21 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fetal biophysical profile (BPP) scoring in pregnant women from 20 weeks-0 days' to 36 weeks-6 days' gestation. A biophysical profile (BPP) is a score that is intended to assess fetal well-being. This test will be performed within the expected time of the routine ultrasound exam.
GM604 is an endogenous human embryonic stage neural regulatory and signaling peptide that controls the development, monitoring and correction of the human nervous system. Neurological diseases are multisystem, multifactorial, and single target drugs are ineffective. Genervon's Master Regulators play a significant role in embryonic/fetal nervous system development and are potent disease modification drug candidates modulating many pathways including inflammation, apoptotic, and hypoxia. The study drug is an regulatory peptide with a sequence identical to one of the active sites of human Motoneuronotrophic Factor and is manufactured by solid phase synthesis. Pre-clinical research indicates it to be a neuro-protective agent in animal models of ALS, motorneuron diseases, PD, other neuro-degenerative diseases and stroke. GM604 controls and modulates over many known and significant ALS genes with positive effects interactively and dynamically through multiple pathways, and up to twenty-two biological processes, including neuro-protection, neurogenesis, neural development, neuronal signaling, neural transport, and other processes. GM6 is not a cocktail of drugs, but one master regulator peptide drug that functions through multiple pathways. Genervon hypothesized that studying the biomarkers of protein expressions of these ALS genes such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and the protein expression of substances such as tau, neurofilament - heavy (NF-H), Cystatin C which were indications of degeneration of neuron in the CSF collected from ALS patients will provide information of the possible GM604's mechanisms of action in treating ALS. 1. This pilot trial is designed to test proof of principle, i.e. determine if a 2-week IV bolus treatment with this agent can (1) change ALS protein expression (target biomarkers and efficacy biomarkers) after treatment (2) have preliminary effects measures of ALS disease clinical progression. Study Objectives are: 1. To test the safety and tolerability of GM604 in a population of ALS patients. 2. To test for changes in ALS biomarkers before and after treatment. 3. To determine preliminary effects of injections of GM604 on measures of ALS disease biomarkers and clinical progression
This project examines fetal neurobehavior and maternal physiology in poly-drug dependent women. This study also evaluates infant neonatal abstinence syndrome, infant neurobehavior and vagal tone in the post-partum period.
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of group interpersonal psychotherapy for preventing postpartum depression in pregnant women with depression and for improving healthy outcomes in their babies.
This study seeks to elucidate fetal neurobehavioral development in fetuses of opioid dependent women who have either undergone and completed methadone detoxification,or who never received methadone maintenance, and are not methadone maintained at 36 weeks gestation. This research will determine how fetal neurobehavioral functioning in fetuses of opioid dependent, non-methadone maintained women differs from that of fetuses whose opioid dependent mothers are methadone maintained. The project will utilize a state-of-the-art computerized fetal actocardiograph and data analysis program to simultaneously evaluate fetal movement and heart rate, the interaction between the two and maternal physiologic parameters.
This study will establish a database of fetal movements associated with feeding. It will use information obtained from standard fetal ultrasound procedures to identify and measure the growth of the baby's face, lips, tongue, jaw, throat and airway. Fetal movements involved in breathing, sucking and swallowing will be recorded on videotape. This study may provide information that will: increase knowledge about how swallowing develops in the fetus; help explain why some babies have difficulty sucking and swallowing at birth; help predict what babies are at increased risk for feeding problems; and help design better ways to manage feeding difficulties in babies. Pregnant women scheduled for ultrasound examination at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, or Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., are eligible for this study. Mothers will fill out a questionnaire providing general medical and health information. For the ultrasound procedure, a transducer (a small, wand-like device) is moved across the belly to produce images of the fetus. When the baby is awake and swallowing, images of the mouth, throat and air passages will be recorded on videotape. The movements associated with feeding-breathing, sucking, yawning and swallowing-will then be measured to document how swallowing develops. When the baby is born, researchers will review the medical chart for any findings relevant to this study. One to 2 weeks after delivery, the mother will be interviewed by telephone about the baby's feeding skills. Follow-up visits at 4 and 8 weeks after the birth will include observation of the baby's sucking and swallowing and an ultrasound examination, in which the transducer is held under the baby's chin during swallowing. Babies who show signs of slow sucking or swallowing development will have a follow-up examination at ages 4 and 8 months. Follow-up visits at 4 and 8 months after the birth will include observation of the baby's sucking and swallowing and an ultrasound examination, in which the transducer is held under the baby's chin during swallowing.
The purpose of this study is to examine differences in fetal neurobehavior at peak (2 hours after oral dose) vs. trough (2 hours before oral dose) maternal plasma methadone levels.
This study is designed to test the hypothesis that the level of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (specifically, free thyroxine, FT4) circulating in the blood of pregnant women is the key thyroid-related factor to influence early fetal brain development. The investigators will recruit 5000 pregnant women with clinically normal thyroid function (normal thyroid stimulating hormone levels) in the second trimester. After the baby has been born, the investigators will measure FT4 in the second trimester maternal blood sample to identify 100 cases (very low FT4 levels) and 100 matched controls (normal FT4 levels). The children of cases and controls will undergo neurodevelopmental testing at 2 years of age to determine whether IQ differs according to maternal FT4 levels during pregnancy. The potential impact of the study is that if such an effect is found, it might be possible to avoid these adverse developmental consequences in children by designing and testing strategies to identify and treat high risk women.
