Characterization of Manual Dexterity by Finger Force Manipuladum (FFM) in Patients With Writer's...
Dystonic DisorderFocal Dystonia1 moreWriter's cramp is a focal dystonia characterized by abnormal movements and postures during writing. Limited finger independence during writing manifests as difficulty suppressing unwanted activations of neighbouring non task-relevant fingers. Patients with Writer's cramp also have difficulty in fine control of grip force. The investigators have recently developed the Finger Force Manipulandum which quantifies the forces applied by each fingers in different tasks. This method is sensitive for detection and quantification of small unwanted contractions in non-active ('stationary') fingers. Different tasks have been developed to assess abilities such as finger individuation but also fine finger force control, finger movement regularity and speed. The aim of this study is to assess if developed tasks allow to precisely characterize writer's cramp condition in terms of abilities aforementioned. To do so, performance of 20 writer's cramp patients in the developed task will be compared with performance of 20 control participants (matched in age, sex and writing hand) in the same tasks.
Effectiveness of Duspatalin® in Patients With Post-cholecystectomy Gastrointestinal Spasm
Post-cholecystectomy Gastrointestinal SpasmsProspective, multicenter, non-comparative, observational program designed to assess the effectiveness of a 2-6 weeks treatment with Duspatalin® 200mg bis in die = twice a day (BID) and changes in quality of life in patients with post-cholecystectomy gastro-intestinal spasms
Addition of Pudendal Blocks to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for the Treatment of Pelvic Floor Tension...
Pelvic Floor Muscle SpasmPelvic floor tension myalgia (PFTM) is increasingly noted in patients with chronic pelvic pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy is typically utilized and is at times combined with other therapies such as botox injections, trigger point injections or pudendal blocks. The investigators' study will randomize newly diagnosed patients with PFTM to weekly . Final patient assessment will be performed at 6 months to assess durability of response. Primary hypothesis: The addition of pudendal blocks to standard pelvic floor physical therapy will result in lower pain and pelvic floor muscle tension scores, lower baseline vaginal pressure and increase pelvic floor strength. Secondary hypothesis: The addition of pudendal blocks to standard pelvic floor physical therapy will result in a lower pain score in a shorter time frame, resulting in faster progress through physical therapy.
Prevention of Leg Cramps Using Compression Stockings or Magnesium Supplements in the Age Group of...
Muscle CrampStockings2 moreLeg cramps are painful sensations of tightening in the muscles of the legs, that are often associated with secondary insomnia. They are common especially at an older age. There is no evidence that any method of prevention of nocturnal leg cramps would be both safe and effective. There are no previous trials concerning cramp prevention by using compression stockings. The objective of this study is to assess in a prospective randomised controlled trial whether leg cramps can be prevented by daily use of knee-length compression stockings or magnesium supplements.
Nitrate Use to Obtain Radial Spasm Embarrassment (NURSE - TTS Trial)
Radial Artery SpasmTransradial cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention are increasingly being performed worldwide in elective and emergency procedures, with many centres adopting the transradial route as their first choice of arterial access. One of the most common complications encountered during transradial procedures is radial artery spasm. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the use of transdermal Glyceryl trinitrate patches applied to skin before cardiac catheterization to prevent the occurrence of radial artery spasm during transradial access cardiac catheterization.
Pharmacokinetics of Understudied Drugs Administered to Children Per Standard of Care
AdenovirusAnesthesia57 moreUnderstudied drugs will be administered to children per standard of care as prescribed by their treating caregiver and only biological sample collection during the time of drug administration will be involved. A total of approximately 7000 children aged <21 years who are receiving these drugs for standard of care will be enrolled and will be followed for up a maximum of 90 days. The goal of this study is to characterize the pharmacokinetics of understudied drugs for which specific dosing recommendations and safety data are lacking. The prescribing of drugs to children will not be part of this protocol. Taking advantage of procedures done as part of routine medical care (i.e. blood draws) this study will serve as a tool to better understand drug exposure in children receiving these drugs per standard of care. The data collected through this initiative will also provide valuable pharmacokinetic and dosing information of drugs in different pediatric age groups as well as special pediatric populations (i.e. obese).
Nocturnal Leg Cramps in Geneva : an Observational Study
Sleep Wake Transition DisordersNocturnal Leg CrampsBackground : Nocturnal leg cramps (NLC) are defined as painful involuntary contractions of the lower limbs occurring during prolonged periods of rest, typically during the night. They may cause severe pain and sleep disturbance, and are particularly common among older adults, though they can occur in all decades of life. They are frequently unreported to physicians. To the investigators' knowledge, no epidemiological studies have been conducted in Switzerland, but in a general population survey carried out in the UK (n=233), the overall prevalence of NLC was 37% and the disorder was more prevalent in older subjects (>80 years old: 54%). Of those who experienced NLC, 40% had cramps three or more times per week and 6% nightly. Another study performed in older US veterans (n=515) showed that 56% suffered from NLC. The precise cause of these cramps is unclear. Most NLC occurring in adults appear to be idiopathic, but potential contributing factors include low levels of certain minerals, extracellular fluid volume depletion and prolonged sitting or inappropriate leg position during sedentary activity. Research question : What are the prevalence and the main features of NLC in patients consulting primary care physicians (PCPs) in Geneva, and how do PCPs treat this affection? Primary objective : To compute the prevalence of NLC in patients consulting PCPs in Geneva, explore its main features (number, duration, severity and sleep disturbance) and assess how PCPs treat this affection. Study design : Prospective observational study using questionnaire and daily log completed by patients.
Sensorimotor Mapping in Patients With Writer's Cramp
Writer's CrampWriter's cramp (WC) is a form of focal dystonia, a movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive movements, postures, or both. It typically manifests while writing, making handwriting impossible in the most severe cases. Treatment can be difficult, but one effective and well-tolerated treatment consists in local muscle injections with botulinum toxin. Although clinical improvement seems to be related to focal muscle chemodenervation, central plasticity changes may occur. The main aim of the study is to characterize and quantify the changes in intrinsic hand muscle cortical representations at rest and during isometric contractions of the finger muscles before and after treatment with botulinum toxin and the changes in sensorimotor integration in patients with writer's cramp.
Molecular Genetics in Infantile Spasms
Infantile SpasmsWest SyndromeInfantile Spasms syndrome (ISs) is a characterized by epileptic spasms occurring in clusters with an onset in the first year of life. West syndrome represents a subset of ISs that associates spasms in clusters, a hypsarrhythmia EEG pattern and a developmental arrest or regression. Aetiology of ISs is widely heterogeneous including many genetic causes. Many patients, however, remain without etiological diagnosis, which is critical for prognostic purpose and genetic counselling. In the present study, the investigators performed genetic screening of 73 patients with different types of ISs by array-CGH and molecular analysis of 5 genes: CDKL5, STXBP1, KCNQ2, and GRIN2A, whose mutations cause different types of epileptic encephalopathies, including ISs, as well as MAGI2, which was suggested to be related to a subset of ISs.
Hemifacial Spasm and Desflurane
Hemifacial SpasmPatients are chosen to participate in this study because they will undergo a particular type of brain surgery to treat their hemifacial spasm. This surgery is called microvascular decompression (MVD) and involves the facial nerve. The facial nerve is being compressed by one or more blood vessels and this contact produces the facial twitches. The investigators do not know why a blood vessel that touches the facial nerve produces facial twitches. The investigators are interested in investigating this during your surgery. A total of 25 participants are expected to participate in this study.