Active clinical trials for "Brain Diseases"

Background: Cerebrovascular accident [CVA or commonly known as stroke] and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common causes of morbidity, and motor impairments. Many stroke and TBI patients encounter severe functional impairments of their arm and/or hand. Recent studies have indicated that robotic training can improve upper limb function by enabling repetitive, adaptive, and intensive training. One type of robotic training is error enhancement during three-dimensional movements. The goal of this approach is to elicit better accuracy, stability, fluidity and range of motion during reaching. Previous research indicated the potential of robotic training with error enhancement as a viable clinical intervention for individuals facing motor deficits. Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new robotic system based on error enhancement and intended for rehabilitation of motor hand functions of post-stroke and TBI patients. Methods: A randomized, multi-center study with an open-label design. The study sample will consist of 96 participants who will be randomized into 2 separate groups. The intervention group consisting of 48 patients will receive training with the new robotic system, while the control group consisting of additional 48 patients will receive only standard practice treatments (with no exposure to the new robotic system). The outcomes of safety (adverse events and treatment tolerability), and efficacy (motor function, speed, tone, and spasticity) will be assessed and compared between the two groups. The assessment of the outcomes will be conducted at four different time points: (1) prior to the initiation of the four-week intervention, (2) after 2 weeks of intervention, (3) at the conclusion of the intervention, and (4) at a three-month follow-up session.

Sleep difficulties are common following stroke yet effective evidence-based interventions for improving sleep in this population are lacking. A small number of studies have investigated the use of music listening as a way to improve sleep in adults with insomnia. This study aims to examine whether a mindful music-listening intervention can reduce subjective and objective insomnia symptoms and improve mood and fatigue post-stroke. Six adults with a clinical diagnosis of stroke presenting with an insomnia disorder will be recruited from stroke services within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. A multiple baseline single case experimental design will be employed. Participants will be randomly allocated to a baseline phase of 7, 11 or 15 days, followed by a five-week mindful music-listening intervention incorporating sleep hygiene. Changes in subjective and objective sleep will be measured using questionnaires and actigraphy, respectively. Mood and fatigue will also be measured. The data will be analysed using visual inspection, Tau-U and multi-level modelling.

Background: Depressed Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is common among critically ill patient s in the intensive care unit (ICU). It is one of the main reasons that hampers liberation from mechanical ventilation among ICU patients. Caffeine is commonly used in neonates for the treatment of apnea of prematurity. However, its efficacy has not been established in adult population. Objective: To find out the efficacy of oral caffeine in shortening duration of mechanical ventilation among adult patients. Hypothesis: Oral caffeine is effective as a central nervous system stimulant among adult patients with depressed GCS. Study design: Multi-center, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial Population: Adult patients (≥ 21 years old) with GCS ≤ 8 from any causes (excluding surgically reversible causes) requiring continuation of mechanical ventilation, whom acute medical issues are stable or has resolved but not suitable for extubation solely due to depressed GCS, not planned for any surgical procedures within 24 hours and not on sedative agents for at least 24 hours, will be included in this study. For patients with primary Central Nervous System (CN lesions, neurologist or neurosurgeon approval will be obtained prior to recruitment. The exclusion criteria include known allergy or adverse reactions from caffeine, pregnant women, breast-feeding women, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension, hyperactive delirium, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD, any stage) who received midazolam or morphine infusion, patients who received barbiturate coma, patients who are on theophylline, aminophylline or psychotropic agents at the point of screening for recruitment, patients with feed intolerant, short bowel syndrome and active seizures. Intervention: Oral caffeine citrate 5mg/kg/dose twice a day (8am, 2pm) vs placebo Outcomes: Primary - Duration of mechanical ventilation Secondary - ICU mortality, 30-days mortality, ICU length of stay, blood pressure, heart rate, incidence of arrhythmia, GCS, incidence of re-intubation and need for tracheostomy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy is also known as 'birth asphyxia related brain injury' and happens when the brain does not receive enough oxygen or blood flow around the time of birth. Birth asphyxia related brain injury is the most common cause of death and neurodisability in term babies. Cooling therapy has substantially improved the outcomes of babies with HIE. However, unacceptably high rate of adverse outcomes are still seen in cooled babies with HIE. The EDEN trial is a 2 arm randomised control trial and aims to examine the physiological effects of Darbepoetin alfa (Darbe) therapy on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy thalamic N-acetylaspartate (NAA) level in babies with neonatal encephalopathy undergoing cooling therapy. A total of 150 babies with neonatal encephalopathy will be recruited from the participating sites in UK over a 24 month period. The babies will be randomly allocated to darbepoetin or usual care. MR imaging and spectroscopy will be performed at 1 to 2 weeks of age to examine the brain injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes will be assessed at 18 months of age.

Hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury (HIBI) is the main cause of death in patients who are comatose after resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Current guidelines recommend to target a mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 65 mmHg to achieve an adequate organ perfusion. Moreover, after cardiac arrest, cerebral autoregulation is dysregulated and cerebral blood flow (CBF) depends on the MAP. A higher blood pressure target could improve cerebral perfusion and HIBI. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a non-invasive method to study CBF and its variations induced by MAP. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of an early-goal directed hemodynamic management with TCD during the first 12 hours after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization via a minimally invasive endovascular approach might increase the likelihood of resolution and might prevent reaccumulation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma (CSDH). The purpose of the OTEMACS Trial is to assess the safety and effect on recurrence rate and functional outcome of endovascular treatment in patients with CSDH.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndromes (MDS) are a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders that are characterized by a severe reduction in mtDNA content leading to impaired energy production in affected tissues and organs. MDS are due to defects in mtDNA maintenance caused by mutations in nuclear genes that function in either mitochondrial nucleotide synthesis. MDS are phenotypically heterogeneous and usually classified as myopathic, encephalomyopathic, hepatocerebral or neurogastrointestinal. No efficacious therapy is available for any of these disorders. Affected individuals should have a comprehensive evaluation to assess the degree of involvement of different systems. Treatment is directed mainly toward providing symptomatic management. No treatment for MDS. Clinical trials studies and in vitro/in vivo research studies showed that the enhancement of the salvage pathway by increasing the availability of deoxyribonucleosides needed for each specific genetic defect prevents mtDNA depletion. Early recognition and immediate therapy to restore mitochondrial function could potentially improve clinical course. Confirming the benefit of deoxynucleosides as a safe and potentially efficacious therapy, will lead to the availability of the first specific and effective treatment for Mitochondria Depletion Disorders. In this phase II Trial a mix of Deoxynucleosides Pyrimidine (Deoxycytidine dC and Deoxythymidine dT) will be used as early treatment of MDS. The dose used has been already used in other clinical trials, and appears to effective and well-tolerated. The subjects included are children (0-18Y), with positive MDS diagnosis and express mutations in one of the following genes: POLG, C10orf2, RRM2B, MPV17, SUCLA2, SUCLG1, FBXL4. Subjects with MDS expressing neurological phenotypes dysfunction.

The objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of a immunophenotype-adapted approach using CAR T-cells in patients with high-risk, refractory or relapsed B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

This study is a multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. The research content is 1. The improvement effect of Bifidobacterium triple viable capsules（BIFICO） on motor symptoms and constipation and sleep in mild to moderate Parkinson's disease and the safety of the study; 2. the mechanism of the improvement effect of intestinal microecological changes on motor and constipation symptoms in mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.

The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of NBI-921352 as adjunctive therapy for seizures in subjects with SCN8A Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Syndrome (SCN8A-DEE).