Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

Acute Lung Injury/Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is a serious and frequently encountered entity in modern ICUs. Sepsis remains the most common cause of ALI/ARDS and carries the worst prognosis. The disease is characterized by an intense inflammatory process. This inflammation plays a major role in the development of gas exchange abnormalities seen in the course of the disease. Statins, primarily used as lipid-lowering agents, are now known to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombogenic and vascular function-restoring actions. Therefore the investigators propose to determine if Simvastatin may be useful in decreasing the incidence of this deadly syndrome in critically ill patients.

Morphine gel applied topically to wounds will reduce wound pain and decrease patients use of oral and intravenous pain medications, therefore reducing side effects.

People who survive severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) live with profound cognitive impairments that alter their developmental course and define their future possibilities. Worldwide, TBI is the leading cause of death and disability among children and adolescents (Murgio, 2000). In the United States, the annual incidence of TBI is six times greater than that of multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injury, and breast cancer combined [Centers for Disease Control, American Cancer Society, National Multiple Sclerosis Society]. The burden of TBI may be even greater in developing countries, due to civil unrest and war, and to the absence of mandated prevention such as seat belt laws. The long-term objective of the investigators' research group is to improve outcomes for survivors of TBI in Latin America. To that end, the investigators have created a structure for professionals and institutions involved in the treatment of TBI to generate research; to facilitate education, standardization, certification, the dissemination of information and resources; and to foster the development of evidence-based guidelines. The structure is the Latin American Brain Injury Consortium (LABIC).

This is an observational research study whose purposes are to see: if 40 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy sessions at 1.5 atmospheres (HBOT 1.5) or more (60, or 80 HBOT's) help, worsen, or have no effect on subjects with chronic TBI/PCS (Traumatic Brain Injury/Post-Concussion Syndrome) and/or PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). if improvements or worsening of symptoms can be recorded with computerized and written tests for memory and thinking, and with questionnaires about the subject's quality of life and health. determine the long-term outcome of the treatment. confirm, in large numbers of study participants at multiple sites nationwide, the strong positive results obtained in pilot studies

This pilot study proposes to examine the effect of Rozerem on sleep/wake patterns among individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) experiencing sleep disturbance, using both objective and subjective measures. It will also show that improvement in sleep/wake patterns resulting from Rozerem will impact daytime functioning using objective and subjective measures.

The restoration of normal blood flow following a period of ischemia may result in ischemia / reperfusion injury (I/RI), which is characterized by inflammation and oxidative damage to tissues. Varying degrees of I/RI occur upon reperfusion of a donor heart after cold storage. Medications containing antibodies against immune cells have been used for many years as powerful immunosuppressants. These medications, called polyclonal antibody preparations, are generally only used immediately following transplantation and/or to treat rejection. At our institution, one such antibody preparation (Thymoglobulin) is used in most pediatric heart transplant recipients for 3-5 days immediately after transplantation. Because standard immunosuppressive medications (called calcineurin inhibitors) are toxic to the kidneys, the use of Thymoglobulin allows us to delay the initiation of calcineurin inhibitors until the kidneys of completely recovered from the shock of the transplant surgery. We hypothesize that Thymoglobulin may be beneficial in reducing the damage caused by I/RI. Thus, the present study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of an intra-operative dose of Thymoglobulin (in addition to the standard doses post-operatively) at reducing the effects of I/RI. The study will be a double-bind placebo-controlled trial involving 20 subjects. Biologic markers for I/RI will be assessed at periodic intervals for six months post-transplantation. Subjects receiving intra-operative doses of Thymoglobulin will be compared to the controls in order to assess the effectiveness of intra-operative Thymoglobulin in ameliorating the effects of I/RI.

The aim of this study is to determine effect of proprioceptive stimulation with passive gait training on the cortical activity in patients with severe brain injury, demonstrated as changes in EEG (electroencephalogram)and ERP (Event Related Potentials). Hypotheses: 1) Proprioceptive stimulation increases EEG-frequency in patients with impaired consciousness due to severe brain injury. 2) Proprioceptive stimulation increases conductivity speed of the cognitive P300-component of ERP in patients with impaired consciousness due to severe brain injury.

The purpose of the study is to determine whether or not a brief psychological treatment called cognitive behaviour therapy will help people who have suffered a spinal cord injury to cope better with their current circumstances.

This case series will assess the use of suction blister epidermal grafts harvested by a novel device on select patients with hypo pigmented skin or surgical skin wounds.

The morbidity of spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing significantly in China. The methods to treat SCI patients in sequela stage update are poor. Though traditional rehabilitation therapy is the routine method to treat SCI in sequela stage, its effect to improve the neurological disorders of these patients, such as the dysfunction of sense, motor, autologous adjustment of blood pressure control of urination and defecation, perspiration , etc. is unsatisfying. Rehabilitation Therapy can prevent the process of muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. However, it can not repair the damaged nerve function. Studies show that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can remarkably improve the neurological function of SCI in animals without any severe side effect. In this study, the investigators use mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord to treat 40 SCI patients (20 cases in early stage and 20 cases in sequela stage). The investigators also follow-up ten patients who only receive rehabilitation and another ten outpatients who accept neither stem cell therapy nor rehabilitation. On this basis, the investigators can compare the efficacy of these two treatments.