Clinical trials

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is the use of ultrasound by the bedside provider in real time to answer a specific question and guide medical management. POCUS can be used to diagnose the severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) through a lung ultrasound score. Lung ultrasound scores have also been shown to predict if an infant is treated with an initial dose of surfactant. Therefore, using lung ultrasound scores to guide surfactant therapy for RDS will likely lead to earlier surfactant therapy and may improve short-term respiratory outcomes. This study will test this theory by comparing lung ultrasound score-guided surfactant therapy for premature infants with RDS with our current surfactant administration guidelines.

Pediatric weight management efficacy is impacted by failure to complete treatment protocols and, for those that do complete treatment, a return to unhealthy behaviors. This project tests whether treating pain, a common comorbid condition to pediatric obesity, will enhance treatment. This study will generate results that can be translated into immediate improvements in care for families seeking treatment for pediatric obesity.

The rationale for fetal therapy in severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is to restore adequate lung growth for neonatal survival.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ReSPECT, which includes a pre-visit checklist for patients to complete and an informational website, can work well in practice to help adolescent and young adult oncology patients communicate with their clinicians about sexual and reproductive health (SRH). SRH includes topics such as how cancer may impact puberty and development, best methods for contraception during cancer treatment, fertility risk and fertility preservation strategies, and dating/relationships during and after cancer. The study will also help researchers better understand how to best measure the impact of ReSPECT on improving SRH communication for future testing of ReSPECT. The main questions the study aims to answer are: How well does ReSPECT work in practice? Do patients and clinicians like ReSPECT, and do they find it helpful? What are the best ways to test ReSPECT and measure whether it works? Participants will: Use ReSPECT to support a conversation about SRH during an outpatient oncology clinic appointment Complete surveys before and after using ReSPECT Provide feedback on their experience using ReSPECT in a short interview

The goal of this study is to determine if the Lactate Plus meter is accurate compared to lab lactate levels, and to determine if the Accu chek guide glucometer is accurate compared to lab serum glucose levels in patients with Glycogen Storage Disease Types Ia, Ib and XI. To determine this, patient's will have a one-time planned admission to Connecticut Children's for approximately 8 hours and receive hourly blood draws as well as finger-sticks.

The concept is a novel research idea that incorporates the potential impact of patient quality of life (QOL) on decision-making for treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our hypothesis is that in children with mild OSA there is significant conflict with parental decision-making; in the absence of significant sleep apnea, there is limited research regarding comparative efficacy of various treatment options. The impact of a QOL questionnaire can be a significant deciding factor and may help guide management decisions in such situations.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a condition that causes inflammation (swelling, redness) of the lining and wall of the small intestine, large intestine, or both. CD may be associated with abdominal cramps/pain, diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss, or delayed growth in children. While the exact cause of CD is not certain it is thought that the immune system located in the intestine reacts abnormally to the large number of bacteria contained there. The investigators think that diet, exposure to antibiotics early in life, and having a family history of CD puts people at increased risk for developing CD. In order to decrease the inflammation doctors use what is called biologic therapy with anti-TNF molecules that can be given through an intravenous or shots. TNF is a chemical made by white blood cells that is involved in inflammation. When this type of treatment is given early after diagnosis it is more effective than when it is given later. The investigators have learned that it is important to give the optimum (ideal) amount of this medicine guided by certain blood tests. The investigators also know that not everyone responds to this therapy but do not understand the reasons for this variability between people. The CAMEO study has been started to help understand what factors are important in determining whether a child with CD completely heals the inflammation after anti-TNF therapy. The investigators will do that by measuring certain markers of inflammation in the blood and stool and by looking at a person's genes (DNA) and how inflammation is controlled in the intestine. These inflammation tests will be done before, during, and after one year of anti-TNF therapy. The investigators will determine how much healing has taken place by comparing the results of the colonoscopy and a special type of MRI that are both done before anti-TNF and then again one year later. The goal in treating CD is to heal both the lining and the wall of the intestine. Children ages 6-17 years who are thought to have CD and are about to undergo their diagnostic colonoscopy are eligible to be enrolled. If they are found to indeed have CD and start an anti-TNF medicine within 6 months they can continue in the study. There are no increased risks of participating in this study beyond those normally associated with having CD and its treatment. By better understanding why the bowel does or does not heal, doctors will be better able to provide personalized care.

