Sometimes, it is necessary to re-learn a previously learned movement behavior, for example, a bad posture during the golf drive or while playing the piano. Unlearning or relearning an intensively trained behavior is particularly important if the behavior is hampering recovery, for example, in chronic pain or after a stroke. With this study, we experimentally test the brain mechanisms that control the change of pre-existing stable memories of a motor skill with electroencephalography (EEG). We will then use non-invasive brain stimulation to modulate these brain mechanisms and test if it is possible to change the pre-existing motor memory and the learning of a new motor skill.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the investigational (not FDA approved) drug VIB4920 can be an effective treatment for patients with active Lupus Nephritis (LN).
This study will compare treatment with MMF (mycophenolate mofetil), Prednisone, plus the study medication VIB4920 to treatment with MMF and Prednisone alone.
Participants will have up to 15 scheduled visits that will involve routine monitoring of disease activity, up to two kidney biopsies, and blood and urine specimen collections. Participation in this study will last approximately 1 year and 2 months. Compensation is available for participation.
1) You will be asked to provide a blood sample; up to two tubes for a total of up to 10mL (less than 2 teaspoons).
2) Samples will be processed and tested on the MeMed BV device.
3) You will be asked about your medical history, medications, and current illness, as well as demographic information (i.e. date of birth) and a contact phone number.
4) If eligible, it will be decided by chance, using a computer, if you will be put into one of two arms: the MeMed BV arm or the control arm. You have an equal chance of being placed in each group. You cannot choose your study group.
a. The MeMed BV arm: your clinician will receive the BV result, this will include a recommendation regarding antibiotic treatment
b. The control arm: your clinician will not receive the MeMed BV results and will treat you according to standard of care.
5) You will be contacted by a member of the study team at 28 (+/- 3) days after the day of consent to complete a short questionnaire regarding your current illness
1) You will be asked to provide a blood sample; up to two tubes for a total of up to 10mL (less than 2 teaspoons).
2) Samples will be processed and tested on the MeMed BV device.
3) You will be asked about your medical history, medications, and current illness, as well as demographic information (i.e. date of birth) and a contact phone number.
4) If eligible, it will be decided by chance, using a computer, if you will be put into one of two arms: the MeMed BV arm or the control arm. You have an equal chance of being placed in each group. You cannot choose your study group.
a. The MeMed BV arm: your clinician will receive the BV result, this will include a recommendation regarding antibiotic treatment
b. The control arm: your clinician will not receive the MeMed BV results and will treat you according to standard of care.
5) You will be contacted by a member of the study team at 28 (+/- 3) days after the day of consent to complete a short questionnaire regarding your current illness
There are two classes of drugs for preventing blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heartbeat, after cardiac surgery: antiplatelet drugs (like aspirin) and anticoagulants (blood thinners). This study aims to determine whether the addition of blood thinners to antiplatelet drugs will improve treatment outcomes in patients who develop AF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.
In this study, you will be randomized (assigned to a group by chance--like flipping a coin) into one of 2 study groups; the assignment to receive the antiplatelet drug alone or the antiplatelet drug plus a blood thinner.
Before discharge from the hospital, you will undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG), which examines the electrical activity of your heart. At 1 and 2 months after randomization, you will receive a phone call from the study staff. At 3 months after randomization, you will return to the institution where you received your surgery for an in-person visit. At 6 months, you will receive a phone call from the study staff. Your total participation will be about 6 months.
This is an OLE study for subjects completing from one of two double-blind clinical
trials. Subjects must have completed the Week 13 visit from one of these two parent
clinical trials to be eligible for this OLE.
This study is enrolling emerging adults (ages 18-25) with cannabis use disorder (CUD) to examine sex differences in (a) cannabis withdrawal symptoms during short-term cannabis abstinence, (b) cannabidiol (CBD) versus placebo effects on stress reactivity during short-term cannabis abstinence, and (c) the relationship between stress reactivity and time to cannabis relapse after short-term cannabis abstinence. The proposed study is designed to reveal sex differences and guide the development of tailored treatments that address factors disproportionately affecting emerging adult females with CUD.
Participants will complete an assessment visit to determine eligibility. Eligible participants will be scheduled for their next visit and will be instructed to abstain from cannabis use for 3 days. Participants will be set up with a phone application (app) and given instructions on its use. This app will send twice daily, random surveys everyday throughout study participation with questions about cannabis use, cravings, and overall mood. Participants will also complete twice daily saliva samples.
At the end of the 3 days, participants will return to the clinic for their second visit. Participants will complete a urine and blood sample at each visit. After eating a snack, participants will receive one dose of CBD (800mg) or placebo and then participate in a stress task. Upon completion of the stress task, participants will complete 3 saliva samples and then be discharged after evaluation by research staff. After the completion of Visit 2, participants will continue to complete twice daily surveys for 10 days. The study will last approximately 14 days.
There are risks involved with participating in this study, including risks associated with CBD, risks associated with the stress task and study procedures, emotional distress from answering personal questions, and loss of confidentiality. There is a risk of experiencing cannabis withdrawal symptoms during the 3-day period of cannabis abstinence. Some potential risks related to CBD include dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness, and fatigue. There is a risk of loss of confidentiality, but the researchers will code the samples and research information to protect privacy. There are no direct benefits to the participant, but we hope the knowledge gained will help us inform future clinical strategies to address cannabis use in emerging adults.
Persistent smell loss that can include diminished or distorted smell function is a common symptom of long COVID syndrome. There are limited treatment options for long COVID-related smell loss. Our study aims to determine the efficacy of two at-home treatments, smell training and non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation. This study requires participants to conduct daily at-home treatment sessions, attend three in-person study visits at the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and complete electronic questionnaires over the 12-week trial, and again at the six-month timepoint. Participants in this trial may benefit directly with an improvement in sense of smell. However, participation may also help society more generally, as this study will provide new information about long COVID-related smell loss and its treatment.
EEG Substudy:
Long COVID syndrome has been associated with cognitive impairment and may be related to affected emotional regulation. This study will use a electroencephalography (EEG) to examine how the body and brain responses to emotional cues in participants who are currently undergoing treatment for COVID-related smell loss. Participation will aid in the understanding of how emotional processing in long COVID is impacted by treatment for related smell loss.
Blood Analysis Substudy:
Alzheimer's Disease can be precedented by other clinical disorders or neuropsychiatric symptoms. Due to the cognitive deficits that can affect those with Long COVID, this sub study will use a blood sample to investigate if there are blood based biomarkers for Alzheimer's in those who report Long COVID symptoms.
This study is for patients that have been diagnosed with Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The purpose of this research study is to determine if lower doses of radiation therapy are as effective as the standard higher doses. Participants will have tests and procedures that would be performed as part of regular care. Participants will be assigned to one of three study groups based on your risk for cancer recurrence. Depending on the group assigned, participants receive either standard dose of radiation therapy (RT), a moderately reduced dose of RT, or an extremely reduced dose of RT. During the RT treatment, participants will also receive chemotherapy. Chemotherapy will be given at the same dose used in routine care for everybody in the study. Participants will be in the study for up to 5 years.