
Effects of Gastrostomy on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisResults about effects of symptomatic treatment on QoL appears conflicting in ALS patients. Moreover no clear effects of gastrotomy have be shown on survival. Prospective study on effect of tube feeding, QoL and survival is performed in 17 teaching hospitals in France (observational study)

Betaseron Pregnancy Registry
Birth DefectsPregnancy Complications1 moreThis is a prospective, observational, registration and follow-up study of women exposed to Betaseron® at the time of conception (i.e., any time from the first day of the last menstrual period) and/or during pregnancy. The Betaseron® Pregnancy Registry is designed to determine whether there is an increased risk or a pattern of birth defects in the offspring of women exposed to Betaseron® at conception and during pregnancy compared to rates from women in the general US population. Secondarily, the Registry will examine rates of spontaneous abortions and other negative pregnancy outcomes in this population. This study will be conducted in the United States (US). The Betaseron® Pregnancy Registry is sponsored by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and is managed by the Post Approval & Strategic Services group at INC Research, LLC. The scientific conduct and analysis of the Registry will be overseen by an Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (IDSMB) consisting of external specialists in teratology, epidemiology, maternal and fetal medicine, and neurology (external member details available upon request).

Exposure to Neurotoxins as Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisALSThis study is a follow-up to an earlier study that examined the relationship of This study will examine whether exposure to neurotoxins, such as lead, mercury, solvents, and pesticides, can contribute to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The cause of this degenerative disease of the brain and spinal cord is not well understood. Some studies suggest that exposure to environmental neurotoxins may increase its risk. This follow-up study will examine the relationship of neurotoxin exposure to the interval between the diagnosis of ALS and death. It will also examine the possible roles of genetics, lifestyle and dietary factors in the disease. Information on ALS patients previously enrolled in the study will be used to examine this relationship. No new individuals will be enrolled in the study.

Multi-center, Web Based Observational Study of Pulmonary Hypertension in Scleroderma Patients
Systemic SclerosisScleroderma2 moreThe purpose of this study is to determine the timeline of progression from pre-pulmonary hypertension to diagnosable pulmonary hypertension based on right heart catheterization. Moreover, to determine the timeline for progression from diagnosable pulmonary hypertension to clinical worsening of disease as defined as death, hospitalization, or worsening of PHT symptoms.

Betaseron 16-Year Long-Term Follow-Up (LTF) in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis...
Multiple SclerosisThe purpose of this follow-up study is to look carefully at the long-term course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and possibly the long-term effects of Betaseron in the patients who were previously enrolled in the original North American study that led to the marketing approval of Betaseron.

A Study to Evaluate the Long Term Safety and Effectiveness of Novantrone Therapy Followed by Copaxone...
Relapsing Remitting Multiple SclerosisIt is thought that treating Multiple Sclerosis with Novantrone for a short period of time prior to treatment with Copaxone may enhance the onset effect of Copaxone.

Safety/Effectiveness of Adding Monthly Dexamethasone to Weekly Avonex for MS
Relapsing-remitting Multiple SclerosisClinically Isolated SyndromeThe purpose of the study is to determine whether giving intravenous dexamethasone every 4 weeks during the first 12 months of weekly Avonex dosing will reduce the progression of functional impairment, brain atrophy, relapse rate and frequency, and new and enlarging brain lesions over the first 24 months of Avonex therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting or mono-symptomatic multiple sclerosis.

Tamoxifen Therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [ALS]
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)This is a single-center, phase 2 randomized clinical trial of tamoxifen on mean percent predicted isometric muscle strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The purpose is to determine whether the triphenylethylenetamoxifen, used as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of breast cancer, can delay the loss of isometric muscle strength in ALS patients.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Brain Damage in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisThis study will determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect damage to certain parts of the brain and analyze the thickness of the brain's outer surface in patients with multiple sclerosis. MRI is a diagnostic test that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. It can sometimes permit diagnosis even before symptoms develop. MS is a disease of white matter, the fatty covering around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The nerves themselves are called gray matter. Damage to white matter impairs nerve function, leading to a variety of symptoms, such as weakness, vision problems, difficulty walking, paralysis, and others. MRI can detect some changes in white matter, but changes that may also appear in gray matter may be more difficult to find. This study will use new MRI techniques to try to identify gray matter damage in patients with MS. Healthy volunteers and people with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (an early stage of MS in which the patient has had just one of the problems MS can cause) who are between 18 and 55 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and neurological examination, and blood and urine tests. Within one month of the screening evaluation, participants undergo MRI scanning on a standard 1.5 Tesla machine to confirm their health status. (The power of the MRI scanner is measured in Tesla; the higher the Tesla, the better the visualization.) For this procedure, the subject lies on a table that moves into the scanner (a narrow cylinder with a magnetic field), and wears earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. During the procedure, a contrast agent called Gadolinium is injected into the blood stream to brighten the images. The test lasts about 2 hours, during which time the subject must lie still for up to a few minutes at a time. Within a month after the first MRI, participants repeat the test for a second time. The procedure is identical to the first scan, except a 3.0 Tesla machine is used.

The Effect of Cognitive Group Exercise Combined With Physical Exercise in MS
Multiple SclerosisThe aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cognitive rehabilitation in group with physical exercise in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. We assume that cognitive therapy is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis.