We will determine if aerobic exercise (AEx) and/or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are effective in treating symptoms of depression following stroke. This project is based on the idea that depression negatively affects the brain so that it doesn't change in the same way following treatment, the result being less effective recovery. We believe that effective treatment for depression will help improve how the brain in people with depression responds to other types of treatment. That is, effectively treating depression will enable individuals to better recover other forms of function following their stroke.
This study will enroll two groups of participants. The first group are those who participated in the RADIANCE CAP study, so have already undergone the renal denervation procedure. Those participants can enroll in this post approval study which will entail yearly follow up visits or telephone calls, blood pressure monitoring and questionnaires. The second group of participants are those scheduled to undergo a procedure called renal denervation for the treatment of high blood pressure that has not responded adequately to medications and lifestyle changes. Renal denervation is a procedure which uses a catheter (thin hollow tube) placed in the renal arteries (blood vessels that go to the kidneys) to deliver ultrasound energy. This energy will heat up a small area of tissue around the renal arteries to disable nerves that are surrounding the blood vessels as a way to help reduce blood pressure. Study visits include screening, procedure, discharge, months 1, 3, 6 and 12 then yearly for up to 5 years. Study procedures for this group includes blood work and urine studies, blood pressure monitoring, questionnaires, a follow up ultrasound of your kidneys and the blood vessels around the kidneys. Study related risks include loss of confidentiality, blood draw risks and unknown risks.
Researchers are investigating a new way to treat a type of lung cancer called small-cell lung cancer, which is very aggressive and often doesn't respond well to treatment. They're studying a drug called Tarlatamab, which targets a specific protein found on the cancer cells. This drug has already shown some promise when used alone, but now they're testing whether it works even better when combined with another type of cancer treatment called anti-PD-L1 therapy. This combination treatment might help the body's immune system fight the cancer more effectively. The hope is that by using these two treatments together, they can improve outcomes for people with small-cell lung cancer and give them a better chance of survival.
We are looking to examine the various factors that contribute to the changes seen with Physical Therapy for chronic neck pain. These factors include the components of care involving the way a patient perceives their pain or disability, as well as the interaction with their care giver, which contribute to the effect of the Physical Therapy (PT) treatment. The study will assign subjects to one of three groups. The first group will receive a manual therapy treatment approach, the second will receive a simulated manual therapy treatment approach and the third will receive no treatment and act as a waitlist control. This design will allow us to tease out the effects of the treatment itself compared with the other factors which may contribute to change as well as any improvement which occurs as result of natural history. You will be seen for an initial assessment where you will complete surveys and measurements will be performed looking at how far you can move and the way that you move your neck. You will then be seen for 3 additional visits weekly over the next three weeks if you are assigned to the manual therapy or simulated manual therapy group. You will be seen for an initial visit and a follow up after three weeks if you are assigned to the waitlist/control group. All groups will complete the surveys and have repeat measurements performed at the final follow up visit.
This study is looking at people who have recently had a heart transplant to see if a simple blood test can help doctors better understand how the immune system is doing. By checking tiny molecules called microRNAs in the blood, researchers hope to find a way to tell if a patient might have problems like infection or rejection of their new heart. The goal is to help adjust medications so patients stay healthier after their transplant. The study involves taking blood samples during regular doctor visits over three years, but it doesn't change any of the usual care the patients would already get.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment that can help improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the effectiveness of this treatment varies among patients, and physicians currently have no way to predict who will benefit the most. This study will investigate whether the types of bacteria in a person's gut can help predict their response to DBS. By analyzing patient samples, we aim to identify biomarkers that could help doctors better select candidates for this procedure, ultimately leading to more successful treatment outcomes for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is a five-session mental health therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows that it works as well as longer treatments for PTSD among people over 18, even though it requires fewer sessions than other PTSD therapies. However, WET has not been adapted and tested via telehealth with people aged 12 to 18. Our study aims to see how WET can be adapted to meet the needs of people aged 12 to 18 who have experienced trauma and currently have PTSD symptoms. To adapt WET for this age group, first we will talk with PTSD experts and people aged 12 to 18 to learn what changes might make WET more suitable for young people. We'll also deliver WET via telehealth to five people aged 12 to 18 following the manual as it is written for people over age 18 to see what needs adjusting. In the next part of the study, we will offer the adapted version of WET via telehealth to 20 people aged 12 to 18 in our MUSC integrated pediatric primary care clinic. People aged 12 to 18 will take part in five to seven weekly online therapy sessions and three virtual study visits (before therapy, after therapy, and one month later) to better understand who they are as a person and their current mental health symptoms and diagnoses. Individuals who are 18 can participate without caregiver permission; individuals aged 12 to 17 can only participate with caregiver permission. Our goal is to find the best way to provide effective PTSD treatment for young people that can be delivered in real-world pediatric primary care settings, so that ultimately more people can get the help they need after traumatic experiences.