Denosumab Administration After Spinal Cord Injury
OsteoporosisSpinal Cord InjurySublesional bone loss after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is sudden, progressive, and dramatic. After depletion of bone mass and the loss of architectural integrity, it may be difficult, if even possible, to restore skeletal mass and strength. Denosumab is a relative new, highly potent anti-resorptive agent that has proven efficacy in postmenopausal osteoporosis to improve bone mass and in solid tumor patients to prevent a skeletal-related event to a greater extent than that with bisphosphonate administration. In persons with complete motor lesions, bisphosphonates have not been effective at reducing bone loss at the knee, the site of greatest relevance because of its increased risk of fracture. Anti-RANKL therapy appears to be more potent than bisphosphonates in animal models of bone loss due to immobilization, suggesting that treatment with denosumab may prove to be an efficacious therapy for persons with acute SCI to preserve bone mass and strength.
Gender Disparity in Burn Injury Survival
ObesityBurn InjuryHypothesis 1: A quantifiable difference in inflammatory cytokines exist in women with burn injury and this correlates with clinical markers of outcome Hypothesis 2: The amount of adipose tissue contributes to the severity of cellular immune response (CMI) dysregulation in response to burn injury Skin-fold caliper measurements will be taken on consented patients (both male and female) to determine body fat percentage. Serum samples will be obtained from these patients. The level of inflammatory cytokines in the serum will be measured to determine if there is a link between body fat percentage, pro-inflammatory cytokines and the ability of women to survive burn injury.
Using Human Menstrual Blood Cells to Treat Acute Lung Injury Caused by H7N9 Bird Flu Virus Infection...
Acute Lung InjuryAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)1 moreThe purpose of this study is to determine whether human menstrual blood-derived stem cells are effective in the treatment of infection of H7N9 virus caused acute lung injury.
Effectiveness of Wound Closure Using V-Loc™ 90 Sutures in Lipoabdominoplasty Patients
Open Surgical WoundsVLock suture studied in abdominal wound closure. Time and cosmesis was studied
Clinical Effect of Phenytoin Mucoadhesive Paste on Wound Healing After Oral Biopsy
Wound HealingPainseveral studies have investigated healing effect of phenytoin.In this study we investigate healing effect of phenytoin mucoadhesive paste comparing to the usual mucoadhesive paste after oral biopsy.
The RETINA Project: Reliable Eye Tracking in Neurocognitive Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury...
Traumatic Brain InjuryThe purpose of this study is to develop and validate eye-tracking measures that can be used to evaluate neurocognitive dysfunction among individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Effect of Intense Multi-modal Training on Bone Health and Quality of Life in Persons With Spinal...
Spinal Cord InjuryObesityBone loss is a common secondary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), and treatments used to reverse this condition have equivocal effectiveness. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of intense multi-modal training on bone health, body fat, and quality of life in persons with SCI. Participants will complete 6 months of training during which various measures will be obtained at 0, 3, and 6 months. Control subjects are also being recruited to complete testing but not participate in training.
Does Discontinuation of Aspirin Treatment Following Head Trauma Decrease the Incidence of Chronic...
Head TraumaTraumatic Brain Injury1 moreAnti-aggregation therapy, including treatment with low-dose aspirin (LDA) is an established risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage, including chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH); however evidence guiding the decision to continue or discontinue LDA in patients who have sustained mild head trauma with no sign of injury on CT is lacking. The investigators aim to assess whether continued aspirin treatment increases the risk of CSDH in mild head trauma patients 50 years and older who present with negative head CT. The investigators further aim to use the initial findings to refine the study design, with the goal of performing a larger, multi-institutional study in the future. Over a 12-month period, approximately 100 patients ≥50 years of age on LDA prophylaxis presenting to Hadassah's Emergency Department after sustaining mild head injury, will be examined by the neurosurgeon on call. Those who have no sign of intracranial hemorrhage at clinical or CT examination, and who meet inclusion / exclusion criteria, will be invited to participate in a randomized study. Informed consent will be obtained. Patients will be remotely randomized for continuation or cessation of LDA treatment. Follow-up CT and clinical examination will be performed 3-5 weeks after trauma. The two-proportions test will be used to assess whether there is a statistically significant difference in the rate of CSDH in patients randomized to cessation of LDA therapy and those randomized to continuation of LDA. Relationships between the explanatory the dependent variables will be explored with classical parametric and nonparametric statistical methods, including multivariate analysis, logistic regression, the two proportions test, and the independence test. Several measures of association/correlation between pairs of variables will be analyzed as well. The investigators hypothesize that continuation of LDA will not be associated with increased risk for chronic subdural hematoma, and that cessation of treatment will not be associated with a decrease in chronic subdural hematoma. The investigators further hypothesize that cessation of LDA for this period will not be associated with increased risk for clinically significant cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, thrombotic, of embolic event.
Using Tablets for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Post Acquired Brain Injury
Brain InjuryStrokeThe purpose of the study is to test the effectiveness of training using novel tablet applications for hand function, compared to traditional hand exercises. In addition, we aim to examine brain plasticity following treatment with the new tablet applications. We hypothesize that training with a tablet would prove to be more effective than traditional exercises. We expect to observe neuroplastic changes in the brain in patients who practiced finger movements using the tablet.
Incisional Wound Vac in Obese Patients
Wound InfectionPostoperative ComplicationIt is the belief of the investigators that the current trends in complication rates associated with fixation of pelvic ring injuries and acetabular fractures in the obese are unacceptable. The overwhelming majority of these complications can be attributed to problems with surgical wound healing. The investigators feel that if a cost effective and easily performed intervention can be prospectively utilized in a specific at-risk orthopaedic trauma population in order to control a potentially devastating complication, then efforts in discovering such an intervention may prove valuable. It is our hypothesis that obese patients treated with V.A.C. therapy after standard closure of trauma-related, operative orthopaedic incisions will have fewer postoperative wound complications.