Active clinical trials for "Premature Birth"

The goal of the project is to show the effectiveness of individualized developmental care and intervention, which begins with the FGR preterm infant's admission to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and extends to 2 weeks (w) after full term equivalent age or 2w CA (corrected age for prematurity).

This observational study aims to test the level of parathyroid hormone in pregnant women. The main question it aims to answer is: n Pregnant women, are the levels of serum PTH, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus & albumin similar in both preterm and term births?

The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of a universal strategy of primary prevention of preterm birth using intravaginal chlorhexidine (CLX) applied before 16 weeks. The main question is whether universal treatment with vaginal CLX before 16 weeks would reduce the incidence of preterm birth, especially before 34 weeks. Participants were recruited at the routine first trimester consultation. All patients underwent an initial ultrasound examination between 6+0 and 15+6 weeks gestation, including assessment of embryo/fetus vitality. Antiseptic treatment aimed at reducing possible bacterial overgrowth consisted of 10 days (1 box) of CLX vaginal ovules (CLX digluconate 0.2%) always starting between 9+0 and 16+0 weeks. As this product is widely marketed and frequently indicated in gynaecology, we did not deprive the non-treated group of treatment because we wanted to assess whether it could have an effect on reducing preterm delivery. The pregnant women were then followed up until the end of pregnancy and compared with a cohort of patients who had not received any treatment. All data related to delivery were collected, as well as any events related to preterm delivery, such as onset of contractions, cervical shortening and premature rupture of membranes, regardless of final gestational age at delivery.

Objective: The objective of the present research is to compare the nutritional status, weight gain, length of hospital stay, and development of some complications in very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants who received and did not receive olive oil supplementation enterally.

The investigators aimed to make a more advanced risk assessment in predicting preoperative intensive care unit admission in pediatric patients. The investigators aimed to better define the pediatric patient population and identify preoperative risk factors in detail in order to reduce perioperative complications.

Background: The burden of preterm and low birth weight babies (LBW) is high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, assessment of gestational age (GA) and birth weight is important. The GA is assessed using a reliable last menstrual period (LMP), measuring fundal height, using ultrasound for dating, or postnatally using Ballard, Dubowitz, or Eregie scores. However, each method has some limitations. Pregnant women in LMIC are not able to recall LMP and are also unreliable when menstrual cycles are irregular, fundal height is often imprecise and subject to variation due to observer bias, uterine pathologies, abdominal obesity, amniotic fluid volume, fetal position, and ultrasound in a rural setting is often unreliable because lack of trained sonologist, power failures, and maintenance of ultrasound machine. Post-natal GA scoring is also lengthy, subjective, and time-consuming. Similarly, determining birth weight has many challenges. In Thatta, weighing scales are only available in health facilities, therefore, birth weight is available for babies born in the health facilities. Furthermore, even where weighing scales are available, the calibration and maintenance are not without challenges, especially in the extremely hot climate. In the majority of studies, foot length has been validated for determining GA and birth weight, with LMP serving as the gold standard, which has limitations in our population. In a meta-analysis on the diagnostic accuracy of foot length to identify preterm and LBW, researchers emphasized the need for studies using high-quality ultrasound as a reference standard for early dating. Hence, there is a need to develop a simple and effective method of GA and birth weight that healthcare providers of all levels including mid-level healthcare workers in remote areas can use with reasonable accuracy. Objectives of the study The primary objectives of the study are to determine the diagnostic accuracy of foot length in predicting GA and low birth weight using ultrasound conducted between 6-20 weeks for the predicted estimated date of delivery (EDD) as the gold standard. Secondary objectives of the study are, 1) to develop the regression equations that predict gestational age and low birth weight using foot length, 2) to assess the use of foot length measurement as a screening tool to identify LBW or preterm infants in a community-based setting, and 3) to develop percentile charts of foot length for gestational age and low birth weight Methods: This test validation study will be conducted in Global Network's Maternal and Newborn Health Registry catchment area. All live birth singleton babies who have a first-trimester ultrasound for gestational age and birth weight within 48 hours of birth will be included in this study. Stillbirths, multiple pregnancies, gross congenital malformations such as neural tube defects, omphalocele, etc., club foot, and babies with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome that make measuring foot length difficult, will be excluded from the study. Gestational age will be assessed using ultrasound between 6-20 weeks of gestation by a trained sonographer working in the registry. Neonatal assessment having neuromuscular, and physical signs will be conducted by the research assistants (RA). RA will be taking anthropometric measurements such as birth weight using calibrated weighing scales, foot length, mid-upper arm circumference, and fronto-occipital circumference. The data will be entered in Epicollect data five. Sensitivity, specificity, positive & negative predictive value, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic accuracy will be done using different cut-offs of foot length against ultrasound estimated gestational age and birth weight. Receivers operating characteristics (ROC) curves will be generated to identify the optimal cut-off point for foot length taken within 24 hours of birth for identification of prematurity and LBW (based on first-trimester ultrasound) with ≥80% sensitivity. Linear regression will be done for estimating predictive values of foot length by GA. Pentile charts for foot length (FL) against GA will be derived. Bland Altman's analyses will identify and quantify any biases inherent to the tool. Public health implications: If these equations predict gestational age and birth weight with accuracy, an android-based application can be developed for health care providers (HCP) who simply measure foot length and enter it into the application to identify preterm &/or low birth weight along with referred guidelines for early treatment. This is one step closer to Every Newborn Action Plan's goal of lowering neonatal mortality to 12/1000 LB by 2030.

