Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries"

Amantadine hydrochloride is one of the drugs given at rehabilitation programs to people who suffered Acquired Brain Injury in order to expedite recovery and improve functioning. A previous study examined the spatially asymmetric allocation of attention in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Patients demonstrated significantly worse performance with leftward than with rightward cross-hemi field shifts of attention. This is reminiscence of neglect patients. This difference was significantly reduced during and following treatment. Our objective is to investigate whether Amantadine Hydrochloride is effective in improving allocation of spatial attention and improving function in people with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Blood samples will be drawn on traumatic brain injury patients who are participating in the ProTECT III study.

This hypothesis-generating feasibility study to determine potential associations between a broad range of clinical neurological symptoms and Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI), data, and clinical findings involved in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These associations will be examined over the acute and sub-acute period (baseline to 3 months) following injury to provide information useful for optimization of MR pulse sequences for mTBI applications. The intent of this study is to broadly generate a range of potential mTBI biomarkers detectable using investigational MR pulse sequence technologies. Feasibility data attained in this study may be used for engineering program decision-making and in support of future scientific assessment, engineering development, published research databases or registries mTBI data and images, and other purposes determined by the Sponsor. The results of this study are not intended for use in regulatory submissions. Subjects will be examined on commercially available MR scanner using investigational or standard of care MR coils and a series of investigational Application Packs containing a predetermined set of MR pulse sequences optimized by Sponsor

The purpose of study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells therapy in patients with anaerobic (hypoxic) brain injury. Stem cell therapy is an emerging alternative treatment modality in incurable and intractable neurological disorders. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of stem cells in anaerobic brain injury.

Cardiac pathology is a major risk for brain injury and neurodevelopmental deficit. The most common cause of cardiac pathology is congenital heart defects (CHD) about 4-8/1000 live births a year. The most common etiology of the brain insult is hypoxic ischemic injury (HII) as result of hemodynamic instability in the perioperative period. Similar insults in adults with cardiac arrest or infants with neonatal asphyxia, was successfully treated with hypothermia, initiated within 6 hours after the event. Although, hypothermia is most likely an effective treatment for HII in children with cardiac anomaly, it also carries a risk for bleeding or infection of the surgical wound. In this randomized control trial, hypothermia treatment will be compared to normothermia treatment of patients in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) following severe HII in the PCICU or operating room. The effect will be quantified by MRI, serum biomarkers of brain injury, amplitude integrated EEG, neurological evaluation coagulation and infection evaluation in the acute phase and by developmental assessment at 1, 6 months and 2, 5 years. Favorable effect of hypothermia with minimal risks may open the door for the implementation of hypothermia as a standard care in PCICUs.

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of virtual reality based mirror therapy (VMT) on individuals with acquired brain injury when compared to a control group receiving traditional mirror therapy (TMT). This is a randomized controlled pilot study in which patients with hemiplegia will be assigned to VMT or TMT and the impact on upper extremity function will be observed.

This study compares the efficacy and complication rates of early (24 hours) versus late (72 hours) VTE prophylaxis administration to TBI patients. Patients in both treatment groups will be monitored for development of VTE as well as complications from bleeding after commencement of VTE prophylaxis.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most frequent cause of motor handicap among children. The economic burden of CP in USA includes $1.18 billion in direct medical costs, $1.05 billion in direct non-medical costs, and an additional $9.24 billion in indirect costs, for a total cost of $11.5 billion or $921,000 average cost per person. Associated disabilities as mental retardation, delayed speech development add psychological burden of the disease on the family as well as economic burden. Mental retardation is the major problem in children with cerebral palsy. Improving mental development will have a positive effect on quality of life for the child and his family. Treating associated impairments (mental retardation) with Cerebrolysin will improve mental development and quality of life, and will decrease the economic burden in children with cerebral palsy.

This hypothesis-generating feasibility study compares mTBI Patients and Controls using advanced MRI Applications.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in people under age 45 in industrialized countries. Significant numbers of US veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan return with TBI. However, to date, there are no specific neuroprotective treatment options with proven clinical efficacy. Erythropoietin (EPO) is approved by the FDA to treat anemia and has comprehensive preclinical data supporting its neuroprotective and neuroregenerative efficacy following traumatic (TBI) and a wide range of other acquired brain insults. Injury to small and medium-sized cerebral blood vessels is a well recognized consequence of TBI. EPO increases production of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and promotes angiogenesis and neovascularization after TBI. EPO also promotes neurogenesis and improves functional recovery in animals after experimental stroke and TBI. Neovascularization is coupled with neurogenesis, and augmentation of both processes by EPO may result in lessened cognitive deficits. Neovascularization by EPO may prevent post-traumatic deficits in cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), which can be measured noninvasively using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This proposal is for a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial designed to obtain data on the effects of EPO in humans with persistent post-concussive symptoms after TBI. The primary objective is to evaluate effect of 4 week administration of recombinant erythropoietin on numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with persistent symptoms during the subacute period after TBI. This information will guide the design of a future definitive study.