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Opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia syndrome (OMS) is a rare immune mediated paraneoplastic syndrome that occurs in approximately 2 to 3% of children with neuroblastoma. Children with neuroblastoma associated opsoclonus-myoclonus tend to have a favorable prognosis from the standpoint of the cure of their cancer. Unfortunately,approximately two-thirds of this subgroup of patients are left with long term sequellae of the syndrome, including residual symptoms of opsoclonus, myoclonus, ataxia, learning difficulties and disturbance of sleep and mood. Multiple lines of evidence indicate an immune mechanism to this rare disorder. This includes occurence of OMS in the post-infectious state, aggressive lymphocytic infiltration of the tumor in children with OMS, and documented responses to therapries that act through suppression of the immune system. The current study utilizes four weekly doses of anti-CD 20 antibody (rituximab) to treat children with refractory OMS. Refractory disease is defined as continued symptoms of OMS despite surgical resection of the tumor and a minimum of one month of steroid therapy. All patients have baseline OMS evaluation and detailed neurocognitive testing with all studies being repeated at the completion of the four weekly infusions. OMS testing is repeated at Month 3. OMS testing and detailed neurocognitive testing is conducted at 6 months intervals until 2 years from the initial infusion. The goal of the study is to utilize this novel therapy to improve long term neurologic and neurodevelopmental outcome in children with refratory neuroblastoma associated opsoclonus-myoclonus. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of giving four weekly doses of Rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody) in the treatment of children with refractory neuroblastoma associated opsoclonus-myoclonus. Patients must have continued symptoms of opsoclonus, myoclonus and or ataxia despite surgical resection and a minimum of one month of steroid therapy. Evaluations include clinical symptoms of opsoclonus-myoclonus and ataxia as well as detailed evaluation of learning and development.

Clinical goals of the VA CHF QUERI identify best practices to empower Veterans and their caregivers for HF self-management. Recommendations of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association emphasize shared decision-making. In the previous preliminary study, coding of actual recordings of Veterans speaking with HT nurse care coordinators provided evidence of best practices and areas for improvement for intervention development. The effect of the HT technology as a mediator of Veteran-nurse communication requires particular re-framing in communication skills training to promote shared decision-making and self-management as recommended. This quasi-experimental study proposes the development of an evidence-based intervention to enhance HT training tailored for more effective communication for HF self-management and related outcomes. Goals: Phase 1 To conduct a pilot study as a quasi-experimental trial at two VAMC HT sites to determine acceptability, actual use, implementation, practicality, integration, potential for expansion, effect sizes and limited efficacy for an HT-specific communication skills intervention for HF Specific Aim 1.1a Development: Adapt components from the Rochester Participatory Decision-Making Scale (RPAD) and recent advances in communication skills training for chronic disease to develop a valid and reliable intervention specific to HT shared decision-making and telehealth communication using established best-practices and Veteran input; Specific Aim 1.1b Training/Implementation: Implement the developed intervention at two VAMCs; Specific Aim 1.2Booster: Introduce an audit and feedback loop of HF self-management outcomes for telehealth nurse practice as a booster to reinforce communication skills training. Phase 2 To compare changes in Veteran outcomes after a telehealth communication skills intervention with documented previous practice for differences in: a) shared decision-making; b) Veteran perception of communication, education and self-management for HF, c) quality of life, and d) health service utilization and related costs before and after intervention Specific Aim 2.1: Formative Evaluation: Nurses: Conduct anonymous surveys of knowledge of HF and self-management strategies before and after training, qualitative interviews of reactions to the training