Clinical Research Directory

Reactions to Oro-facial Solicitations : a Predictor of Eating Difficulties for Premature Babies of 36 Weeks Gestation Adjusted Age

The goal of this observational study is to assess the link between reactions to orofacial stimuli observed at 29 weeks of amenorrhoea, and feeding difficulties at 36 weeks of amenorrhoea, in babies born prematurely between 26 and 27 + 6 weeks of gestation, admitted to the CHSF between 1 May 2025 and 31 March 2026. The main questions it aims to answer are : Can reactions to orofacial stimulation in babies born very prematurely be used as a tool for early detection of feeding difficulties before discharge from hospital? Is it possible to establish a predictive score for potential feeding difficulties as early as 29 weeks of gestation corrected, based on reactions to orofacial stimuli ? Participants will have their reactions to orofacial stimulations recorded in the 'Suivi oralité' grid completed by the nurses in the neonatal medicine and intensive care unit, which will then collect.

Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention vs. Pacifier for Oral Feeding Transition in Preterm Infants

This study compares three approaches to help premature babies learn to feed by mouth: a special mouth exercise program (called PIOMI), using a pacifier, and standard care. Premature babies often have difficulty feeding because their sucking, swallowing, and breathing are not yet coordinated, which can lead to longer hospital stays. The study will include 150 premature infants born between 26 and 32 weeks of pregnancy at a hospital in Thi Qar. Babies will be randomly placed into one of three groups: one group will receive a many-day mouth exercise program, another will use a pacifier for many days, and the third will receive routine care. We will measure how quickly each baby learns to feed fully by mouth, how long they stay in the hospital, how much weight they gain, and their feeding skills. The results may help improve care for premature babies and reduce the time they spend in the hospital.

Effect of Teach-Back Education on Breastfeeding and Bonding in Mothers of Preterm Infants

The aim of this randomized controlled experimental study is to contribute to the standardization of nursing interventions for premature mothers and to establish a scientific basis for breastfeeding education models in our country. It also aims to evaluate the effects of the following: digital privacy literacy, children's autonomy, decision-making ability, and privacy awareness. The hypotheses of the study are as follows: H₁: Mothers who received Teach-Back training have a higher level of breastfeeding self-efficacy. H₂: Mothers who received Teach-Back training have a higher level of mother-infant bonding. H₀: There is no significant difference between the groups.

Evaluation of Placental Transfusion Techniques in Prevention of Prematurity Related Complications and Effect on Their Hematological Profile

The objective of this study is to evaluate the general course and prognosis associated with different methods of placental transfusion (Intact umbilical cord milking, cut- umbilical cord milking and delayed cord clamping) in premature neonates over the first days of life

Effect OF Lactase Enzyme Supplements ON Intolerance IN Preterm Neonates

This study aims to study the effect of lactase enzyme in preventing feeding intolerance in preterm neonates in neonatal intensive care unit at Alexandria University Children's Hospital.

Pain and Comfort in the Examination of Retinopathy of Prematurity

This study is planned to be conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using a double-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled design to determine the effect of a pacifier dipped in breast milk on pain and comfort during Retinopathy of Prematurity examinations. The study will be conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital in Erzurum. The sample for the study will consist of preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation who are receiving treatment and care at the clinic during the study period and who meet the study criteria, without using any sampling method. The power analysis for sample size indicated that at least 36 infants should be included in the study, with 18 infants in each of the experimental and control groups. The control group will undergo ROP examination in accordance with standard clinical procedures. All examinations will be performed by the same ophthalmologist. Infants in the experimental group will be fed with a pacifier dipped in breast milk, starting two minutes prior to the examination, by the same clinical nurse responsible for the infant's care, and feeding will continue until the examination is completed. Video recordings will be taken of all infants from two minutes prior to the start of the examination until two minutes after the examination. In both groups, data will be monitored and recorded using the Preterm Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R), the Preterm Infant Comfort Scale (COMFORT neo), and vital signs before the ROP examination begins, during the examination, and after the examination.

Predictive Value of Lung Ultrasound for Respiratory Decompensation in Late Preterm Neonates

Respiratory morbidity presents a significant clinical challenge in the neonatal period, and an individual patient's clinical course is often difficult to predict. This is especially true for late-preterm infants, who share some of the same risks of premature babies in terms or respiratory morbidity, but whose births may not always be attended by a neonatologist, or who may be born at hospitals with lower level Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and require transfer if they decompensate. With this study, the aim is to 1) determine the efficacy of early point of care lung ultrasound (LUS) to predict respiratory decompensation in the first 48 hours of life in late preterm infants and 2) to compare the performance of three lung ultrasound scoring systems, 3 type-of-lung, high risk pattern and total LUS scoring systems.

Baby ABS (Abdominal Binder Study)

The primary outcome of this study is to determine if the use of the FDA-approved DandleLion NeoBellyBand increases the thickness of the rectus abdominis muscle in premature babies receiving continuous positive pressure ventilation, leading to infants reaching full oral feedings at an earlier corrected gestational age.

