There are about 28871 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Canada. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether zinc supplements are effective in enhancing the treatment of oculofacial spasm disorders with botulinum toxin.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a low salicylate diet will improve the quality of life of patients with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD).
The assumption of the unpredictability of seizures may have an enormous impact on the perception of self-efficacy and may contribute more to a patient's poor quality-of-life than the actual seizures. Patients with epilepsy are especially susceptible to the influence of the arbitrary nature of this condition on socialization,education,and the formation of self-identity. Consequentially, the psychosocial and psychological aftermath is likely to be observed even in individuals with well-controlled seizures. The relationship between seizure occurrence and the effects of having epileptic seizures on quality of life can be characterized as reciprocal; e.g. emotional stress is not only a result of having seizures; it is also the most frequently reported seizure precipitant. Whereas behavioral interventions have repeatedly been considered as the third pillar of the treatment of epilepsy, the main focus still remains on passive seizure control per pharmacological and surgical interventions, which may further aggravate victimization. Outcome after epilepsy surgery is closely correlated with pre-surgical characteristics. Consequentially, there is an upsurge of interest in the medical community for research on non-pharmacologic interventions to facilitate the transition from chronically sick to well with preventive therapeutic interventions in the context of habitual seizures. The Andrews/Reiter (AR) approach to epilepsy is a systematic counseling intervention that assists the individual to identify seizure warning signs,seizure precipitants and general life stressors in order to develop strategies of active seizure control and improve self-defined life quality. Literature review indicates that AR represents the most comprehensively developed psychological approach. The proposed trial will address the question if AR decreases seizure frequency and psychopathologic comorbidities and increases seizure self-efficacy and overall quality of life in patients with medically intractable epilepsy.
The objective of this research is to compare the effect of a low dose Vasopressin infusion or placebo during cardiopulmonary bypass on vasopressor requirements, hemodynamics and tissue oxygen saturation and its recovery using tNIRS and vascular occlusion test (VOT) in elective on pump cardiac surgery patients using a non-invasive near infrared spectrometry (NIRS) machine. The clinical implications are that NIRS may permit earlier, non-invasive detection of significant physiologic derangements and allow more accurate and timely titration of medications, fluids and surgical intervention. The use of a low dose vasopressin seems to be preventive for the incidence of observed post-cardiotomy vasodilatory shock and may improve the function of microcirculation that will be assessed using VOT and tNIRS. Finally, it may decrease both catecholamine dose and duration of their administration, it is considered as a useful agent for decreasing all heir side-effects
The overall goal of this proposed randomized study is to determine if surgery at the time of diagnosis or rehabilitation +/- surgery (i.e. surgery only when rehabilitation fails) results in shorter times to claim closure. The study will examine how often non-operative management is successful in resolving symptoms and allowing subjects to return to work without surgery. The investigators will also examine if there are subject, tear or work-related characteristics that affect the outcome of rehabilitation or expedited surgery and predict whether patients should be referred to operative or non-operative management at time of assessment. At study completion, the investigators expect to be able to definitively state the best management for subjects with these less serious RC tears. The specific research questions to be addressed are as follows: 1. In WCB subjects with high grade partial thickness (>50%) or small full thickness (≤ 1 cm.) rotator cuff tears, how does non-operative management (i.e. rehabilitation) or expedited surgery affect time to claim closure? 2. Are there subject, tear or work-related characteristics that affect which patient management approach will be most effective and efficient?
During fluoroscopic imaging, diagnostic information is carried in the primary beam. These high intensity X-rays are the chief hazard to the patient. Lower energy scattered radiation deviates in all directions from the patient. Despite typical precautions (i.e., hanging a lead shield between the patient and the operator), many operators will be exposed to high radiation dose (higher than the permitted 50 miliS per year), this long term radiation exposure may result in stochastic and deterministic effects. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a non disposable radiation protection drape (that will cover the lower part of the patient) could help minimize the radiation scattered from the patient to the operator. In a procedure done through the Radial approach, there is a large portion of the patients (from the umbilicus and down) that is a source of scatter radiation to the operator. This portion can be covered with a lead rectangle. A non disposable, lead drape of uniform thickness will be inserted into a sterile nylon bag and will be used during fluoroscopic and cineangiography coronary angioplasty procedures. The lead drapes will cover the femoral puncture site. The widths and length of the drape is 50-60cm and 100 cm respectively and was shown not to hinder the field of radiation needed for fluoroscopy and cineangiography. (The upper border of the lead is under the patient's umbilicus and was shown not to interfere with the radiation field needed for angiography or angioplasty). The Investigators anticipate that the study will show a significant reduction in radiation exposure and hence reduce the radiation hazard to the operator.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive method to activate or de-activate neurons in superficial regions of the brain through the induction of weak electric currents in the brain tissue delivered by two scalp electrodes. Initial studies have shown tDCS to be effective for treating major depressive disorder (MDD), although there are negative trials in the specialized literature. One reason for these discrepant results might be that the duration of tDCS treatment in clinical trials to date (up to 2 weeks) is still insufficient to produce consistent clinical improvements. Thus, we intend to assess, in a sample of outpatients with MDD, whether a 3-week adjunctive course of active tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with a significant clinical improvement when compared to sham tDCS. The investigators hypothesize that subjects receiving active tDCS will present with significantly higher response and remission rates at weeks 3.
Nickel contact dermatitis (eczema) is one of the most common allergic conditions affecting the skin. This is a study looking at potentially desensitizing nickel-allergic patients to their allergy using anti-inflammatory ointments applied to the skin (arm). Application of these ointments (ie. modified Vitamin D) has been shown to increase specific immune cells (T regulatory cells), which play a role in preventing immune activation and subsequently inflammation. The investigators propose use of topical anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids, modified Vitamin D, or both) may desensitize patients with nickel allergy.
Botulinum toxin type A injected into the anterior and middle scalene muscles will reduce the irritation on the neurovascular structures at the interscalene triangle in subjects with TOS. This will lead to reductions in pain and paresthesias, and improvements in function when compared with injection of placebo.
There is no standard of care of management following parotidectomies. Most practitioners however place a drain (usually a flat Davol closed suction drain/ Hemovac in the investigators institutions) in the wound bed at the end of the procedure, which is usually removed the day following the surgery, or when the drain output reaches a subjective number (depending on surgeon preference). The investigators hypothesis is that there is no difference in hematoma/bleeding or infection rate when post parotidectomy drains are removed in the recovery area on the day of the surgery prior to discharge, compared to drains that are kept in place for at least 1 day or until drainage is less than 50 cc/24 hrs. The investigators would therefore like to undergo a randomized control clinical trial to assess the rate of significant hematoma formation and infection, the need for readmission and length of admission secondary to these complications when comparing 2 groups: one where drains are removed prior to discharge from the recovery area and the other where the patients are discharged with the drain and seen the next post operative day in the office. The drain output will then be measured and the drain taken out.