Temperature probe placement in very preterm infants during delivery room stabilization: an open-label randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Variation in practice exists for temperature probe positioning during stabilization of very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation). We explored the influence of temperature probe sites on thermoregulation. METHODS: An open-label, stratified, balanced, parallel, randomized trial was conducted. Inborn infants were randomly assigned temperature probe to the axilla or to the upper back. The primary outcome was normothermia (local range: 36.8-37.3 °C and World Health Organization (WHO) range: 36.5-37.5 °C) at admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: Between 1 November 2018 and 4 July 2022, 178 infants were randomly assigned to one of the two sites (n = 89 each), 175 included in the final analysis. Normothermia (local range) was achieved for 39/87 infants (44.8%) assigned to the upper back compared to 28/88 infants (31.8%) assigned to the axilla [risk difference:13%; 95% CI -1.3-27.3]. Normothermia (WHO range) was achieved for 78/87 infants (89.7%) assigned to the upper back compared to 70/88 infants (79.6%) assigned to the axilla [risk difference:10.1%; 95% CI -0.5-20.7]. No infant recorded temperatures >38 °C or developed skin injury. CONCLUSIONS: In very preterm infants, upper back site was equally effective as the axilla in maintaining normothermia, with no increase in adverse events. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000293965). IMPACT: Substantial variation in practice exists for the site of securing a temperature probe during delivery room stabilization of very preterm infants and the influence of temperature probe site on thermoregulation remains unknown. In this study, upper back site was equally effective as the axilla in maintaining normothermia, with no increase in adverse events. Clinicians could adopt upper back site for maintaining normothermia. This study may contribute data to future international participant data prospective meta analysis of randomized controlled trials worldwide on temperature probe positioning in very preterm infants, increasing translation of research findings to optimize thermoregulation and clinical outcomes.

Parental views on prospective consent: Experience from a pilot randomised trial recruiting extremely preterm infants during the perinatal period.

AIM: To explore parental perceptions of the consenting process and understanding of the study in a pilot randomised controlled trial wherein extremely premature infants (<29 weeks' gestation) were recruited either antenatally or by 4 h of life. METHODS: We prospectively surveyed parents who had consented, declined consent or were eligible infants in the Positioning Preterm Infants for Neuroprotection study, a low-risk intervention study in the first 72 h of life. Structured interview questions explored the process and acceptability of the consenting approach by the parents and their knowledge of the study. Additional comments made by the parents were transcribed verbatim. RESULTS: Sixty-two parents participated in the surveys; of those, 41 had provided their consent, 8 declined consent and 13 were parents of missed eligible infants. Overall, most parents reported they understood the study well before providing their consent and approaching them for consenting did not create a burden for them. A verbal explanation of the study by the study team, especially by the medical practitioners, was viewed as beneficial. Where consent was obtained in the birthing unit (imminent births and within 4 h of birthing), it was suggested that the 4-h period for obtaining post-natal consent may be too short. A deferred consent with a follow-up opportunity for obtaining informed consent could be a suitable alternative. CONCLUSION: Parents found the consenting process acceptable and indicated they had sufficient understanding of the study to provide an informed consent. Deferred consent should be explored for future, low-risk intervention studies as an alternative to prospective consent where extremely preterm infants need to be recruited in the immediate neonatal period.

Thyroid function in infants born to women with hypothyroidism: An observational study at an Australian tertiary perinatal centre.

OBJECTIVE: Concerns have been raised regarding thyroid dysfunction in infants born to women with hypothyroidism including those with autoimmune hypothyroidism. This concern has led to the practice of thyroid function testing in the early neonatal period. We evaluated the practice of performing a routine thyroid function test around 2 weeks of age in all healthy full-term infants (≥37 weeks gestation) born to women with hypothyroidism to identify thyroid dysfunction. DESIGN, PATIENTS, AND MEASUREMENTS: This retrospective, observational single centre study included full-term infants born to women with hypothyroidism, including non-Graves' autoimmune hypothyroidism, over a 3-year period. Preterm infants and those born to women with Graves' disease or thyroidectomy were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 790 mother-infant dyads, 780 infants (99%) had normal thyroid function. Only 10 infants (1%) had thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels > 10mIU/L at 2 weeks of age (range 10.25-106.37 mU/L). Of these, follow-up thyroid function normalized in nine infants within 2 weeks. A routine newborn screening test identified congenital hypothyroidism in one infant. No infant born to women with known presence of anti-thyroid antibodies had TSH levels > 10 mIU/L. Thyroid function was normal for most infants where maternal anti-thyroid antibodies were not known (125/133, 94%). CONCLUSIONS: Infants born to women with hypothyroidism (including autoimmune hypothyroidism) had normal thyroid function in the early neonatal period. A small proportion of infants may develop TSH levels > 10 mU/L that normalizes by 4 weeks of age. The practice of routine thyroid function testing for this cohort in addition to newborn screening test offers no additional benefit.

