Active clinical trials for "Atrophy"

Endoscopy is a tool that has greatly influenced gastroenterological diagnosis. However, conventional endoscopy is limited to detecting lesions on the basis of gross morphological changes and therefore a certainly diagnosis depends on biopsy sampling of macroscopically obvious endoscopic features, or blind biopsy sampling of normal appearing mucosa with the risk of missed pathology and sampling errors. Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death. One of the main roles of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is to identify gastric cancer at an early stage. The importance of identifying H. pylori infection is because it plays a very important role in gastric carcinogenesis, progressing from chronic gastritis through atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and finally cancer. The importance of recognition a precancerous gastric lesion is because we can detect most tumors at an early stage and improve the survival. Most studies conclude that it is difficult to diagnose H. pylori related gastritis and gastric atrophy on the basis of endoscopic findings. Histology is therefore currently considered to be the gold standard for detecting H. pylori infection. The reliability of detecting H. pylori infection histologically depends on the site, number, and size of gastric biopsy specimens, as well as on expertise in staining and visualizing the bacteria. Considerable error also occurs in identifying gastric atrophy using blind biopsy sampling, and neither the original nor the revised version of the Sydney system reliably identifies more than half the cases in patients with confirmed gastric atrophy.

This study will examine the influence of n3 PUFA supplementation on the rate of muscle atrophy in women undergoing 2 weeks of unilateral limb immobilization. Assessments in skeletal muscle strength and skeletal muscle volume will also me made before, after and in recovery from immobilization.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the measurement properties of the Ability Captured Through Interactive Video Evaluation-mini (ACTIVE-mini) for quantifying movement in infants with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Specifically, I will investigate within-day and between-day test-retest reliability and calculate the minimal detectable change of the ACTIVE-mini. Additionally, I will determine the concurrent validity of the ACTIVE-mini with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test for Neuromuscular Disease (CHOP INTEND) and the construct validity of the ACTIVE-mini in infants with SMA using a known group methodology.

Observational study of adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy types 2 and 3 receiving nusinersen

This study aims to characterize the clinical-epidemiological profile and baseline characteristics of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) 5q types II and III in follow-up at the Brazilian Unified Public Health System (SUS). The study data will be based on patients´ medical records from several Brazilian public hospitals, which will be defined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MS).

The loss of muscle mass post-surgery confounds recovery efforts and leads to a delay in patient's ability to return to activities. Although the use of testosterone in aging and chronic muscle loss has been investigated, this study could prove short-term use of testosterone efficacious in preventing muscle atrophy due to surgery. We hypothesize that by bracketing an indexed knee surgery with testosterone undecanoate injections, post-surgical quadriceps muscle loss may be minimized. Determination of the effect of intra-muscular (IM) testosterone injections in preventing quadriceps muscle loss are measured by serial MRI and manual measurements of quadriceps cross-section.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a disorder of the nervous system of unclear cause. In MSA there is degeneration (progressive loss) of nerve cells in several brain and spinal cord regions. The result is a variety of symptoms, from physical (parkinsonism, ataxia, incoordination, falls, slowness) to autonomic (fainting, bladder incontinence, sexual dysfunction) to sleep problems (dream enactment, sleep apnea). This research aims to help us better understand the patterns and timing of nerve degeneration relatively early in the disease, and how this affects symptoms and progression. For instance: Does MSA affect certain nerves that stimulate heart pumping? If so, does the severity of loss of heart nerves affect disease progression and survival? It is thought that MSA does not affect memory and thinking much, unlike other diseases (such as Parkinson's). Is this accurate? Is there loss of nerves that transmit acetylcholine (a neurochemical important in mental functioning)? What can we learn about mood and sleep in MSA, through visualizing the serotonin system in the brain? How does this relate to symptoms that subjects report in these often underappreciated areas? To answer these and other questions, investigators will take images of specific nerves in the brain and heart using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. Such imaging gives us information that cannot be obtained from MRIs and CT scans. We will measure the levels of several nerve cell types: serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. Subjects will also have many standardized assessments including quality-of-life and symptom assessments, neurological examination, autonomic assessments, neuropsychological assessments, coordination tests, and even assessments of vision and sense of smell. By pooling these results from many MSA patients, and comparing with other diseases (such as Parkinson's disease) we hope to gain a better understanding of what is happening early in MSA. Such knowledge could be very valuable in future efforts to develop better therapies in this rare disease.

The purpose of this study is To examine if Avaonex can delay the development of clinically definite multiple sclerosis. To investigate if Avonex can delay disability progression by slowing brain atrophy.

Background: - Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited disease. It causes weakness in muscles used for swallowing, breathing, and speaking. SBMA mainly affects men, but women can carry the gene for it. Researchers think there may be a link between SBMA and excess fat in the liver. Objective: - To look for fatty liver and liver injury in people with SBMA, people with motor neuron disease, and people who carry the gene for SBMA. Eligibility: Adults 18 years and older who have SBMA, have motor neuron disease, or are carriers of SBMA. Healthy adult volunteers. Design: Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Participants will have 1 outpatient visit of 1-2 days. Women will have a urine pregnancy test. All participants will have: Blood tests. Liver ultrasound. A probe is placed on the abdomen at certain locations and angles and takes pictures. The painless procedure takes 20-30 minutes. Liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The MRI scanner is a metal cylinder with a magnetic field. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of it. They will be in the scanner for about 30 minutes. They will get earplugs for loud noises. Some participants with abnormal liver testing will have a biopsy (small piece) of the liver taken. The biopsy site will be located with ultrasound, then cleaned and numbed. The physician will quickly pass a needle in and out of the liver while the participants holds their breath. Afterward, participants will be monitored in bed for 6 hours. Participants may return for follow-up and another 1-2 day outpatient visit yearly for up to 2 years.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disorder that affects the motor neurons. SMA is caused by a mutation in a part of the DNA called the survival motor neuron (SMN1) gene, which normally produces a protein called SMN. Because of their gene mutation, people with SMA make less SMN protein, which results in the loss of motor neurons. SMA symptoms may be improved by increasing the levels of SMN protein. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a drug called a histone deacetylase inhibitor can increase SMN levels. After undergoing a general medical and neurological evaluation, study participants will donate a blood sample. Researchers will use this sample to measure SMN levels. They will also isolate cells from the blood and treat the cells with various drugs that may increase SMN levels.