Active clinical trials for "Sclerosis"

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact that treatment with a cellular concentrate derived from an individual's own fat, known as the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), has on the quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). SVF contains components with "regenerative" properties, including stem cells that may be capable of ameliorating specific disease conditions. This study is designed to evaluate quality of life changes in individuals with MS for up to 12 months following SVF treatment.

The purpose of this study is to assess the physical capacity of patients with multiple sclerosis and the effects of rehabilitation, encompassing physical therapy and physical activity as it is carried out in the day hospital of (the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine department) at Garches Hospital. We will compare the results of assessments carried out before and after a standard rehabilitation program.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an orphan, multiorgan disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin and several internal organs. Beside skin involvement, digital ulcers, tendinitis, calcinosis and flexion contractures, the presence of hand arthritis is a major contributor to impairment of hand function in systemic sclerosis. Several immunomodulatory drugs used in other rheumatic diseases (including methotrexate, leflunomide, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose corticosteroids) can potentially improve arthritis and consequently hand function in systemic sclerosis. For the assessment of arthritis, the CDAI (clinical disease activity index) is validated in rheumatoid arthritis, and may be useful for SSc-related arthritis, too. This observational trial is part of the collaborative project "DeSScipher", one out of five observational trials to decipher the optimal management of systemic sclerosis. Aim of this observational trial is to: investigate the efficacy and safety of different treatments on hand dysfunction in systemic sclerosis patients with hand arthritis and to validate the CDAI for arthritis in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an orphan, multiorgan disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin and all internal organs. Interstitial lung disease is a frequent morbidity and mortality-driving manifestation in systemic sclerosis. This observational trial (OT) is part of the collaborative project "DeSScipher", one out of five OTs to decipher the optimal management of systemic sclerosis. Aim of this observational try is to identify: The state of clinical practice in Europe for prevention and treatment of interstitial lung disease and its impact on lung function and disease progression The potential predictors and confounders for response to therapy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory chronic disease of the central nervous system. Patients are suffering from balance and gait impairments at the early stage of the disease. 85 % of the MS patients report gait disorders, which impact their autonomy and their quality of life and increase the risk of fall. The three-dimensional analysis of the walking by a motion capture system associated with force platforms allows the quantification of the complex walking disorders, to look for the cause, as well as side effects such as compensation strategies. According to the 2006 report of the French National Authority for Health, the 3D analysis of walking is essential in chronic pathologies to evaluate and quantify gait disorders. This analysis allows the functional follow-up of the patients throughout their rehabilitation. Some studies, on a small and heterogeneous population of MS patients, showed changes during the walking concerning spatiotemporal, kinematic, dynamic parameters and muscular activation of lower limbs at early stages of the disease. Only two studies evaluate the joint power during walking in MS patients. However, these studies have some limits. The 3D analysis of the walking proposed in this study would allow the biomechanical characterization of the gait impairments of MS patients through tasks such as walking, gait initiation and orthostatic posture. This methodology would contribute to adapt treatments and the rehabilitation care, at an early stage of the disease. From a functional point of view, the gait initiation is an interesting dynamic task to be evaluated. Indeed, it represents the transition between the upright posture and the stabilized walking. Throughout this complex task, a stereotypical motor program is set up during a first phase of anticipatory postural adjustments, which allows the creation of dynamic conditions essential for the execution of the first step. The gait initiation is little documented for MS patients despite the risk of fall clinically highlighted. The articular power during the gait initiation was never estimated in MS patients. On the other hand, there is no study establishing correlations between the Expanded Disability Status Scale functional features and the impairments of the gait initiation.

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship of blood glucose levels in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who have experienced a relapse and will be receiving intravenous steroids for the relapse, to their recovery from the relapse. Steroid exposure commonly leads to elevated serum blood glucose, however, standardized monitoring of blood glucose levels in the outpatient setting is not common. The clinical impact of any associated elevated blood glucose during steroid administration is unknown. We hypothesize that the blood glucose response to steroid treatment is clinically relevant to the MS-relapse recovery.

Regular physical activity improves aspects such as physical fitness, fatigue, quality of life, gait and also reduces the rate of progression of disability in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. However, individuals with multiple sclerosis are less physically active than the general population. The determinants of engaging in physical activity for individuals with multiple sclerosis include psychological factors like motivation, self-belief and self-regulatory constructs and physical factors like fatigue, weakness, pain and ataxia. Ischemic preconditioning is exposure of the body to brief periods of circulatory occlusion and re-perfusion to protect organs against ischemic injury. Recent studies have also shown that ischemic preconditioning also improves exercise performance in healthy participants. The primary aim and objective of this study is to see whether it is feasible to use Ischemic preconditioning to improve exercise performance in people with Multiple Sclerosis. The design for the study is a double blind randomized control trial. Forty patients with multiple sclerosis above 18 years of age and who have the ability to walk will be randomized to receive either Ischemic preconditioning or sham intervention. All participants will be identified by MS consultants and nurses from the MS clinic and Neuro Day Case Unit of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. Participation will involve an additional 2 hours of the patients time.

The measurement of the facial deformation according to the body posture will be conducted by 3D scanning for each posture after marking the landmarks on the face. A 3D scan of the face will be conducted for 1 minute in a static state for the sitting posture to be used as a reference, the supine posture to gaze at the ceiling while lying down correctly, and the lateral posture to the side with the upper body facing left. Healthy volunteer and ALS with bulbar palsy participants will be asked to keep their mouths closed gently while the 3D scan was being processed. A post-processing of the 3D face scan data will be conducted to analyze facial deformation by the body postures. A facial deformation will be analyzed by measuring the amount of change in position for each reference point after aligning and rotating the facial data on the same basis. The relative ratio of the amount of position change to the size of the face will be analyzed. The present study will analyze the effect of the body posture on the position changes of the landmarks.

To evaluate a Novel infusion protocol in MS patients treated with Alemtuzumab

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Charcot's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. The disease affects between 5 and 10 people per 100,000 in the world, nearly 7,000 patients are affected in France. The only therapeutic treatment available to date in France is riluzole, which slows the progression of the disease. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is the first degenerative disease affecting motor neurons. However, recent evidence suggests that the impairment extends beyond motor neurons alone. Optical Coherence Tomography analyzes made it possible to highlight ophthalmologic damage in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, in particular at the macula and papilla, although some results are contradictory. No angiographic Optical Coherence Tomography analysis has been performed to date in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. However, in the hypothesis of microvascular involvement participating in the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, these examinations could provide relevant clinical and pathophysiological data by studying the retinal microvascularization of patients with the disease.