20 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects of hip distraction without a perineal post on the lower extremity during hip arthroscopic procedures by peri-operative monitoring of various prognostic markers for venous, nerve and tissue injury.
Thus study aims to characterize the local, nerve-specific effects of acupuncture on the median and ulnar nerves in the forearm, using nerve conduction studies and quantitative sensory testing. All participant will have carpal tunnel syndrome and the affected median nerve will be compared to the healthy ulnar nerve. Additionally, we aim to compare the local, nerve-specific effect of manual acupuncture to that of low-frequency electroacupuncture and of high-frequency electroacupuncture.
There are a number of risk factors for development of chronic pain that have been evaluated including age, gender, type and duration of surgery, duration of pain prior to surgery and tourniquet application. There is some scientific evidence from animal studies demonstrating that prolonged tourniquet application can result in lack of oxygen supply to nerves, and subsequent nerve damage resulting in chronic pain. This theory has not been proven in humans. In this study the investigators will indirectly assess the evidence for abnormalities caused by tourniquet application on subjects' nerves using well established devices to determine the function of these nerves.
The purpose of this study is to determine the conducting ability of distal extremity nerves after a supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block (with local anesthetic) has been placed at a more proximal location in the upper extremity.
The purpose of this feasibility study is to determine if temporary weakness of a small foot muscle caused by local injection of botulinum toxin into that muscle can be measured with a strain gauge in addition to the previously known valid measurements via nerve conduction studies and surface electromyogram.
This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of geranium oil and its components in the relief of numbness and the restoration of sensations.
The study hypothesis is that changes in serially obtained nerve conduction study data obtained every 3-4 weeks in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy can be used to predict the development of a clinically significant / disabling drug induced neuropathy six and twelve months following the start of treatment. Patients with breast cancer, colon cancer, gastroesophageal cancer, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma will be enrolled. Six lower extremity nerves--three in each leg--will be electrically stimulated and their responses recorded at three to four week intervals coinciding with patient's scheduled chemotherapy.
The purpose of this study is to characterize the changes in peripheral nerve functions (sensory and motor) in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and examine the relations between the changes in nerve functions and changes in pain and mobility using focal vibration.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most expensive upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorder, impacting 10 million people annually and costing employers up to $113,695 per incident. There is currently no established method to detect this disorder prior to the onset of symptoms and nerve damage. Preliminary research suggests that sonography-a relatively inexpensive, widely available, increasingly portable technology-can provide a non-invasive and pain-free method of early detection that could reduce incidence, improve targeted interventions and ultimately reduce costs. The primary aims of this study are to establish predictive validity of a novel method for early detection using sonographic imaging and to identify task components of intensive functional hand activity associated with morphologic changes.
The Purpose of this study is to examine the effect of using the Carpal Tunnel Dynasplint® System on patients diagnosed with CTS in a randomized, controlled, cross-over study.
The purpose of the study is to study the clinical effects of the investigational drug, SB-509 versus placebo in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
This study will compare brain changes in people with Parkinson's disease with those of normal control subjects while they learn motor skills. People with Parkinson's disease sometimes have trouble learning new skills, but it is not known why. This study will use repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), nerve conduction studies, and electroencephaolography (EEG) to look for differences in the way the brain changes with learning in people with Parkinson's disease. Healthy normal volunteers and people with Parkinson's disease who are between 21 and 80 years of age may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following procedures in five visits to the NIH Clinical Center: Visit 1 Medical and neurological examination. Visit 2 Motor training. Participants perform a pinching movement once every other second, timed to a metronome, during rTMS. For TMS, a wire coil is held on the subject's scalp. A brief electrical current is passed through the coil, creating a magnetic pulse that stimulates the brain. The subject hears a click and may feel a pulling sensation on the skin under the coil. There may be a twitch in the muscles of the face, arm or leg. rTMS involves repeated magnetic pulses delivered in short bursts of impulses. Visits 3 and 4 Brain physiology studies using rTMS, nerve conduction studies (electrical nerve stimulation) and EEG. A nerve at the subject's wrist is stimulated with electrical impulses to measure the speed with which nerves conduct electrical impulses and the strength of the connection between the nerve and the muscle. rTMS is performed for 20 minutes. The EEG measures the electrical activity of the brain (brain waves). For this test, electrodes (metal discs) are placed on the scalp with a conductive gel and the brain waves are recorded while the subject moves his or her thumb briskly for 20 minutes. Visit 5 Subjects undergo rTMS for 20 minutes and have an EEG. ...
