5 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has shown remarkable efficacy in restoring motor function in people with spinal cord injury by recruiting afferent input to enhance the responsiveness of spared neural circuits to residual cortical inputs. This pilot will test if SCS can show evidence to improve motor deficits in people with Type 2, 3, or 4 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The investigators will enroll up to six subjects with Type 2, 3, or 4 SMA aged 16 or older that show quantifiable motor deficits of the upper body. The investigators will then implant the subjects with percutaneous, linear spinal leads near the cervical spinal cord for a period of up to 29 days. Although these leads are not optimized for motor function but rather for their clinically approved indication of treating pain, the investigators believe they provide a safe technology enabling our team to perform scientific measurement necessary to evaluate potential for effects of SCS in motor paralysis with SMA. After the end of the study, the leads will be explanted.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has shown remarkable efficacy in restoring motor function in people with spinal cord injury by recruiting afferent input to enhance the responsiveness of spared neural circuits to residual cortical inputs. This pilot will test if SCS can show evidence to improve motor deficits in people with type 3 or 4 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The investigators will enroll up to six subjects with Type 3 or 4 SMA aged 16 or older that show quantifiable motor deficits of the legs but are able to stand independently. The investigators will then implant the subjects with percutaneous, bilateral, linear spinal leads near the lumbar spinal cord for a period of up to 29 days. Although these leads are not optimized for motor function but rather for their clinically approved indication of treating pain, the investigators believe they provide a safe technology enabling our team to perform scientific measurement necessary to evaluate potential for effects of SCS in motor paralysis with SMA. After the end of the study, the leads will be explanted.
The purpose of this study is to assess whether 4-AP (Dalfampridine-ER, Ampyra) improves walking ability and endurance in adult patients with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 3 compared to placebo and whether the duration of treatment affects outcome.
Hypothesis: 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.
Early Check provides voluntary screening of newborns for a selected panel of conditions. The study has three main objectives: 1) develop and implement an approach to identify affected infants, 2) address the impact on infants and families who screen positive, and 3) evaluate the Early Check program. The Early Check screening will lead to earlier identification of newborns with rare health conditions in addition to providing important data on the implementation of this model program. Early diagnosis may result in health and development benefits for the newborns. Infants who have newborn screening in North Carolina will be eligible to participate, equating to over 120,000 eligible infants a year. Over 95% of participants are expected to screen negative. Newborns who screen positive and their parents are invited to additional research activities and services. Parents can enroll eligible newborns on the Early Check electronic Research Portal. Screening tests are conducted on residual blood from existing newborn screening dried blood spots. Confirmatory testing is provided free-of-charge for infants who screen positive, and carrier testing is provided to mothers of infants with fragile X. Affected newborns have a physical and developmental evaluation. Their parents have genetic counseling and are invited to participate in surveys and interviews. Ongoing evaluation of the program includes additional parent interviews.