Active clinical trials for "Autonomic Nervous System Diseases"

The project will be pursued in our respiratory, autonomic nervous system physiology laboratory (Respiratory, autonomic nervous system physiology laboratory, Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital; Head of Department: Professor Michael Dreher). Overactivity of the sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) axis with "centrally" increased heart rate and peripheral vasoconstriction is a known phenomenon in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) and has recently been described in patients with primary lung disease as seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, systematic analyses on this clinically relevant topic are currently lacking. Thus, using a comprehensive, multimodal approach and state-of-the-art technology, this research project is designed to determine the extent and nature of increased SNA in COPD (AIM 1) and evaluate the underlying mechanisms (AIM 2). The project will address the following hypotheses: In COPD, concomitant obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with increased SNA. Precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH), inspiratory muscle dysfunction and systemic inflammation describe a COPD phenotype characterised by increased SNA with a different subtype.

Studying the causal roles of components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (including angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Ang II, and ACE), uric acid, and klotho in pediatric hypertension and related target organ injury, including in the heart, kidneys, vasculature, and brain. Recruiting children with a new hypertension diagnosis over a 2-year period from the Hypertension and Pediatric Nephrology Clinics affiliated with Brenner Children's Hospital at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital. Healthy control participants will be recruited from local general primary care practices. Collecting blood and urine samples to analyze components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (Ang-(1-7), ACE2, Ang II, ACE), uric acid, and klotho, and measuring blood pressure, heart structure and function, autonomic function, vascular function, and kidney function at baseline, year 1, and year 2. Objectives are to investigate phenotypic and treatment response variability and to causally infer if Ang-(1-7), ACE2, Ang II, ACE, uric acid, and klotho contribute to target organ injury due to hypertension.

This is a randomized, single-blinded, triple crossover study focused on determining the feasibility of using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment of Parkinson's disease related autonomic dysfunction and depression. Participants will undergo TMS to three brain regions: medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) (experimental site), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (alternative experimental site), or primary sensory cortex (S1) (control site) in a triple crossover design. Participants will complete symptom questionnaires, neurologic examination and cognitive assessments, and orthostatic vital signs recording before and after each brain stimulation session.

This prospective observational study aims to investigate the association between the autonomic dysfunction and hemodynamic instability during per-oral endoscopic myotomy under general anesthesia in achalasia patients. Per-oral endoscopic myotomy is known as the effective treatment for achalasia patients. During per-oral endoscopic myotomy, capnoperitoneum, capnomediastinum, and systemic CO2 accumulation can potentially impair hemodynamics. Moreover, it has been suggested that achalasia is associated with autonomic dysfunction. We hypothesized that patients with autonomic dysfunstion would esperience more hemodynamic instability during per-oral endoscopic myotomy compared with patients without autonomic dysfunction. In this prospective observational study, the autonomic function test will be performed before surgery, and advanced hemodynamic parameters will be recorded using EV1000 clinical platform (Edwards Lifesciences, USA) during surgery. The association between the autonomic dysfunction and hemodynamic instability during per-oral endoscopic myotomy will be analyzed.

This trial uses a double blinded, randomized 1:1 (active:sham) placebo controlled, parallel group design, investigating the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The main objective is to evaluate whether adjuvant treatment with tVNS in SLE patients with signs of autonomic dysfunction and fatigue improves patient perceived levels of fatigue. Secondary outcomes include tVNS induced changes to: patient reported outcomes, autonomic nervous system function, SLE disease activity, immunologic profile, tolerability of pain and organ (cardiac, vascular and kidney) functions. Participants are randomized to received either active non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) or inactive sham stimulation. The study period is divided in two periods. The first period investigates the effects of short-term, high-intensity tVNS treatment. The second phase investigates the effects of long-term, middle-intensity tVNS treatment.

The Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP) has collaborated with doctors from around the world to build the first International ROHHAD (Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic Dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation) REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) Registry. This registry is an international collaboration with ROHHAD patients and their physicians recruited from around the world. The purpose of this IRB-approved research study is to gain a better understanding of the various health problems ROHHAD patients face with advancing age, and how these relate to each patient's specific medical course. With a better understanding of specific ROHHAD and associated clinical manifestations, we will be able to better anticipate healthcare needs and to provide more accurate guidelines to healthcare providers world-wide in caring for patients with ROHHAD. The study aims to obtain detailed phenotypic information (information about health and well-being) on patients with ROHHAD. Participation would require filling out a confidential survey that asks questions regarding health and past medical history. Involvement in the project is completely voluntary and there is no compensation for taking part. However, this project will help us learn more about this devastating disease, with the goal of advancing treatment.

Biomarkers can be evaluated to provide information about disease presence or intensity and treatment efficacy. By recording these biomarkers through noninvasive clinical techniques, it is possible to gain information about the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which involuntarily regulates and adapts organ systems in the body. Machine learning and signal processing methods have made it possible to quantify the behavior of the ANS by statistically analyzing recorded signals. This work will aim to systematically measure ANS function by multiple modalities and use decoding algorithms to derive an index that reflects overall ANS function and/or balance in healthy able-bodied individuals. Additionally, this study will determine how transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a noninvasive method of stimulating the vagus nerve without surgery, affects the ANS function. Data from this research will enable the possibility of detecting early and significant changes in ANS from "normal" homeostasis to diagnose disease onset and assess severity to improve treatment protocols.

Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is part of the body's autonomic nervous system(PNS) protects body against inflammation. Study shows that reduced PNS function activity is associated with persistent inflammation. Preliminary data from the studies shows, that post-COVID-19 POTS patients have reduced parasympathetic (PNS) function. Given that the PNS protects against inflammation, this clinical trial aims to prove that post-COVID-19 POTS is caused by reduced PNS activity, which in turn, contributes to persistent inflammation, orthostatic intolerance, and OI symptoms. The study will evaluate immune cell activation in post-COVID-19 POTS and patients with history of COVID-19 infection without sequelae and correlate this with the degree of decreased PNS activity.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common, deadly, and costly, and adults with insomnia represent a large group of people at elevated risk of developing CVD in the future. This clinical trial will determine if our updated insomnia treatment, called the SHADES intervention, improves CVD factors thought to explain how insomnia promotes CVD and if these improvements are due to positive changes in sleep factors. A total of 200 primary care patients with insomnia and CVD risk factors will be randomized to 6 months of the SHADES intervention (internet, telephonic, and/or face-to-face cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia) or the active control condition (sleep education/hygiene, symptom monitoring, and primary care for insomnia). Before and after treatment, participants will complete measurements of the CVD factors (systemic inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic dysregulation, proinflammatory gene expression) and the sleep factors (insomnia symptoms, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency). Researchers will test whether the SHADES intervention produces greater improvements in the CVD factors than the active control condition.

Background: Most people who are referred to the EMG (Electromyography) Section of the NIH are enrolled into specific active studies. This allows researchers to learn about a range of rare neuromuscular disorders. But study criteria may not give researchers the chance to evaluate a single person or study a common symptom. Therefore, researchers want to assess people with neuromuscular disorders who are not currently enrolled in any NIH studies. They will perform tests on these individuals in the EMG Lab. Then they will create a repository of data that may be used for future research. This will help them learn more about these disorders. Objective: To retain data that is collected as part of participant visits to the NIH. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older who will be visiting the NIH for evaluation of their neuromuscular disorder. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical record review. Participants will have a physical exam. They will be evaluated for their neuromuscular disorder. They may have tests to learn more about how their nerves and muscles work that are called nerve conduction and EMG studies. Their muscles and nerves may be assessed with an ultrasound. Their ability to sweat may be measured. Their heart rate and blood pressure may be taken. Changes to their breathing or changes in their body position may be measured. Participant data will be given a unique numerical identifier that can be used if the data is shared. Data will be stored on a server and in a database. Participants will have 1-2 visits. Each visit will last less than 4 hours. They may be contacted for a follow-up visit.