Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

The use of imaging is increasing in clinical practice, either for diagnosis or intervention. In these imaging processes, contrast medium (CM) is widely used. However, CM administration can induce contrast-induced nephropathy (CI-AKI). CI-AKI is the third most common cause of renal insufficiency, and its incidence varies from 2% to 50% depending on patient risk factors; in addition, studies have shown that CI-AKI occurs in 2% to 25% of patients undergoing coronary intervention. CI-AKI is associated with significant mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing coronary angiography or other diagnostic contrast studies. We assessed the latest promising evidence on the ability of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) to reduce the incidence of CI-AKI in patients undergoing Coronary Angiogram (CA) or diagnostic contrast studies such as CT angiogram, while at the same time being a non-invasive, low cost, easy, and safe method with absence of adverse effects. However, more randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results. The aim of this study is to minimize the incidence of CI-AKI at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). If found to be an effective method, RIPC would help minimize the incidence of CI-AKI in all institutions across the globe, who would adopt this intervention. The primary objective: i) reduce the rise in creatinine to < 0.5 mg/dL post-CA in moderate to high risk patients and ii) reduce the incidence of renal replacement therapy post-CA in moderate to high risk patients; iii) we also aim to establish that RIPC is safe and effective. We hypothesize that the use of RIPC, when added to standard medical therapy (pre-and post-CA hydration), will mitigate the effects of contrast on the renal vasculature and lessen the incidence of CI-AKI in moderate to high risk patients at the University of Texas Medical Branch. The use of iodinated contrast to visually enhance target vasculature is a widely used diagnostic technique that is performed daily at UTMB, and around the world, for the diagnosis and management of a variety of conditions. A common complication of this procedure is acute kidney injury (AKI), generally referred to as contrast-induced nephropathy (CI-AKI). This complication can range from an isolated rise in serum creatinine to severe renal dysfunction necessitating renal replacement therapy. The incidence of CI-AKI has been reported as approximately 2-50%, depending upon the definition and sensitivity of assay employed to assess GFR in the hospital setting. In addition, CI-AKI is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. If proven to be beneficial, RIPC will bring about a reduction in incidence of CI-AKI, and thus help to reduce hospitalization and mortality from renal etiology following a given contrast procedure.

The aim of the present randomized trial is to assess the efficacy of wound drains in terms of reducing the rates of surgical site infection in obese patients with gynecological cancer.

The investigator's overall goal is to develop new strategies to test optimization of Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) doses to maximize strategy to restore upper and lower-limb motor function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The investigator proposes to use modern electrophysiological methods to enhance the efficacy of residual corticospinal connections. Defining the neural basis by which corticospinal volleys generate muscle responses will provide crucial information required to maximize residual motor output. The investigator's specific goals are to: 1) determine the temporal and spatial organization of corticospinal volleys and motor cortical representations of upper-limb muscles after incomplete cervical SCI and 2) develop methodologies to promote recovery of function. The investigator's focus on reach and grasp movements because of their importance in daily life activities.

Most patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) develop neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), one of the most devastating sequelae of SCI which ultimately can lead to renal failure. We urgently need an intervention that prevents NLUTD before irreversible damage occurs. Neuromodulation procedures are a promising avenue so that we investigate the effect of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in patients with acute SCI. This nationwide randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind multicentre clinical trial includes all SCI centres in Switzerland (Basel, Nottwil, Sion, Zürich). Patients are randomly assigned to VERUM TTNS (active stimulation, n=57) and SHAM stimulation (n=57) groups in a 1:1 allocation using computer-generated permuted block randomisation lists stratified on study centre and lower extremity motor score. Daily 30-minute sessions are performed five times a week during an intervention period of 6-9 weeks. The primary outcome of this study is the success of TTNS to prevent neurogenic DO jeopardizing the upper urinary tract, assessed by urodynamics at 1 year after SCI or any earlier time point if DO treatment is necessary (study end). Secondary outcome measures are bladder diary parameters, clinical symptom scores assessed by standardized and validated questionnaires. Furthermore, neurophysiological and neuroimaging outcome measures are assessed as well as, biochemical and molecular changes. Tertiary outcome measure is the safety of TTNS. Before the actual start of the TASCI RCT, start-up activities will include a piloting phase on groups of healthy volunteers and patients. The goal during this phase is to evaluate the feasibility of the experimental setup, in particular for the TTNS and SHAM intervention, but also to test the setup of the different pre and post assessments (e.g. neurophysiology and neuroimaging tests). Groups of up to 15 participants each will be enrolled in a few consecutive pilot studies allowing for fine tuning and small adaptations in between, if appropriate.

