View clinical trials related to Nervous System Diseases.
Filter by:This is a study involving the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents called Gadavist. The purpose of this study is to look at the safety (what are the side effects) and efficacy (how well does it work) of Gadavist when used for taking images of the brain and spine. The results of the MRI will be compared to the results of images taken without Gadavist.
This study will investigate differences among people with focal dystonia (FD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and people who have both conditions to learn more about the cause of both disorders. Participants undergo the following procedures in five visits: - Electroencephalography (EEG). Electrodes (metal discs) are placed on the scalp with an electrode cap, a paste or a glue-like substance. The spaces between the electrodes and the scalp are filled with a gel that conducts electrical activity. Brain waves are recorded while the subject lies quietly and sensory stimulation is applied to the thumb or finger. - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body tissues and organs. The patient lies on a table that can slide in and out of the scanner, wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. The procedure lasts about 45 minutes, during which time the patient will be asked to lie still for up to 15 minutes at a time. - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). An insulated wire coil is placed on the scalp and a brief electrical current is passed through the coil. The current induces a magnetic field that stimulates the brain. There may be a pulling sensation on the skin under the coil and a twitch in muscles of the face, arm or leg. During the stimulation, subjects may be asked to keep their hands relaxed or to contract certain muscles. - Peripheral electrical stimulation. In two experiments, TMS is combined with peripheral electrical stimulation, similar to what is used in nerve conduction studies, to the median nerve at the wrist. There may be muscle twitching. - Surface electromyography. For TMS tests and peripheral electrical stimulation, electrodes are filled with a conductive gel and taped to the skin to record the electrical activity of three muscles on the right hand. - Needle EMG. A needle is inserted into a muscle to record the electrical activity. - Nerve conduction studies. A probe is placed on the skin to deliver a small electrical stimulus, and wires are taped to the skin record the nerve impulses. These studies measure the speed with which nerves conduct electrical impulses and the strength of the connection between the nerve and the muscles. - Skin biopsy. Two sites are biopsied. A local anesthetic is given to numb the area and a 1/4-inch piece of skin is removed with a special tool. - JVP domes. Subjects are tested for their ability to discriminate sensory stimuli in the affected region and on the other side of it. They are asked to discriminate between stamps with grooves of different widths that are applied to the hands or feet.
The collection of data from the myriad of services described is significantly impacted by NIH guidelines defining medical research involving humans as well as the recent implementation of HIPAA constraints which further complicate the conduct of retrospective clinical outcomes research. Simple case reports or case series analysis now involve IRB participation as well as voluminous documentation. The solution to this dilemma lies in developing and promoting secure, confidential prospective clinical databases for storing clinical data for subsequent retrospective de-identified inquiry. These databases function in a way analogous to "tissue banks" for subsequent basic science research. Patients consent to prospective entry of their clinical information into the database so long as they continue to be a patient with the Department of Neurological Surgery or the Departments or Divisions in association with the affiliated programs briefly described above. The consent is obtained during the patient's first inpatient or outpatient encounter in parallel with the HIPAA consent. It can be withdrawn by request of the patient at any time, but it does not expire unless the patient withdraws it, or the patient severs their patient care relationship with UCI Neurosurgery or the affiliated programs. The database is stored on a separate secure server maintained and backed up by the UCIMC Information Technology Department. Access to the database is restricted at multiple levels, with the majority of personnel allowed only limited access for data entry purposes. Only the database programmer/coordinator, the Department Administrator and the Chairman of the Department will have unrestricted access to the database. Authority for permission for levels of security clearance and access to the database, for other individuals, will be vested in the Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery. A separate IRB proposal will be formulated for individual study related to the acquisition of data from the de-identified database. Since these future studies will be performed on data sets derived from the previously consented subjects of this IRB-approved project, the requirement for additional consent forms are not anticipated. As a result IRB research proposals utilizing the database can be expedited. Once the specific study is approved, the investigator(s) are provided with the clinical information from the database in the form of a de-identified data set.
