An audit of neonatal care at Modilon Hospital, Madang was performed using obstetric and neonatal data for the five years 1995-1999. The overall perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) was 51.1 per 1000 total births with an early neonatal mortality rate (ENNMR) of 12.7 and a stillbirth rate (SBR) of 38.5. 839 neonates aged 0-28 days were admitted to the Special Care Nursery. The male to female ratio was 1.3:1. 186 babies (22%) died. The case fatality rate was higher in males than females (p<0.001). Babies born at health centres or born before arrival had a significantly higher fatality rate than hospital-born babies (p<0.001). The case fatality rate was highest in babies born preterm and declined with increasing birthweight from less than 1000 to 3999 g. The major recorded causes of admission were neonatal sepsis, prematurity, neonatal jaundice, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress and meconium aspiration syndrome. 60% of deaths occurred within 48 hours of admission, 32% between 48 hours and 7 days and 8% at 7 days or older. The proportion of deaths occurring during the afternoon and night shifts was significantly higher than that during the morning shift (p<0.001). This was most likely to be related to staffing levels. The major causes of death were prematurity or low birthweight (27%), sepsis (23%) and birth asphyxia (17%). Other causes of death included congenital abnormalities, meconium aspiration and meningitis. Antenatal care is still not universally available for Papua New Guinean women. Home delivery of high-risk mothers is commonplace, and women delivering in hospital often present in established labour. Perinatal and neonatal problems are therefore frequent. Newborn babies have the right to the best available care. This can only be provided if hospitals and health facilities understand the basic requirements of neonatal care and provide designated space, adequate staffing and proper equipment.
Neon ; Hospitals ; lower case pea ; etiology ; 48 hours

From June 1998 to December 1999, mothers of 150 babies who died in the early neonatal period and 150 controls whose babies did not die were studied. In multiple logistic regression analysis the following variables were positively associated with early neonatal deaths: lack of antenatal attendance, thick meconium staining of the liquor, male sex, very low birthweight and delivery at gestational age less than 34 weeks. Maternal betelnut chewing was negatively associated with neonatal deaths. When babies with birthweight below 1000 g were excluded, the following variables were associated with early neonatal deaths: unmarried status, thick meconium staining of the liquor and gestational age below 34 weeks. The negative association with betelnut chewing persisted. The main causes of early neonatal deaths were respiratory distress syndrome, septicaemia, birth asphyxia, meconium aspiration syndrome and congenital abnormalities. Avoidable factors in these deaths were associated with the patient (53%), the labour ward (28%), the antenatal clinic (9%), the postnatal ward (8%) and the special care nursery (2%).
Neon ; Meconium ; Mores ; Betal nut ; Port - alcoholic beverage

