Active clinical trials for "Failure to Thrive"

The prevention of postnatal growth failure in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants is of utmost importance. Standard fortification is the most commonly used supplementation practice but it does not consider the native variability of human milk. Data on efficacy and safety of prolonged target fortification are scarce. The investigators performed a prospective interventional study in VLBW preterm infants, exclusively fed with human milk, to test efficacy and metabolic safety of target fortification in these preterm infants.

This study is a prospective, open-label, multi-site, growth, safety and tolerance study to evaluate a NF (New Formula). A minimum of 45 evaluable infants with confirmed growth failure will be enrolled. Growth failure for 30 infants will be due to congenital heart disease and 15 infants due to other organic or non-organic causes. Study infants (in-patient or living with parents/ caregivers at home) will be fed the NF for a period of up through 16 weeks or until the time the infant subject meets criteria for switching to a lower calorie density formula, relative to baseline in infants with growth failure. Weight, height, head circumference and mid upper arm circumference will be measured regularly throughout the study. NF and other food intake, tolerance and stool diaries will be completed regularly. Serious adverse and adverse events will be monitored throughout the study. Infants will be evaluated, at each study visit, for criteria to switch to a lower calorie density formula. The primary objective is to improve weight-for-age z score relative to baseline. The secondary objectives are to improve weight-for-length, length-for-age, head circumference-for-age, mid upper arm circumference-for-age, weight velocity and length velocity z scores relative to baseline.

Oral sodium supplementation is currently administered in cases of poor weight gain in infants particularly in patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgical procedures. The decision to start oral supplementation is based on urinary sodium levels although the level at which to start treatment is variable as the range in normal, healthy infants is unknown. This study aims to ascertain the normal range of sodium in urine specimens collected from healthy newborn babies. It is believed that by increasing the level of salt in the intestine, glucose can be more easily be absorbed and therefore weight gain improved. Babies with conditions where they are at risk of salt depletion (i.e. those with a stoma) are currently administered oral sodium supplementation if they are failing to gain weight and have an associated 'low' urinary sodium level. Low levels of urinary sodium are considered to represent a state of low body sodium levels, as the kidneys attempt to reabsorb most of the sodium in the urine before it is excreted. Current practice varies widely as to the level below which treatment should be instigated. Some centres advise below 20 mmol/L (Birmingham Children's Hospital and Nottingham Children's Hospital guidelines), others below 10 mmol/L (University Children's Hospital, Zurich). In Glasgow, babies with poor weight gain are given sodium supplementation if urinary sodium levels are below 40 mmol/L. There are no documented ranges for the levels of urinary sodium in healthy, newborn babies. By determining the reference range of urinary sodium levels in healthy, term babies who are gaining weight appropriately, the investigators hope to be able to have a better understanding about both the level below which supplementation should be considered and the target range that should be aimed for.

Cyproheptadine is currently clinically used as an appetite stimulant for children with failure to thrive without underlying organic disease. Otherwise, no randomised control trial demonstrates the efficacy of Cyproheptadine on those patients. This is precisely what the investigators intend to demonstrate on this randomised placebo control cross-over trial. Our hypothesis is that Cyproheptadine is more efficient than placebo to improve weight gain and feeding behaviour on 2 to 4 years old children with failure to thrive.

The study will be a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial. Newborn infants (enrollment age 0-14 days) will be assigned randomly to receive one of two products, provided in identical packages except for the lid color. Neither the investigators nor the parents will know which product the infant is receiving. The infants will be monitored at study enrollment, and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age. There will be two study groups, each receiving one of the following formulas: The new partially hydrolyzed whey formula (NF) - Materna cow's milk infant formula containing partially hydrolyzed whey protein, produced and packaged by Materna Laboratories, Maabarot. The currently marketed partially hydrolyzed whey formula (CF) - Nan HA, produced by Nestlé. In order to maintain blinding, the Nan HA will be repacked in packaging identical to the Materna product, except for the lid color

Haydom Global Health Research Center in north central Tanzania represents an important rural setting for performing high-quality medical research in sub-Saharan Africa. The region around Haydom is agricultural (predominantly maize-based), is resource-poor and has a high degree of stunting among local infants-with 70% stunting by 18 months in the MAL-ED study and 50% in the ELICIT study (for Early Life Interventions for Childhood Growth and Development In Tanzania). While the causes of this stunting are multifactorial, a potential contributor is early-life nutritional deficiencies, including inadequate dietary protein. One likely source of low protein delivery to infants is from low intake among area mothers during lactation, with potential effects on breast milk protein content and child weight gain. The current study is a pilot study assessing our study team's ability to successfully deliver protein-containing food products (a balanced-energy protein supplement) to lactating mother is in the area and assessing whether consumption of these food products improves childhood growth in the 1st year of life. This is a pilot study because of the potential difficulties in distributing these products on a large scale for daily consumption. As such, we aim to demonstrate an effective distribution network, a means of assessing adherence, and measuring endpoints while gathering knowledge regarding community acceptance. The current pilot project will evaluate the effectiveness of distribution and adherence on approximately 100 mother/child dyads. If effective, a future project could involve a large enough sample to be powered to detect reasonable changes in linear growth. . So, while the current proposal is not adequately powered to prove a hypothesis, the hypothesis underlying the study design is that daily protein supplementation delivered as a balanced protein product (Plumpy'mum) to lactating mothers for 3 months during the period from 0-6 months post-natal life will result in an increase in infant length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) by end of treatment. LAZ will be compared to controls from prior studies in the area.

The purpose of this study is to compare standardized nutrition therapy provided by a registered dietitian (RD) at regularly scheduled intervals to usual care in terms of the ability to improve growth parameters in medically complex infants in the pediatric outpatient setting.

Palliative care is believed to improve care of patients with life-limiting illnesses. This study evaluated the impact of a multi-center randomized trial of a palliative care team intervention on the quality and cost of care of hospitalized patients. Study subjects were randomized to intervention or usual care. At study end, patients receiving the palliative care intervention reported greater patient satisfaction with their care. Intervention patients also had significantly fewer ICU admissions and lower total costs for care 6 months past their hospitalization. Intervention patients completed more advance directives and had longer hospice stays.

The study focuses on the causal relationship between mycotoxin exposure (particularly aflatoxin B1), birth outcomes, and height for age among young children in Nepal. Previous studies have shown a strong association of stunting with mycotoxin exposure yet causality has not been proven. Thus, this study will provide a better understanding of the association between maternal and/or early life mycotoxin exposure (rates in the blood and breast milk) and infant and young child growth. This information is essential if we are to more fully understand and effectively address the high rates of stunting in Asia.

This study will evaluate the status of the growth hormone/ insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis in relation to growth failure, body weight and composition and neuroprotection in children with Ataxia telangiectasia (AT).