10 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The goal of this study is the evaluation of an atomic magnetometer that is practical for human biomagnetism studies. The investigators have built a device that has the necessary sensitivity, and will be testing it on a small number of adults and approximately 30 healthy pregnant subjects, in preparation for beginning pre-clinical studies of high-risk pregnancies.
In one of the most severe congenital heart defects, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), the left ventricle is underdeveloped and the prognosis is worse than in most other heart defects. The underdevelopment can occur gradually during fetal growth caused by a narrowing of the aortic valve. At some international centers, such fetuses are treated with a balloon dilation of the narrowed valve, but there is no scientifically sound evidence that this treatment is effective. The aim of this study is: 1/ to evaluate whether balloon dilation during the fetal period of a narrowed aortic valve can reduce the risk of the left ventricle becoming underdeveloped and the baby being born with a so-called univentricular heart (HLHS); 2/ to investigate whether such treatment improves the prognosis for this group of children with a very complex and severe heart defect and 3/ to also describe side effects and risks in fetuses and mothers of the fetal procedure.
Each year world-wide, 2.5 million fetuses die unexpectedly in the last half of pregnancy, 25,000 in the United States, making fetal demise ten-times more common than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This study will apply a novel type of non-invasive monitoring, called fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) used thus far to successfully evaluate fetal arrhythmias, in order to discover potential hidden electrophysiologic abnormalities that could lead to fetal demise in five high-risk pregnancy conditions associated with fetal demise.
Newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of developing postpartum and postoperative blood clots after cardiac surgery. The molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the clotting profile predisposing children to blood clots in the early stages of life are currently not well described. The goal of this proposal is to prospectively collect plasma samples from ten (10) neonates with antenatal diagnosis of severe congenital heart disease (CHD) to better understand mechanisms responsible for abnormal clotting in the perioperative period.
Determine 1) the impact of abnormal fetal cerebrovascular physiology with neurodevelopmental delay (ND) outcomes and 2) how this relationship is modified by patient and environmental factors such as chronic congenital heart disease (CCHD) lesion, maternal-fetal environment, and social determinants of heath (SDOH) in a diverse population using a multicenter design. Pregnant women will be approached during one of their fetal cardiology clinic visits.
Clinical performance of the device will be evaluated in a fully-crossed, multiple-reader multiple-case (MRMC) study. This study will be used to determine the impact of the device on reader performance in identifying suspicious radiographic findings in fetal heart ultrasound video clips recorded during 2nd trimester anatomic ultrasound examinations conducted during the second trimester of the pregnancy.
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.
The purpose of this study is to test and evaluate the Preparing Heart and Mind™ (PHM™) patient engagement pathway as a nurse-guided intervention to lower psychological distress and enhance caregiving competencies among mothers/birthing persons and their caregiving partners after a major fetal anomaly diagnosis.
Cardiac disease in children may start early in life and evidence of cardiac disease can be seen during prenatal life. A variety of diseases diagnosed during fetal life can put children at risk for cardiac disease. The accurate assessment of cardiac function is important in these patients. A type of imaging scan called "fetal echocardiogram" is used to measure the contractility or squeeze of the heart. The fetal echocardiogram is a painless test and completely non-invasive. This study aims to recruit women and fetuses to determine if this imaging scan can be used throughout the pregnancy to measure heart squeeze and develop normal values to help doctors better diagnose fetuses who may have cardiac disease before they are born.
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.