Quantitative end-tidal carbon dioxide at initiation of resuscitation may help guide the ventilation of infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation.

AIM: Estimation of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2 ) with capnography can guide mask ventilation in infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation. Chemical-sensitive colorimetric devices to detect CO2 are widely used at resuscitation. We aimed to quantify EtCO2 in the first breaths following initiation of mask ventilation at birth and correlated need for endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Infants <30 weeks gestation receiving mask ventilation were randomised into two groups of mask-hold technique (one-person vs. two-person). Data on EtCO2 in the first 30 breaths, time to achieve 5 mmHg, 10 mmHg and 15 mmHg CO2 using a respiratory function monitor was determined. RESULTS: Twenty-five infants with a mean gestation of 27.3 (±3 weeks) and mean birth weight 920.4 (±188.3 g) were analysed. The median EtCO2 was 5.6 mmHg in the first 10 breaths, whereas it was 12.6 mmHg for 11-20 breaths and 18 mmHg for 21-30 breaths. There was no significant difference in maximum median EtCO2 for the first 20 breaths, although EtCO2 was significantly lower in infants who were intubated (32.0 vs. 15.0, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: EtCO2 monitoring in infants <30 weeks gestation at birth is feasible and reflective of alveolar ventilation. EtCO2 may help guide ventilation of preterm infants at birth.

Role of a radiopaque agent and surveillance radiographs for peripherally inserted central catheters in newborn infants.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the use of a radiopaque agent to identify peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) tip positions in newborn infants and of serial radiography to monitor PICC tip migration. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles of (1) the injection of a radiopaque agent to identify PICC tip position and (2) the performance of weekly radiography to monitor PICC migration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-centre cohort study included newborn infants who received a PICC between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020. A radiopaque agent was injected to identify PICC tip position and radiographs were performed weekly to detect PICC migration. RESULTS: We identified 676 PICC episodes in 601 infants. A radiopaque agent was used for 590 of these episodes. There was no difference in the proportion of central PICC tip positions based on radiopaque agent use status (490/590, 83% for the radiopaque agent used group versus 73/85, 85.8% for the radiopaque agent not used group, P=0.51). Irrespective of the site of PICC insertion, outward migration was observed for most centrally placed PICCs over their entire in situ duration. Inward migration was identified in 23 out of 643 PICC episodes (3.6%) only on radiographs obtained on or before day 7. Based on serial radiographs, the odds for PICC tips remaining in a central position were lower the longer the PICC remained in situ (adjusted odds ratio-OR 0.93; 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.95). There was no difference in PICC migration between side and limb of insertion. CONCLUSION: PICC tips can be identified without injection of a radiopaque agent. Serial radiographs identified PICC migration over the in situ duration. This study has implications for reducing exposure to a radiopaque agent and ongoing migration surveillance practices.

Improvement in thermoregulation outcomes following the implementation of a thermoregulation bundle for preterm infants.

