Nicotine dependence remains a significant public health concern. Nicotine can affect brain neural oscillations. A magnetic field applied to the outside of the skull can produce electrical activity in the brain without significant pain or the need for anesthesia. In this proposal, we will build an individual brain signal-driven transcranial magnetic stimulation loop, and then test whether this stimulation loop can modulate neural oscillations and reduce cue-induced craving, including nicotine craving. This research will build an innovative brain stimulation method for neuroscientific research and develop a potential efficacy therapy for nicotine dependence as well other neuropsychiatric disorders.
This is a prospective cohort study of subjects with portal hypertension to examine whether increased sphingosine 1 phosphate : ceramide ratio and circulating bile acids are associated with HPS in patients with advanced liver disease. The study will consist of 400 individuals who are evaluated for liver transplantation at the Field Centers. This population has advanced liver disease and will represent the population with cirrhosis at the Centers. As is considered standard of clinical care for these patients and required for liver transplant evaluation, patients will undergo phlebotomy, interviews, pulmonary function testing, echocardiography, and arterial blood gas sampling at their initial evaluation. During the clinical phlebotomy, additional samples will be drawn for research purposes. If any of these procedures does not occur during the clinical visit, it may be conducted for research purposes. Six minute walk testing, frailty scales, SF36, and optional actigraphy, all of which are research-only assessments, will be performed at baseline. Subjects will then be followed via phone for the duration of the study period.
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between common clinical assessments and measurements of the function of brain-spinal cord-muscle connections. For examining brain-to-muscle pathways, we use a transcranial magnetic stimulator. This stimulator produces a magnetic field for a very short period of time and indirectly stimulates brain cells with little or no discomfort. We hope that the results of this training study will help us in developing therapy strategies for individuals, better understanding clinical assessments, and understanding treatments that aim to improve function recovery in people with SCI.
There are 2 aims for this study. The purpose of the first is to examine the relationship between assessments commonly used in therapy and doctor's offices (clinical assessments) and measurements of the function of brain-spinal cord- muscle connections. This will require 2 visits, and each visit will last approximately 2 hours.
The purpose of the second aim is to examine the effects of training on brain-spinal cord-muscle response. This will require 30 visits, and each visit will last approximately 1.5 hours.
We are studying whether visual field testing can be completed using a virtual reality headset with software designed and installed to cause a "blink to threat" response. A positive "blink to threat" response implies an intact visual field. Subject volunteers will have both in person "blink to threat" visual field testing and headset "blink to threat" visual field testing. We are testing the accuracy, timing, tolerability and satisfaction (of both examiner and patient) with the use of virtual reality visual field testing.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem that results in significant health and economic burdens including mortality, morbidity, and poor treatment outcomes. A well-developed field of research suggests that alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can lead to IPV. Individuals with PTSD and/or problematic drinking behaviors are at risk for IPV because of several factors that are common symptoms of PTSD. Because individuals with PTSD often drink alcohol to "self-medicate" or cope with distressing PTSD symptoms, PTSD co-occurs with alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder at extraordinarily high rates. However, few studies have examined the combined effects of alcohol misuse and PTSD on any form of violence.
This study will examine the effects of alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on alcohol-related intimate partner violence (IPV). We will examine these associations among couples (N=70) in a controlled laboratory setting using validated, standardized methods in a 'real-world' settings using 28 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). EMA includes very short surveys (5 minutes or less) that participants respond to on a smartphone application. Participants will be asked to respond to these surveys in the morning and three additional times throughout the day.
The goal of this study is to understand the knowledge, views and perceptions from diverse communities, primarily from the Lowcountry, about the new field of personalized medicine (or precision health), and what factors might influence participation in precision health research studies. It is hoped that results from this study will help inform future strategies to increase the diversity of participants in precision health research.
Participation involves completion of a one-time survey that takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Compensation is available.
This study is enrolling subjects who are scheduled for a ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. Ventricular tachycardia is a fast heartbeat that starts with an abnormal signal in the lower chambers of the heart, which are the ventricles. An ablation is a procedure where a catheter (thin, flexible tube) with a tip that can deliver energy is used to burn the heart tissue where those abnormal signals are coming from. The catheter being used in this study is called the FlexAbilityTM Ablation Catheter and was recently approved for commercial use by the Food and Drug Administration. (FDA) Since it is newly approved, the FDA wants to continue collecting more information about the catheter and its use, so this study is called a post approval study. Participation in this study will take about 1 year. During this year, data will be collected including your medical history, cardiac medication use, ablation procedure, and any medical events that may occur. You will be seen or contacted 4 times. There is a risk of loss of confidentiality and there may be risks that are not yet known. There may be no direct benefit to you but it is hoped the information learned may contribute to knowledge in this field.