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Impact of Gut Microbiome on Metabolic and Bowel Function During the First Year After Spinal Cord Injury

Recruiting
Conditions
Spinal Cord Injuries
Gut Microbiome
Interventions
Other: Gut Microbiome
Registration Number
NCT05670288
Lead Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Brief Summary

The Investigators will recruit 35 participants with acute SCI (within 6 weeks of injury) Fasting blood collection and bowel function survey will be conducted 3 times: at baseline \[within 6 weeks of injury\], 6, and 12 months after SCI. Stool will be collected for gut microbiome analysis 3 times.

Detailed Description

Stool and fasting blood collection will occur at the rehabilitation hospital (during in-patient stay) and at participants' homes. During the hospital stay, stool will be collected at the bedside by the research team and placed in a Para-pak® vial for sample preservation. Blood will also be collected by the research team.

For sample collection at home, a research nurse will travel to participants home to perform blood draws and bing back to the research lab for processing/analysis/storage.

The nurse may also collect the stool sample at the same time as the blood draw if available. If not, participants and their caregivers will be provided with a pre-paid/labeled FedEx package containing a stool collection kit (Para-pak® vial). Prior to bowel movement, participants and caregivers will be asked to clean the anal area using the sanitizing wipes; approximately 5-10 mL of stool will be transferred to the Para-pak® vial using the attached spatula in the Para-pak® vial. For participants who conduct their bowel management program in their beds, an additional sterile absorbent pad will be provided to use as a barrier between the bed and the participant to limit contamination. FedEx package containing the stool sample will be shipped to the investigators' lab

For each participant, the Investigators will record 1) diet (via 24-hour dietary recalls), 2) physical activity habits (via the rehabilitation therapies survey included in the SCI common data elements \[CDEs\], 3)Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire; 4)depression and anxiety (via Patient Health Questionnaire-9 \[PHQ9\] and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD7),respectively); 5)prescribed medications, including antibiotics (via RedCap platform); 6)use of supplements and bowel routine components, including probiotics and laxatives (via self-report); and 7)any other comorbidities beyond GI dysfunction

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
35
Inclusion Criteria
  1. 18-85 years of age
  2. diagnosis of traumatic SCI at the cervical to lumbar level (C3-L2)
  3. classification of A, B, C (motor complete, incomplete).
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Women who are pregnant prior to consent
  2. neurological impairment other than SCI
  3. self-reported history of Crohn's disease or diverticulitis
  4. irritable bowel syndrome
  5. gastric blockage/obstruction or swallowing disorder
  6. prior GI surgery
  7. intrathecal pump
  8. concurrent usage of functional electrical stimulation for bowel management (e.g., constipation).
  9. able to ambulate

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Spinal Cord InjuryGut MicrobiomePatients who have had an acute spinal cord injury in the past 72 hours
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Neurological impairment - Injury level by ISNCSCIMonth 12

Injury level determined by International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam

Neurological impairment - Injury level by AISMonth 12

Injury level determined by American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). classification.

Neurological impairment - completeness of injury by AISMonth 12

Completeness of injury determined by American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). classification.

Neurological impairment - completeness of injury by ISNCSCIMonth 12

Completeness of injury determined by International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam

Microbiome composition - Bacterial 16S rRNA sequincingMonth 12

Bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing will be performed

Microbiome composition - MetagenomicsMonth 12

A subset of 16S rRNA gene surveys that show differences in taxa and alpha and beta diversity are selected for follow-up via shotgun metagenomics.

Gut derived metabolitesMonth 12

Blood will be collected and serum extract metabolites will be isolated

Analysis of metabolic markers to determine metabolic functionMonth 12

Blood will be collected and serum assays for metabolic markers performed

Analysis of inflammatory markers to determine Inflammatory stateMonth 12

Blood will be collected and serum assays for inflammatory markers performed

Bowel function - International Bowel Function Basic and Extended Data Set AssessmentMonth 12

International Bowel Function Basic and Extended Data Set assessment will be utilized to assess bowel-related symptoms.

Bowel function - Bristol Stool ScaleMonth 12

Bristol Stool Scale assessment will be utilized to assess bowel-related symptoms.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Medication List - Self-reportMonth 12

Self-report of prescribed medications being taken

Supplement usage - Medical Record ReviewMonth 12

Medical record review of supplements being taken

AnxietyMonth 12

Complete GAD7 questionnaire to determine anxiety level

Physical activity - CDEsMonth 12

Complete rehabilitation therapies survey (CDEs) to determine physical activity level

DietMonth 12

Participant records 24-hour dietary recalls

Supplement usage - self-reportMonth 12

Self-report of supplements being taken

Physical activity - PARA-SCIMonth 12

Complete PARA-SCI questionnaire to determine physical activity level

Medication List - Medical Record ReviewMonth 12

Medical record review of prescribed medications being taken

DepressionMonth 12

Complete PHQ9 questionnaires to determine depression level

ComorbiditiesMonth 12

Evaluate Medical history (CDEs) for any other comorbidities beyond GI dysfunction

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The University of Alabama at Birmingahm

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

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