The goal of Advanced Fetal Imaging - Phase II is to advance fetal MRI imaging by designing MRI coils specifically for pregnant women and testing recently developed MRI image acquisition techniques. The investigators aim to more reliably obtain higher quality fetal MRI images when compared to current clinical fetal MRI.
Whole blood from pregnant women will be collected to develop a noninvasive fetal sex test.
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 is an observational study to develop and evaluate a blood based prenatal blood test. Pregnant women confirmed to be carrying a fetus with a chromosomal abnormality will be eligible. Subjects will be asked to provide a blood sample and a limited amount of clinical data that will be recorded on a case report form. All samples and clinical data will be stripped of subject identifiers prior to submission to Ariosa.
Amniocentesis (amnio) and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can reliably detect many smaller DNA/genetic abnormalities that cannot be reliably diagnosed by cell-free noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) that is in widespread use. The investigators present evidence that a cell-based form of NIPT, here called Single Fetal Cell (SFC) testing, using a blood sample from the mother can detect most or all of the genetic abnormalities that are detected using amnio or CVS. This study proposes to compare the effectiveness of SFC testing in detecting abnormalities already detected by amnio or CVS in women already undergoing these tests as part of their clinical care because of fetal ultrasound abnormalities.
The objective of the study is to validate epigenetic changes as biomarkers in a prospective sampling of newborn blood samples collected at birth (umbilical cord blood) and during routine screening (heel stick blood) in newborns concurrently tested for alcohol exposure levels by PEth blood spot testing.
Sample Collection Study
To gain knowledge about how patients undergoing prenatal diagnosis for a fetal abnormality understand and react to Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) testing, so that the investigators can develop more ethical and responsible approach to patient education, counseling, and return of results for patients.
This study is designed to increase knowledge and awareness to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Russian children through development of printed FAS education materials targeting women of childbearing age in Russia. Alcohol abuse is a major public health problem in Russia. The rates of FAS and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND) in Russia are not precisely known. At this time, there are no programs to prevent FAS in Russia. The results of our previous study, focus groups with health professionals, pregnant women and their partners, non-pregnant women, and women with alcohol dependency, indicated limited knowledge about FAS, misconceptions about alcohol use during pregnancy, and a lack of materials and print resources related to this topic. Based on the initial findings, this proposal aims to develop and evaluate in a clinical trial informational brochures for women to increase knowledge and reduce drinking during pregnancy in Russia. The main hypotheses to be tested are: * 1. Compared to the control group (CG) of women who receive a standard locally available flyer with health recommendations, women in the experimental groups who are exposed to printed information on FAS will show significantly more knowledge about FAS, significantly less acceptance of any alcohol use during pregnancy, and reduced drinking at one month follow-up assessment. * 2. The group exposed to a brochure with negative images (IGN - Intervention group with a "negative brochure") regarding drinking during pregnancy will show significantly greater change in the predicted directions compared to the group exposed to positive images (IGP - Intervention group with a "positive" brochure) at the one month follow-up assessment.
The purpose of this study is to collect maternal blood samples from pregnant women carrying a fetus with a confirmed diagnosis of chromosomal abnormality or genetic disorder including microdeletions in order to further develop a non-invasive prenatal screening test based on fetal DNA isolated from maternal blood.
The purpose of this phase 2 limited study is to examine whether prenatal intervention correct the lung underdevelopment associated with severe diaphragmatic hernia.
Neurodevelopmental disability is now recognized as the most common long-term complication after cardiac surgery in neonates. Research studies have shown that progesterone is critical to the development of the brain and in a variety of clinical situations including brain injury can protect the brain. The purpose of this research study is to determine whether progesterone administered during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy (24-39 weeks) to pregnant women protects the brain of unborn babies with CHD and improves their neurodevelopmental outcomes after heart surgery.
Babies with single ventricle congenital heart disease (SVCHD) are often diagnosed during pregnancy. While prenatal diagnosis has important clinical benefits, it is often stressful and overwhelming for parents, and many express a need for psychological support. HeartGPS is a psychological intervention for parents who receive their baby's diagnosis of SVCHD during pregnancy. It includes 8 sessions with a psychologist, coupled with tailored educational resources, and a personalized care plan. The intervention focuses on fostering parent psychological adjustment and wellbeing, and supporting parents to bond with their baby in ways that feel right for them. Through this study, the investigators will learn if HeartGPS is useful and effective for parents and their babies when it is offered in addition to usual fetal cardiac care. The investigators will examine the effects of the HeartGPS intervention on parental anxiety, depression, and traumatic stress; fetal and infant brain development; parent-infant bonding; and infant neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The investigators will also explore mechanisms associated with stress biology during pregnancy, infant brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes, and parent and infant intervention effects.