The goal of this interventional study is to learn about the impact of an intervention for health care providers that teaches individuation and perspective-taking (IPT) skills to enhance patient-centered communication in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD). The main question it aims to answer is: Does an intervention that teaches individuation and perspective-taking (IPT) skills to pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) health care providers (HCPs) enhance patient-centered communication? Researchers will compare the IPT intervention to a control group who will receive education about SCD pain management to see if the IPT intervention improves patient-centered communication. Participants will complete baseline surveys and then be randomly assigned into the intervention or control group. After completing their assigned session (IPT training or education), they will be asked to complete the same surveys as completed at baseline.

The main objectives of this study are to compare the levels of interoceptive awareness and self-reported function pre and post completion of an occupational therapy treatment plan. The target population are adolescents aged 11-21 years that are diagnosed with chronic pain and are seen through the Pain Team at Connecticut Children's. The primary aims are: * To compare the reported levels of interoceptive awareness in adolescents with chronic pain before and after their occupational therapy treatment plan. * To compare the reported levels of function in adolescents with chronic pain before and after their occupational therapy treatment plan.

The goal of this observational study is to determine if home lactate meters (both capillary and serum sample) are accurate, compared to lab serum lactate in a population of patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a and to determine if the Accu Chek Guide glucometer (capillary sample) is accurate, in a population of patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a.

While there are a number studies that have reported on the use of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) in the adult population, there is limited information about the use of BFRT in the adolescent population. This study aims to evaluate the use of BFRT in conjunction with traditional anterior ligament reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation in adolescents. The purpose of this study is to compare the addition of a BFRT based exercise protocol to a standard ACL rehabilitation protocol in adolescents. Does the addition of BFRT-based exercise improve strength, hypertrophy, and patient reported outcomes after ACLR in the adolescent population?

This study explores whether simple nutrition education can help children and teens with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) eat fewer ultra-processed foods (UPFs). UPFs include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food-items that are high in added sugars, fats, and artificial ingredients. Participants will complete online food recalls to measure what they eat and will then receive either nutrition handouts alone or handouts plus a short educational video about UPFs. Researchers will compare changes in UPF intake between the two groups after several weeks and ask families how useful and acceptable they found the materials. The goal is to identify an effective, practical way to support healthier eating habits and long-term gut health in pediatric IBD.

This cross-sectional and longitudinal observational study is to gather data on the utility of tests that are used to make a diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). There is new testing available, called nasal nitric oxide testing, that non-invasively measures nitric oxide levels in the sinus cavity. Individuals with PCD characteristically have low levels, but this testing does not have extensive data from everyday clinical practice. The objective of this proposal is to improve the diagnostic approach to children and adults with clinical concerns for primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

The overarching goal is to develop and demonstrate proof-of-concept of ReSPECT (Reproductive and Sexual Health Patient Education and Communication Tool), a multi-modal communication intervention to improve adolescent and young adult (AYA)- clinician sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication in the outpatient oncology clinic setting.

The main question this randomized control trial aims to answer is: • Is the use of intraoperative subpectoral bupivacaine associated with decreased post-operative pain in adolescent patients who undergo bilateral reduction mammaplasty Participants will be randomized into the study group that intraoperatively receives 30cc of subpectoral bupivacaine injections or into the control group that intraoperatively receives 30cc of injectable saline subpectorally. All participants will keep a pain log and pain medication log at home for the first week following surgery. Researchers will compare to see if patients who receive subpectoral bupivacaine have lower pain scores in the PACU, and lower use of narcotics post-operatively when compared to the control group who receive injectable saline.