Active clinical trials for "Paraparesis, Spastic"

This is a pilot study of intervention in a group of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis/ myelopathy to evaluate virologic and clinical response of raltegravir plus zidovudine in this group of patients.

Hereditary spastic paraparesis type 11 (SPG11) is caused by mutations in the SPG11 gene that produces spatacsin, a protein involved in lysosomal function. Studies performed in skin cells (fibroblasts) from SPG11 patients, mice and zebrafish models of the disease showed that the material accumulated in the lysosomes is made of glycosphingolipids (GSL). Miglustat is a drug that inhibits an enzyme called glucosylceramide synthetase (GCS) which is used for the production of GSL. Miglustat, therefore, helps to delay the production of GSL. This study aims to collect preliminary data on the safety of miglustat on the SPG11 disease and to assess biomarkers.

The current research is aimed at using Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tSDCS) as complementary therapeutic tool in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Patients will be randomized into two groups (tSDCS-anode vs. tSDCS-sham) according to the detailed protocol. Main outcome will be measured by the change in walking speed using the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). A total of 40 patients ought to be enrolled as specified in methodology. Secondary outcomes will assess functional improvement through Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS) Short Form - 36 (SF-36), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Ashworth scale.

An open-label, non-randomised, uncontrolled, proof-of-concept study of patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Participants will receive oral administration of tamibarotene in the amount of 2 mg daily over a period of 12 weeks, then 4mg daily for another 12 weeks. The patients will be followed up for further 8 weeks. Efficacy will be monitored by measuring clinical scores including motor and urination function, HTLV-1 proviral load, immunological parameters, and markers in the spinal fluid. Safety will be evaluated at the same time.

The purpose of this study is to collect 650 blood and 300 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), pure lower or upper motor neuron diseases, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases and from people with no neurological disorder. Through comparison of these samples, the researchers hope to learn more about the underlying cause of ALS, as well as find unique biological markers, which could be used to diagnose ALS and monitor disease progression. Additionally, up to 600 blood samples will be collected for a sub-study for DNA analysis. Studying components of the blood, such as DNA, may help us understand what happens when genes function abnormally and how it might be related to disease.

The Self-Notion and Perception (SNAP) questionnaire developed at IRCCS E.Medea by Eleonora Diella and Roberta Morganti, arises from the need to quantify the subjective perception of the patient suffering from HSP of the typical symptoms of pathology, such as spasticity, weakness, changes in balance, resistance in walking, pain and fatigue. The purpose of this study is to validate this instrument and test its reliability, looking for correlations with the measurement scales used in the literature for the evaluation of the patient with HSP. The most used for this population are the Spastic Paraplegia Rating Scale (SPRS) and the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) which assess the severity of the disease and the level of endurance (8-9) respectively.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the nervous system. The exact cause of MS is unknown, but it is believed to be an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions are diseases that cause the body's immune system and natural defenses to attack healthy cells. In the case of MS, the immune system begins attacking myelin, the cells that make up the sheath covering nerves. Without myelin, nerves are unable to transmit signals effectively and symptoms occur. This study is directed toward a better understanding of the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Researchers will evaluate patients with a tentative diagnosis of MS or other neurological diseases possibly caused by a immunological reaction. Patients will undergo a series of three MRIs, taken once a month for three months and submit blood samples for immunological studies.

Doctors of the University of West Indies, the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC) and the National Cancer Institute have been studying the epidemiology of HTLV-I and its role in the etiology and pathogenesis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ALT), and aggressive T-cell lymphoma. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate familial and genetic aspects of ATL and its relationship to two other HTLV-I related conditions, HTLV-I associated myelopathy also known as tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and infective dermatitis. Enrollment of infective dermatitis cases was recently added and the disease entity is thought to be a harbinger for later development of either ATL or HAM/TSP. The purpose of this study is to interview patients with these conditions and perform laboratory studies (specifically, HLA and other viral or genetic studies) to better understand these diseases and their relationship to the HTLV-1 virus and the family history and genetic factors that may be involved as well.

This study will use three different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to study HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/STP)-a disease of slowly progressive weakness in the legs. It is not known how the HTLV-1 virus causes this disease, but it is thought that as the body's immune system tries to destroy the virus, parts of the nervous system-primarily the spinal cord-are damaged. Patients 18 years of age and older with HAM/TSP and healthy normal volunteers may be eligible for this study. Participants will undergo diffusion tensor MRI, MR-spectroscopy, and magnetization transfer imaging to look at different compositional, architectural, and microscopic properties of the brain. All of these techniques are similar to conventional MRI, and like the conventional method they use a strong magnetic field and radio waves to measure structural and chemical changes in brain tissue. Each of the three scans will be done on separate days, each lasting about 1 hour. For the procedures, the patient or volunteer lies on a stretcher in a narrow metal cylinder (the scanner) and is asked to remain still for 15 to 30 minutes at a time. A special lightweight coil may be placed on the head to enhance the brain images. The subject can communicate with the person doing the scan at all times.