BACKGROUND: Recently it has been suggested that lasers can modulate the biological functions of cells in vitro. It has also been reported that a helium-neon(He-Ne) laser can stimulate wound healing in the absence of thermal effects. However, the results of more recent studies on the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts have been inconclusive. And most experiments have not been performed in a three-dimensional collagen lattice that is the physiologic model for an in vitro experiment. OBJECITVE: In this study we have investigated the nature of the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferatior and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a monolayer and collagen lattice. METHODS: We used a 10mW He-Ne laser emitting a beam of wavelength 632,8nm. The human dermal fibroblasts were subjected to laser treatment at various energy densities, and the treatment schedule included one daily exposure on three consecutive days. DNA replication was assessed by H-thymidine incorporation, and the collagen production was monitored by the synthesis of H-hydroxyproline following incubation of the culture with H-proline. RESULTS: The results were as follows : In the control group, the proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts sultured in a collagen lattice on day 4 and 7 were significantly reduced compared with conventional manolayer cultures. Although the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts was not remarkable in all experimental irradiation energy except 4 J/cm in a monolayer culture, a statistically significant stimulating effect on fibroblasts proliferation in collagen lattice were noted on days 4 and 7 with an energy density of 1.5J/cm. And we also found that a great er increase of collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts occurred in a monolayer culture on days 4 and 7 in all irradiated energy densities than those in a collagen lattice culture. But statistically significant enhancement of collagen synthesis was showed only at the energy density of 1 J/cm in a collagen lattice culture on days 4. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a collagen lattice was remark ably different from those in a monolayer culture. In the clinical application of the He-Ne laser, the control of the amount of irradiation of the He Ne laser may regulate the proliferative activity and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts in wound healing.
Appointments and Schedules ; Collagen* ; DNA Replication ; Fibroblasts* ; Helium* ; Humans* ; Neon* ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Recently it has been suggested that lasers can modulate the biological functions of cells in vitro. It has also been reported that a helium-neon(He-Ne) laser can stimulate wound healing in the absence of thermal effects. However, the results of more recent studies on the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts have been inconclusive. And most experiments have not been performed in a three-dimensional collagen lattice that is the physiologic model for an in vitro experiment. OBJECTIVE: In this study we have investigated the nature of the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferatior and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a monolayer and collagen lattice. METHODS: We used a 10mW He-Ne laser emitting a beam of wavelength 632,8nm. The human dermal fibroblasts were subjected to laser treatment at various energy densities, and the treatment schedule included one daily exposure on three consecutive days. DNA replication was assessed by H-thymidine incorporation, and the collagen production was monitored by the synthesis of H-hydroxyproline following incubation of the culture with H-proline. RESULTS: The results were as follows : In the control group, the proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts sultured in a collagen lattice on day 4 and 7 were significantly reduced compared with conventional manolayer cultures. Although the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts was not remarkable in all experimental irradiation energy except 4 J/cm in a monolayer culture, a statistically significant stimulating effect on fibroblasts proliferation in collagen lattice were noted on days 4 and 7 with an energy density of 1.5J/cm. And we also found that a great er increase of collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts occurred in a monolayer culture on days 4 and 7 in all irradiated energy densities than those in a collagen lattice culture. But statistically significant enhancement of collagen synthesis was showed only at the energy density of 1 J/cm in a collagen lattice culture on days 4. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a collagen lattice was remark ably different from those in a monolayer culture. In the clinical application of the He-Ne laser, the control of the amount of irradiation of the He Ne laser may regulate the proliferative activity and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts in wound healing.
Appointments and Schedules ; Collagen* ; DNA Replication ; Fibroblasts* ; Helium* ; Humans* ; Neon* ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Recently it has been suggested that lasers can modulate the biological functions of cells in vitro. It has also been reported that a helium-neon(He-Ne) laser can stimulate wound healing in the absence of thermal effects. However, the results of more recent studies on the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts have been inconclusive. And most experiments have not been performed in a three-dimensional collagen lattice that is the physiologic model for an in vitro experiment. OBJECITVE: In this study we have investigated the nature of the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferatior and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a monolayer and collagen lattice. METHODS: We used a 10mW He-Ne laser emitting a beam of wavelength 632,8nm. The human dermal fibroblasts were subjected to laser treatment at various energy densities, and the treatment schedule included one daily exposure on three consecutive days. DNA replication was assessed by H-thymidine incorporation, and the collagen production was monitored by the synthesis of H-hydroxyproline following incubation of the culture with H-proline. RESULTS: The results were as follows : In the control group, the proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts sultured in a collagen lattice on day 4 and 7 were significantly reduced compared with conventional manolayer cultures. Although the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts was not remarkable in all experimental irradiation energy except 4 J/cm in a monolayer culture, a statistically significant stimulating effect on fibroblasts proliferation in collagen lattice were noted on days 4 and 7 with an energy density of 1.5J/cm. And we also found that a great er increase of collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts occurred in a monolayer culture on days 4 and 7 in all irradiated energy densities than those in a collagen lattice culture. But statistically significant enhancement of collagen synthesis was showed only at the energy density of 1 J/cm in a collagen lattice culture on days 4. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a collagen lattice was remark ably different from those in a monolayer culture. In the clinical application of the He-Ne laser, the control of the amount of irradiation of the He Ne laser may regulate the proliferative activity and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts in wound healing.
Appointments and Schedules ; Collagen* ; DNA Replication ; Fibroblasts* ; Helium* ; Humans* ; Neon* ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Recently it has been suggested that lasers can modulate the biological functions of cells in vitro. It has also been reported that a helium-neon(He-Ne) laser can stimulate wound healing in the absence of thermal effects. However, the results of more recent studies on the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts have been inconclusive. And most experiments have not been performed in a three-dimensional collagen lattice that is the physiologic model for an in vitro experiment. OBJECTIVE: In this study we have investigated the nature of the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferatior and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a monolayer and collagen lattice. METHODS: We used a 10mW He-Ne laser emitting a beam of wavelength 632,8nm. The human dermal fibroblasts were subjected to laser treatment at various energy densities, and the treatment schedule included one daily exposure on three consecutive days. DNA replication was assessed by H-thymidine incorporation, and the collagen production was monitored by the synthesis of H-hydroxyproline following incubation of the culture with H-proline. RESULTS: The results were as follows : In the control group, the proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts sultured in a collagen lattice on day 4 and 7 were significantly reduced compared with conventional manolayer cultures. Although the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts was not remarkable in all experimental irradiation energy except 4 J/cm in a monolayer culture, a statistically significant stimulating effect on fibroblasts proliferation in collagen lattice were noted on days 4 and 7 with an energy density of 1.5J/cm. And we also found that a great er increase of collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts occurred in a monolayer culture on days 4 and 7 in all irradiated energy densities than those in a collagen lattice culture. But statistically significant enhancement of collagen synthesis was showed only at the energy density of 1 J/cm in a collagen lattice culture on days 4. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that the influence of He-Ne laser irradiation on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a collagen lattice was remark ably different from those in a monolayer culture. In the clinical application of the He-Ne laser, the control of the amount of irradiation of the He Ne laser may regulate the proliferative activity and collagen synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts in wound healing.
Appointments and Schedules ; Collagen* ; DNA Replication ; Fibroblasts* ; Helium* ; Humans* ; Neon* ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of He-Ne laser irradiation on fibroblast growth of hypertrophic scars in culture.

METHODSHe-Ne laser with wavelength of 632.8 nm, power density of 50 mW/cm(2) and doses of 3 J/cm(2), 30 J/cm(2), 90 J/cm(2) and 180 J/cm(2) was used to irradiate human scar fibroblasts in culture 1, 3 and 5 times respectively, and then the cell count and cell cycle analysis were done.

RESULTSRepeated irradiation with He-Ne laser at dose of 180 J/cm(2) three and five times led to an evident decrease in total cell number compared with that of the control group and there was a significant difference (P<0.05). The cell cycle analysis showed after three and five times of irradiation with 180 J/cm(2) He-Ne laser the cell number in S-phase decreased from 51% to 20% and 14% respectively, the cell number in G(0)/G(1) phase increased from 28% to 55% and 60% respectively, and the cell percentage in Sub-G1 phase was 6.7% and 9.8% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSRepeated irradiation with 180 J/cm(2) He-Ne laser can inhibit scar fibroblasts growth in culture. It may be that He-Ne laser irradiation causes cell stagnation in G(0)/G(1) phase and apoptosis.

Cell Division ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Helium ; Humans ; Lasers ; Male ; Neon