View clinical trials related to Necrotizing Enterocolitis.
Filter by:Since the first description of citrulline as a potential marker for intestinal function in 1998, its use has been investigated in a variety of disease processes including Short Bowel Syndrome, Celiac disease, chemotherapy and radiation induced intestinal injury, infections producing intestinal cytopathic effects like Adenovirus, and predicting rejection in intestinal transplantation. The use of citrulline levels as a diagnostic tool to predict gastrointestinal disease in the premature population has not been properly addressed. The introduction of enteral nutrition in the premature infant is a process of trial and error, knowing that the immaturity of the gastrointestinal system may lead to frequent episodes of feeding intolerance. This is augmented by the fear of the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) once feeds are commenced. NEC is a condition characterized by disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier, a pathogenic process shared with some of the conditions mentioned above for which citrulline has proven clinically useful. A normal pattern of citrulline production has not been established in the premature population. Previous studies have shown decreased levels of glutamine and arginine in premature infants up to 10 days prior to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis. Glutamine and arginine are two amino acids closely involved in the synthesis and catabolism of citrulline. The investigators therefore hypothesize that defining a normal pattern of citrulline production in the premature population may prove to be a clinically useful diagnostic tool to screen for gastrointestinal disease.
Hypothesis to be Tested: Since the first description of intravenous alimentation over half a century ago, parenteral nutrition (PN) has become a common nutritional intervention for conditions characterized by inability to tolerate enteral feeds such as Short Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction, Microvillus Inclusion Disease, Crohn's disease, multi-organ failure and prematurity. Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Disease (PNALD) encompasses a spectrum of disease including cholestasis, hepatitis, steatosis and gallbladder sludge/stones which may progress to liver cirrhosis and even failure. There is a direct correlation between duration of parenteral nutrition and development of cholestasis in infants. There is evidence in animals and humans that cycling of parental nutrition, defined as infusing nutrients over a time period shorter than 24 hours, reduces cholestasis. There is also data that premature infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and birth weight <1500g, as well as infants with congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, are among those at highest risk of developing Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Cholestasis (PNAC). We therefore hypothesize that infants with gestational age (GA) <32 weeks and birth weight (BW) between <1500g, or with congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract regardless of GA or BW, receiving PN over a period of 20 hours will have a decrease severity of PNAC, demonstrated by a lower peak direct bilirubin, compared to a similar control population receiving standard 24 hour infusion.
The purpose of the trial is to demonstrate the effect of B. lactis in reducing the incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) compared to placebo in preterm infants.
The purpose of this study was to see if a brief delay in cord clamping for 30 to 45 seconds would result in higher hematocrit levels, fewer transfusions, healthier lungs, and better motor function at 40 wks and 7 months of age.
We hypothesize that supplementing maternal diet with probiotics will decrease the incidence of feeding intolerance, necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis in preterm infants fed breastmilk.
This proposal will test the hypothesis that synthesis and catabolism of epidermal growth factor (EGF), the genotype of the EGF gene, and the microbiome interact to influence EGF expression in infants at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
The purpose of this study is to better understand S-nitrosohemeglobin (SNO-Hb) in transfused blood of extremely preterm infants. The long term goal of the project is to identify variation in the SNO-Hb between packed red blood cell units, and between and among individual preterm infants pre and post-transfusion. Duke investigators are developing methods to replenish SNO-Hb, which, if successful, would improve RBC deformation in addition to providing a vasodilatory stimulation to hypoxic tissue, and lead to a randomized clinical trial testing treated vs. untreated RBC transfusions in extremely premature infants. AIM 1. Measure the Total Hemoglobin (Hb)-bound nitric oxide (NO), Hb [Fe] NO, SNO-Hb (a calculated value = (total Hb-NO - Hb [Fe] NO) in blood to be transfused in extremely preterm babies, and in samples pre and post- transfusion from the babies. Hypothesis 1: Measures of NO and SNO-Hb will be low in blood used for transfusion in preterm infants and will be decreased in the post-transfusion samples from the infants compared with the pre-transfusion samples. AIM 2. Collect clinical data about study participants, including oxygen saturation and measures of perfusion pre and post-transfusion. Hypothesis 2: Measures of perfusion will be reduced by 20% post-transfusion in extremely preterm infants.
The purpose of the study is to determine whether vitamin A can improve survival and facilitate recovery from sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in hospitalized neonates.
Meropenem is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat serious infections. Although it is used in premature and young infants, the correct dose is not known. The purpose of this study is to determine the correct dose and the safety of meropenem for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in these young babies.
A pilot study to test the safety of use of lactulose in preterm infants and to preliminary assess the hypothesis that lactulose would support the early growth of Lactobacilli in the stools of premature infants and possibly would also improve nutritional status and decrease NEC and late-onset sepsis.