Researchers at the University of Pretoria (UP) have shown that a low-cost, easy-to-use screening device can detect foetal growth restriction in pregnant women, which, if not diagnosed, can lead to stillbirth, neonatal death or suboptimal childhood growth.
There are 2 million stillbirths a year, globally. UP researchers have developed the UmbiflowTM which can help to alleviate this problem by detecting early on if the growth of the foetus is being restricted by measuring the wave pattern of the umbilical artery which indicates the blood flow between the baby and the placenta.
The UmbiflowTM is a portable, continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound device that was developed in South Africa and costs about one-tenth of a conventional ultrasound device. All healthcare workers, including nurses, can be trained relatively quickly to operate it.
Ané Kritzinger, a master’s student in the Department of Chemistry, is bridging the fields of chemistry and physics to develop an ultra-sensitive instrument for pollutant detection.
Research by UP’s Natural Hazard Centre has helped settle an old debate about the seismicity of West Africa, with the results showing that the region should expect strong earthquakes from time to time.
Many people get prosthetic titanium limbs as a result of illness or injury. Now, thanks to a University of Pretoria (UP) team led by Professor Gerhard Steenkamp, a veterinary specialist in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, a macaw has been given a new lease of life with a 3D-printed beak.
Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.
Get Social With Us
Download the UP Mobile App