Active clinical trials for "Brain Diseases"

The purpose of this study is to begin to develop a device to stabilize the head during stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). SRS is a therapy for brain disorders and cancers that uses a precise dose of radiation to treat a disease, and is different from whole brain radiation. This study aims to stabilize patient head motions during radiation therapy through the use of a special experimental head holder. The investigators would like to first see how the experimental device works in whole brain radiation.

The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with a radioactive compound called [F-18]FDDNP in subjects with suspected Alzheimer's disease or suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to predict clinical decline after one and two years.

The goal of this observational study is to compare the differences in the features of cerebral multifrequency EIT(cMFEIT) images between healthy subjects and patients with brain diseases and to explore the possibility of applying multifrequency EIT to intracranial abnormality detection.16 healthy volunteers and 8 patients with brain diseases were recruited as experimental subjects, and the cerebral EIT data of 9 frequencies in the range of 21 kHz - 100 kHz of all subjects were acquired with an EH-300 MFEIT system.

Systemic inflammation and sepsis cause multi organ failure including severe neurologic impairment in the course of disease. Neurologic failure typically presents as critical-illness-polyneuropathy/-myopathy and septic encephalopathy during sepsis and is associated with an increased mortality rate. Clinical parameters to determine the neurologic entities during the course of sepsis are heterogeneous. Further research for an association of clinical parameters and the patients' outcome is needed. The study aims toward differences in the clinical and neurological outcome of surgical and non-surgical septic patients in comparison to non-septic patients on ICU. The aim of the study is to identify clinical and diagnostic outcome predictors in septic patients.

The patients of the group "sepsis" are measured several times with the non-invasive multi-spectral sonography (Sonovum "ACG-Diagnosesystem") (days 1, 3, 7 and 14). The patients of the group "control" are measured on days 1 and 3 with the system. A measurement takes 3 minutes. For this purpose two ultrasound heads are placed above the patient's ears and fixed with an all-head harness. The device is certified for CE application. There are no known health risks of ultrasound in humans.

3D FLAIR, 3D T1 FAT SAT, coronal T2 and coronal T1 dixon sequences were usually used to assess visual deficits in MRI. Optic nerve examination is preferably performed using a coronal T2 sequence in order to detect a hypersignal suggestive of inflammation whereas brain examination is preferably performed using a 3D FLAIR sequence to highlight signs of spatial dissemination and lesions suggestive of multiple slerosis (MS). Recently, a study based on a small number of patients showed the interest of 3D FLAIR in the detection of the hypersignal of the optic nerve.The objective of this retrospective study is to determine whether a single 3D FLAIR sequence allows simultaneous exploration of the optic nerve and the brain for the positive diagnosis of optic neuropathy and/or MS.

The purpose of this study is to determine the features of clinical imaging, disease severity and pregnancy outcomes in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with preeclampsia or eclampsia.

This is a prospective, clinical, multicentre study aimed to collect biological samples and study microbiota from subjects with Clostridium Difficile (CDI), subjects affected by Multi Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) infection, subjects with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), subjects with Hepatic Encephalopathy and from healthy volunteers. Microbiota is a complex consortium of microorganisms, located at the mucosal level (in particular intestinal, oral and vaginal) having a key role in human health and in the onset of several diseases. Microbiota alterations have been found in several diseases (gastrointestinal, metabolic, renal, oncological, gynaecological) The study will allow to: Provide biological samples (faeces, saliva, blood, urine) from healthy volunteers and patients to the first Italian microbiota biobank; Study microorganisms using different in vitro and in vivo techniques; Study the link between the microbiota and the disease. This study is part of the BIOMIS project (Project Code: ARS01_01220), presented as part of the "Avviso per la presentazione di progetti di ricerca industriale e sviluppo sperimentale nelle 12 aree di specializzazione individuate dal PNR 2015-2020" and admitted to funding under the National Operational Program "Ricerca e Innovazione" 2014-2020 by directorial decree of MIUR - Department for Higher Education and Research - n. 2298 of 12 September 2018. BIOMIS includes several clinical studies that enrol patients with different pathologies to collect and store biological samples and study microbiota.

Background: - Moebius syndrome limits the ability to make facial expressions like smile, frown or blink - and move the eyes laterally. It can also cause speech, swallowing or breathing difficulties and affect parts of the body, such as the limbs, jaw, muscles, or the heart. Some individuals with Moebius can have intellectual impairment or behavior problems. Researchers want to study the clinical features of individuals with Moebius or related disorders and explore the genetic and/or environmental causes of these conditions. Objective: - To learn more about the genetics and clinical characteristics of Moebius syndrome and other Congenital Facial Weakness disorders. Eligibility: - People ages 2 to 80 years with congenital facial weakness, isolated or combined with other congenital anomalies, and their family members. Design: Participants with Moebius syndrome or other congenital facial weakness disorder will be evaluated at the NIH Clinical Research Center over 3 to 5 days and undergo the following procedures: Medical and family history and physical examination, including body measurements and vital signs. Blood or saliva will be collected for genetic tests and to evaluate liver, kidney, heart and hormonal functions. Eye examination, including having a video taken of their eyes moving. Hearing evaluation. Speech and language assessment, including swallowing studies. Dental exam. Detailed neurological evaluation, including electromyogram/nerve conduction and blink reflex study. Rehabilitation medicine evaluation, including muscle and tongue strength testing and assessment of balance. Neurocognitive and behavioral testing and questionnaires to assess quality of life and copying mechanisms. Imaging studies of their head, by magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging -MRI/DTI. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a metal cylinder that takes images of internal body structures using magnets. Child participants may be sedated. Some adults may have additional X-rays of their head or limbs, if there are abnormal findings. Medical photographs of the face and affected body parts may be taken. Other specialized tests or consultations, as indicated. Participants can choose to have a skin biopsy taken. A follow-up visit will be offered to participants for review of genetic test findings and possibly additional clinical tests, as indicated. Family members of the patients will have a medical and family history and physical examination. Blood or saliva will be obtained for genetic studies.

The trial will evaluate the use of the "Neurological Pupil index" NPi, measured with the digital pupillometer (NeurOptics) compared to clinical examination for better reliability. The investigators hypothesize that digital evaluation will offer a higher sensitivity/ specificity compared to clinical examination.