AIM: Hypothermia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. A local audit revealed 60% preterm infants ≤32 weeks gestation and/or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) had an abnormal body temperature at admission. This study compares thermoregulatory outcomes before and after the implementation of a thermoregulation bundle in the birthing environment. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed thermoregulatory data for all inborn preterm (≤32 weeks) and/or VLBW infants for a period of 30 months before (Group 1: 1st January 2013 to 30 June 2015) and after changes to thermoregulation practice (Group 2: 1st July 2015 to 31 December 2017). The key practice changes included: improved anticipation and staff preparedness, wrapping infant in a polyethylene sheet, using a polyethylene lined bonnet, using servo-control mode at birth and during transport. RESULTS: There were 282 and 286 infants in group 1 and group 2 respectively, with similar baseline characteristics. A clinically and statistically significant improvement was observed in the proportion of infants with normothermia (33% in group 1 to 60% in group 2, P < 0.0001) including the sub-group of extremely preterm (<28 weeks gestation) infants (38 to 60%, P = 0.0083). A higher mean admission temperature was observed for group 2 (36.10°C ± 0.78 in group 1 vs 36.52°C ± 0.61 in group 2, P < 0.0001). Moderate hypothermia was reduced by two-thirds in group 2 (41-12%, P = <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of a thermoregulation bundle improved admission temperature, improved the proportion of normothermia and reduced moderate hypothermia in preterm infants.

Reducing antibiotic use in asymptomatic term infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis: Predictive role of sepsis risk calculator.

AIM: The sepsis risk calculator (SRC) has been shown to reduce empirical antibiotic usage in neonates at risk of early-onset sepsis without increasing adverse clinical outcomes. However, its use for categorising and improving identification of at-risk neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis in the local population has not been reported. This study compares the management guided by the SRC to our unit's clinical practice of administering empirical antibiotics to all term neonates (born ≥37 weeks gestation), symptomatic and asymptomatic, who were exposed to chorioamnionitis, and evaluates the performance of the SRC in managing asymptomatic term neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective study identified 178 eligible term neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis over a 17-month study period. Relevant demographic and clinical information on the mother-infant dyad was collected. The SRC was executed retrospectively in the study cohort. Descriptive statistics were used for reporting the findings. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 39 (standard deviation, SD 1) weeks, and the mean birth weight was 3472 (SD 482) g. Of the 178 neonates, 136 (76%) were asymptomatic and received empirical antibiotic therapy for 2 days (mean). Based on management recommendations from the SRC, empirical antibiotic therapy could have been avoided in 98% of asymptomatic neonates; 88% could have been managed by observation alone, avoiding mother-infant separation. No neonate died or had a positive blood culture result. CONCLUSIONS: The SRC could reduce antibiotic exposure in asymptomatic neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis. It could assist clinicians to categorise risk in neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis.

Asymptomatic full-term infants born to women with chorioamnionitis may not need routine antibiotics.

AIM: While infants with early-onset sepsis require antibiotics, there is little evidence to support their routine use in asymptomatic infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis. We aimed to ascertain the incidence of culture-proven sepsis in full-term infants exposed to chorioamnionitis and to determine whether asymptomatic infants need routine antibiotic treatment. METHODS: This study was retrospective. Included were all full-term infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit between 1 January 2017 and 31 May 2018 who were given intravenous antibiotics for maternal chorioamnionitis. After identifying eligible infants, relevant maternal and infant data were collected from our medical records and the Neonatal Intensive Care Units Database. RESULTS: We selected 167 term infants from 7736 deliveries. The incidence of chorioamnionitis was 21 per 1000 deliveries. The mean gestational age was 39 weeks (range 37-41), and 57% infants were male. Asymptomatic infants (76%) received intravenous antibiotics for an average of 2 days compared to 4 days in the symptomatic group (24%), p < 0.001. No infant died or developed culture-positive sepsis. CONCLUSION: The risk of early-onset sepsis in well-appearing term infants of mothers with chorioamnionitis is low. Further studies are mandatory to determine whether asymptomatic infants of mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis need antibiotic treatment.

Skincare practices in extremely premature infants: A survey of tertiary neonatal intensive care units from Australia and New Zealand.

