Active clinical trials for "Neuromuscular Diseases"

Nocturnal Non Invasive Ventilation (NIV) is the reference treatment for chronic alveolar hypoventilation in patients with neuro-muscular diseases. NIV can be provided by using different types of interfaces: Nasal masks are the most frequent type of interface used at home but oronasal masks are used by at least 25% of neuro-muscular patients mainly because of persistent unintentional mouth leaks. However, oronasal mask may cause persistent upper airway obstructive respiratory events because of the mechanical constraint on the chin induced by the traction of the straps that may push the mandible posteriorly during sleep. No randomized study has specifically addressed the question of the impact of type of interface in patients with neuromuscular diseases treated by nocturnal NIV. The investigators hypothesize that: the application of oronasal mask may jeopardize the pharyngeal patency in patients already proned to upper airway obstruction; the use of a nasal mask may improve upper airway stability and NIV efficacy while reducing side effects. Authors objective will be to compare the impact of nasal mask versus oronasal mask on NIV efficacy and side-effects. Eligible patients are those with nocturnal NIV and neuromuscular disease. After a scheduled hospital visit, patients willing to participate will undergo in random order 2 unattended nocturnal polygraphies under NIV at home: one polygraphy with nasal mask; one with an oronasal mask. Each polygraphy ans side effects assessment will be performed after one week of familiarization with each mask.

Critically ill patients frequently develop muscle weakness due to critical illness-related acute neuropathy and/or myopathy. This disorder is associated with difficulties in weaning from mechanical ventilation, prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay, and increased mortality rates. In addition, many patients continue to suffer from decreased exercise capacity and quality of life for months to years after the acute event. Besides controlling risk factors, no specific prevention or treatment exists. Recommendations advice to start early with active and passive exercise in critically ill patients (1). Having critically ill patients alert and engaged in progressive rehabilitation leading to mobilization, despite the use of life support therapies may reduce muscle atrophy and lead to improved strength and physical function (2). This randomized controlled trial was designed to investigate whether a daily training session using a tilt table, started early in stable critically ill patients with an expected prolonged ICU stay, could induce a beneficial effect on exercise performance, quadriceps force and functional autonomy at ICU and hospital discharge compared to a standard physiotherapy program.

Patients with motor neurone disease (MND) typically experience relentless motor decline and die within three years of symptom onset from respiratory muscle weakness. There are currently no effective therapies and the discovery of novel therapies is hampered by the lack of a sensitive disease biomarker. Consequently, there is a huge drive to discover novel biomarkers, which can reliably track disease progression over time. These can then be incorporated into clinical drug trials to expedite effective drug discovery. Muscle fasciculations represent the hyperexcitability of diseased motor neurons and are almost universally present from the early stages of MND. The investigators predict that the site, frequency and shape of fasciculations might provide a sensitive measure of disease progression in an individual. In order to calibrate this technique, the investigators will conduct a 12-month longitudinal study, recruiting 24 patients from the King's College Hospital Motor Nerve Clinic, comprising a mixture of patients with MND and those with benign fasciculation syndrome. Patients in this latter group have fasciculations but do not develop weakness and have normal lifespans. They are therefore an optimal control group. At each visit, the investigators will take resting HDSEMG recordings from all four limbs and perform standard clinical measures of disease progression. The investigators will also monitor the decline in motor unit number using a newly validated neurophysiological technique, called Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX).

Patients with NMD can suffer from a range of respiratory problems due to respiratory muscle weakness. Cough muscle weakness worsens secretion clearance from the airways, and increases the risk of infection. As a result, these patients often require chest physiotherapy or are supported with devices to aid clearance (such as mechanical insufflation-exsufflation) to reduce the risk of infection. Although evidence supports the use of these devices, the optimal technique or settings on the device are not clear. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a new technology that involves wearing a belt of sensors around the chest that provides information on how well the lungs are being filled with air. It allows a non-invasive assessment of the effect of each secretion clearance technique on lung ventilation in real-time. This study aims to compare how well the lung is filled with air between three different techniques for secretion clearance (clearing mucus and phlegm from the airways), in order to determine which of the techniques is the most effective, in patients with NMD.

