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<\/a>In the new study by Xiaomei Cong, associate professor or nursing, and Joerg Graf, professor of molecular and cell biology, fecal samples are collected to study the patient\u2019s microbiome, which may help communicate details that the babies are unable to.<\/p>\n
\u201cBabies can\u2019t use the 0-10 pain scale like adults can. We can only tell their pain by looking at vitals or expression, perhaps by measuring cortisol and other stress responses,” says Cong. “We hope to look at gut microbiome patterns and the bi-directional communication between the gut and the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
This constant communication, which scientists are only just beginning to understand, may help improve\u00a0the care of these tiny patients, which affects a surprising number of families.<\/p>\n
Fully one in nine babies born today arrive prematurely, and the measures necessary to keep them alive are numerous, often painful, and may have long-term effects. The stress can affect neurological development, resulting in lower IQs and neurodevelopmental challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe overall goal of this work is to see if we can pick up microbial signals that will allow us to make predictions about neurobehavioral development,\u201d says Graf.<\/p>\n
Cong\u2019s tone is empathetic as she describes the difficulties NICU babies endure each day: \u201cCumulatively they may encounter over 100 painful procedures in their stay,” she says. “These include heel sticks and other blood draws, IV line placements, and central line placements, all of which are very painful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Searching for clues in the gut microbiome<\/strong><\/p>\n Our microbiome is essentially everything that resides within us that is not \u201cus,\u201d including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Members of our microbiome are so numerous they outnumber our own cells 10 to 1 and are proving to have huge impacts on our health and physiology.<\/p>\n The organisms composing our microbiome are not freeloaders \u2013 they are quite the opposite.\u00a0A healthy microbiome\u2019s important roles include helping to prevent serious infections, keeping our organs functioning normally, processing vitamins, and helping regulate stress and neurological function.<\/p>\n The study involves collaborating with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center<\/a> NICU to recruit babies. Researchers carefully track their daily treatments, charting procedures, medications, feeding type and parental contact over a three-week period. Procedures are ranked based on their pain level in order to track the babies\u2019 accumulated stress. Over these three weeks, fecal samples are collected, frozen, and sent to the UConn Microbial Analysis, Resources, and Services<\/a> or MARS facility.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why we sometimes call this ‘the baby poop-sicle project’,” jokes Cong, whose work in this area earned her the young investigator poster award from the National Institute of Nursing Research<\/a>.<\/p>\n Researcher Susan Janton extracts the microbial DNA from the samples, and the DNA is analyzed and compared to the babies\u2019 daily routine and neurodevelopment to see if there is any correlation between changes in the microbiome and procedures the babies have undergone.<\/p>\n Colorful, dazzlingly complex charts are the result of compiling the data, giving insights into the delicate interplay of microbiome population dynamics and the stresses of patient care.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are so many variables to consider,\u201d notes Graf.<\/p>\n Teasing out the trends is key for determining whether the microbiome can predict neurodevelopmental outcome for NICU patients. Clues about how to promote a normal healthy microbiome may also improve the patients\u2019 outcomes.<\/p>\n A pilot analysis has yielded promising results, says Cong. \u201cIn the NICU, we can supplement with mother\u2019s own milk. This has already shown to promote more diversity and evenness of the microbiome. Those who are formula fed or have been fed pasteurized donor milk have uneven microbiomes, often with an imbalance resulting in more pathogenic bacteria.\u201d<\/p>\n Considering the importance of a balanced microbiome, Graf adds, \u201cthere is a healthy microbial community that an individual can have. There is such great variability between individuals even. These kids have really underdeveloped intestines, which makes them more susceptible to infections.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>