Metabolic Mechanisms Induced by Enteral DHA and ARA Supplementation in Preterm Infants

A comprehensive analysis of the impact of exogenous enteral DHA and ARA supplementation on lipid metabolism including the production of downstream derived mediators and how this impacts important biological pathways such as metabolism, inflammation, and organogenic factors.

Triglycerides Glucose Index on Angiographic Profiling of Non-Diabetic Premature Coronary Artery Disease Patients

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index on the angiographic profiling of non-diabetic patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD).

Effect of Parental Enteral Nutrition on Quality Of Parent-Child Interactions

Studies underline both the importance of the link and contact that occurs in the earliest days of life and the need to involve parents early with their premature child. However, the impact of parental nutrition on the later active nutrition and on the quality of parent-child interactions is currently unknown. PREMIAM study investigates whether active parental participation in enteral nutrition improves the interactions between the infant and his parents, making them more sensitive to their baby's signals and promoting their relational adjustment.

Growing Little PEAPODS Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn more about how the food and nutrition babies receive while in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) influences their ability to gain weight and fat-free mass, and their future growth and development. Participants will: * have body growth measurements collected using the PEAPOD device * have nutritional information collected, and * be followed for neurodevelopmental outcomes Participants can expect to be in the study for 36 months.

Post-extubation Use RAM Cannula Versus Short Binasal Prong Interfaces in Preterm Infants

Nowadays, the use of non-invasive ventilation for preterm infants in the NICU has increased to avoid complications associated with prolonged endotracheal intubation. Adequate pressure delivery through non-invasive ventilation is essential, as it enhances the growth and development of premature lungs. Various interfaces have been used to ensure proper sealing. The RAM cannula, used as an interface for non-invasive respiratory support in preterm neonates, is associated with reduced nasal trauma compared to short binasal prongs (SBPs), due to its softer material, making it a safer option. However, the RAM cannula has been shown to deliver lower pharyngeal pressure and, therefore, may not maintain airway pressure as consistently as nasal prongs. Currently, limited data is available regarding the efficacy of nasal prongs compared to the RAM cannula as a post-extubation interface for non-invasive ventilation support in preterm infants. Additionally, we have observed that the use of the RAM cannula for non-invasive ventilation in preterm infants is associated with a longer duration of oxygen therapy compared to SBPs. The investigators hypothesize that the RAM cannula provides a lower level of positive end-expiratory pressure compared to SBPs during non-invasive ventilation. The investigators aim to assess the efficacy and safety of the RAM cannula versus SBPs as nasal interfaces for post-extubation non-invasive respiratory support in preterm infants.

Early DHA/ARA Supplementation in Growth-restricted Very Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Growth-restricted very preterm infants (VPT) are born without adequate fat mass (FM) deposits and low docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations. They often experience further declines in DHA concentrations during the initial three weeks post-birth while advancing enteral feeds and receiving lipid supplementation predominantly through parenteral nutrition. These suboptimal enteral and parenteral nutrition practices significantly heighten the risk of faltering postnatal growth. One promising approach to mitigate these issues is enteral DHA supplementation. However, it remains unclear whether the early administration of DHA through enteral supplementation could lead to a more substantial increase in head growth without affecting FM accretion in growth-restricted VPT infants. To address this question, we propose a masked randomized clinical trial involving 152 VPT infants.

Magnetoencephalography by Optical Pumping Magnetometer

MagnetoEncephaloGraphy (MEG) is a method of recording brain activity with high temporal resolution and good spatial resolution, compared to current recording techniques such as ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG). The main limitation of MEG is its cost due to the sensors used, the Super Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID). These require a complex infrastructure from an instrumentation point of view to operate, requiring liquid helium, most often at a loss, at increasing cost. Optical Pumping Magnetometers (OPM) type sensors represent a promising alternative to SQUIDs sensors, especially since they do not require helium cooling. The purpose of this project is to Identify biomarkers in Magnetoencephalography of normal brain development in healthy adults, premature and term newborns from "a priori" obtained by the classical technique of High Resolution EEG performed.

The Effect of the Message Left by Mothers Whose Babies Are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Newborn babies may need to stay in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) immediately after birth for many reasons such as premature birth, low birth weight, respiratory distress, infection, jaundice. Depending on the cause and level of the newborn's illness, the length of stay may be extended, lasting weeks or even months. This situation negatively affects mother-infant bonding, causing mothers to be unable to establish healthy communication with their babies. For mothers in particular, leaving their babies in the NICU makes them feel inadequate and hopeless. Attachment is the emotional bond that a baby establishes with its mother or the person who cares for it. This bond established between the mother and the baby affects the emotional, social, cognitive and moral development of the individual throughout their life. It is known that secure attachment contributes to the physical and mental development of babies, while insecure attachment is associated with various mental illnesses. For these reasons, it is important to initiate secure attachment between the mother and the baby during the neonatal period. The aim of this planned study is to examine the effect of the messages left by mothers whose babies are in the NICU on mother-infant bonding and the mothers' level of hope. Mothers leaving messages for their babies provides a context in which they can express themselves to their babies and may positively affect mother-infant bonding and the mother's level of hope in the NICU.