course, and nurse care coordinator focus groups about the value of audit and feedback sessions after training. Specific Aim 2.2: Formative Evaluation: Veterans - Phone record 25 Veterans with HF at two HT sites, for a total of 50 Veterans, speaking with nurse care coordinators before and after communication skills training followed by communication coding and discourse analysis. Specific Aim 2.3: Summative Evaluation: Compare shared decision-making scores (SDM) measured by the RPAD, communication scores measured by the Four Habits Coding Scheme (FHCS), quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire), communication, education and self-management in HF as measured by the Improving Chronic Illness Care Evaluation (ICICE) scale, and patient HF hospitalization use (admissions and emergency) and with pre-training averages and with the post training averages at 1 and 3 months Rationale The technology of HT monitoring of Veterans with HF can inadvertently decrease participative communication consistent with shared decision-making and HF self-management. Application of communication skills training using evidence-based coach role competencies promises to improve Veteran engagement and participation in the VA Home Telehealth service with increased self-management and potential improvement in HF health service utilization. Improving engagement and participation in self-management should result in a quantifiably better Veteran quality of life, a reduction in hospital and ED admissions, and thus, a decrease in health care utilization costs for the VA. People with heart failure (HF) are hospitalized over a million times a year in the US at a cost over $39 billion dollars. About half of the patients are readmitted within 30 days. Despite a number of institutional reforms, cost and readmissions remain high in the VA. The VA Home Telehealth (HT) monitoring program decreases preventable readmissions, but HF readmissions remain increased in the VA. Despite an active and effective HT program, the Charleston VAMC has the highest HF readmission rate in VISN 7. Though the HT program introduces communication, self-management, and shared decision-making in initial training, previous QUERI RRP evaluation identified lower than expected levels of specific communication practices associated with the promotion of HF self-management and shared decision-making, mediated by the requirements of the technology.

Lymphatic anomalies (LA) are a spectrum of rare diseases classified into lymphatic tumors and malformations. Complicated LA cases in the past have been called lymphangiomatosis because of varied disseminated involvement including soft tissue and viscera such as the spleen, liver and bone. Pleural effusions and pericardial effusions are often associated with these lesions. These are now classified into different phenotypes such as Generalized Lymphatic Anomaly (GLA), Gorham's Stout Disease (GSD) and Kaposiform Lymphangiomatosis (KLA). These complicated phenotypes can cause massive osteolysis causing a morbidity and mortality from infection or paralysis or worsening pulmonary function and effusions (GSD, GLA, KLA). The major cause of mortality and morbidity in these patients is the deterioration of pulmonary function by chronic chylous effusions and progressive interstitial lung disease. Unfortunately, little is known about biomarkers, risk stratification or the pathophysiology of this progression. The understanding of changes in patients' lymphatic anatomy with LA is hindered by the difficulty of imaging the lymphatic system. Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MR Lymphangiogram (DCMRL) is a technique that has recently been developed, allowing dynamic MR imaging of the lymphatic system by injecting gadolinium contrast agent in the groin lymph nodes. This technique has been previously used to identify pathological lymphatic perfusion of the lung parenchyma in patients with plastic bronchitis and neonatal chylothorax. Based on these imaging findings, a treatment algorithm has been designed and used to successfully treat the majority of those patients with these conditions. Lymphatic Anomalies (LA) is characterized by proliferation of lymphatic tissue causing deterioration of pulmonary function. Understanding changes in lymphatic anatomy in these patients is hindered by the difficulty of imaging the lymphatic system. Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MR Lymphangiogram (DCMRL) may be useful in investigating pathological changes in the lymphatic system.

