Active clinical trials for "Muscular Atrophy, Spinal"

This study is to evaluate how the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX) is working for children who are using the WREX, or have used it in the past. The survey consists of a set of questions a) performed online and b) performed over the phone.

The purpose of this project is to devise instrumented insoles capable of accurately measuring gait at each footfall, over multiple hours in any environment. To achieve high accuracy, the investigators will develop a new learning-based calibration framework. Features will be tested in controlled lab settings 39 during a single visit in people with SMA (13), DMD (13) and healthy controls (13) and in 15 participants in real-life environments.

The purpose of the study is to compare the immune response of two different injection methods (Intramuscular V.S. Subcutaneous) of the 2011-2012 seasonal Influenza (Flu) vaccine among patients with neuromuscular conditions who have significant muscle degeneration. This research study hypothesizes that the subcutaneous route of vaccine administration, as compared to the intramuscular route, may confer at least comparable, or possibly better, immunogenicity. At least 30 individuals followed by the CCHMC Neuromuscular Comprehensive Care Center will be recruited to participate in this study lasting approximately one to two months with two clinic visits and one follow-up telephone call. Immunogenicity will be assessed by comparing hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers obtained pre- and post-vaccination.

This study aims to refine the capability of MSOT to characterise muscle tissue and to determine non-invasive, quantitative biomarkers for the disease assessment in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT).

Patients with underlying neuromuscular disorder (NMD) often suffer from weakness in the inspiratory and expiratory muscles. Consequently they do not have the strength to generate the minimum flow of 160 to 300 liters/minute for an efficient cough function. The restricted cough function allows secretion to accumulate, which in turn causes narrowing of the airway lumen and makes ventilation of the neuromuscular patient even more difficult. The patient's susceptibility to infection increases again and the vicious circle repeats itself. Severe secretion retention may even lead to ventilator failure. Effective secretion and cough management instead reduces the risk for stay in hospital. Therefore, secretion and cough management is a mandatory part of the therapeutic concept for treating patients with neuromuscular disease. The therapeutic efficacy of the Lung Insufflation Assist Maneuver(LIA) integrated in the ventilator VENTIlogic LS-plus manufactured by Weinmann GmbH+Co KG was studied in a pilot study carried out by the Dep. for Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the University Hospital of Essen/Germany in cooperation with Research & Development at Weinmann GmbH &Co KG, Germany . The objective of the pilot study was to examine the therapeutic efficacy of LIAM as a cough support function in patients with neuromuscular disease and indications for mechanical ventilation. We hypothesized that i) a certain insufflation maneuver pressure may be optimal to achieve the highest individual peak cough flow and ii) that this pressure is below the pressure needed to achieve the maximum insufflation capacity. We define the lowest insufflation capacity at which the best individual PCF can be achieved as optimum insufflation capacity (OIC). The study was performed using two different techniques in order to demonstrate that findings are not dependent on maneuver details but are rather based on effects of maneuver pressure. The protocol was limited to techniques which do not require breath stacking: i) insufflation with an Intermittend Positive Pressure (IPPB) device and ii) with the VENTIlogic LS using LIAM.

The Synchron Motor Neuroprosthesis (MNP) is intended to be used in subjects with severe motor impairment, unresponsive to medical or rehabilitative therapy and a persistent functioning motor cortex. The purpose of this research is to evaluate safety and feasibility. The MNP is a type of implantable brain computer interface which bypasses dysfunctional motor neurons. The device is designed to restore the transmission of neural signal from the cerebral cortex utilized for neuromuscular control of digital devices, resulting in a successful execution of non-mechanical digital commands.

Newborn screening in Germany is a voluntary program. Cystinosis and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are rare autosomal recessive diseases. They are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, i.e. both parents carry a defective gene. Neither disease can be detected early by the methods established in routine newborn screening. However, common genetic mutations are known for both diseases. The aim of the study presented here is to provide the scientific basis for molecular genetic newborn screening for cystinosis and SMA. In particular, to investigate whether inclusion of these diseases in general newborn screening should be recommended. The participating screening laboratories for this project are Labor Becker & Kollegen, Munich, Germany and Screening Laboratory Hannover, Germany. Hospitals that send their dry blood spot cards for routine newborn screening to these laboratories will receive an offer to participate in the pilot project. Participation is free of charge. Parents who wish to participate in this pilot project will receive an information sheet explaining the screening process and objectives. A parent and the treating physician sign the information sheet as documentation of informed consent. Their signature and informed consent are required for the pilot. Routine NBS according to German pediatric guidelines involves the collection of dried blood spot cards 36-72 hours after birth. Molecular genetic screening in the pilot project will be performed with the same dried blood spot card used for routine newborn screening. In cystinosis, genetic testing for the 3 most common mutations in Germany will be performed. In SMA, a homozygous deletion of exon 7 in the SMN gene is detected by a PCR test. The molecular genetic test is performed on the same day as routine newborn screening.Normal findings are not reported to parents. However, they can contact the laboratories to inquire about them. Parents of newborns with two mutations in the cystinosis gene or with a homozygous deletion of exon 7 in the SMN gene are immediately informed of the disease by a physician. Further diagnostics to confirm the disease will be organized close to home. The study started on Jan. 15, 2018, and recruitment was completed on Sept. 30, 2022.

This study will incorporate patients/ caregivers' perspectives to investigate the performance in daily activities of individuals with SMA and how it relates to their motor function abilities.

It is well known that patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have progressive decline of respiratory muscle function. Therapy traditionally involved supportive means to ensure optimal nutrition and airway clearance. Nusinersen (spinraza) is a disease-modifying medication approved for treatment of SMA in pediatric and adult patients. The goal of this study is to observe pulmonary function test (PFT) changes and respiratory muscle strength trends throughout the first year of treatment. A prospective, longitudinal study measuring pulmonary function testing (PFTs) changes in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. Patients will be patients with SMA who are approved and maintained on nusinersen. Patient will have a baseline PFT. Investigators will repeat PFT at 3, 6, and 12 months while on nusinersen treatment.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular condition, characterised by loss of motor neurons as a result of a mutation in the survival motor neuron gene. This results in muscle wasting and in the most common and severe type, death before 24 months. Over the recent years there has been a dynamic shift in the therapeutic options for these patients involving both approved therapies, including gene therapy, and access to clinical trials in genetic modifying. As a result of this mortality and morbidity have changed particularly for the SMA type 1 population and therefore there is now a changing phenotype with many children needing interventions at different time points compared to the natural history. This review process is a retrospective review from 1st July 2017 - 30th June 2022, when most of the new drug therapies were being introduced, of all the children aged from 0-16 years in the West Midlands region and their outcomes.