AIM: To investigate skincare practices in the first 2 weeks of life in extremely premature infants across tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). METHODS: A web-based secure survey invite was emailed to the medical directors of tertiary NICUs. The survey included questions on various aspects of skincare practices in the first 2 weeks of life in extremely premature infants (born before 28 weeks gestation). The person most familiar with local skincare practices was asked to complete the survey and only one response per unit was requested. We performed a descriptive analysis. RESULTS: We received responses from 30 out of 32 NICUs (response rate 93%). Twenty-five NICUs (89%) reported offering resuscitation and intensive care to infants born at ≥23 weeks gestation. All NICUs reported occurrences of skin breakdown, including medical adhesive-related skin injury (30%), abrasion/friction-associated skin injury (46%), perineal skin breakdown (55%), pressure site injury (47%) and diaper dermatitis (60%). A high level of consensus (≥75%) was observed for certain practices, such as the use of polyethylene occlusive plastic wraps at birth and aqueous chlorhexidine solution for sterile procedures, but a low level of consensus (<25%) was observed for many other practices, including the skin risk assessment tool used. CONCLUSIONS: Skin injuries in extremely premature infants are common and skincare practices vary considerably amongst NICUs. Clinical practice improvement projects and further clinical research will help improve consistency amongst NICUs. Further research is needed to assist the development of evidence-based guidelines and benchmarking for skincare practices in these vulnerable infants.

Laryngeal mask airway use during neonatal resuscitation: a survey of practice across newborn intensive care units and neonatal retrieval services in Australian New Zealand Neonatal Network.

This is an Australia New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN) wide survey to identify current practice and guide future practice improvement for the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) during neonatal resuscitation. An online questionnaire containing 13 questions was sent out to all tertiary neonatal centres (n = 29 units) and neonatal transport units (n = 4) within ANZNN. The non-tertiary (level-II) centres were not included. Response from a senior neonatologist at each centre was received and evaluated. Twenty-two services (67%) had LMA available; of that only, 40% felt the competency of staff to be adequate; and 59% had routine training in LMA use. During neonatal resuscitation, 68% units reported using LMA if endotracheal intubation was unsuccessful after two or more failed intubation attempts and only 18% used it before intubation if face mask ventilation was inadequate. This survey highlighted variations in practice across the tertiary neonatal centres in ANZNN network. One-third of the units lack LMA availability and the units with LMA, face concerns of underutilisation and lack of skills for its use.

Effect of H. pylori density by histopathology on its complications and eradication therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes chronic gastritis and is a major risk factor for duodenal and gastric ulceration, gastric adenocarcinoma, and primary gastric lymphoma. Increased gastric bacterial density may lead to increased levels of inflammation and epithelial injury. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To study the effect of H. pylori density by histological changes in stomach. 2) To study the effect of H. pylori density on the efficacy of standard triple drug eradication treatment. 3) To study the effect of H. pylori density on the complication related to H. pylori. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the patients visiting gastroenterology OPD with the symptoms of dyspepsia not responding to proton pump inhibitor or having alarm symptoms were subjected to upper GI endoscopy and biopsy. If H. pylori was present they were included in the study. The patients were given standard 14 day triple antibiotic combination for H. pylori eradication. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by urea breath test after six weeks of completion of treatment. RESULTS: Out of 250 patients screened, 120 patients enrolled in the study. On clinical history 41.5% patients had symptoms of heart burn where as 63.3% patients had dyspeptic symptoms. Success rate of anti H. pylori triple drug therapy was 80%. Rate of eradication was significantly lower among the patients with higher H. pylori density (p < 0.05) on histopathology by Sydney classification. Duodenal ulcer, Gastric ulcer and gastric erosion were noted in higher frequencies among the patients with higher H. pylori density (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: H. pylori density by histopathology correlates with the complication related to H. pylori i.e. duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis and antral erosions. It also correlates with the success of the standard triple drug eradication treatment.

Mask leak increases and minute ventilation decreases when chest compressions are added to bag ventilation in a neonatal manikin model.

AIM: To determine changes in respiratory mechanics when chest compressions are added to mask ventilation, as recommended by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) guidelines for newborn infants. METHODS: Using a Laerdal Advanced Life Support leak-free baby manikin and a 240-mL self-inflating bag, 58 neonatal staff members were randomly paired to provide mask ventilation, followed by mask ventilation with chest compressions with a 1:3 ratio, for two minutes each. A Florian respiratory function monitor was used to measure respiratory mechanics, including mask leak. RESULTS: The addition of chest compressions to mask ventilation led to a significant reduction in inflation rate, from 63.9 to 32.9 breaths per minute (p < 0.0001), mean airway pressure reduced from 7.6 to 4.9 cm H2 O (p < 0.001), minute ventilation reduced from 770 to 451 mL/kg/min (p < 0.0001), and there was a significant increase in paired mask leak of 6.8% (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Adding chest compressions to mask ventilation, in accordance with the ILCOR guidelines, in a manikin model is associated with a significant reduction in delivered ventilation and increase in mask leak. If similar findings occur in human infants needing an escalation in resuscitation, there is a potential risk of either delay in recovery or inadequate response to resuscitation.

