Active clinical trials for "Enterocolitis"

Calprotectin is a cytosolic component of neutrophils .Fecal calprotectin(FC) is a useful marker for exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease in children .FC may be a useful marker for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is one of the most common ,deadliest and enigmatic intestinal problems encountered mostly in premature infants. The precise pathophysiology of NEC is unclear ,but major factors thought to play an important role include an immature intestine ,an inflammatory response to intestinal microbes,enteral feedings and intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.Diagnosis of NEC is not easy clinically and up to now there is not a simple laboratory test to differentiate NEC at an early stage from other conditions in the neonate. Arginine is the substrate for NO production in the gut and its deficiency may cause vasoconstriction and gut injury and thus predispose to NEC. In previous studies arginine supplementation was found to reduce the incidence of NEC in premature infants but more studies are needed for the use of arginine supplementation for the prevention of NEC. The investigators aim is to measure the fecal calprotectin in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants during the first month of life as an inflammatory marker of the bowel and evaluate whether premature infants receiving arginine supplements had lower calprotectin values compared to the premature infants that did not . The investigators hypothesize that arginine supplementation in preterm infants reduces the inflammation of the gut which will be shown by the lower fecal calprotectin values of the premature infants receiving arginine supplementation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Probiotics are favorable microorganisms that regulate the flora of the gastrointestinal system and stimulate the immune system. Necrotizing enterocolitis incidence is 10-25% in newborn infants whose birth weights are < 1500 gr. Although bifidobacterium and lactobacilli sp. have been used to reduce the incidence of NEC in clinical trials, Saccharomyces boulardii has not been used in the prevention of NEC in very low birth weight infants yet. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered S boulardii in reducing the incidence and severity of NEC in very low birth weight infants.