Over the past four decades, it has become clear that childhood physical activity carries with it a myriad of beneficial effects. It is closely linked to quality of life and the recognized benefits include, but are not limited to, optimal growth and development, a healthier self-concept, enhanced peer socialization, and decreased anxiety and depression. Long term, an active lifestyle decreases the risk of many important physical and mental morbidities. Thus, the observation that children living with medical conditions and disabilities (MC&D) today, although surviving longer thanks to advances in medical care, are much less active than their peers is a matter of significant concern. Research indicates that the 350,000 Ontario children with MC&D have lower levels of physical activity, higher screen time and more frequent sleep problems. While the reasons underlying this reality are complex, previous research has identified a substantial subset of children who are motivated to be active but lack the confidence to do so. Fear of pain, concern for MC&D exacerbation and a lack of confidence in individual physical movement capacity contribute to their hesitation. Clinical experience suggests that these children represent 50% to 70% of inactive patients. Research indicates that being motivated to make a change and having the confidence that the desired change can be achieved are the essential precursors upon which successful behaviour change initiatives are built. This randomized, controlled trial will explore whether group sessions with a Registered Kinesiologist lead to a direct bolstering of physical activity confidence, and in turn to increased and sustained physical activity in these children. Such an approach holds the promise of a nonpharmacologic, low cost and accessible means of enhancing health that shall be met with a high level of patient and family support while bringing a significant societal and medical return on investment.

Mechanical ventilation is one of the only treatment that has improved survival of patients with neuromuscular respiratory failure. As disease progresses, some patients may require longer ventilation period. Non invasive mechanical ventilation is the preferred method of ventilation but it may interfere with speech and communication of patients who require ventilation throughout the day. The investigators are evaluating the effect on speech and communication of a ventilation device which allows patients to momentarily and voluntarily withhold ventilation if they want to speak. This should allow the patients to have a more fluid speech.

This study aims to evaluate the safety, usability and acceptability of a motorized mobility assistance exoskeleton. The protocol explores the use of the motorized device during static and dynamic rehabilitation sessions focused on walking and functional activities, with the expectation of evaluating the safety and usability of the device in the population studied. The protocol has been focused on defining how the device can be used appropriately in this population in a safe and effective manner by rehabilitation specialists. The study also aims to assess the safety of clinical staff who implement the intervention.

This study will investigate problems with muscle weakness and control using electromyography-a test of nerve-muscle cell communication. Advanced techniques called single fiber electromyography and macro-electromyography, which evaluate individual muscle fibers, will be used. Besides aiding in diagnosis, these tests provide information about disease progression that may be useful in guiding therapy. Adult patients with suspected neurological disorders of muscle control and weakness may be eligible for this study. Normal volunteers may also participate. For the electromyography procedure, a special needle is inserted into a muscle. The patient will slightly tense the muscle and maintain the tension while electrical signals from the muscle fibers are being recorded. The electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker, providing feedback to help the patient tense the muscle the appropriate amount. The test, which is usually done for only one muscle, takes 1 to 2 hours. If needed, short breaks can be taken. If the patient cannot maintain tension in the muscle for the entire test period, a nerve will be stimulated to activate the muscle. A thin needle is inserted near the nerve, and a series of small electrical shocks are given to activate a nerve fiber. The electromyography needle is inserted into the muscle to measure the response, as described above. A neurologist receiving specialized training in clinical neurophysiology will do the electromyography procedure under the direct supervision of an experienced neurologist.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of 30,000 affected individual every year. Complex nature and unknown pathogenesis of this disease are 2 major reasons for failure of therapeutic interventions. Edaravone is a free radical scavenger that slows down functional decline and prevents from disease progression in ALS patients. FDA newly approved this drug in these patients (2017/5/5). In this study, investigators aimed to assess the treatment effect of this newly approved drug in patients with ALS in a representative Iranian population.

The study compares the effects of two types of massage: a conventional massage and a functional massage, in the neuromuscular response of the gastrocnemious muscles.