Walking after a lower extremity amputation is often difficult. It is important that researchers and clinicians understand the mechanisms that inhibit normal walking function. In this study, we are recruiting individuals with lower extremity limb loss for a walking and balance investigation. We will also be studying matched healthy controls to do similar study procedures. All study procedures will occur on the campus of MUSC by a licensed Physical Therapist and experienced researcher. Any questions should be directed to the coordinator listed.

This study is for patients that have been diagnosed with Germ Cell Tumors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a strategy of complete surgical resection followed by surveillance can maintain an overall survival rate of at least 95.7% at two years for pediatric, adolescent and adult patients (ages 0- 50 years) with Stage I (low risk) malignant germ cell tumors, and at least 98% for patients with ovarian pure immature teratoma. The drugs used in this study are carboplatin and cisplatin. Participants will be followed for up to 10 years.

This study is for patients who have been diagnosed with a neuroblastoma (NBL). The purpose of this study is to find out if we can improve the treatment for subjects with high-risk NBL by adding the experimental drug 131I-MIBG or the experimental drug Crizotinib to recommended therapy. The secondary purpose is to find out if we can reduce the number of stem cell transplants from two to one if we give the experimental drug 131I-MIBG during Induction, and use different drugs as part of the transplant chemotherapy given prior to stem cell infusion during Consolidation. Participants can expect to be in this study for up to 2 years. Researchers would like to continue to follow participants health for up to 10 years.

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) related pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH) have a worse prognosis than those with idiopathic PAH. We have recently discovered that heart cells in SScPAH do not contract or squeeze as well as in other forms of pulmonary hypertension. However, the mechanism leading to this dysfunction is not understood. To better study this and in hopes of developing a future therapy, we plan to collect tissue samples via a heart biopsy at the time of a clinically indicated heart catheterization.

The purpose of the study is to generate a bio bank of specimens for research. We will tissue that would otherwise be discarded from clinical or surgical procedure and information from medical records. We will also collect discarded blood, urines and sputum. Collecting samples will help to better understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, identify biomarkers for early diagnosis and to predict safety and efficacy of new therapies.

The purpose of this study is to identify and measure refractive errors of the eye as well as visual symptoms after cataract surgery.

If you have a glomerular disease, have had kidney biopsy in the last 5 years, are not on dialysis, and have not had a kidney transplant or was previously enrolled in the NEPTUNE study, you may be eligible to take part in this research study. The purpose of this study is to gather a group of patients with glomerular disease to create a source of information along with your kidney biopsy slides, blood, and urine samples so that researchers can easily and effectively study glomerular disease.

This is an open-label study designed to investigate the feasibility and tolerability of a novel TMS treatment protocol to treat depression in women with post-partum depression. It is known that TMS can effectively treat depression. The FDA approved protocol lasts 6 weeks and is not feasible for many women with post-partum depression. In this study we are investigating 2 accelerated treatment delivery schedules: One in which patients receive treatments on 6 days over 3 weeks and one in which treatments are delivered on 5 days within 8. We are investigating the feasibility, tolerability, and credibility of both schedules which may be more acceptable for this population. We further hope to characterize the anti-depressant effect and durability of this protocol in order to design a larger trial.

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.

Older adults typically have trouble identifying the speech they hear, especially in noisy environments. Fortunately, compared to younger adults, older adults are better able to compensate for difficulties identifying the speech they hear by recruiting the visual system. However, the extent to which older adults can benefit from visual input, and how this influence relates to age-related changes in brain structure and function, have not been thoroughly investigated. The general purpose of this study is to determine how age-related changes in brain structure and function affect how well people hear and see. This study seeks participants with normal hearing to mild hearing loss, who also have normal or corrected-to-normal vision.