Los Angeles, CA Paid Clinical Trials

Our aim is to compare the efficacy, safety, procedural time required, and costs of a strategy initially employing cholangioscopy guided intraductal lithotripsy (laser/electrohydraulic lithtripsy (EHL)) versus a strategy initially using papillary dilation for removal of large bile duct stones. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to develop a mechanism for utilizing the comprehensive clinical database of childhood cancer survivors at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) for research purposes. Using clinical information obtained from follow-up visits of childhood cancer survivors, the database will focus on interventions to improve health status and health-related quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. This study allows for establishment and analyses of a research database for LIFE survivors by the investigators listed herein. Over the last three decades, there has been marked improvement in survival following childhood cancer, with 5-year survival rates now approaching 80%. However, the use of cancer therapy at an early age can result in complications that may not be apparent until years later as the child matures. These resulting complications, called late effects, are principally related to the specific therapy employed and the age of the child at the time the therapy was administered. Late effects may affect virtually every body system and substantially impair quality of life. As many as two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors develop at least one late effect as a result of treatment, and approximately one-third have a late effect classified as severe or life threatening. Read Less

This multinational, investigator-initiated, retrospective study aims to investigate outcomes of patients, who underwent transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI), in comparison to those screened for TMVI but deemed ineligible, who subsequently underwent interventional mitral valve edge-to-edge repair, mitral valve surgery or medical/conservative therapy. Read Less

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a chronic disorder with an overall prevalence in the adult population of over 10%, but that may exceed 40% in elderly groups. Most overactive bladder treatments are aimed at decreasing urgency incontinence episodes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an at-home transvaginal electrical stimulation (TES) program works to alleviate symptoms of urgency in patients with urinary urgency and frequency without incontinence. This is a cross-over trial. Women >18 yo presenting with OAB-dry will be randomized to receive one of two TES at home programs for 4 weeks. After completion of the program, the participant's symptoms will be assessed with standardized patient questionnaires. There will then be a 3 week washout period followed by the second at-home TES program. At the completion of the second program, the participant's symptoms will be assessed with the same standardized questionnaires. The participants will be followed for 6 months following the completion of the TES program. Read Less

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1,148,200 Americans aged 13 years and older are living with HIV infection, including 207,600 (18.1%) who are unaware of their infection. According to pathological data, central nervous system (CNS) involvement is commonly found during the early phase of infection. In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of HIV-infected humans have demonstrated significant changes of metabolites observed in the brain N-acetylaspartate, creatine, choline, glutamate, glutamine and myo-inositol with varying changes in different brain regions. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a novel functional MRI technique which can be used to derive quantitative in vivo measurements of region-specific and diffuse brain alterations. DTI studies have demonstrated changes of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in the various parts of brain. Diffusion abnormalities involving various regions of brain have also been observed in patients infected with HIV. One dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) technique has been used for many years to study the metabolites changes in HIV. MRI scan time necessary for the acquisition of high-resolution MRSI data with adequate spatial coverage may be prohibitively long for clinical exams. Thus, new imaging and bio-chemical characterization techniques are needed to allow repeated, non-invasive assessment of these processes in vivo. Since neuroinflammation is associated with increased brain water, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to changes in white matter (WM) and inflammatory changes associated with HIV infections. Even though only single-voxel-based diffusion-weighted MRS has been previously investigated, altered diffusivity of non-water metabolites and its relationship with metabolic disturbance as well as structural and functional abnormalities in HIV has not been investigated. The brain apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes of metabolites measured by the novel 3D MRSI technique will be correlated with the ADCs and fractional anisotrophy of water recorded by DTI and cell count to better understand the role of CNS involvement in HIV pathology. Read Less

