South Asian lower middle-income country.
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| 8. |
- Kukka, Antti J., et al.
(author)
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'We did everything by phone': a qualitative study of mothers' experience of smartphone-aided screening of cerebral palsy in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- 2024
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In: BMC pediatrics. - : BMC. - 1471-2431. ; 24:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- International guidelines recommend early intervention to all children at risk of cerebral palsy, but targeted screening programs are often lacking in low- and middle-income settings with the highest burden of disease. Smartphone applications have the potential to improve access to early diagnostics by empowering parents to film their children at home followed by centralized evaluation of videos with General Movements Assessment. We explored mothers' perceptions about participating in a smartphone aided cerebral palsy screening program in Kathmandu, Nepal.This is an explorative qualitative study that used focus group discussions (n=2) and individual interviews (n=4) with mothers of term-born infants surviving birth asphyxia or neonatal seizures. Parents used the NeuroMotion™ smartphone app to film their children at home and the videos were analysed using Precthl's General Movements Assessment. Sekhon et al.'s framework on the acceptability of health care interventions guided the design of the group discussions and interviews, and the deductive qualitative content analysis.Mothers were interested in engaging with the programme and expressed hope it would benefit their children. Most felt using the app was intuitive. They were, however, unclear about the way the analysis was performed. Support from the research team was often needed to overcome an initial lack of self-confidence in using the technology, and to reduce anxiety related to the follow-up. The intervention was overall perceived as recommendable but should be supplemented by a face-to-face consultation.Smartphone aided remote screening of cerebral palsy is acceptable in a lower middle-income population but requires additional technical support.
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| 9. |
- Kukka, Antti, et al.
(author)
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Observational study comparing heart rate in crying and non-crying but breathing infants at birth
- 2023
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In: BMJ Paediatrics Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2399-9772. ; 7:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Stimulating infants to elicit a cry at birth is common but could result in unnecessary handling. We evaluated heart rate in infants who were crying versus non-crying but breathing immediately after birth.Methods: This was single-centre observational study of singleton, vaginally born infants at = 33 weeks of gestation. Infants who were crying or non-crying but breathing within 30 s after birth were included.Background: demographic data and delivery room events were recorded using tablet-based applications and synchronised with continuous heart rate data recorded by a dry-electrode electrocardiographic monitor. Heart rate centile curves for the first 3 min of life were generated with piecewise regression analysis. Odds of bradycardia and tachycardia were compared using multiple logistic regression.Results: 1155 crying and 54 non-crying but breathing neonates were included in the final analyses. There were no significant differences in the demographic and obstetric factors between the cohorts. Non-crying but breathing infants had higher rates of early cord clamping <60 s after birth (75.9% vs 46.5%) and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (13.0% vs 4.3%). There were no significant differences in median heart rates between the cohorts. Non-crying but breathing infants had higher odds of bradycardia (heart rate <100 beats/min, adjusted OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.34 to 5.17) and tachycardia (heart rate = 200 beats/min, adjusted OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.50 to 5.47).Conclusion: Infants who are quietly breathing but do not cry after birth have an increased risk of both bradycardia and tachycardia, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
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| 10. |
- Kukka, Antti, 1988-
(author)
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Surviving Birth and Thriving : Identifying infants at risk of death and disability in low- and middle-income countries
- 2024
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Ending preventable newborn deaths is an unfinished global health agenda. Infants surviving birth have a right to thrive and to reach their full developmental potential. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate methods for identification of infants in need of neonatal resuscitation and at risk of disability in low- and middle-income countries.Paper I was an observational study conducted in Pokhara, Nepal, comparing the heart rate in the first 3 minutes in infants who were quietly breathing (n=54) versus crying (n=1155) immediately after birth. The median heart rate did not differ between the two groups, but both bradycardia and tachycardia were more common among non-crying but breathing newborns.Paper II was a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the incidence and outcomes of intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy in low- and middle-income countries. Altogether 53 articles were identified. The incidence ranged from 1.5 to 20.3 per 1000 live births (5 studies), the mean neonatal mortality was 19.3 % (45 studies, 3307 infants), and the incidence of combined outcome of death or moderate to severe disability at follow-up was 44.6 % (19 studies, 1595 children).Paper III evaluated the feasibility of smartphone-aided remote General Movements Assessment for identification of children at risk of cerebral palsy in Kathmandu, Nepal. Children surviving birth asphyxia or neonatal seizures were filmed by parents using the NeuroMotion smartphone application at home at 3 months’ age. Altogether 31 children were enrolled, and 16 parents returned at least one video of approved technical quality. Usability of the app was good based on parental survey.In Paper IV, individual (n=4) and group interviews (n=2) were conducted with ten mothers participating in the smartphone aided follow-up of their infants. The data were analysed using deductive qualitative content analysis. The remote follow-up was acceptable with support from the research assistants. Some participants would have preferred a face-to-face evaluation.Conclusion: Not crying at birth is a potential indicator for need of neonatal resuscitation. Infants who survive resuscitation are at risk of intrapartum-related neonatal encephalopathy, which has persistently high burden particularly in low-income countries. All survivors of encephalopathy need follow-up and smartphone-aided remote General Movements Assessment could complement the assessments in settings similar to Kathmandu.
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