Massachusetts Paid Clinical Trials

This proposal will demonstrate that non-invasive brain stimulation is able to modulate cortico-striatal circuits in neurodegenerative patients with apathy, and that doing so results in circuit-specific increases in FC and DA availability. These circuit changes will be accompanied by changes in specific behavioral dimensions of apathy. This work will lead to larger studies which develop personalized, circuit-specific neuromodulation strategies for AD patients suffering from this intractable neuropsychiatric symptom. Read Less

This is a randomized, pilot interventional study in participants with visual field deficit (VFD) caused by cortical lesion. Damage to the primary visual cortex (V1) causes a contra-lesional, homonymous loss of conscious vision termed hemianopsia, the loss of one half of the visual field. The goal of this project is to elaborate and refine a rehabilitation protocol for VFD participants. It is hypothesized that visual restoration training using moving stimuli coupled with noninvasive current stimulation on the visual cortex will promote and speed up recovery of visual abilities within the blind field in VFD participants. Moreover, it is expected that visual recovery positively correlates with reduction of the blind field, as measured with traditional visual perimetry: the Humphrey visual field test or an eye-tracker based visual perimetry implemented in a virtual reality (VR) headset. Finally, although results will vary among participants depending on the extent and severity of the cortical lesion, it is expected that a bigger increase in neural response to moving stimuli in the blind visual field in cortical motion area, for those participants who will show the largest behavioral improvement after training. The overarching goals for the study are as follows: Group 1a will test the basic effects of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) coupled with visual training in stroke cohorts, including (i) both chronic/subacute ischemic and chronic hemorrhagic VFD stroke participants, and (ii) longitudinal testing up to 6 months post-treatment. Group 1b will test the effects of transcranial tRNS coupled with visual training on a Virtual Reality (VR) device in stroke cohorts, including both chronic/subacute ischemic and chronic hemorrhagic VFD stroke participants. Group 2 will examine the effects of tRNS alone, without visual training, also including chronic and subacute VFD stroke participants and longitudinal testing. Read Less

Lysine specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) is an epigenetic regulator of gene transcription involved in the pathophysiology of elevated blood pressure and likely renal damage in Blacks. This project investigates whether a genetically driven anti-hypertensive approach proves superior in controlling blood pressure and mitigating renal injury in Blacks who carry the risk allele for LSD1 (rs587168). The findings of these investigations may lead to a new approach in treating a subset (\~30%) of the essential hypertension population (Black LSD1 risk allele hypertensives). Read Less

Dynamic digital radiography (DDR) is a new advanced version of chest radiography that captures dynamic images at a rate of 15 frames per second. It is coupled with an analytical software that allows it to provide more advanced measures of lung motion, ventilation, and perfusion compared to traditional chest radiography. While implementation of DDR fixed machines are beginning elsewhere in the US, this trial involves the first applications of an FDA-approved portable DDR machine, for use at the bedside in the ICU. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the feasibility and safety of portable DDR technology in the ICU, as well as to evaluate the improved clinical diagnostic value of the portable DDR system over current standards of care. Participants will receive one to three sets of DDR images, which will then be compared to their clinical gold standard exams (such as chest x-rays, CTs, or VQ scans) to assess and improve the precision and accuracy of measurements such as diaphragmatic motion, lung movement, and perfusion. Read Less

This online study aims to explore the benefits of nature for mood and cognition in persons with and without Parkinson's disease. For the purpose of this survey, "natural environment" refers to places that primarily consist of natural elements, such as vegetation, water bodies, and landscapes. This includes greenspaces (such as parks, gardens, neighborhood streets lined with trees, forests, or nature reserves) bluespaces (such as next to beaches, lakes, rivers, ponds, or waterfronts), and desert regions, among others. Read Less

AI INFORM is a multicenter randomized trial that will test the hypothesis that providing clinicians information on the presence and amount of coronary artery calcifications (CAC), will result in initiation or intensification of preventive therapies. The study will use a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) platform (Nanox.AI) that can analyze non contrast chest CT and estimate the amount of CAC. Read Less

The emergence of crawling and walking is significantly delayed in infants with Down syndrome (DS), but the development of independent mobility provides infants with new opportunities for exploring the environment and interacting with objects and people that are important foundations for early learning. Increasing infant mobility early in development with body weight supported harness systems may support infant exploration, communication, and social interaction. This project will set the stage for the first clinical trial of a mobility-related intervention specifically tailored for infants with DS by testing the feasibility of harness systems with infants and families and identifying measures that will serve as primary outcome variables. Upon completion of this pilot project, necessary preliminary data and experience required for an in-home, high-impact clinical trial for infants with DS will have been obtained. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about cognition in psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder). The main question it aims to answer is: Can we use magnetic stimulation to change processing speed (how quickly people can solve challenging tasks). Participants will be asked to perform cognitive tasks (problem-solving) and undergo brain scans before and after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a way to non-invasively change brain activity. Forms of TMS are FDA-approved to treat depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. In this study, we will use a different form of TMS to temporarily change brain activity to observe how that changes speed in problem-solving. Read Less

This research is being done to evaluate the feasibility of the AveCure Flexible Microwave destruction of tissue (Ablation) Probe for the treatment of malignant central airway obstruction using a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing and removing tissue (bronchoscopic). The name of the intervention being used in this research study is: AveCure Flexible Microwave Ablation Probe (handheld, surgical device that delivers microwave energy via flexible probe tip) Read Less

The investigators plan to examine the relation of perceptual variables-basic vision, unusual perceptual experiences(including but not limited to visual hallucinations)-to relevant functional variables such as cognition, mood, and alertness/sleepiness in an online sample of persons with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). It is hypothesized that unusual perceptual experiences will relate significantly to the selected variables. Participants do not need to experience visual hallucinations to be able to participate in this study. This is an observational study only, and not an interventional study. Read Less

This research study is evaluating the safety and tolerability of the drugs atezolizumab and bevacizumab with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. This study involves the following interventions: * Atezolizumab * Bevacizumab * Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether our dietary intervention can prevent or lessen the negative health effects of night shift work in healthy participants. Participants will: * complete 2 inpatient stays * be provided with identical meals * have frequent blood draws * provide urine, saliva, stool and rectal swab samples Read Less