Study Design: This is a prospective, multi-institution, parallel-group, single-blinded, randomized-controlled, two-arm, effectiveness study comparing heparin-bonded (Propaten®) versus non-heparin-bonded arteriovenous grafts. Procedure: In patients without usable native vein, prosthetic arteriovenous grafts will be implanted for hemodialysis access. Patients will be randomized intraoperatively to either conventional (Gore® Stretch) or heparin-bonded grafts (Gore® Propaten). Course of Study: The study will accrue patients over the course of 5 years. Enrollment: Enrollment will consist of adult patients who require hemodialysis. If the patient cannot have a native vein arteriovenous fistula, the patient is a candidate for arteriovenous graft. Patients will be screened and consented preoperatively. If the intraoperative decision is made that the patient will require a graft, randomization will occur and the patient will be considered enrolled. Recruitment: The target population comprises of all adult patients aged 18 years and above with end stage renal disease requiring arteriovenous access for hemodialysis. The target for enrollment will be 200 patients. Risks: The standard or known adverse events associated with graft implantation include thrombosis, infection, pseudoaneurysm, hematoma, and venous stenosis. There are case reports of heparin sensitivity. The investigators do not expect any additional physical risks other than an unintentional disclosure of sensitive patient health information. Data Safety Monitoring: As the Principal Investigator of this study, Dr. Charlton-Ouw from the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at The University of Texas at Houston Medical School will conduct the data safety monitoring of this study. He will annually meet with all other co-investigators to review the patients enrolled in this study. As part of the data safety monitoring plan, all patients enrolled until that point in time would be unblinded in order to review the outcomes. Interim analyses will be conducted at the one-year follow up time. IND#: The devices that will be used are already approved by the FDA and do not have IND#. Proposed Funding Source: The study is internally funded. Communication of Study Results: The communication of study results will occur only between authorized individuals who are listed to take part in the study through our department. The individuals who will take part in the study will acknowledge and adhere to the importance of patient safety and the protection of their private information. The results of this study will be analyzed and published after the approval of the principal investigator, co-investigators, and biostatistician in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and/or presented at an international/national scientific conference or meeting regardless of outcome. The purpose for this study is to evaluate the patency and outcomes of conventional and heparin anticoagulant bonded arteriovenous grafts in patients with end stage renal disease.

Indication: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most deadly cancer in the world. It is primarily seen in areas where hepatitis is endemic, such as Asia, but other risk factors include alcoholic cirrhosis. Surgical resection and/or transplantation remain the only curative options. However, more than 80% of patients present with unresectable disease. For these patients with unresectable tumors, a variety of treatment options are available, including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), radioactive microspheres, microwave coagulation, laser-induced thermotherapy, and percutaneous alcohol injection, all of which have similar survival rates. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for unresectable HCC is a relatively new treatment option made available because of significant improvements in diagnostic imaging and radiation delivery techniques. Although follow-up is limited, results show encouraging local control rates. The investigators propose to conduct a Phase II study assessing the efficacy and safety of CyberKnife SBRT for the treatment of HCC. Summary of Subject Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria 1. Confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma according to one of three EASL criteria: - Histopathology - Two radiographic techniques (out of US, MRI, CT, Angiography) that confirm a lesion >2 cm with arterial hypervascularization - One radiographic technique that confirms a lesion >2 cm with arterial hypervascularization and an AFP>400 ng/mL 2. Unifocal liver tumors not to exceed 5 cm in greatest axial dimension. Multifocal lesions will be restricted to a maximum of 3 lesions with a maximum lesion size of 3 cm for each lesion, that can be treated within a single target volume within the same liver segment as long as the dose constraints to normal tissue can be met. 3. Volumn of uninvolved liver >750 cc 4. Hepatic lesion in patients for whom surgical resection is not possible or patients who refuse surgery. 5. Eastern Clinical Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0, 1 or 2 (Appendix I) 6. Patients with liver disease classified as Child Pugh class A 7. Life expectancy >6 months 8. Age > 18 years old 9. Albumin > 2.5 g/dL 10. Total Bilirubin < 3 mg/dL 11. INR <1.5 12. Transaminases (SGOT and SGPT) no more than 3 times the upper limit of normal 13. Creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL 14. Both men and women and members of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this study 15. Ability of the research subject or authorized legal representative to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria 1. Prior surgery, chemotherapy or radiation for the liver tumor 2. Prior radiotherapy to the upper abdomen 3. Prior RFA or liver transplant 4. Tumors greater than 5 cm in greatest axial dimension 5. Child B status 6. Contraindication to receiving radiotherapy 7. Active gastrointestinal bleed within 2 weeks of study enrollment 8. Clinically significant ascites refractory to medical therapy 9. Women who are pregnant 10. Administration of any systemic chemotherapy within the last 6 months 11. Presence of multifocal lesions located in different lobes of the liver or extrahepatic metastases 12. Portal vein thrombus 13. Participation in another concurrent treatment protocol Intervention and Mode of Delivery: CyberKnife SBRT - External photon radiation. Procedure is outpatient. Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System Duration of Intervention and Evaluation: The duration of treatment will be 1 week.. The follow-up period will be for 3 years following completion of therapy. Study Phase: multi-institutional Phase II study Primary Objective(s): To determine overall survival for HCC patients treated with CyberKnife SBRT at 2 years. Secondary Objective(s): 1) To determine overall survival for HCC patients treated with CyberKnife SBRT at 1 year 2) To determine local control using RECIST and EASL criteria at 1 and 2 years 3) To assess progression-free survival at 1 and 2 years 4) To assess acute and late toxicities following CyberKnife SBRT. Hypothesis: Overall survival rate of HCC patients at one year after SBRT treatment is not less than 65%. Study Design: Single arm study. Patients will undergo a CT scan with and without contrast and MRI scan for radiation treatment planning and target delineation.SBRT will be delivered on the CyberKnife with Synchrony Respiratory Tracking capabilities. The tumor will be tracked with 3 implanted fiducial seeds for targeting. Treatment will be delivered in 3 fractions within a 7 day window at the discretion of the investigator. Sample size: The sample size required is 93 with a power of 90%, p=0.05, 50% response rate is considered not effective (p0) and 65% overall survival rate at 1 year (p1) is considered effectiveness of the treatment. The estimated drop-out rate is 20%, so the total sample size would be 117. Statistical Considerations: The set of Intention-To-Treat (ITT) will be analyzed. All patients will be censored at their last visit, including the patients lost to follow-up. All patients will be followed and counted in the therapy to which they were assigned, even if they decline that therapy. Only those patients who refuse (in writing) to have their outcomes count in the study's conclusions will not be included in the analyses from that time forward; however, the follow-up data for such patients will be included up until the time they withdraw consent. Such patients will be replaced. Baseline characteristics of patients will be presented with summary statistics. Time-to-event survival rates for OS and DFS will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and presented at one and/or two years. The incidence of acute and late toxicities will be presented in tabular form on both a per-patient and per-event basis.

Upper GI Endoscopy is routinely performed in patients with chronic liver disease to screen for complications related to portal hypertension such as esophageal and gastric varices and portal gastropathy. Sedation is frequently administered to facilitate patient tolerance.Patients with hepatic dysfunction who undergo endoscopy are at increased risk for complications related to sedation.Propofol has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in comparison with benzodiazepines and opioids, which makes it especially appropriate for sedation in endoscopy.In previous studies cognitive functions were assessed by various paper and pencil tests. However learning affects the paper and pencil tests if repeated at short interval of time.CFF analysis was found to be sensitive and objective in the quantification of low-grade HE, and there is a significant correlation between CFF and the portosystemic encephalopathy syndrome (PHES) battery.Considering this, we designed a prospective randomized controlled study with cirrhotic outpatients to compare effects of sedation for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol versus midazolam on psychometric tests and critical flicker frequency in cirrhotics To compare effects of sedation for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol and midazolam on psychometric tests and critical flicker frequency (CFF) in cirrhotics

Acne vulgaris is a follicular disorder occurring in pilosebaceous units in the skin of the face, neck, and upper trunk. These sebaceous follicles have follicular channels and adjacent multiacinar sebaceous glands. In the lubrication process of normal skin, sebum travels through the follicular canal to the skin surface, carrying along with it desquamated cells from follicular epithelium. Acne develops when these specialized follicles undergo pathologic alterations that result in the formation of non-inflammatory lesions (comedones) and inflammatory lesions (papules, pustules, and nodules). The basic cause of acne remains unknown, but its manifestations are thought to be the product of four pathogenic events: 1) increased sebum production fueled by androgenic stimulation in the pubertal period; 2) obstruction of the pilosebaceous unit due to an abnormal keratinization process; 3) proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes, an anaerobic diptheroid normally residing in pilosebaceous follicles; and 4) inflammation that is mediated both by the action of chemotactic factors and various enzymes, and initiated in part by the interaction of P. acnes with toll-like receptors. Impaction of the pilosebaceous follicle gives rise to the microcomedo that is thought to be the precursor lesion of acne. Topical benzoyl peroxide is a common and well-established agent with known antibacterial and antimicrobial properties used in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The safety profile for topical benzoyl peroxide has been well delineated. The most common side effects attributed to benzoyl peroxide products include irritation, dryness, scaling, burning and stinging. Benzoyl peroxide 10.0% creams (Formulation #1 and Formulation #2) will be evaluated to detect any differences in their response for safety and efficacy. This study is a split face, paired-comparison, pilot study of 10 subjects. Participants in this study will be patients seen at Children's Memorial Hospital, who are clinically diagnosed with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Participants will be recruited from the clinic, as well as advertising and from previous Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved acne studies housed in the Department of Dermatology. All subjects accrued from previous studies have agreed to be contacted for further investigations. Subjects 13 to 35 years of age with mild to moderate acne vulgaris symmetrical in appearance on both sides of the face, and meeting inclusion criteria will be eligible to participate.

