View clinical trials related to Infant, Premature, Diseases.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to learn how early language exposure may be related to changes in DNA in parents and their premature infants. While a person's genetic code is determined at the time of conception, the way that some genes are expressed in the body can be changed even after an individual is born. These changes are called epigenetic changes. In this study, the investigators want to learn about the epigenetic changes that happen after a premature baby is born and whether a parent's interaction with their baby can influence these epigenetic changes. The investigators will look at epigenetic changes by collecting saliva samples from parents and their preterm babies, here defined as babies born at <33 weeks gestation. Specifically, the investigators will be looking at salivary levels of DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm). The investigators will track changes in OXTRm levels over time in parents and their babies and see if these levels change in relation to how much time parents spend with their babies and how much time they spend reading to their babies. The investigators will ask mothers and, if desired, their partners to read to their babies for at least 15 minutes per week. The investigators will ask them to track time spent with the baby and reading time on a log, and will also measure word count with a commercially-available LENA device. The investigators will use logistic regression analysis to identify the independent association between OXTR DNA methylation and time spent with parent(s) and word count.
Many premature infants require respiratory support in the newborn period. Mechanical ventilation although life-saving is linked to complications for the lungs and other organs and its duration should be kept to a minimum. The use of supplemental oxygen may also increase the risk of comorbidities such as retinopathy of prematurity. Therefore, oxygen saturation levels and the amount of inspired oxygen concentration provided should be continuously monitored. Oxygen control can be performed manually or with the use of a computer software incorporated into the ventilator that is called 'closed loop automated oxygen control'(CLAC). The software uses an algorithm that automatically adjusts the amount of inspired oxygen to maintain oxygen saturation levels in a target range. Evidence suggests that CLAC increases the time spent in the desired oxygen target range but there are no data to determine the effect on important clinical outcomes. A previous study has also demonstrated that CLAC reduces the inspired oxygen concentration more rapidly when compared to manual control. That could help infants come off the ventilator sooner. With this study we want to compare the time preterm infants spend on the ventilator when we use the software to automatically monitor their oxygen levels with those infants whose oxygen is adjusted manually by the clinical team. That could help us understand if the use of automated oxygen control reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation and subsequently the complications related to it.
The objective of the proposed research is to conduct a within-subject cross-over trial that will compare the efficacy of the two bottle-feeding positions on physiologic and behavioral responses of preterm infants prior to, during, and after feeding. As an exploratory aim, the investigators will also identify potential infant characteristics associated with the intervention response by evaluating infant sex, maturity level, and/or comorbidity. The two bottle-feeding positions will be the semi-elevated side-lying position (hereafter referred to as side-lying position) and the semi-elevated supine position (hereafter referred to as supine position), which is the traditional feeding position when preterm infants are bottle-fed. The investigators hypothesize that compared to the supine position, the side-lying position will be associated with greater physiologic stability in heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and/or autonomic nervous system regulation during and after feeding. The investigators also hypothesize that compared to the supine position, the side-lying position will be associated with more mature patterns of suck-breathe coordination and/or greater feeding skills.
Preterm infants are at risk of developing ROP (retinopathy of prematurity), an eye condition that can cause blindness. Preterm infants born before gestation week (GA) 30 are therefor screened regularly with eye examinations. These eye examinations are painful and despite a lot of research no clear method of pain relief have been found. Since pain in the preterm infant can lead to both short- and longterm negative consequences an effective pain relief during these examinations are of importance. In this study we will investigate if Clonidine can be effective as pain-relief during ROP eye examinations.
The purpose of this study is to use forced oscillometry technique (FOT) to measure pulmonary mechanics and function in in term infants and premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
This study evaluates the utility of measuring gastric residuals in premature infants born between 26+0 and 33+6 weeks and to determine if its routine use is related with a delay in feedings advancement in this babies compared with no measurement.
It has not yet been established the optimal dose of vit. D for preterm infants in Poland. It is not known what dose of vit. D will provide the correct concentration of vit. D and the optimal development of the skeleton of the premature. The study will try to determine the optimal supplementation of vitamin D and the supply of Ca and P for normal growth and development of a child born prematurely. In addition, the investigators will evaluate any risk factors for deficiency and excess of vitamin D and the consequences of its deficiency and overdose. Simultaneously the study would make possible the determination of an optimal schedule for controlling the Ca-P levels in the group of the youngest infants born prematurely. In addition, the study will assess the relationship between maternal and newborn vitamin D resources right after birth, and the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in infants born prematurely. Preterm infants will be randomized in 3 groups assigned to different doses of vit. D. The study will investigate the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, the health of bones and development of the premature babies till the age of 2.
To observe the effect of sevoflurane on the concentration of S100β and regional cerebral oxygen saturation in infants with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery.
The purpose of this observational study is to measure pulmonary function in term and preterm infants with and without pulmonary disease including respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, transient tachypnea of the newborn, meconium aspiration syndrome, and response to treatments given to newborn infants with lung diseases using a non-invasive airway oscillometry system.
Pregnant women at risk of giving birth before 28 weeks' gestational age will be enrolled. Fetal circulation will be studied and blood for inflammatory parameters will be collected. If birth occurs before 28 weeks, detailed information on clinical course of the newborn until discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit will be recorded,and specimens of amniotic fluid, placenta, blood and urine will be collection for inflammatory parameters. After discharge the children will be followed according to a specific protocol until 5 years of age.