Boston, MA Paid Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to determine the radiographic and clinical outcomes of Scoliosis surgical and non-operative treatment in patients with Cerebral Palsy. Read Less

There are no guidelines or prospective studies defining the optimal surgical treatment for gliomas of older patients (≥70 years) or those with limited functioning performance at presentation (KPS ≤70). Therefore, the decision between resection and biopsy is varied, amongst neurosurgeons internationally and at times even within an instiutition. This study aims to compare the effects of maximal tumor resection versus tissue biopsy on survival, functional, neurological, and quality of life outcomes in these patient subgroups. Furthermore, it evaluates which modality would maximize the potential to undergo adjuvant treatment. This study is an international, multicenter, prospective, 2-arm cohort study of observational nature. Consecutive HGG patients will be treated with resection or biopsy at a 3:1 ratio. Primary endpoints are: 1) overall survival (OS) and 2) proportion of patients that have received adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Secondary endpoints are 1) proportion of patients with NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) deterioration at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after surgery 2) progression-free survival (PFS); 3) quality of life at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after surgery and 4) frequency and severity of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs). Total duration of the study is 5 years. Patient inclusion is 4 years, follow-up is 1 year. Read Less

There is no consensus on the optimal treatment of patients with high-grade glioma, especially when patients have limited functioning performance at presentation (KPS ≤70). Therefore, there are varied practice patterns around pursuing biopsy, resection, or palliation (best supportive care). This study aims to characterize the impact of palliative care versus biopsy versus resection on survival and quality of life in these patients. Also, it will aim to determine if there is a subset of patients that benefit the most from resection or biopsy, for which outcome, and how they could be identified preoperatively. This study is an international, multicenter, prospective, 3-arm cohort study of observational nature. Consecutive HGG patients will be treated with palliative care, biopsy, or resection at a 1:3:3 ratio. Primary endpoints are: 1) overall survival, and 2) quality of life at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after initial presentation based on the EQ-5D, EORTC QLQ C30 and EORTC BN 20 questionnaires. Total duration of the study is 5 years. Patient inclusion is 4 years, follow-up is 1 year. Read Less

Investigators will evaluate the efficacy of postoperative oral suvorexant treatment on nighttime wakefulness after persistent sleep onset (WASO) among adult cardiac surgical patients recovering in the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU). The study include patients ≥ 60 years old undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), with or without valve surgery (aortic or mitral). Patients will receive either oral suvorexant or placebo for 7 nights starting the night after extubation. The primary hypothesis is that suvorexant compared with placebo decreases WASO, as measured by a specialized electroencephalogram (EEG), the SedLine monitor, during the first night in the cardiac ICU. Investigators will also assess total sleep time (TST), time to sleep onset (TSO), and postoperative delirium and delirium-free days. Read Less

This research study is called 'PRenatal and Obstetric Maternal Exposures and ISlet Autoantibodies in Early Life: The PROMISE Study'. The purpose of this study is to find out more about how exposures during pregnancy, such as having an infection, diet and growth may impact later risk of type 1 diabetes (TID) and islet autoimmunity in the child. We are also interested in finding out more about why having a father or sibling with T1D increases risk of autoimmunity in the child more than having a mother with T1D. We are enrolling women who are pregnant and either have T1D or another first degree relative (father or full sibling) of the baby has T1D. The biological father is also invited to enroll in study, as it is important to understand how the father's health and genetics may contribute to the child's risk of developing T1D. The study procedures for the mother, father and baby are explained below. Mother: Pregnant women will be asked to complete a visit once per trimester (3 visits) during pregnancy and one visit up to 12 weeks after delivery. At each visit, mothers will consent to a blood draw, collection of biological samples and the completion of questionnaires. . Mothers who have T1D will also be asked to download any diabetes device data they have, such as continuous glucose monitor or insulin pump data. Father: The (biological) father will be invited to enroll in a single visit. He will consent to a blood draw and completion of questionnaires. Fathers with T1D will also be asked to download any diabetes device data they have, such as continuous glucose monitor or insulin pump data. Baby: The baby will have blood collected at birth to determine the genetic risk for T1D. Families will consent to the completion of questionnaires about growth, health and diet at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age and between 5-7 years of age, and to complete blood testing for islet autoantibodies at 24 months and between 5-7 years of age. For those children with a high genetic risk score, we will also collect blood for autoantibody testing at 6, 12, and 18 months of age. Read Less