The purpose is to encourage Provider participants to evaluate high risk HIV transmission behaviors and offer prevention messages to their HIV+ patients which will, in turn, reduce rates of unprotected anal and/or vaginal sex with partners of known HIV sero-negativity or unknown HIV serostatus. It is hypothesized that patients of providers participating in the HIP intervention will report higher reduction in sexual risk practices, when compared to the patients of the providers who were randomized into the control condition.

OBJECTIVES: - To determine the significance of regulation of microRNA-34a and microRNA-194 by C/EBPα during granulopoiesis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia with CEBPA mutations. - To determine whether overexpression of micro RNA-34a and microRNA-194 in myeloid progenitors with C/EBPα mutations leads to granulocytic differentiation. - To examine how microRNA-34a and microRNA-194 downregulate E2F3 during granulopoiesis. - To determine the role of microRNA-34a and microRNA-194 in myeloid cell proliferation. OUTLINE: Cryopreserved cell samples are collected for laboratory analysis, including mutation analysis, gene expression analysis, RNA analysis, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. RATIONALE: Studying samples of tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This research study is looking at biomarkers in cell samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Rationale: Recent publications report good results of controlled donation after circulatory death (DCD) Maastricht category III liver transplantation when strict donor-recipient matching is applied and ischemia times are kept to a minimum. However a major concern remains the high rate of biliary complications after transplantation of DCD livers. Non-anastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) occur in 29% of patients receiving a DCD graft whereas the incidence of NAS in recipients of donation after brain death (DBD) liver grafts is 11%. NAS are associated with higher morbidity and increased cost of liver transplantation. Injury to the biliary epithelium and the peribiliary vascular plexus occurring during donor warm ischemia and static cold storage (SCS) has been identified as a major risk factor for development of NAS. Machine perfusion has been proposed as an alternative strategy for organ preservation, offering the opportunity to improve the quality of the organ by providing oxygen to the graft. Experimental studies have shown that end-ischemic dual hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (DHOPE) helps liver grafts to recover from ischemia by restoring mitochondrial function. Moreover, DHOPE has been shown to provide better preservation of peribiliary vascular plexus of the bile ducts, which could be an important step forward in reducing the incidence of NAS after transplantation. Objective: To study the efficacy of end-ischemic DHOPE in reducing the incidence of NAS within six months after controlled DCD (Maastricht category III) liver transplantation. Study design: An international, multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, interventional, clinical trial with a two parallel arm approach (treatment/control). Study population: Adult patients (≥18 yrs old) undergoing a liver transplantation with a liver graft procured from a controlled DCD donor (Maastricht category III) with a body weight ≥40 kg. Intervention: In the intervention group liver grafts will be subjected to two hours of hypothermic, oxygenated perfusion at the end of SCS and before implantation. In the control group donor liver grafts will be preserved in accordance to standard practice by SCS only. Main study parameters/endpoints: The incidence and severity of symptomatic NAS as diagnosed by an Adjudication committee (who are blinded for the group assignment) by means of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).