The investigators aim to perform a qualitative study exploring attitudes and perceived barriers to Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), both implants and IUDs, among adolescent and young adults (AYA) with chronic illness at CHLA. While the literature examining barriers to LARC uptake is growing, its focus has been on older women and women who are not living with chronic illness. There remains a significant gap in the understanding of: What adolescents and young adults from ethnically diverse, economically underserved communities know about LARCs If and how LARCs fit into their considerations and decision making about contraception choices Perceived barriers to LARC among AYA with chronic medical conditions Information, perceptions, experiences that inform choices that may be unique to AYA living with chronic conditions Research Objectives Explore the impact of the experience of living with chronic medical conditions on AYA patient attitudes toward and acceptance of LARCs Identify AYA patient concerns and perceptions related to historical coercion and reproductive injustice experienced by minority communities that may reduce acceptance of LARC Explore the relationship between patients' perception of pediatric subspecialty care providers' attitudes regarding sexual health and contraception guidance and patients' attitudes toward and acceptance of LARC Identify factors related to patient's age, family's values, and medical condition, as well as historical events or legacies that may impact preference of implant vs intra-uterine device (IUD), independent of safety/medical contraindications, if choosing a LARC method. Explore other social, cultural or psychological factors that influence perception and represent barriers to LARC access Hypotheses The impact of chronic illness on AYA sense of bodily autonomy (including self-concept, history of other medical procedures, and concerns around mortality) reduces the attractiveness of LARC methods. The intersectionality of multiple oppressions, including racism, xenophobia, sexism, and historical reproductive coercion and injustice implicitly reduce the attractiveness of LARC methods for AYA patients from minority communities with chronic medical conditions at CHLA. Pediatric subspecialty providers' attitudes about sex, and comfort with providing patient-centered contraception counseling, as perceived by AYA patients, impact AYA patient attitudes towards and acceptance of LARC. Preference of implant vs. IUD is related to patient's age, family values, and type of medical condition, as well as their knowledge of historical events related to contraception in their community, independent of safety/medical contraindications. Additional perceived barriers, including fear or skepticism about LARC conferred by trusted sources of information such as family or social media, reduce the attractiveness and acceptance of LARC by AYA with chronic medical conditions Read Less

Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the standard treatment for localized renal masses and should be preferred in clinical T1 (<7 cm tumor diameter) renal tumors over radical nephrectomy (RN) whenever technically feasible. Nonetheless, indications, approaches, techniques for PN, and correct reporting of outcomes, are still a matter of great debate within the urology community. Concurrently, case-report series suggested that alternative strategies for the treatment of localized renal tumors (ablation techniques (AT), watchful waiting (WW), active surveillance (AS)) could be feasible with acceptable oncologic outcomes in particular settings of patients with localized renal tumors. In this complex clinical scenario, the role surgeon-related and environmental factors (such as surgical experience, hospital resources, countries' social background and performance of health system) are important to address the best personalized approach in patients with renal tumors. In the light of current evidence, many unsolved questions still remain and many unmet needs must be addressed. In particular, 1) the risk-benefit trade-offs between PN and RN for anatomically complex renal localized tumors; 2) the definition of evidence-based strategies to tailor the management strategy (AT vs WW vs AS vs surgery) in different subset of patients with particular clinical conditions (i.e. old, frail, comorbid patients); and 3) the definition of evidence-based recommendations to adapt surgical approach (open vs laparoscopic vs robotic) and resection techniques to different patient-, tumor-, and surgeon-specific characteristics. To meet the challenges, to overcome the limitations of current kidney cancer literature (such as the retrospective study design, potential risk of biases, and heterogeneous follow-up of most series), and to provide high-quality evidence for future development of effective clinical practice Guidelines, we designed the international REgistry of COnservative or Radical treatment of localized kiDney tumors (i-RECORD) Project. The expected impact of the i-RECORD project is to provide robust evidence on the leading clinical and environmental factors driving selection of the management strategy in patients with kidney cancer, and the differential impact of different management strategies (including AS, WW, AT, PN and RN) on functional, perioperative and oncological outcomes, as well as quality of life assessment, at a mid-long term follow-up (5-10 years). Read Less

This is a study of transfusion of TBX-3400 in patients with stage III and IV melanoma resistant or refractory to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. The patient's own blood cells are exposed to a protein that has been shown in the laboratory to result in anti-tumor activity. The study hypothesis is that TBX-3400 cells will enhance anti-tumor activity and improve the body's immune response. Read Less

This study seeks to define the ultrasound profile of patients with COVID-19, and document the progression of these ultrasound findings to develop prognostication and clinical decision instruments that can help guide management of patient with COVID-19. Primary aims include the development of ARDS, refractory hypoxemia, acute cardiac injury, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax or death. Secondary aims include potential change in CT and plain film utilization given the use of POCUS, as well as emergency department and inpatient LOS (length of stay). Read Less

This is a pilot 3 center prospective study of pediatric renal kidney recipients undergoing protocol biopsies examining the performance of the TruGraf gene expression test in children and adolescents. Read Less

RX108 is a novel, potent, small-molecule inhibitor of Na+/K+-ATPase. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and efficacy of RX108 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Read Less

Study description - Patients will be randomized according to post-operative recurrence risk to either a high ligation of ileocolic artery or mesenteric sparing ileocolic resection for terminal ileal Crohn's disease. The primary endpoint 6-month endoscopic recurrence. Endpoints - Primary endpoint; 6 months Secondary endpoints at 1 and 5 years post ileocecal resection Study population - Adult Crohn's disease patients with medically refractory terminal ileal Crohn's disease undergoing a primary ileocecal resection. Study sites - Multicenter international study Description of study intervention - Randomized control trial of two operative techniques Operative approach of a high ligation of ileocolic artery as compared to mesenteric sparing for a primary ileocolic resection Participate duration - 5 years Read Less