Spasticity - a variety of motor over-activity and part of the upper motor neuron syndrome - is a common cause of impaired motor function after brain injuries of different etiologies. In addition, it may cause pain and impaired hygiene, contractures, deformities etc. Spasticity has been reported in 30 to 90% of patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and cerebral palsy (CP). Spasticity therapy has emerged as an important approach to alleviate related symptoms. Positive effects on spasticity are well recognized following systemic and intra-thecal pharmacological treatment, as well as after intra-muscularly injected substances; the effect of the latter is, however, of limited duration. While pharmacological spasticity therapy has been applied for decades, surgical procedures remain fairly uncommon in adults with spasticity, but not in pediatric patients with CP, and outcomes after surgical treatment are scarcely described in the literature. The study center is a specialized unit initially focused on reconstructive as well as spasticity reducing surgery in the upper extremities for SCI patients. Subsequently, patients with spasticity also due to various other Central nervous system diseases have been referred to the center for surgical treatment. Studies describing the effect of spasticity-reducing surgery in the upper extremities are rare and the group is heterogeneous. The aim of the study is therefore to evaluate the results and compare against todays golden standard treatment (boutuliniumtoxin injections).

The development of acute kidney injury (AKI) during septic shock is frequent and is associated with a high mortality rate. The reason of this increased mortality despite the use of renal replacement therapy is still unknown. The deleterious effects of uremic toxins (solutes accumulating with the loss of kidney function) has risen for the last decade in chronic kidney disease patients. Among those solutes, indoxyl sulfate (IS) is associated with the development of cardiovascular complications and impairment of immune response. The role of uremic toxins and particularly IS in the prognostic of septic kidney injury is unknown. The investigators propose to analyze the relation between the serum concentration of IS and the mortality of patients hospitalized for a septic shock who developed an AKI.

Background: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a principal cause of post-injury hospitalization, disability, and death throughout the world. TBI is the leading cause of death and disability among young healthy people under 45 years of age and is predicted to be the most prevalent and costliest neurological condition in Canada through the year 2031. TBI is commonly classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), with "severe TBI" defined as a GCS score ≤ 8. Severe TBI is a clinical emergency, during which the trauma team works swiftly to provide the appropriate care. Outcome assessment after TBI is complex and is influenced by pre-injury and injury factors as well as the patient's response at various stages of recovery. The first 48 hrs in hospital, despite being the most resource-intensive period, unfortunately result in the highest mortality. These patients are on life support at the time of their hospital admission and adequate and reliable clinical examination is impossible. Thus, patients receive treatment despite lack of a clear understanding of their prognoses. Hypothesis: Admission Computed Tomographic Perfusion (CTP) can diagnose brain death reliably in severe TBI patients in early stage upon hospital admission, which is not recognised in the usual clinical practice due to inadequate reliable clinical examination. In a small prospective pilot study of 19 patients with severe TBI, admission CTP could predict early in hospital mortality with 75% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value (PPV) and 94% negative predictive value (NPV) and perfect inter-rater reliability (kappa=1). We propose ACT-TBI study to evaluate CTP as a triage tool to diagnose early mortality at the time of admission in patients with severe TBI. Primary Objective: To validate admission CTP features of brain death, relative to the clinical examination outcome, for characterizing early in-hospital mortality. Secondary objectives: To establish the safety and interrater reliability of admission CTP.

Firearms injuries present a major pediatric public health challenge, killing >800 children ages 0-15 annually and leading to lifelong disability among >1000 survivors. About ⅓ of firearms injuries to children under age 15 are due to unintentional causes rather than suicide or homicide. The investigators propose development and evaluation of ShootSafe, an innovative, engaging, and educational website accessible by smartphone, tablet or computer that engages children to learn firearms safety. ShootSafe extends existing programs to achieve 3 primary goals: a) teach children knowledge and skills they need to hunt, shoot, and use firearms safely; b) help children learn and hone critical cognitive skills of impulse control and hypothetical thinking needed to use firearms safely; and c) alter children's perceptions about their own vulnerability and susceptibility to firearms-related injuries, the severity of those injuries, and their perceived norms about peer behavior surrounding firearms use. ShootSafe will accomplish these goals through a combination of interactive games plus podcast videos delivered by peer actors (impactful testimonials about firearms injuries/deaths they experienced) and experts (wisdom & experience from trusted role models). The website will also incorporate brief messaging to parents, who will absorb key lessons and reinforce them with their children. The website will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial with 162 children ages 10-12, randomly assigning children to engage in the ShootSafe website or an active control website on child nutrition. The investigators will incorporate sub-aims to evaluate changes in children's (a) knowledge, (b) cognitive skills in impulse control and hypothetical thinking, (c) perceptions about firearms safety, and (d) simulated behavior when handling, storing and transporting firearms. All outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up assessment to evaluate retention. Training will comprise two 30-minute sessions.

One of the most important neurological consequences following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the development of post traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Nevertheless, there is still no effective therapeutic intervention to reduce the occurrence of PTE. In previous studies with animals models of epilepsy, the biperiden decreased the incidence and intensity of spontaneous epileptic seizures besides delaying their appearance. The aim of this study is the evaluation of biperiden as antiepileptogenic drug to prevent PTE and also the determination of side effects, evaluating its cost-effectiveness in patients with moderate and severe TBI.

The study will focus on cardiac blood and imaging biomarkers to facilitate early recognition of patients at risk for myocardial injury after COVID-19 vaccination. Ultimately, the intention is to identify patients at risk, reduce adverse events, and determine the need for longer-term follow-up in patients with myocardial injury after vaccination.