Preterm neonates who receive multi-sensory stimulation exhibit more neurobehavioral development than those who don't.

For therapy of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature babies, there are several established options. An important therapeutic aspect is the tracheal administration of exogenous surfactant into the child's lung. In the recent years, several methods have been developed. The methods differ in the selected ventilation mode (intubation with mechanical ventilation vs. Continous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)-supported spontaneous breathing) and in the way in which the application of surfactant is technically conducted (via endotracheal tube, endotracheal catheter or nebulization). In selection of ventilation technique, there is an upcoming trend towards less invasive respiratory support via CPAP. While this may increase the rate of complications on the one side (i.e. pneumothorax), it shows much lower oxygen demand and a shorter need for mechanical ventilation on the other side. In the selection of the administration technique, different methods were repeatedly developed to adapt the surfactant administration to the CPAP therapy. In this study, a newly developed and in the European Community now certified (CE-Mark) application aid (Neofact) will be tested for the first time on preterm infants, to verify the feasibility.

The purpose of this study is to gain information that may be useful in helping to figure out better or newer ways to provide nutrition to babies born premature.

This research is being conducted in preterm newborns with 'in utero' growth restriction due to inadequate blood flow from the mother to the baby. These deprived babies adapt to the not so conducive uterine environment by certain adjustments in blood supply to internal organs thereby permitting as best as possible blood flow to brain heart etc., which are the vital organs and whose adequate functioning is required for survival. In this bargain the gut (intestines) gets poor blood supply and hence its appropriate functioning is jeopardized. In the past such babies (after birth) were not fed for days together which compromised their growth even further. Premature growth restricted' babies are at increased risk of further growth faltering if not fed in time as also to a condition called 'Necrotising enterocolitis' if fed liberally like other healthy neonates, characterized by abdominal distension, blood in stools and inability to feed for much longer duration thereby further affecting growth. This study is evaluating a feeding schedule of early versus late initiation of feeding to arrive at the best time to feed such doubly jeopardized premature growth restricted babies to avert the above mentioned consequences. No study has been conducted in India to confirm the aforementioned fact and hence this study has been planned. The information learned from this study will help us to feed these small premature as well as growth restricted babies with AREDF better which will go a long way in the care of such preterm growth restricted newborns.