Boston, MA Paid Clinical Trials

This research is being done to determine the safety and feasibility of using a type of radiation guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and chemotherapy to treat patients with gastric and breast cancer. The name of the radiation machine involved in this study is the MRIdian Linear Accelerator. Read Less

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are molecular biomarkers that post-transcriptionally control target genes. Deregulated miRNA expression has been observed in diverse cancers. In high grade gliomas, known as glioblastomas, the investigators have identified an oncogenic miRNA, miRNA-10b (mir-10b) that is expressed at higher levels in glioblastomas than in normal brain tissue. This study tests the hypothesis that in primary glioma samples mir-10b expression patterns will serve as a prognostic and diagnostic marker. This study will also characterize the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of glioma subclasses. Furthermore, considering the critical function of anti-mir-10b in blocking established glioblastoma growth, the investigators will test in vitro the sensitivity of individual primary tumors to anti-mir-10b treatment. Tumor, blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples will be obtained from patients diagnosed with gliomas over a period of two years. These samples will be examined for mir-10b expression levels. Patient survival, as well as tumor grade and genotypic variations will be correlated to mir-10b expression levels. Read Less

The purpose of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of office-based methadone with pharmacy administration and/or dispensing to office-based buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. This study will also examine factors influencing the implementation of office-based methadone. Read Less

This is a phase 1 study to determine the feasibility and utility of using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess treatment response during and after radiation therapy (standard of care cancer treatment) for participants with advanced esophageal cancer, glioblastoma, prostate cancer, vulvar cancer or pediatric glioma. The research study procedures include three MRI scans (one before, one during, and one after standard of care cancer radiation therapy) for participants with advanced esophageal cancer, glioblastoma, prostate cancer, vulvar cancer or pediatric glioma. The research study procedures include: * Screening for eligibility * Three MRI scans Read Less

The goal of this observational study is to determine if a liquid biopsy (i.e. blood test) is an effective clinical tool for monitoring the development of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) among adults (18 years and older) with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), compared to the current standard of care. The main questions it aims to answer are: How effective is liquid biopsy compared to the current standard of care (clinical surveillance and imaging) for early detection of MPNST development among people with NF1? Can liquid biopsy offer a cost-effective method for early detection of MPNST in people with NF1? Also, can liquid biopsy provide earlier detection that potentially leads to better outcomes? Also, can offering liquid biopsy improve access to care for people experiencing barriers to access (such as minority populations or people in rural areas)? At baseline, participants will be asked to: * Complete surveys to provide their demographic and NF1-related health information. * Report whether or not they are experiencing MPNST-related symptoms. * Provide blood samples (15 mL blood total between three tubes, which is approximately one tablespoon). Every six months during the five-year follow-up period, participants will be asked to: * Complete additional surveys to report whether or not they are experiencing MPNST-related symptoms and/or if they have been diagnosed with a new MPNST. * Provide an additional blood sample (10 mL blood total in one tube). If diagnosed with an MPNST by their healthcare provider during the follow-up period, participants will be asked to: * Complete an additional survey regarding their diagnosis and symptoms. * Provide an additional blood sample (10 mL blood in one tube). * In parallel, the study team will request a sample of tumor tissue from the care provider, if available. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to look at pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) that need to be treated with antibiotics given through a tube inserted into a vein (intravenous or IV). A pulmonary exacerbation is a worsening of respiratory symptoms in people with CF that needs medical intervention. Both doctors and CF patients are trying to understand the best way to treat pulmonary exacerbations. This study is trying to answer the following questions about treating a pulmonary exacerbation: * Do participants have the same improvement in lung function and symptoms if they are treated with one type of antibiotic (called beta-lactams or β-lactams) versus taking two different types of antibiotics (tobramycin and β-lactams)? * Is taking one type of antibiotic just as good as taking two types? Read Less

Acute lung injury (ALI) following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a serious complication, often prolonging the length of stay in ICU and potentially dealing to mortality. The objective of this study is to assess the mechanism of CPB-mediated acute lung injury in pediatric patients. Read Less

This study is evaluating the safety and tolerability of neoadjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with atezolizumab and bevacizumab for treating resectable hepatocellular carcinoma. This study involves the following study interventions: * Atezolizumab * Bevacizumab * Stereotactic Beam Radiation Therapy (SBRT) * Surgery Read Less

The study is designed to investigate the impact of three nights of sleep restricted to 4 hours per night, on the processing and regulation of emotional information compared to Insomnia Disorder and control. The investigators will address and attempt to answer two questions. (i) How do three nights of reduced sleep or a diagnosis of Insomnia Disorder affect the processing and regulation of emotional information compared to typical, undisturbed sleep? (ii) What overlapping and distinct neural mechanisms are engaged and associated with behavioral effects when attempting to process and regulate emotions in a sleep restricted state or with a clinical diagnosis of Insomnia Disorder? This study will investigate sleep's role in emotion processing and regulation. The findings will help further understanding of the role of sleep in healthy emotional functioning. Read Less

Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that genetic variants will alter gene expression in response to ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass. To test this, the investigators will be taking small pieces of heart tissue from patients undergoing heart surgery before and after this period of ischemia. This will be compared to blood gene expression in blood cells and analyzed with the patients' genetic profile. This might allow us to assess the amount of inflammation that occurs when patients are on the heart-lung machine as well as examine the effects genes have on this critical time period. Read Less

This will be a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, pilot trial with two parallel groups (1:1 ratio) receiving either dexmedetomidine (initial bolus of 1 mcg/kg over 30 min after induction, followed by an infusion rate of 0.3 mcg/kg/hr that will be stopped 30-45 minutes before the end of the surgery or upon reaching maximum dose of 2mcg/kg, whichever comes first) or placebo (normal saline as a bolus followed by maintenance infusion at the same rate of the intervention group). Dexmedetomidine is frequently administered in thoracic surgery. Using local data from the Brigham and Women's Hospital, dexmedetomidine was used in a third of the thoracic procedures performed over the past three years. However, there is no consensus as to the optimal protocol of administration, therefore clinical practice is highly heterogeneous (bolus versus continuous infusion) and mostly depends on the preferences of anesthesia providers. In our institution, the dose of dexmedetomidine is typically 0.5 mcg/kg but varies based on attending preferences and experience. Given the heterogenous practices in dexmedetomidine administration, one of the objectives is to assess the feasibility of adhering to a dexmedetomidine protocol using an initial loading dose of 1 mcg/kg over 30 minutes after induction followed by a continuous infusion of 0.3 mcg/kg/hr. The infusion will stop 30-45 minutes prior to the end of surgery or once a maximum dose of 2mcg/kg has been achieved, whichever comes first. The control group will receive normal saline (similar bolus followed by maintenance infusion at the same rate of the intervention group). Read Less

The goal of this interventional study is to compare the baseline neural mechanisms and parenting in depressed and non-depressed children and to examine baseline neural mechanisms and parenting as predictors of Family-Focused Treatment for Childhood-Depression (FFT-CD) outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are differences between depressed and non-depressed participants on baseline neural and parenting indicators? * Do baseline neural and parenting indicators predict response to FFT-CD? * Does change in parenting and neural functioning mediate change in depression from baseline to follow-up? Participants will: * complete baseline clinical measures * complete neuroimaging tasks via Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMR) * undergo a 12-session course of FFT-CD * complete follow up evaluations and neuroimaging Read Less