Active clinical trials for "Enterocolitis"

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most devastating gastrointestinal emergencies in preterm neonates and a leading cause of death and morbidity. The pathogenesis of NEC remains largely unclear, but it is widely considered as a multifactorial disease. Prematurity, enteral feeding, bacterial colonisation of the gut and intestinal ischemia have been proposed as major risk factors. Probiotics may prevent NEC by improving the maturity and function of the gut mucosal barrier, modulating the immune system, promoting colonization of the gut with beneficial organisms and preventing colonization by pathogens. A variety of clinical trials have evaluated the effect of different probiotic preparations on the occurrence of NEC in preterm infants. The results of recent metaanalyses suggest a benefit of probiotic bacteria in reducing the incidence of NEC and propose a change of practice. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of the probiotic preparation Infloran® in reducing the incidence of NEC after implementation in clinical routine in preterm (< 34 weeks gestational age) very low birth weight infants compared to a historical cohort.

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.

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.

Despite many advances in neonatal care, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among premature infants. NEC is the most common life-threatening gastrointestinal emergency encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit, affecting between 3.8% and 13% of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants (1-3). More recently interest has intensified regarding the possible association between "elective" red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in premature infants and the subsequent development of NEC (4-9). On a physiological basis, a few explanations for transfusion-associated NEC have been proposed: 1) the physiological impact of anemia that can initiate a cascade of events leading to ischemic-hypoxemic mucosal gut injury predisposing to NEC [10]; and 2) increased splanchnic blood flow following RBC transfusion leading to reperfusion injury of gut mucosa. Aim 1. This study will quantify inflammatory cytokine profiles in anemic infants cared for in the NICU prior to and after transfusion with packed red blood cells (PRBC), as dictated by current clinical guidelines for treatment of anemia, and prospectively assess for clinical signs and symptoms of NEC following each transfusion event. Aim 2. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) isolated from the pre- and post-transfusion blood samples will be assessed in vitro for neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation. Aim 3. A) To determine whether significant anemia preceding a RBC transfusion is associated with impaired intestinal oxygenation, and whether a RBC transfusion temporarily increases splanchnic oxygenation. We postulate that the CSOR will be low (<0.75) at baseline measurement in infants with hemodynamically significant anemia, and that RBC transfusion will temporarily increase intestinal perfusion in that particular group of babies. B) To determine whether alterations in mesenteric regional oxygenation saturation(rSO2) can predict the development of NEC in VLBW infants. We hypothesize that overall cerebro-splanchnic oxygenation ratio (CSOR) values will be significantly lower among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants that develop NEC, when compared to CSOR values obtained in infants that do not develop NEC following RBC transfusion.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal system disease characterized by inflammatory necrosis of the intestine mainly seen in premature infants, and continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity in neonatal intensive care units all over the world. Although it is more common in premature infants, it is also seen in term babies when the intestine is ischemic. Although the major problem in premature babies is the immaturity of the intestine, many factors contributing to immaturity play a role in the pathogenesis of NEC.

Some babies require emergency surgery on their tummy in the first few months of life. This is most commonly because they were born prematurely and developed a bowel problem (called NEC) or a blockage of the bowel. As part of this surgery, the ends of the bowel may be brought to the skin surface (called a stoma) to divert stool into a bag. The stoma allows time for the bowel to rest and recover and is intended to be temporary with reversal later on. The best time to reverse or "close" the stoma is unknown. Stomas may cause dehydration, poor growth and skin problems so earlier closure may be better; however surgery is safer when babies are older and bigger so later closure may be better. This study aims to answer the question, 'is it feasible to conduct a clinical trial comparing 'early' vs. 'late' stoma closure in neonates?' It has a series of specific objectives which incorporate: (i) describing current UK practice; (ii) establishing whether or not a clinical trial (and exactly what form of trial) is acceptable to parents and clinicians; and (iii) establishing the design of a potential trial, including defining the intervention ('early vs. late') and the population of infants to be included, how infants should be recruited and what information should be collected (outcomes). The investigators will ask parents and health professionals for their views and whether they would take part in a future trial and information about babies who have recently had a stoma to find out which factors influence the timing of closure. They will also analyse 6 years of data from an existing database, the National Neonatal Research Database to estimate the numbers of babies affected, understand current practice and outcomes for these babies to help decide whether a clinical trial is possible.

Neutropenic enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening complication of leukemic and solid tumors patients (pts) treated with chemotherapy (CHT) with high mortality rate up to 50-100%. Perforation occurs in 5%-10% of cases. Early diagnosis is crucial to start conservative medical management (CMM), which appears the optimal strategy for most cases. NEC should be always suspected in Neutropenic pts with abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea. Ultrasound (US) can be used to evaluate bowel-wall thickening (BWT). The objective of this study is to evaluate prospectively if US can detect early signs of NEC and guide a prompt treatment (CMM or surgical) and thus reduce mortality.

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIEES) is a particular non-Immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy. A retrospective descriptive single-center study was conducted. Subjects included were children with acute FPIES who consulted the allergy department of the Nancy Regional University Hospital between November 2013 and June 2016.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common problem in the neonatal intensive care unit and can be secondary to prematurity or congenital heart disease (CHD). PDA is the most common cardiovascular abnormality in preterm infants, and is seen in 55% of infants born at 28 weeks, and 1000 grams or less. In addition to producing heart failure and prolonged respiratory distress or ventilator dependence, PDA has been implicated in development of broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, interventricular hemorrhage, cerebral ischemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In an Israeli population study 5.6% of all very low birth weight infants (VLBW) were diagnosed with NEC, and 9.4% of VLBW infants with PDA were found to have NEC. In a retrospective analysis of neonates with CHD exposed to Prostaglandin E found that the odds of developing NEC increased in infants with single ventricle physiology, especially hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The proposed pathophysiological explanation of NEC and PDA is a result of "diastolic steal" where blood flows in reverse from the mesenteric arteries back into the aorta leading to compromised diastolic blood flow and intestinal hypo-perfusion. Prior studies have demonstrated that infants with a hemodynamically significant PDA have decreased diastolic flow velocity of the mesenteric and renal arteries when measured by Doppler ultrasound, and an attenuated intestinal blood flow response to feedings in the post prandial period compared to infants without PDA. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has also been used to assess regional oxygen saturations (rSO2) in tissues such as the brain, kidney and mesentery in premature infants with PDA. These studies demonstrated lower baseline oxygenation of these tissues in infants with hemodynamically significant PDA. These prior NIRS studies evaluated babies with a median gestational age at the time of study of 10 days or less. It is unknown if this alteration in saturations will persist in extubated neonates with PDA at 12 or more days of life on full enteral feedings. In the present study the investigators hypothesize that infants with a PDA, whether secondary to prematurity or ductal dependent CHD, will have decreased splanchnic and renal perfusion and rSO2 renal/splanchnic measurements will be decreased during times of increased metabolic demand such as enteral gavage feeding. To test this hypothesis the investigators have designed a prospective observational study utilizing NIRS to record regional saturations at baseline, during feedings, and after feedings for 48 hours.

Aim The aim of this study is to determine consequences at school age of the diagnosis of NEC in the neonatal period. Methods This is a case-control study, with case-group being children born in Denmark with a history of NEC and control-group being age-, gestational age- and year of birth matched children born in Denmark with no history of NEC. Primary outcome Abnormal or borderline 'total difficulties score' in the strenghts-and-difficulties-questionnaire as assessed by parents.