Biliary sphincteroplasty facilitates retrieval of proximally migrated plastic biliary stent.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Proximal migration of biliary stents presents a technical challenge for the therapeutic endoscopist. It may require multiple, complicated corrective procedures resulting in significant morbidity to the patients. In this study we evaluated the utility of balloon biliary sphincteroplasty with CRE (Controlled Radial Expansion) Balloon Dilator on retrieval of proximally migrated biliary stents. METHODS: We identified patients from our ERCP database who presented with proximal migration of biliary stent, between August 2011 and October 2013. Patients in whom the stent could not be retrieved with conventional methods, balloon sphincteroplasty was performed with a 12 mm CRETM Balloon Dilator (Boston Scientific). Stent removal was attempted with extraction balloon or basket thereafter. RESULTS: We identified 28 patients with proximal migration of biliary stents, placed for benign diseases of the common bile duct. Stent removal was successful in 18 patients (64.28%) with help of an extraction balloon or basket. Of the remaining 10 patients, balloon sphincteroplasty was successfully followed by stent removal in eight patients. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon biliary sphincteroplasty increases the success rate of retrieving proximally migrated biliary stents. The procedure is safe, technically easy and yields a good success rate in our experience.

Centhaquine Increases Stroke Volume and Cardiac Output in Patients with Hypovolemic Shock.

Introduction: Centhaquine is a resuscitative agent that acts on α2B adrenergic receptors. Its effect on cardiac output in hypovolemic shock patients has not been reported. Methods: This pilot study was conducted in 12 hypovolemic shock patients treated with centhaquine who participated in an open-label phase IV study (NCT05956418). Echocardiography was utilized to measure stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT-VTI) and diameter (LVOTd), heart rate (HR), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (LVFS), and inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter before (0 min) and 60, 120, and 300 min after centhaquine (0.01 mg/kg) iv infusion for 60 min. Results: SV was significantly increased after 60, 120, and 300 min. CO increased significantly after 120 and 300 min despite a decrease in HR. IVC diameter and LVOT-VTI at these time points significantly increased, indicating the increased venous return. LVEF and LVFS did not change, while the mean arterial pressure (MAP, mmHg) increased after 120 and 300 min. Positive correlations between IVC diameter and SV (R2 = 0.9556) and between IVC diameter and MAP (R2 = 0.8928) were observed, which indicated the effects of an increase in venous return on SV, CO, and MAP. Conclusions: Centhaquine-mediated increase in venous return is critical in enhancing SV, CO, and MAP in patients with hypovolemic shock; these changes could be pivotal for reducing shock-mediated circulatory failure, promoting tissue perfusion, and improving patient outcomes. Trial Registration: CTRI/2021/01/030263 and NCT05956418.

Relationship between systemic blood flow, blood pressure, inotropes, and aEEG in the first 48 h of life in extremely preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Significant hemodynamic changes occur immediately after birth in preterm infants. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) provides a method of assessing brain activity in sick neonates; however, the relationship among systemic blood flow, blood pressure (BP), and aEEG is not clear. METHODS: Quantitative measures of aEEG continuity and amplitude were correlated with superior vena cava (SVC) flow, right-ventricular output (RVO), and BP at 12, 24, and 48 h in 92 infants born at <29 wk gestation. RESULTS: SVC flow, RVO, BP, aEEG amplitude, and EEG continuity all increased from 12 to 48 h. SVC flow at 12 h, but not 24 or 48 h, was significantly associated with aEEG amplitude after adjustment for gestational age (GA) and severity of illness markers (r(2) = 0.21, P = 0.004). RVO and BP showed less consistent associations with aEEG parameters. Infants receiving inotropes at 12 h, including those in whom cardiovascular parameters had normalized, had significantly lower aEEG amplitude (P < 0.01) and EEG continuity at the 10, 25, and 50 µV levels (P < 0.01) at 12, 24, and 48 h than neonates who were not receiving inotropes. CONCLUSION: aEEG measurements in the first 48 h of life are related to SVC flow and treatment with inotropes at 12 h of life in extremely preterm infants.

