Ependymoma is a type of rare childhood cancer that occurs in the brain and spinal cord. Survival statistics are generally disappointing with a 5-year survival of 50-64%. The standard of care for ependymoma is maximal surgical resection followed by radiation therapy directed at the primary site of disease.

Radiation therapy is associated with immediate and long-term toxicities in children, especially young children. For this reason, it has been the practice of some doctors not to give radiation therapy to children with ependymoma when the tumor has been completely surgically removed. The investigators who designed this study have created strict measures to choose those who will not receive additional treatment after surgery and careful follow-up to minimize the risks to those who are assigned to observation only.

The primary objective of Enroll-HD is to develop a comprehensive repository of prospective and systematically collected clinical research data (demography, clinical features, family history, genetic characteristics) and biological specimens (blood) from individuals with manifest HD, unaffected individuals known to carry the HD mutation or at risk of carrying the HD mutation, and control research participants (e.g., spouses, siblings or offspring of HD mutation carriers known not to carry the HD mutation). Enroll-HD is conceived as a broad-based and long-term project to maximize the efficiencies of non-clinical research and participation in clinical research while ensuring privacy and protections for consenting research participants.

This study is for patients that have been diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) . The investigational drug in this study is AG-120. The purpose of this study is to identify and test the highest dose of AG-120 that can be given safely. Participants can expect to be in the study for as long as the study doctor feels it is in the participants best interest.

We recently published results from a NIDA-funded study of a brief behavioral treatment that was designed to reduce the troublesome cravings that smokers encounter when they attempt to quit smoking. This intervention was based on a growing body of neuroscience studies showing that memories for prior learning can be retrieved by the presentation of cues involved in that learning. Once retrieved, the memories enter into a brief period of vulnerability, during which they can be modified, but after which they are reconsolidated (restabilized) back into long-term storage. The treatment potential of this phenomenon was initially demonstrated in a Science report in which inpatient heroin addicts were briefly exposed to cues associated with heroin use in order to prompt the heroin use memories into a vulnerable state. Once the memories were in this state, the heroin addicts received extinction training consisting of protracted exposure to heroin associated cues. It was argued that extinction would change the memories such that the cues would no longer be associated with heroin administration and reward. Remarkably, after just two sessions of retrieval-extinction training (RET), the investigators found that craving in response to heroin cues was substantially reduced for up to 6-months post-treatment. This effect was observed relative to a control group that received retrieval involving non-heroin cues, followed by extinction. These impressive initial findings led us to replicate and extend the study in cigarette smokers. In our study, one group of smokers received two sessions of RET with smoking cues whereas a control group received the same training except that retrieval consisted of brief exposure to neutral, smoking-unrelated cues. Craving and other reactions to familiar and novel smoking cues were assessed in test sessions performed 24-hrs, 2-weeks and 1-month after intervention; smoking behavior was also assessed over 1-month follow-up. Remarkably, at 1-month follow-up, craving to both familiar and novel smoking cues was significantly lower in the group receiving R-E training vs. control. Even more striking was the 25% reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked per day in the RET group vs. control. [Also of significance was suggestive evidence that, relative to control participants, more participants in the RET group achieved a 60% reduction in smoking (from pretreatment levels)]. The proposed project will replicate and extend these findings by 1) increasing the dose of intervention so as to bolster the observed treatment effects, 2) employing brain imaging methods to identify patterns of brain activity uniquely associated with the intervention and potentially predictive of treatment outcome, 3) adding a control group that will enhance understanding of the effects of RET, and 4) extending follow-up period to more completely document the long-term effects of RET. Positive findings from this study could lead to the development of a brief, effective behavioral intervention to reduce the burden levied against society by smoking. Importantly, this intervention could be easily adapted to treat other forms of addiction and co-occurring anxiety disorders, such as PTSD.

The purpose of this study is to use neuroimaging to understand how networks in the brain change over time. Although the single most significant risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) is age, the neurobiological processes underlying the transition from normal aging to AD are not well understood. Our group of researchers has developed ways to use MRI to detect small changes in certain parts of the brain. We will use neuroimaging to understand how the connections in the brain change over time in healthy aging. The goal is to discover which brain changes are present in healthy aging.

