Active clinical trials for "Movement Disorders"

Movement disorder involve recurring or constant muscle contractions causing squeezing or twisting movement, such as hemifacial spasm, blepharospasm, cervical dystonias etc. The most common focal dystonia was cervical dystonia in western countries according to previous studies, which is different from China in Chinese neurologists' opinion. And there is no such survey. So the investigators are conducting a movement disorder survey in east China to confirm it.

This study will use three neurophysiological tests (see below) to determine what areas of the brain are responsible for paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders. Patients with these disorders have sudden, brief attacks of movement, similar to epileptic seizures, but without loss of consciousness. Normal volunteers and patients with two subtypes of paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorder, paroxysmal dyskinesia and psychogenic variant, that can be induced by a specific trigger, such as a sudden movement or prolonged exercise, will be included in this study. Candidates must be 12 years of age or older. Women of childbearing potential will be screened with a pregnancy test. Participants will undergo one or more of the procedures detailed below. Patients' test results will be compared with those of normal volunteers. Before each test, participants will provide a medical history and undergo a brief physical examination. During each procedure, the subject will have surface electromyography (EMG) to measure the electrical activity of muscles. For EMG, electrodes (metal discs) filled with a conductive gel are taped to the skin over the muscle to be evaluated. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) MRI uses a strong magnetic field, radio waves, and computer technology to provide detailed images of the brain. For this test, the subject lies in a narrow cylinder (the scanner), while pictures of the brain are taken. Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises caused by electrical switching of radio frequency circuits used in the scanning process. For functional MRI (fMRI), the subject is asked to mimic a movement that occurs during an attack, such as stiffening the hand to make a fist or flexing and rotating the arm inward, to detect changes in the brain regions involved in the movement. During the procedure, involuntary movements and voluntary movements will be monitored by surface EMG and by video camera. The test will last about 1-1/2 hours. Electroencephalography (EEG) EEG measures the electrical activity of the brain (brain waves) with electrodes placed on the scalp. During the procedure, muscle activity will be recorded with EMG. The subject will first relax and then will be asked to mimic a movement attack. The test will last from 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Startle Reflex The subject will put on a headphone and hear loud noises in a random fashion. During the test, muscle activity will be recorded with EMG and with a video c...

This study will use transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine how the brain controls movement by sending messages to the spinal cord and muscles and what goes wrong with this process in disease. Normal healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 years may be eligible to participate. In transcranial magnetic stimulation, an insulated wire coil is placed on the subject's scalp or skin. Brief electrical currents are passed through the coil, creating magnetic pulses that stimulate the brain. During the stimulation, participants will be asked to tense certain muscles slightly or perform other simple actions. The electrical activity of the muscle will be recorded on a computer through electrodes applied to the skin over the muscle. In most cases, the study will last less than 3 hours.

The long term goal of this research is to elucidate the cause(s) of Parkinson's disease, with a focus on environmental determinants. We propose to investigate the relationship between Parkinson's disease and exposure to pesticides and other factors by conducting a nested case-control study in the Agricultural Health Study.

BACKGROUND: The physiological function of fetal hiccups and its correlation with fetal well-being is unexplored. No previous study examines the correlation between the maternal perception of the fetal hiccups and the antepartum cardiotocography. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between the fetal hiccups and antepartum computerised cardiotocography parameters, in nonlaboring term singleton pregnancies.

Ischemic stroke is a major public health issue, likely to cause functional disability. It is well known that sleep has an impact on brain plasticity, and after an ischemic stroke, studies have shown subjective sleep quality alterations and sleep architecture abnormalities. Furthermore, there is no clear guideline showing the usefulness of a systematic sleep investigation following an ischemic stroke. The aim of the study is to identify retrospectively correlation between polysomnographic abnormalities (sleep apnea, periodic limb movements, disturbed sleep architecture…) and functional recovery after an ischemic stroke. The study also assesses the impact of sleep abnormalities on survival, and the risk of new cardiovascular event.

Bradykinesia is a key parkinsonian feature yet subjectively assessed by the MDS-UPDRS score, making reproducible measurements and follow-up challenging. In a Movement Disorder Unit, the investigators acquired a large database of videos showing parkinsonian patients performing Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III protocols. Using a Deep Learning approach on these videos, the investigators aimed to develop a tool to compute an objective score of bradykinesia from the three upper limb tests described in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III.

The investigators are interested in examining 1) the basic organization of spinal and cortical circuitry for the control of movement and 2) the influence of injury of these circuits. To investigate the neuronal circuitry, the investigators use various types of mechanical or electrical stimulation of the limbs, transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cortex and galvanic vestibular stimulation in both uninjured human subjects and subjects with a neurological injury (such as spinal cord injury, or Parkinsons's disease).

This study will compare electroencephalograph (EEG) recordings in healthy volunteers and in people with movement disorders to examine brain activity associated with the weakness. EEG records the electrical activity of the brain ("brain waves"). Healthy volunteers and patients with arm or leg weakness who are between 18 and 80 years of age may be eligible for this study. Healthy subjects are screened with a medical history, physical and neurological examinations, and a questionnaire. They must be right-handed and never have had a neurological disease or head trauma. All participants have an EEG. An elastic cap with electrodes is placed on the subject's scalp to record the brain's electrical activity. During the EEG, subjects are required to resist against a force with their arm, elbow, shoulder or leg for as long as they can. Several recordings are done with short breaks between them.

This study will use single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine what areas of the brain are responsible for paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders. Patients with these disorders have sudden, brief attacks of movement, similar to epileptic seizures, but without loss of consciousness. SPECT is a nuclear medicine test that produces three-dimensional images of the brain, showing blood flow and function in different brain regions. This test, which can detect the focus of epileptic seizures, will be used in this study to scan patients while they are experiencing a hyperkinetic movement attack, while they are not having and attack, and while they are simulating an attack. Patients 18 years of age and older who have paroxysmal movement attacks that can be easily induced by a specific trigger, such as a sudden movement or prolonged exercise, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and review of their medical records, physical examination, videotape of attacks, and, for women, a pregnancy test. Participants will have three SPECT scans, separated from each other by at least 48 hours. Before each scan, the subject will perform an activity that ordinarily precipitates a movement attack, such as standing up from a chair, assuming a certain posture, or doing something strenuous. Each scan will try to record one of the following conditions: The subject performs the trigger activity, but does not have an attack; The subject performs the trigger activity and has an involuntary attack as a result; The subject performs the trigger activity and does not have an attack, but then mimics an attack voluntarily. After the condition is recorded, the subject will be given an injection of a radioactive agent called 99m Technetium and will then relax quietly for 40 to 60 minutes before the SPECT scan. For the scan, the subject lies on an examination table and the SPECT camera is moved near and around the head to image the brain. The scan takes about 40 minutes. Participants will also undergo one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. For this test, the subject lies in a narrow cylinder (the scanner), while pictures of the brain are taken. Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises caused by electrical switching of radio frequency circuits used in the scanning process. The procedure takes about 30 minutes.