Retrospective and prospective validation of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in predicting mortality in patients of alcoholic liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis have significant morbidity and mortality. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is used to predict mortality in patients with liver disease. Our study aimed to validate the utility of MELD score versus Child Pugh Turcotte (CPT) and modified CPT (CPT+creatinine; CPTC) scores in predicting mortality among alcoholic liver disease (ALD) patients. METHODS: We examineda retrospective (n=110; mean age 44.5years; 109 men) and a prospective (n=96; mean age 45 years; 92 men) cohort of patients suffering from ALD, with varying disease severity, and compared the ability of MELD, CTP and CPTC scores to predict the 1-, 3- and 6-month mortality using concordance (c-) statistics. RESULTS: The median MELD, CPT and CPTC scores were 21, 10 and 11 in the retrospective group and 21, 10 and 10 in prospective groups, respectively. The 1-month, 3-month and 6-month mortality was 41 (37.3%), 59 (53.6%) and 81 (73.6%) in the retrospective group and 27 (28.1%), 41 (42.7%) and 65 (67.7%) in the prospective group. The predictive ability of MELD, CPT and CPTC was 0.72, 0.67, 0.68 for 1-month mortality, 0.73, 0.70, 0.68 for 3-month mortality and 0.83, 0.75, 0.73 for 6-month mortality in retrospective group and 0.86, 0.56, 0.63 for 1-month mortality, 0.80, 0.57, and 0.60 for 3-month mortality, and 0.88, 0.51, and 0.64 for 6-month mortality in the prospective cohort, respectively. The predictive accuracy of MELD was significantly better than CPT and CPTC scores in the prospective group. CONCLUSIONS: MELD is a valid prognostic score compared to CPT and CPTC scores for predicting short-term mortality in patients of alcoholic liver disease.

Enhancing Medical Diagnosis with AI: A Focus on Respiratory Disease Detection.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing medical diagnosis and healthcare, providing constant support to medical practitioners. Intelligent systems alleviate workload pressure while optimizing practitioner performance. AI and deep learning have also improved medical imaging and audio analysis. Material and Methods: This research focuses on predicting respiratory diseases using audio recordings from an electronic stethoscope. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained on a Respiratory Sound Database, augmented to generate 1,428 audio files. Techniques such as pitch shifting, time stretching, noise addition, time and frequency masking, dynamic range compression, and resampling were employed to increase the diversity and size of the training data. Result: Features were extracted from mono audio files, creating a four layer CNN with 90% accuracy. The software, developed using the CNN model and Streamlit python library, offers a new tool for early and accurate diagnosis, reducing the burden on medical practitioners and enhanci ng their performance. The study highlights AI's potential in respiratory disease detection through audio analysis. Conclusion: The software, developed using the CNN model and Streamlit python library, offers a new tool for early and accurate diagnosis, reducing the burden on medical practitioners and enhancing their performance.

Addressing the challenges of AI-based telemedicine: Best practices and lessons learned.

Telemedicine is the use of technology to provide healthcare services and information remotely, without requiring physical proximity between patients and healthcare providers. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated the rapid growth of telemedicine worldwide. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into telemedicine has the potential to enhance and expand its capabilities in addressing various healthcare needs, such as patient monitoring, healthcare information technology (IT), intelligent diagnosis, and assistance. Despite the potential benefits, implementing AI in telemedicine presents challenges that can be overcome with physician-guided implementation. AI can assist physicians in decision-making, improve healthcare delivery, and automate administrative tasks. To ensure optimal effectiveness, AI-powered telemedicine should comply with existing clinical practices and adhere to a framework adaptable to various technologies. It should also consider technical and scientific factors, including trustworthiness, reproducibility, usability, availability, and cost. Education and training are crucial for the appropriate use of new healthcare technologies such as AI-enabled telemedicine. This article examines the benefits and limitations of AI-based telemedicine in various medical domains and underscores the importance of physician-guided implementation, compliance with existing clinical practices, and appropriate education and training for healthcare providers.