To compare two evidence-based treatments, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and Social Skills Training (SST) that have been shown in meta-analyses and in our own research to be effective to improve community functioning. The investigators will test the impact of CET and SST on community functioning, with special attention to their relative effectiveness for patients differing in baseline cognitive skills and age. The research uses a cluster design in which different mental health service centers are randomized to one of the two treatments. Read Less

The proposed study includes a newborn developmental intervention to improve neurodevelopmental (ND) and medical outcomes for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) with improved parent well-being. Literature documents long-term ND disabilities for children with CHD, caused by the negative effects of the hospital environment on the developing newborn brain. The cardiac intensive care unit (CICU), while necessary to save the life of the infant with CHD, exposes infants to overwhelming stress through painful procedures, invasive lines and tubes, toxic sensory stimulation, and separation from family. The combination of these negative experiences disrupts the infant's brain maturation and subsequent neurodevelopment. Individualized developmental care (IDC) is an intervention that minimizes the mismatch between infant neurobiological needs and the harsh hospital environment, thereby diminishing the frequency and severity of adverse effects. Core components of IDC include support for parent engagement, caregiving provided in a way to reduce infant stress, providing a soothing environment and appropriately positioning to enhance musculoskeletal and motor development. Research shows that IDC improves outcomes for preterm infants with enhanced brain structure and function, cognitive skills, executive functioning, behavioral outcomes, and family satisfaction from infancy to school age. Despite all the positive evidence for IDC, my past research showed most CICUs do not implement IDC due to lack of staff education and no evidence supporting IDC in CHD. The investigators propose the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of IDR as an intervention for children with CHD. The investigators hypothesize infants receiving IDC provided in the hospital, compared to those not receiving IDC, will show improved medical outcomes (including shorter hospital stay, improved oral feeding, increased growth), improved developmental competence, and increased parent coping at the time of discharge home and 3 months after discharge. With support from the Children's Heart Foundation, the investigators can demonstrate the feasibility and safety of implementing IDC in the CICU, the potential to improve the ND outcome for infants with CHD and increase parent well-being. This study would serve as the needed pilot study to request funding for a larger multicenter trial which would impact CICU care of infants with CHD and their families around the world. Read Less

The aim of the proposed pilot study is to investigate patient tolerability and efficacy of moderate term, repeated exposure of Pulsed Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (PLIFUS) in patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Read Less

The National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications is dedicated to evaluating the safety of psychiatric medications such as antidepressants, ADHD medications, sedative hypnotics, and atypical antipsychotics that many people take during pregnancy to treat a wide range of mood, anxiety, executive function, or psychiatric disorders. The goal of this Registry is to gather information on the safety of these medications during pregnancy, as current data is limited. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to identify genes associated with impaired development and function of the cranial nerves and brainstem, which may result in misalignment of the eyes (strabismus) and related conditions. Read Less

The researchers have worked to create consensus recommendations among national efforts to help with the transition and coordination of care for preterm infants with lung disease around discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit to home. This study looks to evaluate implementation of the recommendations at Boston Children's Hospital and referring NICU's (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital). Specifically, the research team will be looking at follow-up rates, healthcare utilization, and parental satisfaction/feedback with implementation of these guidelines. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine if postpyloric feedings effectively improve objective measures of pulmonary health in preterm infants with chronic lung disease when compared with nasogastric (NG) feedings. This research will (1) determine the optimal nutritional management to prevent a common and costly complication of prematurity, and (2) use a novel crossover design that examines outcomes of clinical endpoints alongside biomarkers. Read Less