Active clinical trials for "Sclerosis"

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease with progressive muscle weakness leading to severe disability and eventually death.Since the diagnosis relies on clinical features and electromyographic abnormalities, which may occur rather late in the disease course, there is a need to identify diagnostic tests that can confirm or exclude the diagnosis of ALS in the earlier phase of the disease. More recently, there are studies suggesting neuroinflammation to play a role for the development of ALS. Cluster of differentiation 163 is found to be up regulated in a large range of inflammatory diseases. At the investigators lab, pilot data (Kallestrup M et al, unpublished data) has shown promising results. There was an increased level of cluster of differentiation 163 (sCD163) in cerebrospinal fluid in 7 patients with ALS compared with controls. The purpose of the investigators study is to define the concentration of sCD163 in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum in patients with ALS compared with controls (patients with unspecified neurological symptoms). Furthermore, the investigators will define the concentrations of protein, glucose, immunoglobulin G index and other factors in the spinal fluid.

This is a multicenter, 18-month study, which aims to identify imaging and biofluid biomarkers in people with ALS to expand the understanding of ALS pathology, treatment targets, disease progression, and anatomical differences between different disease phenotypes. This pilot project is tailored to produce imaging tools that will allow researchers to conduct future ALS clinical trials more efficiently which may in turn impact the pace for ALS drug discovery.

Cognitive impairment is common in MS and has devastating impact on functional activities. There is a great demand for medications that will enhance cognitive capacity in MS patients. The effect of teriflunomide on cognition and vocational capacity is unknown. The investigators will address these questions in a sample of 30 relapsing MS patients treated with teriflunomide. Cognitive impairment will be measured by calculating an information processing speed index and a memory composite index from conventional, validated neuropsychological tests as recommended by consensus opinion publications. Vocational performance will be monitored using a newly developed online survey called the Multiple Sclerosis Vocational Monitoring Survey (MSVMS). This study will elucidate the effect of teriflunomide on these important outcomes.

This trial is studying Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM) for measuring muscle health. The trial is studying people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), other neuromuscular diseases, and healthy volunteers to see if the EIM device can measure disease in muscle tissue.

To determine whether EEGs during infancy is a reliable biomarker to identify TSC patients that will develop infantile spasms/epilepsy in the near future and thus are appropriate candidates for an antiepileptogenic drug trial. Since not all patients with TSC develop epilepsy, it would be useful to have a biomarker that could predict those patients destined to have epilepsy and thus identify those TSC patients most appropriate for an antiepileptogenic drug trial. A recent study suggests that treating TSC patients with an abnormal EEG prior to onset of infantile spasms with vigabatrin may improve neurological outcome, but the use of EEG as a reliable biomarker of future epilepsy has not been rigorously validated. In this specific aim, we will test the reliability of EEG in predicting future development of infantile spasms or epilepsy in TSC patients during the first year of life.

This investigation consists of two parallel groups of participants who will follow the same protocol. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of using Functional Electrical Stimulation/Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) or splint as an assistive mobility device over a 12 week period in people with MS who experience foot drop. Patients who are clinically prescribed FES will be invited to participate in the FES arm of the study. Patients who are clinically prescribed an AFO will be invited to participate in the AFO arm. Participants will be asked to make four visits to the gait laboratory at Queen Margaret University. Four weeks before the start of device use (Baseline - 4 weeks), start of device use (Baseline), after 6 weeks and 12 weeks of device use. Participants' walking will assessed using computerised three dimensional motion analysis, which will provide a detailed description of the movements (kinematics) of the lower limbs. Participants will also be asked to carry out a 10 metre walk and a two minute walk. Both gait analysis and the walking performance tests will be carried out with and without an assistive device; apart from their first session where participants will only be assessed without their assistive device. Participants will be asked to wear an activity monitor for 7 days after each assessment. In addition participants will be asked to complete four short standardised questionnaires (MS walking scale, MS impact scale (MSIS-29), Fatigue severity score and the Leeds MS Quality of life score) at each assessment.

Assessing the immune activation in MS patients deficient in Vitamin D and whether Vitamin D supplementation reverse the immune activation Evaluating whether Vitamin D deficiency result in lower cognitive performance in MS patients and the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on reversing the cognitive impairment?

This study will assess the impact of a systematic bladder health screening and disease education regimen as well as the implementation of a referral process on the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients with bladder dysfunction.

This study collected follow-up data on approximately 90% of participants who were randomized and received one dose of study drug in FTY720D2201 (D2201). No study drug was given or required. Participants were required to be assessed at one or two visits, preferably at the original study site, but the option to be interviewed via phone or seen at home was provided. Information was gathered also on deceased participants. Assessments were performed only once within an 8 week period and included medical history, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Multiple Sclerosis Disease Modifying Therapy (MS DMT) history, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC).

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of Tysabri on cognition in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. During a period of 24 months, the study will assess the evolution of cognitive function in Tysabri treated MS patients using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the CogState battery of tests.