Participants will have two study visits (about 2 years apart) where they will undergo tests to assess mental function, fill out questionnaires, and undergo a blood draw, brain MRI and PET scan and provide a saliva sample. At the second visit, participants will not repeat PET scan. Participants will continue to be followed longitudinally every two years as long as the study is funded.

Participants are required to have a Co-Participant accompany them for the first portion of each visit. This individual must be a reliable informant that has contact with the participant at least once per week.

The purpose of this study is to determine if a procedure called Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy reduces the risk of pancreatitis or the number of recurrent pancreatitis episodes in patients with pancreas divisum. ERCP with sphincterotomy is a procedure where doctors used a combination of x-rays and an endoscope (a long flexible lighted tube) to find the opening of the duct where fluid drains out of the pancreas. People who have been diagnosed with pancreas divisum, have had at least two episodes of pancreatitis, and are candidates for the ERCP with sphincterotomy procedure may be eligible to participate. Participants will be will be randomly assigned to either have the ERCP with sphincterotomy procedure, or to have a "sham" procedure, meaning that you will be treated as if you are having the ERCP with sphincterotomy procedure but the procedure will not really be performed. Participants will have follow up visits 30 days after the procedure, 6 months after the procedure, and continuing every 6 months until the study ends.

This study is for patients that have been diagnosed with multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). The purpose of this study is to find out if prolonging the treatment and adding a drug called 6-mercaptopurine will be beneficial. Other goals include fining out if these changes will result in fewer patients having relapse of their LCH, and fewer patients having long term disease related problems. Participants can expect to be in this study for up to 24 months and will be followed on this study fir at least 5 years.

Individuals with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, emphysema and who have been enrolled in the SPARTA trial will be invited to participate in this study. This is a two year extension of the SPARTA trial for subjects who did not receive the study drug (Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor) and for those who complete the SPARTA trial. Participants will all receive weekly infusions of Alpha-1 MP 60mg/kg either at MUSC or at home with a home health nurse. All participants will have blood work, pulmonary function test and CT scans done as part of this study. Safety and side effects of all therapies will be monitored.

The primary purpose of this study is to see if the Targeted Lung Denervation (TLD) therapy (Active Treatment) is more effective than a sham procedure (Sham Control/no TLD therapy) at decreasing moderate or severe exacerbations in patients with COPD on optimal medical care. In addition, the study seeks to compare long-term safety, and other efficacy assessments, between the Active Treatment arm and the Sham Control arm.

TLD Therapy is done by passing a bronchoscope, with a special device (catheter) inserted through it, into the lungs. This special catheter delivers a type of electrical energy called radio frequency (or RF) energy to the nerves located on the outside of the airways. As with many bronchoscopic procedures, this is done while under anesthesia.

Participants will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to receive one of two different treatments, either TLD Therapy in addition to optimal medical care (Active Treatment) or optimal medical care only (Sham Control). No matter which treatment you receive, you will undergo the same type of procedure, testing and follow-up while remaining on optimal medical care for COPD. You will have an equal chance of being assigned to either Active Treatment or the Sham Control group (1:1 randomization). Neither you or your study doctor will know which treatment you have received until after your 12-month follow-up visit. After the 12-month visit you will find out whether you received the active or sham procedure. If you received the sham procedure you have the option of crossing over into the treatment group and receiving TLD therapy.

Participation in the study will last for approximately 62 months. Depending on which group you are randomized to and if you decide to crossover to the treatment group, there will be 1-2 visits for TLD Therapy or sham control (non-active) procedure, 9-12 in-person clinic visits, and 13-23 phone visits.

This study is for patients that have been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer with bone metastases.The purpose of this research study is to compare any good and bad effects of using radium-223 along with docetaxel chemotherapy treatment versus using docetaxel alone. The addition of radium-223 to docetaxel could have an overall survival benefit, but it could also cause side effects. The study drugs, radium-223 and docetaxel, are considered experimental drugs that are being evaluated together as a combination therapy for participants with certain solid tumors (cancer). Patients will be seen at MUSC for about 8 months. After they finish the treatment, the doctor will continue to watch the patient for side effects and follow their condition for the rest of their life, or for as long as they wish to remain on the study.