Active clinical trials for "Premature Birth"

The aims of this prospective longitudinal case-control pilot-study are (1) to characterize the changes of the vaginal, uterine and placental microbiome in pregnant women experiencing pPROM with immediate hospitalization and consecutive caesarean section at preterm, in comparison to uneventful term births with elective cesarean section, as well as (2) to evaluate the influence of the maternal on the neonatal microbiome and the early neonatal outcome in pPROM preterm cases, in comparison to uneventful term births. The first aim will be achieved by collecting vaginal and rectal swabs for microbiome analysis in women experiencing pPROM, followed by uterine and placental swabs that are collected during the caesarean section. Control samples will be collected at the same time points from women undergoing elective caesarean section at term. The second aim will be achieved by microbiome analysis of rectal, oral/buccal, and skin swabs taken from newborns that are either born preterm after pPROM, or at term, both by caesarean section.

It is aimed in this study to examine the changes in brain blood supply and oxygenation in neonatal premature babies who have anemia and who underwent erythrocyte suspension transfusion in the light of original guidelines by means of obtaining measurements with the help of cranial doppler ultrasonography and near-infrared spectroscopy.

Premature coronary heart disease (CHD) refers to the onset of myocardial infarction in men < 55 years old, women < 65 years old. At present, researches on early-onset coronary heart disease mostly focus on its risk factors and clinical characteristics, but there is no relevant research on the relationship between early-onset myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis.

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in multiple pregnancies. The medical and educational expenditure and lost productivity associated with preterm birth is very high. Sonoelastography is a new ultrasound technology which has enabled the measurement of tissue stiffness and it has been widely applied in assessment of breast lump and liver cirrhosis. Sonoelastography is potentially useful for the objective assessment of cervical consistency which could be related to risk of preterm birth. Objective: To assess the cervical consistency by shear wave elastography in prediction of preterm birth in multiple pregnancies. Setting: This is a prospective non-interventional observational study. Subjects: Chinese women carrying multiple pregnancies attending antenatal visit are invited to join the study. Method: Demographic data and antenatal history will be obtained. Transvaginal scan for the cervix will be performed by a trained researcher or obstetrician for the assessment of cervical consistency, cervical length, posterior cervical angle and fetal viability. The measurements will be repeated during 5 antenatal visits or separate study visits at 11-15, 16-19, 20-23, 24-27 and 28-32 weeks of gestation. At the end of pregnancy, the delivery data and neonatal outcome will be collected. Sample Size: The risk of preterm birth <34 weeks in twin pregnancies is approximately 20%. A sample size of 120 was determined as being sufficient to test the diagnostic performance of cervical elasticity in mid trimester assuming that the risk of preterm delivery <34 weeks vs >34 weeks is 1:5 and that cervical elasticity area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was 0.7, with 80% power and alpha of 5%. Data Analysis: Changes in the cervical elastography will be compared using the Student paired two-tailed t test, and in the case of unequal standard deviation (SD), using a Wilcoxon signed-rank paired two-tailed test. For comparison of frequencies, Chi-square test, or a two-sided Fisher exact test will be used where appropriate. Linear regression will be used to assess the correlations. The level of statistical significance is set at p<0.05 (two-sided).

Pretern premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) remains the leading cause of preterm deliveries and neonatal mortality and morbidity. PPROM is defined as rupture of the fetal membranes prior to 37 weeks' gestation. PPROM complicates 2-4% of all pregnancies and accounts for approximately 30 % of preterm births. The etiology of PPROM remains elusive. PPROM is one of the main causes of prematurity and its complications, such as newborn respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, perventricular leucomalacia, varying degrees of lung hypoplasia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. All these factors contribute greatly to an increase in neonatal morbidity and mortality Management of PPROM followed actual guidelines. Conservative management to prolong a pregnancy is a classical approach to treat PPROM before 34 weeks' gestation in association with antibiotic therapy and corticosteroids. Maternal and neonatal data were collected from maternal and newborns medical records.

Preterm birth is defined as a birth occurring before the completion of 37 weeks gestation. The incidence of preterm birth in Israel in the last years is around 7-8%. Despite various diagnostic modalities as well as newly therapeutic approaches the incidence of preterm birth remains unchanged and is considered to be the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. In the last decade, small RNAs have emerged as an important player in both physiological and pathophysiological responses. These single strands, non-coding regulatory RNA molecules are responsible for post transcriptional regulation of target genes. Hence, may provide a new opportunity for biomarkers discovery in the field of preterm birth. The main objective of this study is to identify a distinctive expression profile of maternal circulating RNAs that will be used as biomarkers for preterm birth.

The aim of this study is to detect the association between maternal serum antioxidant level and preterm labor.

Cervical length is a already known predictor for preterm labor. In this study the investigators want to examining the hypothesis that cervical curvature is also a predictor for preterm labor and that moderate transducer pressure influence cervical length. study population: 200 consecutive pregnant women between 14-34w, visiting in the ultrasound unit ether for routine screening or because of preterm labor. During their examination cervical length and curvature measurements will be taken. Another measurement will be taken after applying moderate cervical pressure. The investigators will compere cervical contour and pressure influence between groups and according to cervical length Demographic data will be taken at the time of recruitment and pregnancy outcome measures in a later telephone interview.

The study will compare intervention by Infant Aquatics to infant massage. The intervention in both methods will start at 36 weeks gestational age for 3 months and will consist of sessions with a therapist every 2 weeks. Development will be assessed and compared at 3, 8 and 18 months using Infant Motor Pattern method, Griffith developmental scales and Vineland adaptive behavior scales.

A video of the delivery room management will be taken using standardized conditions. The video will be evaluated either locally by those directly involved in the delivery room care of this specific infant or anonymously at the main study center. Using a standardized evaluation form a set of predefined interventions is rated regarding at what time they took place and at what time they should have taken place. The difference in time for all interventions is summed up to a score. This score should allow to assess the delivery room management in comparison to the desired standard as well as between hospitals. The evaluation forms of all centers will be analyzed at the main study center to define correlations between certain delivery room interventions and short term outcome. Aim of the study is to gather data on how delivery room care is currently done, come closer to an agreement between different NICUs towards what should be done in the delivery room under what circumstances in which way, find those interventions with potential influence on short term outcome. Those aspects of management that are different between centers and show correlation with short term outcome will be the focus of future prospective intervention trials in order to find the best way how to take care of preterm infants in the delivery room. Hypothesis: In preterm infants <32;0 weeks of gestational age a correlation exists between specific delivery room interventions and short term outcome.