View clinical trials related to Premature Birth.
Filter by:Timely screening and management of modifiable conditions can reduce preterm births, yet providing effective prenatal risk management systems to meet the unique needs of medically underserved populations is complex. If the proposed system proves to be effective in reducing preterm births it can improve maternal and child quality of life as well as reduce the economic burden of preterm births in the U.S.
The general goal of the present study is to examine the developmental changes caused by melatonin in preterm and term newborns. The major brain lesions associated with cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment in preterm infants are periventricular white matter damage (WMD). At the present time, despite major improvements in neonatal care, there are no established therapeutic regimens for the treatment of brain lesions in preterms. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland; melatonin's neuroprotective action has been well documented in animal experimental models. Neuroprotection is believed to stem from its direct free radical scavenging, indirect antioxidant activities. Originality Several reports have described melatonin secretion in older children, but only a few have observed melatonin concentrations during the first year of life. Very little is known about the fetal pineal melatonin synthesis and nothing at what prenatal age melatonin synthesis starts. Premature infants have a 3 months delay in the development of melatonin rhythmicity compared to full-term infants. One study found discordant data with decreasing melatonin value around term. The absence of longitudinal study and the low number of children included make the interpretation difficult of the secretion of melatonin at the newborn. Hypothesis: Infants born before 28 weeks gestation have melatonin deficiency (50pg/ml), compared to newborns at term (100pg/ml). Study design: prospective, longitudinal, multicenter trial in 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Ile de France. Specific aim is to compare the developmental changes of melatonin in preterm and term newborns (200 infants and their mothers: 4 groups of 50 infants: 24-27GA +6d ; 28-32 GA +6d ; 33-36 GA +6d ; 37-41 GA +6d). Secondary aims are the following: - determine Melatonin creatinin excretion in preterm infants - correlate between serum melatonin secretion and urinary melatonin and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion - determine endogenous melatonin production in the human pineal - correlate genetic variations between different levels of melatonin in premature infants - assess clinical and neurological outcomes at term Clinical impact The present clinical project is part of a translational approach, expected data for infants born before 28 weeks gestation is melatonin deficiency which should participate in determining the potential use of melatonin as a neuroprotectant in human preterm neonates.
Working hypothesis and aims: To investigate the association between cervical length in non-pregnant women, and the risk of premature birth. The participants will be recruited from the HaEmek Medical Center delivery room registration. Women delivered between 24-37 pregnancy weeks will be allocated to the study group. The investigators will invite them 3 month or more after delivery to ultrasound examination of the cervical length. The participants in the control group will be the women whom term delivery follows by chronological manner to those in study group. Data of the cervucal length will be collected at the time of the examination.
The threat of preterm labour (PTL) is the first cause of hospitalization in the course of pregnancy. Its diagnostic is based on clinical examination with a positive predictive value of about 40 %. The role of the Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in delivery has been suggested by its secretion in the amniotic fluid during labour and by the increase in the expression of its RNA messengers in the peripheral maternal blood. We have also shown that the proportion of MCP-1-expressing monocytes is higher in women with vaginal delivery compared with those with caesarean delivery prior the onset of labour. OBJECTIVES : Primary To seek link between the respective proportions of circulating maternal monocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations and the true onset of PTL characterised by delivery occurring within 7 days post admission. Secondary: to (1) compare the predictive values of these new markers with those currently used, e.g. quantification of fœtal fibronectin and assessment of cervical length and effacement, (2) Compare the respective proportions of monocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations in maternal blood and fœtal membranes, (3) determine if a correlation exists between the activation markers expressed by maternal monocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations and the neonatal outcomes of preterm infants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 200 patients with a singleton pregnancy between 24 and 34 weeks of amenorrhea and complicated PTL, will be prospectively included in the maternity wards of Galway (Ireland) and of Dijon with the support of the perinatal network of Burgundy. A 2X5ml blood sample will be collected upon admission, at D1, D2, D4 and D6 for women who did not deliver within the first 7 days; finally, another blood sample will be drawn upon discharge. After delivery, foetal membranes will be collected to characterize and compare the various monocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in the maternal blood. The characterization and the study of the level of activation of blood and foetal membrane cells will be performed using flow cytometry technique with suitable markers. The main judgment criteria will be the percentage of monocytes positively expressing MCP-1 for all three monocyte subpopulations ("inflammatory", "residents or patrollers" and "intermediates", according to CD14, CD16, CCR2 and MCP-1 markers. Lymphocyte subpopulations will be assessed using the following markers: CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8 (T lymphocytes), HLA-DR (activated T lymphocytes), CD19 (B lymphocytes), CD16/CD56 (NK Cells), intracellular IFN-gamma (Th1 lymphocytes), intracellular IL-4 (Th-2 lymphocytes), intracellular IL-17 and CCR6 (Th17 lymphocytes), CD4, CD25, Foxp3 and CD127 (Tregs). Univariate statistical analysis of quantitative data will be performed using the Mann and Witney test or ANOVA, after verification of the conditions of application. The comparisons of percentages will be done using Chi-square Pearson tests and the Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. The multivariate analysis will be performed using a stepwise descending analysis. TRANSLATIONAL DIMENSION: The characterization of the various monocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in the maternal blood and in the foetal membranes might constitute an " immunological signature " of the labour and therefore validate the relevance of a predictive marker for clinicians. EXPECTED RESULTS AND PERSPECTIVES: The study of the various monocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in the maternal blood will allow to better characterise the immunological mechanisms occurring at the start of premature labour and to identity predictive markers of the preterm delivery, to validate prospectively in order to optimize the management of PTL
Checking of gastric residuals prior to the continuation/increase of enteral feeding prolongs the time to establish full gastric feeding in the early postnatal period.
