Active clinical trials for "Muscular Diseases"

So far, only limited data is available regarding the natural course in Congenital Cataract Facial Dysmorphism Neuropathy Syndrome (CCFDN) and sporadic and hereditary inclusion body myopathies (IBM). Several criteria and outcome measures have led to contradicting results. The investigators want to retrospectively assess the natural course of the disease in CCFDN and IBM patients according to the data recorded during clinical routine visits.

The goal of this proposal is two-fold: (1) to further develop and validate a technology, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), for quantitatively imaging mechanical properties and tension distribution in muscle and (2) to apply the technique for in vivo evaluation of patients with four common, and clinically significant muscle disorders (spasticity, disuse atrophy, myofascial pain and a metabolic myopathy). These studies will employ a magnetic resonance imaging sequence with synchronous motion-sensitizing gradients to map propagating shear waves in the muscle. The technique will assess the mechanical properties of the muscle and its tension distribution. Specifically, the study can be divided into three specific aims. Aim 1: Optimize MRE methods of acquisition and analysis for the assessment of muscle, including electromechanical drivers, data acquisition techniques, and methods for image analysis. Advanced techniques for very rapid MRE assessment of muscle will continue to be developed. Aim 2: Validate the MRE assessment of muscle properties and tension with phantom, ex-vivo muscle, and Finite Element Modeling (FEM) techniques. Finite Element Analysis will be performed by using both phantom and bovine muscles to better correlate MRE wave-length findings as function of muscle properties, tension and fiber architecture. Aim 3: Study In Vivo Normal and Abnormal Muscle. The MRE technique will be applied in vivo to provide elastographic images of abnormal muscle with known disorders. The patient groups chosen for study are each important in their own right, and furnish unique information across the spectrum of muscular disease and dysfunction. Groups to be studied include individuals with new onset of spasticity following an ischemic, hemispheric stroke, disuse atrophy as a result of immobilization, metabolic (hyperthyroid) myopathy and myofascial pain for trigger point identification. The overall hypothesis of this work is that will bring benefits to both basic research and clinical care.

OBJECTIVES: I. Study the metabolism of pyruvate and related problems in patients with lactic acidemia. II. Define the nature of the metabolic defect.

In this mono-center pilot trial, polytrauma patients admitted to intensive care will be included. Investigators are going to take blood and muscle samples at respecified time points to do metabolic, histological and molecular testing. Aim of the study is to investigate (1) changes of the blood metabolome in patients with ICUAW (intensive care unit acquired weakness) and (2) identify metabolic components who are responsible for ICUAW or can be used as marker for ICUAW.

This proposal will focus on (1) estimating oxidative capacity of specific muscle groups during exercise using near infrared spectroscopy and (2) describing body composition to better understand exercise capacity and mitochondrial function in ambulatory spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients and disease controls. It is a 6-month observational study including 14 ambulatory SMA patients, 14 ambulatory patients with mitochondrial myopathy, and 14 healthy controls.

Recent evidence regarding the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) is growing in describing the characteristics of this disease, with main focus on lung morphology. Few data are available regarding the peripheral and respiratory muscular characteristics. Using a ultrasound greyscale analysis, It Is possibile to evaluated the muscle quality. The hypothesis of this studi is that a combined assessment of respiratory (i.e., intercostal and diaphragm) and peripheral (i.e., quadriceps) muscles quantity (as measured by thickness) and quality (as assessed by greyscale analysis), would reflect the severity of illness. Thus,the aims of this study are to assess if the quality characteristics of parasternal intercostal, diaphragm and quadriceps muscles of ICU COVID19 patients influenced the outcomes and are correlated with other variables, such as fluid or protein balance, or indexes of inflammation

This study evaluated the correlation between the occurrence of disorders of selected muscles of the cervical spine and the occurrence of symptoms of TMJ dysfunction

Philips Healthcare has added a virtual path planner to the current commercially available XperGuide software platform and that has the potential to significantly reduce dose during image-guided needle interventions.

Myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) is an X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the myotubularin gene (MTM1). The clinical spectrum is variable and ranges from individuals who require a wheelchair and full time breathing support to those who are able to walk and breathe on their own. Symptoms of myotubular myopathy include long faces, facial weakness with eye muscle weakness, breathing support with a muscle biopsy demonstrating central nucleated fibers. These symptoms may be caused by mutations or changes in the MTM1, BIN1 (bridging integrator 1), DNM2 (dynamin 2) and RYR1 (ryanodine receptor 1) genes. However, the majority are caused by mutations in the MTM1 gene. Some patients with symptoms consistent with myotubular myopathy who initially have negative testing of the MTM1 gene were later found to have a unique type of change in the MTM1 gene. This unique change, called a deletion or duplication, can be found with a different type of genetic test called a CGH (comparative genomic hybridization) array. Investigators do not know how frequent deletions and duplications are in patients with X-linked myotubular myopathy. Recently, there have been advances in identifying potential treatments for XLMTM. The next step will be to proceed with clinical trials of potential treatments. In order to be ready for clinical trials, it is important that investigators find the specific genetic change that is causing XLMTM in people with this diagnosis. This study will attempt to find changes in the MTM1 gene in individuals who have clinical symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of XLMTM. Participants will be asked to enroll in the CMDIR (Congenital Muscle Disease International Registry), complete a brief clinical survey, provide access to medical records, and provide a saliva or blood sample for genetic testing. Results of genetic testing will be communicated to participants by the physician specified in the consent by the signing person. Study Hypothesis: Not all individuals with a clinical diagnosis of XLMTM have access to genetic testing. Investigators know that deletions and duplications of the MTM1 gene can cause XLMTM. Investigators will find more individuals with XLMTM by performing genetic testing of the MTM1 gene, including CGH array for deletions and duplications.

The purpose of this study is to improve spasticity diagnosis through development of a simple physical examination guide for primary care providers to identify patients who would benefit from being referred to a movement disorders neurologist for a spasticity evaluation.