Prematurity Complications

Researchers are evaluating a new hospital incubator pad that provides stochastic vibrotactile stimulation (SVS) as a complementary treatment for apnea of prematurity (AOP), a common condition in preterm infants where breathing stops for 20 seconds or more. This study aims to establish the safety, effectiveness, and clinical risks and benefits of this device, which could improve management of AOP beyond the current standard therapy of caffeine citrate. The study focuses on newborns born before 33 weeks gestational age and younger than 38 weeks postmenstrual age at enrollment. The study compares two groups: one receiving standard therapy with caffeine citrate plus continuous SVS stimulation via the Prapela SVS incubator pad, and a control group receiving standard therapy with an inert pad that looks identical but does not vibrate. Treatment with the SVS pad continues until the infant is apnea-free for three days and less than two weeks from anticipated discharge, or until the clinician decides to stop. If apnea returns after stopping, treatment may be restarted. Follow-up surveys will be conducted by telephone at 1 and 2 years of age to assess neurological development. Participants will be monitored closely with clinical evaluations and questionnaires completed by clinicians to assess risks and benefits. The primary outcome is the change in apnea rate during 7 to 28 days of intervention, with secondary outcomes assessed at earlier time points. The study is randomized and single-masked, with safety and efficacy data gathered to support possible FDA clearance and future use of the SVS incubator pad as an adjunctive therapy to improve outcomes in preterm infants with AOP.

Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, occurs in about 8 percent of pregnancies in Canada and is linked to many health challenges, especially when it happens before 29 weeks. At this early stage, infants often face breathing difficulties and may require resuscitation. This trial compares resuscitation using either low (30%) or high (60%) oxygen levels to determine which approach results in better survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes at around 24 months of age. The study uses a cluster randomized crossover design where hospitals alternate between starting resuscitation with 30% or 60% oxygen for groups of 30 infants. Resuscitation includes standard care steps like lung expansion and ventilation support as needed. Oxygen is initially given at the assigned concentration for the first 5 minutes, then adjusted based on the infant's oxygen saturation levels and heart rate over the next 5 minutes to maintain target saturation ranges. This approach aims to balance risks of too much or too little oxygen. Participants are infants born between 23 and 28 weeks gestation who receive full resuscitation at participating centers. During the study, infants have oxygen saturation monitored continuously, and adjustments to oxygen concentration are made carefully. Researchers will evaluate survival and major neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months corrected age, along with several safety and health measures during the neonatal intensive care stay. The trial is expected to provide important evidence to guide oxygen use during resuscitation of extremely preterm infants.

Researchers are evaluating an investigational drug called OHB-607 to prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), a common chronic lung disease in extremely premature infants. The study compares infants receiving OHB-607 to those receiving standard neonatal care to see if the drug can reduce the incidence of severe BPD or death by 36 weeks postmenstrual age. This is a Phase 2b, randomized, open-label study involving infants born between 23 weeks 0 days and 27 weeks 6 days gestational age. Participants in the trial will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive a continuous intravenous infusion of OHB-607 from birth until 29 weeks and 6 days postmenstrual age. The other group will receive standard neonatal care without the investigational drug. This approach allows researchers to compare the effects of OHB-607 against routine care practices for preventing lung disease in these infants. During the study, infants will be closely monitored through 36 weeks postmenstrual age and up to 24 months corrected age. Researchers will assess lung health, including the incidence and severity of BPD, time to weaning off respiratory support, and other complications such as intraventricular hemorrhage and retinopathy of prematurity. Developmental outcomes will also be measured using standardized scales at 24 months corrected age. Safety assessments and long-term follow-up are included to understand the drug's effects over time.

Researchers are conducting a nationwide, multicenter observational study in China to investigate the severity and challenges faced by Small Vulnerable Newborns (SVN), including preterm, small for gestational age, and low birth weight infants. The study aims to provide a clear and unified description of these newborns' issues and to develop targeted prevention strategies to improve care and outcomes. This comprehensive research gathers data across multiple centers to better understand the scope of these conditions. In this study, participating hospitals across China will collect clinical data on vulnerable newborns under their care throughout 2024. Detailed questionnaires will be completed to support thorough data collection. The study does not involve any treatment interventions; instead, it focuses on observation and data gathering to assess the incidence, complications, and mortality rates of these newborns. Participants in the study will have their clinical information recorded from hospital admission until discharge or death, with follow-up up to one year. Researchers will measure the number of small vulnerable newborns, their mortality rates, and the incidence of related complications. This observational approach aims to provide valuable insights to guide prevention efforts and improve care for these at-risk infants.

Researchers are exploring how giving pregnant individuals a choice among different nutrition and exercise programs affects their ability to stick to the program and maintain healthy pregnancy outcomes. The study focuses on preventing excessive gestational weight gain by comparing adherence to three lifestyle intervention strategies within the Nutrition and Exercise Lifestyle Intervention Program (NELIP). This research uses a pseudo-randomized design to examine if choice improves participation compared to no choice in pregnant individuals between 12 and 18 weeks of pregnancy with a single fetus. Participants are divided into two groups: one group chooses from three intervention strategies and the other group is matched to a choice participant and receives the same strategy without choice. The three strategies vary in timing of introducing nutrition and exercise components; either both simultaneously starting at 12-18 weeks, or nutrition first followed by exercise at 25 weeks, or exercise first followed by nutrition at 25 weeks. The exercise involves a supervised walking program with gradually increasing duration, and nutrition is based on a modified gestational diabetic meal plan tailored per participant. The full program continues until delivery, with final intervention measures between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. Participants will be monitored weekly for adherence using a point system, with additional assessments of satisfaction and health outcomes like weight gain, birth measurements, and pregnancy complications. Follow-up visits occur at birth and at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum to track maternal and infant health. The study collects detailed data on nutrition, exercise, and pregnancy progress to understand how choice impacts adherence and outcomes over this extended timeline.

