View clinical trials related to Microcephaly.
Filter by:Microcephaly associated with Congenital Syndrome of the Zika virus (SCVZ) was highlighted due to atypical structural and behavioral changes of the central nervous system. Such changes contribute to the appearance of functional impairments and difficulties of adaptation of the child to the necessary therapeutic follow-up. In this context, the search for adjuvant therapies that allow better management of these alterations has grown and, given its advantages, aquatic physiotherapy may be an auxiliary resource in the care of this population. The aquatic environment is capable of promoting a state of relaxation that, when associated with a kinesiotherapy protocol, is believed to have this potentiated effect. Thus, our objective will be to evaluate the efficacy of aquatic physiotherapy on the level of stress and muscle tone in children with microcephaly associated with SCVZ. A crossover, randomized, controlled and blind study will be carried out with children between 3 and 24 months of age, who will undergo two interventions: aquatic physiotherapy and water immersion. The evaluation of muscle tone will be performed through the Tardieu scale before and after the intervention; the physiological parameters (heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and temperature) and the stress level will be evaluated before, immediately after and 30 minutes after the intervention. In addition, questionnaires will assess the child's behavioral state, level of irritation and sleep characteristics. For data normalization the Shapiro Wilk Test will be applied; the percentage values and relative frequency will be used for the descriptive analysis and for the numerical variables the values of mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range. The paired T and ANOVA tests for repeated samples will be applied, which will analyze the intra-group time factor for the dependent variables of each individual. And for intergroup analysis, the variables may be submitted to the T-Test for independent or Mann-Whitney samples.
The FBRI VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic was established and opened in May of 2013 to provide intensive therapeutic services to individuals with motor impairment secondary to neuromotor disorders. It is direct by Dr. Stephanie DeLuca and based on the principles surrounding ACQUIREc Therapy. ACQUIREc Therapy is an evidenced-based approach to pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy, which refers to a multi-component form of therapy that is focused on helping children who have asymmetric motor abilities between the two sides of the body. Historically, ACQUIREc Therapy has the unimpaired or less impaired upper extremity constrained (by a cast or a splint) while also receiving active therapy from a specially trained therapist who shapes new skills and functional activities with the child's more impaired upper extremity but who is also a licensed Occupational or Physical Therapist (OT/PT). Therapy dosages are high much higher than tradition OT or PT - often lasting many hours per day, up to 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 2-4 weeks. Investigators have developed further treatments based on the same principles of intensive services combined with behavior shaping for other areas of the body that are also affected by weakness (e.g., the leg and trunk) also, but which usually do not involve constraint. These have been more generally labeled ACQUIRE Therapy. All forms involve intensive, play-based therapy for children with asymmetric motor impairments of the arms and hands. The primary focus of treatment is to facilitate the acquisition of new motor skills in the child's weaker body parts through high levels of intensive therapy using scientifically-based behavioral guidelines. Therapy is also delivered in naturalistic environments. ACQUIREc Therapy as a treatment method has been tested in two randomized controlled trials, and a specific manual for its implementation has been developed. Dr. (s) Ramey and DeLuca previously founded a similar clinic, The Pediatric Neuromotor Research Clinic, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where Dr. DeLuca directed the research clinic for 13 years and oversaw the implementation of the ACQUIREc Therapy treatment protocol in more than 400 cases. This research will involve analyzing and interpreting the clinical data of children going through clinical procedures at the FBRI VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic. All participation is voluntary and no children will denied services if families choose not to participate.
The recent increase in the number of cases of congenital microcephaly observed in Brazil is a reason of great concern. This increase occurred a few months after Zika virus (ZIKV) was introduced in the country, which was associated with reports of pregnant women presenting fever and rash illness during pregnancy. Thus, the hypothesis of a relationship between ZIKV infection and microcephaly became plausible. However, studies on the pathophysiology of maternal ZIKV infection, its consequences for the fetus, and the development of severe encephalopathy are still needed. Knowledge about the natural history of vertical transmission and its association with changes in fetal development in early life is still scarce. Studies on factors which determine the severity and clinical evolution, such as inflammatory response mechanisms, viral evolution, and development of serological tests to identify ZIKV infection, are still needed. The Aedes aegypti is responsible for the transmission of various types of viruses of interest to human health. Currently, it is primarily responsible for the transmission of the dengue, chikungunya, and ZIKV in epidemic proportions. In addition, it is not yet known whether there is an interaction between these viruses and whether the interaction can determine the severity of the disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the natural history of ZIKV disease in two cohorts( pregnant women and children) starting with pregnant women or newborns or evennursing mothers, identifying risk biomarkers, mapping the anti-viral inflammatory response, evaluating the molecular evolution of the virus,which areimportant to determine the mechanisms of vertical viral infection and verify children neurodevelopment from birth to the end of 3rd year of life.
Taybi-Linder syndrome (TALS, OMIM 210710) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder belonging to the group of microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfisms (MOPD). This syndrome is characterized by short stature, skeletal anomalies, severe microcephaly with brain malformations and facial dysmorphism, and is caused by mutations in RNU4ATAC. Although RNU4ATAC-associated TALS is a recognizable phenotype, an atypical presentation is sometimes observed, thus expanding the clinical spectrum (TALS-like phenotype). This study aims to identify new variants involved in Taybi-Linder syndrome and associated phenotypes (i.e.TALS-like). This non interventional study will be performed on patients with no proven mutation of RNU4ATAC and their blood relatives (19 samples total) by high throughput sequencing and genetic analysis of already collected deoxyribonucleic acid samples. Altogether, such a study will allow a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the Taybi-Linder syndrome and Taybi-Linder syndrome-like phenotypes as well as the pathophysiology of these devastating forms of microcephalic dwarfism.
The purpose of this study si to define morphological and epidemiological parameters and identify new symptoms in French patients with Seckel syndrome (SCKL) or microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPDII).
This prospective cohort study will determine the natural history of fetal exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) and its effects on the fetus and newborn with emphasis on neurodevelopment outcome. Exposure of the fetus will be determined by maternal symptomatology, RT-PCR ZIKV (blood and urine) and serologic test specific for ZIKV. Neonates will be classified according to trimester of infection and as exposed and unexposed to ZIKV.
It is suspected that zika virus infection during pregnancy is associated with microcephaly. The objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence of rash accompanied by three or more dengue-like signs and symptoms during pregnancy is related to the microcephaly using the case-control design.
In this study, measurements of fetal and maternal head circumference will be collected. This data will be presented in table or graph form. The effect of maternal head circumference on fetal head circumference will be evaluated and presented in either formula or graph form.
This project will make it possible to better understand the natural history of Cohen Syndrom and the phenotypes associated with mutations in the VPS13B gene, to improve the therapeutic management of patients. It will also provide a better description of Cohen-like syndrome for genetic counselling for the families concerned.
The purpose of this study is to: I. Compare neuroradiological phenotype and cognitive functioning of MCPH patients caused by ASPM mutations already characterized and published (Passemard et al. 2009a) with other MCPH-related patients (patients with MCPH1, WDR62, CDK5RAP2, CEP 152, CENPJ, STIL, or PCNT mutations) II. Describe the neuro-radiological and cognitive phenotype of microcephalic patients suffering from Fanconi anemia, and compared them to subjects with: - Fanconi anemia but normal OFC (head circumference) - MCPH patients - Healthy control subjects Our hypothesis is that mutations in genes responsible of microcephaly impact differentially cortical brain development and functioning