The Role Of Doulas In Promoting Safe Sleep Among Infants In Black Communities
Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed continue to be a critical issue in Black communities since Black infants are at exceptionally high risk for sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDs). They are twice as likely as White infants to die in this manner, according to a study described (Howard, S. et al) in the August 2024 issue of the Maternal and Child Health Journal. Doulas, a professional group that educates mothers to be healthy and have healthy babies, are in an ideal position to promote safe sleep, particularly in hard-to-reach communities that are more distrusting of conventional medical providers. Little is known about their practices and perspectives for putting infants down to rest. The present study informs this gap in the literature. Researchers at Norfolk State University found that doulas engage in practices that help caregivers to integrate safe sleep practices into their lifestyle and to adapt them to meet their needs. The investigators also documented a desire for more information and instruction on safe sleep among practicing doulas.
Trends And Disparities In Diabetes Prevalence In The U.S. From 2012-2022
As reported in the August 2024 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Neupane, S. et al), diabetes poses considerable health and economic burdens in the United States, costing a staggering $412.9 billion, including $306.6 billion of direct medical costs and $106.3 billion of indirect expenses. Understanding the changing prevalence of diabetes and associated socioeconomic disparities is important for developing effective prevention and management strategies. Overall, age-standardized diabetes prevalence significantly increased by 18.6% from 10.2% in 2012 to 12.1% in 2022 (p<0.001), evidence of the growing epidemic's impact. Higher rates among racial/ethnic minorities, males, older adults, and socioeconomically disadvantaged population groups corroborate well-established inequities. Groups facing obesity, physical inactivity, and lower education/income bore a disproportionate burden, reflecting social determinants of health (SDOH).
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Remote-Controlled Sensing And Drug Delivery Via 3D-Printed Hollow Microneedles
Remote health monitoring and treatment serve as critical drivers for advancing health equity, bridging geographical and socioeconomic disparities, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for individuals in underserved or remote regions. Researchers at the University of Victoria and the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation have developed a revolutionary system that combines remote health monitoring and drug delivery using 3D-printed hollow microneedles. This innovative approach is described in a study first published (Razzaghi, M. et al) on May 23, 2024 in Advanced Healthcare Materials. Microneedle arrays (MNAs) offer painless and minimally invasive access to interstitial fluid for drug delivery and diagnostics in a revolutionary manner. An integrated theranostic MNA system employs an array of colorimetric sensors to measure -pH, glucose, and lactate quantitatively, alongside a remotely-triggered system enabling drug delivery on-demand. An ultrasonic atomizer streamlines the drug delivery.
Potential Treatments Of COVID-19 Related Diarrhea
Among various unpleasant symptoms that may accompany COVID-19 infection, up to half of individuals experiencing this virus will have a problem with diarrhea. An estimated 30% of them will develop long COVID, a persistent infection marked by debilitating symptoms, including chronic pain, brain fog, shortness of breath, chest pain, and intense fatigue. Working with human stem cells that form a kind of “mini intestine-in-a-dish,” Johns Hopkins researchers indicate they found several molecular mechanisms for COVID-19-related diarrhea, suggesting potential ways to control it. Details of their experimentation in a model of human intestinal tissue, called enteroids, are described on July 31, 2024 (Donowitz, M. et al) in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Inflammation linked to COVID-19 diarrhea may be similar to the inflammatory effects of COVID-19 in the lungs and other parts of the body, suggesting that testing the role of inhibitors of this response may be a way to treat this problem.