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are detectable health effects of low-level mercury exposure (from normal exposure to mercury-containing dental fillings) in the known target organs/systems affected by elemental mercury exposure.
Fabry's disease a genetic disorder (X-linked recessive) due to the absence of the enzyme ceramidetrihexosidase. The disease is characterized by abnormal collections of glycolipids in cells (histiocytes) within blood vessel walls, tumors on the thighs, buttocks, and genitalia, decreased sweating, tingling sensations in the extremities, and cataracts. Patients with Fabry 's disease die from complications of the kidney, heart, or brain. The purpose of this study is to measure levels of a protein marker (PGP 9.5) in the skin, blood, and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (CSF) in patients with Fabry's disease. In addition the study will attempt to determine if levels of the protein are directly related to the severity of disease in the nervous system. PGP 9.5 protein levels will be measured in normal volunteers and patients with other diseases of the nervous system then compared to the levels recorded in patients with Fabry's disease. This research study is designed to improve the understanding of Fabry's disease. Patients participating in it will not directly benefit from it. However, knowledge gained as a result of this study may contribute to the development of effective therapies for Fabry's disease.
The peripheral nervous system is the portion of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord. It includes the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal nerves and their branches, nerves responsible for sensation and maintenance of normal body functions (sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves). Years of research using clinical examinations, microscopic examinations, and electrophysiology have made the peripheral nervous system the best-studied and most available portion of the nervous system. However, even with all of the extensive studies conducted on the peripheral nervous system, many conditions remain unclassified. The EMG Laboratory at the NIH concentrates on studying disorders of the peripheral nervous system. This protocol was designed to allow the EMG Laboratory to; I) Learn more about established diseases of the peripheral nervous system II) Identify and characterize new diseases of the peripheral nervous system III) Assess current techniques in the diagnosis of diseases of the peripheral nervous system IV) Refine old methods and develop new ones for the diagnosis of diseases of the peripheral nervous system.
The introduction of light emitting diode (LED) devices as a novel treatment for pain relief in place of low-level laser warrants fundamental research on the effect of LED devices on one of the potential explanatory mechanisms: peripheral neurophysiology in vivo. A randomized controlled study will be conducted by measuring nerve conduction on the superficial radial nerve of healthy subjects (n=64). One baseline measurement and five post-irradiation recordings (2-min interval each) will be performed of the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and peak latency (PL) and peak amplitude (PA). The experimental group (=32) will receive an irradiation of 2 J/cm2 with an infrared LED device (Dynatronics Solaris Model 705), while the placebo group will be treated by sham irradiation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of LED light on the conduction velocity and amplitude of the superficial radial nerve.
This is a one-armed trial of two regional anesthesia (peripheral nerve block) techniques to provide postoperative analgesia after bilateral mastectomy. The two techniques are paravertebral block and erector spinae plane (ESP) block. Patients will serve as their own controls, with one block technique applied on one side of the body and the other technique contralaterally. Anatomical distribution of block effectiveness will be assessed with thermal imaging, and this distribution will be visually compared between the two techniques.
This study will investigate the ability of systemic dexamethasone to prolong the sensory block duration for lumbar plexus nerve blockade.
This study will look at the efficacy of dexamethasone for prolongation of peripheral nerve blocks.
The primary objective of this prospective, descriptive study is to evaluate the success rate of the retroclavicular brachial plexus block and catheter placement in 60 adult patients undergoing hand, wrist, or forearm surgery. The investigators will also evaluate any difficulties performing the procedure, the onset time and distribution of the block, incidence of adverse events, and patient's acceptance of the block.