Digital Smartwatch Measurements as Potential Biomarkers for Remote Disease Tracking in ALS
Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisPrimary Lateral Sclerosis4 moreThis observational study will use new smartwatch technology to continuously and remotely monitor the health of ALS patients and healthy controls over time. This information will be used to develop digital biomarkers for ALS.
Characterization of the Postural Habits of Wheelchair Users Analysis of the Acceptability of International...
Duchenne Muscular DystrophySpinal Muscular AtrophySpinal cord injuries and people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or Infant Spinal Muscular Atrophy (ISA) are prone to pain and pressure sores associated with prolonged sitting. For this reason, it is recommended that people with spinal cord injuries release pressure every 15 to 30 minutes and motorized wheelchair users use the electric positioning functions at least 1 minute every hour. The aim is to prevent and/or reduce pain and pressure sores. These devices could help to observe daily the variability of users' pressure maps, their impact on occupational performance, the link with pain and redness and could propose customized adjustments.
Study of Feasibility to Reliably Measure Functional Abilities' Changes in Nonambulant Neuromuscular...
Spinal Muscular AtrophyNeuromuscular DisordersClinical trials organization in several neuromuscular disorders (NMD) has some specific issues. Nonambulant status and difficulties with transportation are among them. Moreover a lot of patients with NMD have so poor condition that even short transportation is able to worse it. Such situation forces researchers to limit a region of recruitment for clinical trials and to exclude from trials more severe subgroup of patients, which cause additional issues especially for rare diseases. The purpose of this study is to prove hypothesis about possibility to reliably monitor patient condition remotely, without trial site visiting. Visit-free study design is potentially able to widen eligible patient population and to decrease patient dropout rate as well as burden of numerous assessments. Meanwhile assessment frequency could be increased enabling monitoring of short fluctuations in patients' condition. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular condition to which all mentioned above issues are completely applicable. Direct current stimulation (DCS) of neural structures is well studied and safe intervention, however, its effects on SMA patients' strength and durability has not been reported for today. The investigators suppose that investigation of DCS action in SMA patient population is an adequate model for visit-free design feasibility, reliability and sensitivity evaluation.
Reliability and Validity of the ACTIVE-mini for Quantifying Movement in Infants With Spinal Muscular...
Spinal Muscular AtrophyThe purpose of this study is to investigate the measurement properties of the Ability Captured Through Interactive Video Evaluation-mini (ACTIVE-mini) for quantifying movement in infants with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Specifically, I will investigate within-day and between-day test-retest reliability and calculate the minimal detectable change of the ACTIVE-mini. Additionally, I will determine the concurrent validity of the ACTIVE-mini with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test for Neuromuscular Disease (CHOP INTEND) and the construct validity of the ACTIVE-mini in infants with SMA using a known group methodology.
Effect of Nusinersen on Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Adult Spinal Muscular AtrophyObservational study of adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy types 2 and 3 receiving nusinersen
Characterization of the Clinical-epidemiological Profile of Patients With SMA5q Types II and III:...
Spinal Muscular AtrophyThis study aims to characterize the clinical-epidemiological profile and baseline characteristics of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) 5q types II and III in follow-up at the Brazilian Unified Public Health System (SUS). The study data will be based on patients´ medical records from several Brazilian public hospitals, which will be defined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MS).
Measuring Levels of SMN in Blood Samples of SMA Patients
Spinal Muscular AtrophySpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disorder that affects the motor neurons. SMA is caused by a mutation in a part of the DNA called the survival motor neuron (SMN1) gene, which normally produces a protein called SMN. Because of their gene mutation, people with SMA make less SMN protein, which results in the loss of motor neurons. SMA symptoms may be improved by increasing the levels of SMN protein. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a drug called a histone deacetylase inhibitor can increase SMN levels. After undergoing a general medical and neurological evaluation, study participants will donate a blood sample. Researchers will use this sample to measure SMN levels. They will also isolate cells from the blood and treat the cells with various drugs that may increase SMN levels.
Study of ALS Reversals 4: LifeTime Exposures
Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisProgressive Muscular Atrophy1 moreHypothesis: There exists patients who have met ALS or PMA diagnostic criteria and subsequently experienced robust and sustained improvement, i.e. a "reversal." Thirty-eight of these patients were identified in the prior Duke University study, Documentation of Known ALS Reversals (St.A.R. Protocol 1, Duke IRB Pro00076395). The investigators hypothesize these patients have had different environmental exposures than patients with typically progressive ALS. Identification of specific environmental influences may point to exposures which are protective or exposure that lead to the development of a rare and novel reversible ALS-like disease. Objective: This study seeks to identify environmental exposures associated with ALS reversals.
Development of a Space Exploration Assessment for Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal Muscular AtrophyAssessment1 moreThe aim of this randomized study is to develop a new motor assessment of space exploration in a 2D environment with upper limbs for children with spinal muscular atrophy 1 and 2 from 3 until 16 years old.
A Patient Centric Motor Neuron Disease Activities of Daily Living Scale
Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisProgressive Muscular Atrophy2 moreThe purpose of this study is to learn about rates of patient-reported disease progression in patients with motor neuron diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, primary lateral sclerosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia) outside the clinical setting, and the patient-reported clinical characteristics that influence this rate of progression. All patients enrolled in CReATe Connect, a Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) Contact Registry, will be invited via email to participate in this study.