Many premature newborns have trouble breathing after birth and receive support with a breathing machine called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). When their breathing worsens despite NCPAP, they may be treated with surfactant medication inserted into the windpipe using either a ventilation tube or a thin catheter. This research is studying the use of video laryngoscopes, which have a camera and display the airway on a screen, compared to standard direct laryngoscopes that require doctors to look directly into the baby's mouth to insert the tube or catheter. The study aims to see if video laryngoscopy improves the success rate of inserting the thin catheter on the first attempt without causing drops in oxygen or heart rate. The study observes infants who need a thin endotracheal catheter inserted for surfactant administration. It compares two approaches: using a video laryngoscope versus a direct laryngoscope during the insertion. This is done across multiple hospitals, each switching from direct to video laryngoscopy over time. The study does not assign which method is used but records which laryngoscope was used for each insertion attempt to compare outcomes. The main focus is on successful first attempts without physiologic instability, as well as secondary measures like number of attempts, duration, oxygen levels, heart rate, and any complications. Participants are newborn infants up to 28 days old who require thin catheter insertion for surfactant treatment and whose parents have consented to share data. Researchers will collect detailed information during and after the insertion attempt, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, duration of the procedure, and any adverse events such as oral trauma or need for chest compressions. Data will be analyzed to evaluate the success and safety of using video versus direct laryngoscopy. The total participation time depends on when the catheter insertion is performed and the follow-up assessments within 72 hours after the procedure.

Researchers are studying the use of two new surgical devices, the Karl Storz Curved and Straight Fetoscopes, to assist in minimally invasive in-utero surgeries. These devices help surgeons see inside the uterus during procedures to treat fetal conditions like twin-twin transfusion syndrome and other complex anomalies. The study aims to assess surgical outcomes, complications, and gestational age in patients treated with these scopes, helping to understand their potential benefits in fetal surgery. The curved fetoscope is designed for patients with an anterior placenta, while the straight fetoscope is used for those with a posterior placenta. Both scopes assist in fetoscopic laser photocoagulation, a procedure that seals abnormal blood vessels in the placenta using laser energy. This research is a non-randomized, single arm study where eligible patients undergo intrauterine procedures with either the curved or straight scopes based on placenta position. The study will collect data on the success of the procedures and related complications for descriptive analysis. Participants will be monitored through the procedure and follow-up until birth and shortly after. The study will evaluate outcomes such as the rate of completed fetoscopic procedures, fetal survival at birth, and various maternal and fetal complications. Researchers will also track gestational age at delivery, procedure length, and short-term neonatal health. The total study duration extends over several years to capture both immediate and longer-term results of using these devices in fetal surgery.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a liposomal mitoxantrone combination regimen in treating relapsed and refractory solid tumors in children, adolescents, and young adults aged 6 to 24 years. This prospective, single-arm, multicenter clinical study aims to improve the objective response rate compared to historical data and to assess related side effects. The study focuses on specific tumor types including bone and soft tissue tumors and neuroblastoma among others. Participants will receive a treatment regimen combining mitoxantrone liposome, capecitabine, and anlotinib over 4 to 6 cycles, each lasting 21 days. Capecitabine is given twice daily on days 1 to 14, while anlotinib dosage is adjusted based on body weight and administered for 14 days per cycle. Those showing partial response or better may receive additional local treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. During the study, participants will have regular checkups and tests to monitor tumor status, blood parameters, and other relevant health indicators. The main measurement is the objective response rate after up to 6 treatment cycles. Other outcomes include disease control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety monitoring for up to one year after treatment. The total observation period includes follow-up assessments to evaluate lasting effects and adverse events.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether participation in the Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) parenting intervention results in increased caregiver responsiveness behaviors and to test if participation in PALS results in increases in toddler skills and/or toddler neurological development.

Researchers are evaluating postpartum diabetes screening methods and cardiovascular health counseling for individuals who experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy. The study compares immediate inpatient postpartum oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) before hospital discharge to the current standard outpatient OGTT performed 4-12 weeks after delivery. Additionally, the study explores patient perspectives on postpartum cardiovascular health counseling and risk reduction, including social and structural factors that affect health outcomes. This research is conducted to address the increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this population and to improve postpartum care. The trial includes two study groups: one receiving an immediate inpatient 2-hour OGTT before discharge, and the other receiving the standard 4-12 week outpatient OGTT. Eligible participants are individuals aged 18 or older, diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, and receiving prenatal and postpartum care at the study site. A follow-up phase involves surveys and qualitative assessments between 12 and 24 months postpartum to evaluate barriers and facilitators of cardiovascular health counseling and wellness interventions. Participants will undergo diabetes screening either immediately postpartum or during the standard postpartum visit, with data collected on screening rates up to 12 weeks after delivery. Patient-reported outcomes on cardiovascular health counseling will be gathered within 12 months postpartum, while patient perspectives on postpartum interventions will be assessed between 12 and 24 months postpartum. The study measures include diabetes screening rates, cardiovascular counseling experiences, lifestyle changes, primary care visits, and diabetes treatment satisfaction. This research helps identify ways to improve postpartum screening and cardiovascular health management for individuals with gestational diabetes.