All clinical trials

The development of virtual reality (VR) simulators is changing surgical endoscopic education. The translation of VR skills into clinical endoscopic proficiency has been shown by M.PEARLE. The improvement in performing endoscopic tasks after VR training was evaluated on a cadaver. Our goal is to evaluate the performance of novice endoscopists at the operating room by a randomized controlled study comparing subjects randomized to train on a the "UroMentor" simulator to those without VR training.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether polymorphisms in G protein subunits, namely Galphas and Galphaq, are associated with altered cardiac performance in heart failure patients.

PET CT is one of the imaging tools that are used for staging of urological malignancies. C11 Choline is a novel isotope with the advantage of its minimal secretion in the urine. This advantage makes it a potentially better metabolic marker then others such as FDG. Preliminary studies showed ~95% sensitivity in the diagnosis of TCC. Our Goal is to continue the evaluation of this method as a diagnostic and follow up tool in different urological malignancies.

Trouble breathing (dyspnea) is a nonspecific symptom associated with many diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disorder in which the flow of air to the lungs is blocked), asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), congestive heart failure (fluid build-up in the lungs because the heart is not pumping normally) and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs). The purpose of this study is to test two blood markers called ST2 and IL-33. Blood markers are proteins or other compounds in your blood that physicians use to diagnose different diseases and to determine what the course of an illness will be. In preliminary research studies, ST2 and IL-33 have been elevated in patients with a wide variety of diseases where the lungs are the primary organs involved. This research study will further investigate the ability of ST2 and IL-33 to predict the severity of disease and the possible use of ST2 and IL-33 in the diagnosis of various lung diseases.

Subjects with either allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis will be recruited to obtain blood. This blood will be used to be stimulated with to whatever the patient allergic. In the laboratory, this stimulated blood will be measured for histamine, leukotrienes, IL-13 and IL-3. These are chemicals responsible for allergy symptoms.

In order to evaluate the potential role of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in the postprandial hyperglucagonemia, which characterizes type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (as well as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)), we wish to investigate the secretion of glucagon in patients with T1DM without residual beta-cell function during 50-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and during isoglycemic iv glucose infusion. By evaluating C-peptide negative patients with T1DM we aim to describe the glucagon response to glucose (+/-stimulation of the GI tract) independently of the potentially very important regulation of glucagon secretion by endogenous insulin secretion. A more detailed understanding of the inappropriate glucagon secretion in T1DM is highly needed in order to establish new intervention strategies in the future treatment of the growing numbers of T1DM patients.

The objective of this prospective study is to build a real-time interactive platform where doctors and pharmacists may communicate and solve patients' drug-related problems (DRP) immediately and document accordingly. This study will also design a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system utilizing default protocol for chemotherapy order entry.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the results of ambulatory treatment on Taiwanese patients with primary varicosities of the lower extremities including the use of endovenous laser, phlebectomy, and sclerotherapy. METHODS: We routinely used tumescent anesthesia and ultrasound-guided approaches for the application of endovenous laser. Vein access was achieved by either a percutaneous or stab wound. The laser power was usually 10 - 20 watts; laser treatment usually was begun from 4-10 cm below the saphenofemoral junction, and stopped around the knee, not over 10 cm below the knee. In the same operation, we used Mueller's phlebectomy and/or sclerotherapy if there were prominent branch varicosities. We instructed each patient to walk around immediately after the operation, to go home, and to come back 1-3 days later for follow-up. Ultrasound scan and venous function follow-up was scheduled at 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and then annually.

The aim of this study is to describe the natural history of patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin associated emphysema and to figure out associated prognostic factors.

The purpose of this study is to determine if dynamic psychophysical testing along with genetic screening will allow to identify pre-operatively women who will suffer severe acute pain post-operatively and the subset who may experience chronic pain following cesarean section.