View clinical trials related to Premature Birth.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to determine whether treatment of very preterm infants at high-risk for lung and brain injury with low dose hydrocortisone results in improved pulmonary and neurologic outcomes.
The purpose of the study is to see if a blood transfusion changes how fast blood flows to the intestines of a premature baby. Blood flow is measured by an ultrasound test. The investigators also look to see if the blood flow to the intestines depends on whether the baby feeds or doesn't feed during the blood transfusion.
The purpose of this study is whether Bryophyllum is more effective and has less side effects than traditional labor inhibitors in preventing preterm delivery.
Hypothesis: Among women with twin or triplet pregnancies, weekly injections of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHP), started before 24 weeks of gestation, will reduce neonatal morbidity by reducing the rate of preterm delivery. This study involves two concurrent double-blinded randomized clinical trials of 17OHP versus placebo. Each trial will test the efficacy and safety of 17OHP in women with a specific risk factor for preterm birth. The two risk factors to be studied are: 1. Twin pregnancy 2. Triplet pregnancy
Current approaches to treatment of premature infants at risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities have emphasized early assessment and intervention within the first year of life to optimize their developmental outcome. However, the information concerning the course of early neuromotor development and the factors contributing to neurodevelopmental disabilities in premature infants with CLD is limited. Therefore, the major purposes of this three-year multi-centered developmental follow-up study are threefold. (1) We will prospectively evaluate the early neuromotor performance of premature infants with CLD and premature infants without CLD from birth until 12 months of corrected age. (2) We will follow up the neurodevelopmental outcome of these infants at 12,18 and 24 months of corrected age to identify the early neuromotor impairments that predict later neurodevelopmental disabilities. (3) We will examine two potential influencing factors i.e., respiratory disease itself and brain lesions that may contribute to the neurodevelopmental disabilities in premature infants with CLD.
The goal of this study is to examine acceptability and efficacy of 2 kinds of BV treatment among women at low risk for preterm delivery. The objectives are: 1. To examine the side effects and patient acceptability of oral versus intravaginal metronidazole. 2. To compare the efficacy of oral and intravaginal metronidazole for the treatment of BV 3. To study the efficacy of oral and intravaginal metronidazole for the prevention of hospital admission during the 3rd trimester, chorioamnionitis, preterm delivery, and maternal infectious morbidity.
Preterm birth remains a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing as well as in developed countries. Despite major clinical research efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of preterm births in the United States, the preterm birth rate reached its highest level in 2 decades, 11.9% in 2001, which translates to a 27% rise since 1981. Much of this increase may be accounted for by the increase in multiple gestations brought about by assisted reproductive technology. Twin gestations accounting for 20% to 25% of all pregnancies conceived following such procedures. Twin gestations are at a particularly increased risk of preterm labor and they deliver at a mean gestational age of 37 weeks compared to 40 weeks for singleton pregnancies. In a study by our group, we estimated that about 54.5% of twin gestations would deliver prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation; i.e. preterm. Evidence regarding efficacy of interventions designed to prevent preterm birth has been disappointing. Most well-designed clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any reduction in preterm births with such interventions as home uterine activity monitoring, reduced physical activity, administration of antibiotic or tocolytic therapy, and intensive and frequent antenatal follow ups. Recently, progesterone has shown some promise in the prevention of preterm birth among women with prior preterm births. Whether this intervention will prove effective in other populations, such as women with multiple gestations, remains to be seen. The objective of our study is to compare the effectiveness of weekly intramuscular injections of 17-alpha Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate, a natural metabolite of progesterone, in preventing delivery at less than 37 weeks of gestation in a population of 290 patients with twin gestations between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation compared to a placebo. The data generated will be invaluable in managing this group of patients that is considered at a very high risk for preterm labor and delivery.
A recently completed trial of weekly injections of 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) found significant effectiveness for 17P in preventing recurrent preterm birth. However, the group who received 17P in this trial still had a high rate of preterm birth. Several reports have shown that dietary supplementation of fish oil, which is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, reduces the risk of preterm birth. This trial tests whether adding the Omega-3 supplement to 17P therapy has the potential for further reducing the risk of preterm birth in women who have previously had a spontaneous preterm delivery. The trial will compare Omega-3 fatty acid with placebo in women receiving 17P therapy. The hypothesis being tested is: "Among women at high risk for preterm birth receiving weekly injections of 17P, the addition of Omega-3 nutritional supplement will further reduce the rate of preterm birth."
Two groups of preterm infants with birth weight equal to or less than 1500 grams will be studied. One group will receive the standard care and the other will receive standard care plus maternal special tactile stimulation. Gain of weight, length and head circumference, date of the beginning of enteral feedings, length of time to recover birth weight and age of hospital discharge will be recorded and compared between both groups.
Malnutrition is a common problem in the neonatal intensive care unit. Recent studies indicate that prematurely born neonates commonly develop a severe nutritional deficit during the first weeks after birth, referred to as extrauterine growth restriction. Despite an increase in growth during the second month of hospitalization, many neonates are ultimately discharged home having grown inadequately. The early nutritional deficit affects weight gain as well as growth in length and head circumference. Growth measurements such as weight, length, and head circumference, however, are macroscopic measures of nutritional status and underestimate the physiologic consequences of prolonged nutritional deprivation. Energy and micronutrient deficiencies alter growth at a cellular and tissue level before macroscopic measures are altered. In the brain, for instance, energy is required for cell division and neuronal growth, glial cell function, and myelination. Energy deprivation may consequently alter neuronal function and growth, resulting in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Immunocompetence also appears to be sensitive to the untoward effects of energy and nutritional deficiency. Malnourished neonates often exhibit immune deficiencies related to inadequate protein intake that compound an already immature immune system. Such immunodeficiency results in susceptibility to infectious agents that creates substantial morbidity and mortality to the course of intensive care for premature infants. A recent study suggests that postnatal malnutrition and growth restriction are inevitable if current recommended dietary intakes are followed. Multicenter studies show that variation in dietary intake accounts for 45% of the variation in growth. Hence, efforts have focused on determining whether nutritional deficiency and the observed growth restriction of premature infants can be prevented through the use of more optimal nutritional intake. In addition, inadequate protein support may be a primary cause for growth failure. Based on animal studies showing high in utero amino acid flux observed during the latter phase of gestation, Thureen et al have suggested the use of higher doses of amino acid supplementation in order to minimize growth restriction and improve outcomes of premature infants. However there are no large human trials that demonstrate that this approach promotes better growth or that it is safe. While small doses of amino acids may be inadequate to promote normal growth, high doses may lead to elevated serum amino acid levels and increase the occurrence of toxicity. Through the implementation of a multicenter, randomized trial and tandem mass spectrometry, the investigators propose to evaluate the effects of two distinct strategies of amino acid supplementation on serum amino acid profiles and growth of premature infants during the first 28 days of life.