The purpose of this study is to try different medications in patients with low blood pressure and other problems with their involuntary (autonomic) nervous system. The pharmacological trials in this study will perhaps lead to more effective treatment. The protocol includes single dose trials, dose-selection trials, 5-day trials and chronic (approximately 2 months) trials, although only dose-selection trials were consistently performed and have results presented.
Comparison of metabolic and nutritional effects of an enteral immune enhancing diet with those of a standard polymeric one, in ICU patients
An experimental drug called L-DOPS increases production in the body of a messenger chemical called norepinephrine. Cells in the brain that make norepinephrine are often gone in Parkinson disease. The exact consequences of this loss are unknown, but they may be related to symptoms such as fatigue, depression, or decreased attention that occur commonly in Parkinson disease. This study will explore effects of L-DOPS in conjunction with carbidopa and entacapone, which are drugs used to treat Parkinson disease. We wish to find out what the effects are of increasing norepinephrine production in the brain and whether carbidopa and entacapone augment those effects. Volunteers for this study must be at least 18 years of age and able to give consent to participate in the study. To participate in the study, volunteers must discontinue use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain herbal medicines or dietary supplements, and must also taper or discontinue certain kinds of medications that might interfere with the results of the study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. Participants will be admitted to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center for two weeks of testing. The study will have three testing phases in a randomly chosen order for each participant: - Single dose of L-DOPS - Single dose of L-DOPS in conjunction with carbidopa - Single dose of L-DOPS in conjunction with entacapone Each phase will last two days, with a washout day between each phase in which no drugs will be given and no testing will be performed. In each phase, participants will undergo a series of tests and measurements, including blood pressure and electrocardiogram tests. Participants who are healthy volunteers will also have blood drawn and will undergo a lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) to obtain spinal fluid for chemical tests.
The purpose of this study is to assess the long term safety of SCH 420814 (preladenant) in participants with moderate to severe Parkinson's Disease who are taking an L-Dopa/dopa decarboxylase inhibitor and/or dopamine agonist. All participants must have participated in the main study (P04501; NCT00406029) entitled "A Phase 2, 12 Week, Double Blind, Dose Finding, Placebo Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of a Range of SCH 420814 Doses in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Parkinson's Disease Experiencing Motor Fluctuations and Dyskinesias."
To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Coenzyme Q 10 versus placebo in patients with atypical parkinsonian syndromes corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) ).
This study will examine how the brain rewires itself to make up for the lack of movement many people with stroke experience. It will try to determine if the rewiring differs depending on the location of the stroke and the amount of time since the stroke occurred. For some stoke patients, weakness may persist, while others recover completely after time. It is not known which parts of the brain are involved in the recovery of different types of stroke and if the type of stroke affects recovery. People 18 years of age and older who have had subacute thromboembolic or hemorrhagic stroke more than 3 months before enrolling may participate in this study. Participants come to the NIH Clinical Center three times every 2 years for up to 10 years. At the first visit, patients have a neurological examination and perform tests of motor abilities such as lifting small objects, turning cards, using a spoon, stacking checkers and lifting cans during a short period of time as rapidly as possible. At the second visit, subjects have structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. The MRI scanner is a metal cylinder surrounded by a strong magnetic field. During the scan, the subject lies on a table that can slide in and out of the cylinder, wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking noises associated with the scanning process. Total scan time is about 30 minutes At the third visit, subjects perform some simple movement tasks during functional MRI (fMRI) scans. The procedure is the same as with structural MRI, except that subjects are asked to perform simple movement tasks in the scanner. Before the fMRI scans, electrodes are attached to the subject's arms and legs to monitor muscle activity (surface electromyography). Total scan time is about 1.5 hours. Movement tasks might include pinching a force-measuring instrument with the fingers, pressing different keys on a keyboard as fast as possible, inserting pegs into small holes on a board, lifting weights, flipping cards or similar activities.
This is a case-controlled study using an innovative, non-invasive, FDA approved technology to measure the autonomic nervous system. Detection of unsuspected DPN or ANS dysfunction may allow physicians to re-assess current treatment and develop new dietary or pharmacological strategies. This also is an immense public health concern since there are currently 18 million diabetics in the United States and 220 million worldwide.