Impact of Standardized Skin-to-Skin Care on Clinical Outcomes in Infants Born ≤ 32 Weeks: A Multicenter Study

This study is a multi-center, prospective pre-post clinical study conducted under the leadership of the Turkish Neonatal Society. It aims to investigate the effects of a standardized skin-to-skin care in NICU, initiated early and applied regularly, on recieving exclusive mothers' milk at discharge and clinical outcomes for preterm infants born ≤ 32 weeks of gestation. 1. Primary Objective: To evaluate the rate of receiving exclusive mothers' milk at discharge for infants born ≤ 32 weeks of gestation who have received skin-to-skin care in accordance with the study protocol. 2. Secondary Objective: To evaluate the rates of neonatal sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis (stage 2 and above) as well as the length of hospital stay for infants born at or below 32 weeks of gestation who have received skin-to-skin care in accordance with the study protocol.

Protecting Preterm Infants From Respiratory Tract Infections and Wheeze by Using Bacterial Lysates.

The primary objective of this study is to reduce respiratory tract infections and wheezing in moderate-late preterms in the first years of life by bacterial lysate administration. Next to determine the correlation of biological markers with respiratory symptoms, immune protection and treatment effect.

dTDI During a SBT to Predict Extubation Failure in Preterm Infants

Weaning from mechanical ventilation is a critical issue and the diaphragmatic disfunction has been demonstrated to play an important role in extubation failure. the aim of present investigation is to evaluate diaphragmatic excursion velocity during in patients undergoing spontaneous breathing trial through tissue Doppler analysis in both inspiration and expiration.

Enteral Feeding of Premature Babies and Olive Oil Supplementation

It is a two-arm prospective interventional study. 40 babies in both groups will be enrolment in the study. In the intervention group, babies will take 1 ml/kg/day of the study product (ULTRA PREMIUM) after full enteral feeding. Supplementation will continue until discharge or the 36th week. Blood samples will be taken for serum Total antioxidant capacity and Malondialdehyde levels before the intervention and on the 14th day of the control group. At the end of the study, serum will be taken again for control values. Daily lipid intake amounts will be recorded through breast milk analysis. Lipid profile will be monitored weekly The growth parameters of babies will be monitored daily It will be evaluated at the end of the study in terms of ROP, BPD, and NEC. At the end of the study, the data of babies in both groups will be compared.

Warmed Blood Transfusion in Premature Infants

Premature babies have to deal with many problems from the moment they are born due to the immature of their organs. Their clinical condition is unstable, especially in the first few weeks, and they are greatly affected by environmental factors. During this period, blood transfusion may be needed for many reasons such as intraventricular hemorrhage and necrotizing enterocolitis. In addition, multiple blood draws to evaluate irregular metabolic, hematological and biochemical findings result in anemia and the need for blood transfusion. There are many algorithms regarding blood transfusion indications and transfusion limits in premature babies. However, there are no strict rules regarding the application of warming before blood transfusion, but it is recommended by some guidelines. Especially in unstable babies such as advanced premature babies, it is recommended to give blood by heating it at physiological temperature to avoid important complications such as hypothermia, coagulopathy and rhythm disturbances. Premature babies, whose hemodynamic and metabolic balance is very sensitive, may go into hypothermia when blood and products stored at +4C⁰ are given without heating. In routine practice, blood transfusion is performed without heating. The concern here is that hemolysis may develop by heating the blood. Studies have shown that hemolysis occurs when blood is heated above 46C⁰. In this study, physiological heating is planned. In vitro neonatal experimental modeling has shown that there is no hemolysis with physiological heating. The aim of the researchers is; While protecting fragile, extremely premature babies from the complications of cold transfusion, the aim is to compare the transfusion groups with and without physiological heating in terms of hemolysis, metabolic balance and cerebral tissue oxygenation.

Effects of the Application of PIOMI in the Oral Feeding of Premature

The goal of this clinical trial is assess whether the application of the premature oral motor intervention (PIOMI) combined with the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), allows withdrawal of the external feeding device with guarantees of the patient's nutritional status, determining breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge and swallowing safety earlier than if only the care activity corresponding to the NIDCAP model is carried out, as well as the applicability of this standardised protocol in the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital.

Gut Bacteria and Brain of the Baby

The project is a prospective French population based cohort. A hundred moderate preterms born at GA30-326/7 will be enrolled for a longitudinal follow-up up to 2 years of corrected age. Eligible neonates will be those born at 30-326/7 weeks of gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Rennes Hospital, including transferred infants during the first day of life. The infants will be followed up to the corrected age of 2 years by pediatricians.