Active clinical trials for "Enterocolitis"

The purposes of this study were: 1) to compare mortality and postoperative morbidities in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants who underwent initial laparotomy or drainage for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or isolated intestinal perforation (IP); 2) to determine the ability to distinguish NEC from IP preoperatively and the importance of this distinction on outcome measures; and 3) to evaluate the association between extent of intestinal disease determined at operation and outcome measures. All ELBW infants born at participating NRN centers were screened for the presence of NEC or IP that was thought by the pediatric surgeon and neonatologist to require surgical intervention. Data were collected enrolled infants, including: intraoperative findings recorded by the surgeon and specific post-operative complications. Neurodevelopmental examinations were conducted on surviving infants at 18-22 months corrected age.

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and effectiveness of a whole own (autologous) umbilical cord blood transfusion in the first 5 days after birth if the baby is born premature <34 weeks and developed anemia of prematurity.

Necrotizing enterocolitis continues to be a disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants due to advances in neonatal intensive care that increase the survival rate of extremely low birth weight infants (below 1,000 gram)

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious gastrointestinal disorder that primarily affects preterm infants. About 10% of babies less than 32 weeks gestation at birth will develop it. Overall, 30% of babies who develop NEC will die from it, with many others developing long term gastrointestinal problems. The most important factor in its development is a premature intestinal tract. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important growth factor in the development and maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract. This study will look for a relationship between EGF levels in premature babies and the development of NEC.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease affecting the intestines of premature infants. It involves intestine swelling, tissue destruction, infection, and even death. Improved outcome is highly dependent on early recognition and treatment, however the signs and symptoms of NEC in early stages are not obvious making it difficult to diagnose. Abdominal x-rays and ultrasound can be non-specific and may not show signs of the disease until late in its course. Infrared imaging is a non-invasive, non-radiation method that can measure the heat given off of the surface of the body and create heat maps. It is being used clinically in other situations but is still under investigation for use in preterm infants with suspected NEC. Computer analysis of the measured heat maps can be used to detect changes in the intestine such as the swelling or tissue destruction involved in NEC. Our group has previously performed a pilot study that showed that infrared imaging on babies in the NICU can be used to create heat maps that are different between normal babies and those with NEC when analyzed using specialized computer programs. In this study the investigators will improve the imaging process by using special vision sensors to automate the imaging process and make it easier for bedside staff to use this technology. Special programs will be developed to automatically select areas of interest over which temperature maps will be analyzed. The investigators will use this new imaging technique to study a population of newborns diagnosed with definitive NEC and a healthy population of newborns without NEC, and compare the heat maps obtained from each group. From the analysis of the images obtained from these two populations, the investigators will determine the suitability and necessary fine-tuning of this new imaging technique with the hopes that this technology can someday aid in the early diagnosis of NEC.

Pakistan has the third highest number of neonatal deaths worldwide. During the last two decades (1990-2013), neonatal mortality rate in the country has declined by only 1.0% per year. Severe infection is the second most leading cause of neonatal mortality, account for 28% of all deaths in Pakistan. Majority of neonatal deaths occur in infants who LBW (birth weight <2500g) and LBW comprises of both preterm / small for gestational age newborns. Breastfeeding helps protect infants from infections by serving as a source of nutrition uncontaminated by environmental pathogens. The protection is due to the multiple anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and immuno regulatory factors transmitted through milk including secretory antibodies, glycan's, Lactoferrin, leukocytes, cytokines & other components produced by the mother's immune system. Reduction in neonatal infections and deaths is the aim of this study. The study is being conducted at the Aga Khan University in collaboration with University of Sydney.

Hyaline membrane disease, now commonly called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and feeding intolerance, which can lead to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), are two key morbidities found in premature neonates which resulted in high mortality rate in Indonesia. Cochrane meta-analysis proved that antenatal steroid therapy can reduce the morbidity and mortality rate of premature neonates. But there is still different outcomes and severity of disease in preterm newborn receiving the same dose of antenatal steroid therapy. This raises questions whether there are other factors influencing the development and maturity of lung and gut in preterm newborn, aside from steroid therapy. Vitamin A, D and zinc are already known for their function in fetal lung and gut development. To our best of knowledge, no study has evaluated the effect of these vitamins levels on HMD and feeding intolerance in premature neonates. Therefore, the aim of this study want to evaluate the effect of antenatal steroid therapy versus co-administered β-carotene, vitamin D3, zinc and antenatal steroid therapy on the presence and severity of HMD and feeding intolerance in premature neonates.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of L. Reuteri with placebo in prevention of NEC in children, as according to my knowledge, there is limited work is done nationally and internationally. Probiotics are being used in our Children Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Multan. Route of administration of L. Reuteri will be oral or via nasogastric tube due to availability of oral form in Pakistan. The results of this study will be helpful to assess the beneficial effects of probiotics especially L. Reuteri in NEC in preterm. So, they can be recommended as preventive strategy to avoid NEC development and its complications based on its availability, effectivity and easy administration

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and its mechanisms of oral mixture probiotics in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis among the preterm very low birth weight infants.

Subjects will undergo peripheral blood stem cell mobilisation and collection with subsequent high-dose chemotherapy. After finalization of high-dose chemotherapy subjects will receive bone marrow derived allogeneic multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells intravenous infusion two hours prior to autologous peripheral blood cells infusion. This is a single arm study with no control. All patients receive cell therapy.