This proposed investigation will test the following hypotheses: 1) Enzymatic activity of CYP2B6 characterized by the formation clearance of methadone to EDDP (CLf,EDDP), is directly related to both gestational and postnatal age; 2) variations in the CYP2B6 gene (SNPs) are associated with variable activity of the CYP2B6 enzyme (as measured by the formation clearance, CLf,EDDP), and 3) the elimination rate of methadone and its major metabolite EDDP in neonates is dependent on the glomerular filtration rate and therefore on the stage of development (defined by both gestational and postnatal age). The investigators propose to develop a PK model for methadone dosing in neonates that takes into account both developmental stage and genetic variability. The long-term goal of the proposed investigations is to improve dosing of methadone in neonates exposed to opioids in utero or post-natally, leading to improved control of their withdrawal syndrome and decreased adverse drug reactions associated with the current use of methadone in these vulnerable patients. More immediately, the investigators will develop a PK model for methadone dosing based on relevant developmental and genetic characteristics. The acquired knowledge based on the proposed study will lead to a more efficacious treatment of pain or opiate withdrawal syndrome in newborn infants with a decreased chance of adverse drug reactions.
Infants born very premature have biological risk factors for later developmental coordination disorder. Parental stereotyping of infants as fragile and other environmental factors, such as spending long periods laying on their backs, also contribute to motor delay. This study aims to develop and evaluate a computer-based intervention (Helping Our Premature infants ON to better motor skills - HOP-ON) for parents of preterm infants. HOP-ON will model evidence based strategies to develop infants' fine and gross motor skills, and aims to reduce parental stereotyping. It is hypothesised that infants whose parents receive the HOPON CD-ROM/DVD and Booklet will have better motor skills at 12 months adjusted age compared to those whose parents receive a control CD-ROM/DVD and booklet. Parents of infants born at less than 32 weeks gestation (target n = 138) will be recruited prior to discharge from the neonatal unit and randomised to either HOP-ON or control. The primary outcome is motor score (Bayleys III) at 12 months adjusted age. Other outcomes are parental confidence and perceptions of infant capability at 3 months and quality of movement, infant growth, fine and gross motor movement and parenting stress at 12 months. Data will be analysed blind to study condition and on an intention to treat basis.
Last thirty years, many research was performed concerning pain in the newborn. These investigations showed us the negative effects of pain in the neonatal period. Our research concerns the choice of analgesics for the premature newborn during a heel lance. Newborns with a gestational age of 32-37 weeks are randomly assigned over three groups. They can receive breastfeeding, during the heel lance, a bottle with supplemental breast milk or sucrose. The primary objective of the Amphia Premature Infant Pain study, is to investigate whether there is a difference in PIPP-scores in premature newborns who undergo a heel lance, receiving breast milk or sucrose. Our hypothesis is that the PIPP-score will be lower in newborns receiving breast milk compared to sucrose. And the investigators presume that breast feeding has the same analgesic effect as giving supplemental breast milk.
The primary objective of this multi-center clinical study is to evaluate the validity, reliability, feasibility, safety and relative cost-effectiveness of a retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) telemedicine evaluation system to detect eyes of at-risk babies who meet referral warranted ROP (RW-ROP) criteria and therefore need a diagnostic evaluation by an ophthalmologist experienced in ROP. We shall: 1. Calculate the accuracy, using sensitivity and specificity, of the system to provide remote evaluations when compared with the findings of a "gold standard" indirect ophthalmoscopic examination performed by a Study-certified ophthalmologist, rigorously trained in ROP diagnostic examinations (validity); 2. Determine intra-reader and inter-reader agreement for deciding whether digital images indicate that the eyes of a baby are in need of diagnostic indirect ophthalmoscopy by an ophthalmologist experienced in ROP (reliability); 3. Determine whether imaging evaluation can be achieved for each baby (feasibility); 4. Examine ocular and systemic complications associated with digital imaging and compared with those associated with diagnostic examinations performed by an ophthalmologist (safety); 5. Compare the costs and benefits of adopting a telemedicine retinal imaging system compared to the current cost of indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations (cost-effectiveness).
Placement of a vaginal pessary reduces significantly the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women with twins and a short cervical length at 18-22 weeks scan.