Oklahoma Paid Clinical Trials

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and the prevalence increase with age. Autonomic nervous system play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of AF. The intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system includes ganglionated plexus (GP) modulate the level of parasympathetic activity to the heart. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that GP activation plays a significant role in clinical AF in both the initiation of and the maintenance of AF. Synaptic plasticity is defined as the ability of synapses to change their strength of transmission. Plasticity of synaptic connections in the brain is a major focus of neuroscience research, as it is the primary mechanism underpinning learning and memory. Beyond the brain however, plasticity in peripheral neurons is less well understood, particularly in the GP neurons innervating the heart. The ability of these neurons to alter parasympathetic activity suggests that plasticity may indeed occur at the synapses formed on and by GP neurons. Such changes may not only fine-tune autonomic innervation of the heart, but could also be a source of maladaptive plasticity during atrial fibrillation. Low level tragus stimulation (LLTS) has been shown to decrease AF burden among patients with paroxysmal AF. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. The objective of this study is to examine changes in synaptic density of GP neurons in patients with paroxysmal AF and persistent AF compared to those without AF undergoing cardiac surgery. In addition, we aim to examine the effect of LLTS on the synaptic plasticity of the GP neurons. A group of patients undergoing open heart surgery will be randomized to active LLTS for 30 min (pulse width of 200 μs, amplitude of 20 mA and a pulse frequency of 20 Hz) or no stimulation. Biopsy from GP tissue will be taken immediately after stimulation and histological staining for choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and synaptophysin will be performed to examine synaptic plasticity. Understanding the effect of LLTS on GP SP will help to determine whether changes in synaptic plasticity can increase or decrease autonomic tone of the heart, and its role in generating the aberrant electrical impulses in the GP around the pulmonary veins that can trigger and drive AF. Read Less

This is a prospective, randomized study of ketamine versus no ketamine in approximately 100 patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy for Grade III or IV hemorrhoids. The participants will be blinded to which treatment arm they are assigned, because participants will be under anesthesia when the ketamine is administered. The investigators will know whether the participant receives ketamine or not. Read Less

Eligible participants are those who are members of the general surgery residency pediatric gastroenterology fellowship, and adult gastroenterology fellowship. Through a randomized-controlled trial, participants will fill out a baseline set of demographic information including year of training, approximate number of colonoscopies to date, specialty, age, sex and handedness. Participation in this activity is completely voluntary. Trainees will be randomized to one of two groups. Either first participating in an unassisted colonoscopy module twice and then taking a questionnaire and then transitioning to a supervised/coached colonoscopy module session twice and taking a questionnaire, versus the reverse, in which the participant first partakes in a supervised/coached colonoscopy module session twice and then transitions to performing a colonoscopy module twice, unassisted. Objective measures will be assessed by the module software and supervising faculty. Specifically, using individuals' survey responses to see if early supervision improves survey scores. Survey questions focus on student learning, completing module objectives and faculty performance in simulation. The survey will also ask subjects to self-rate their scores and comfort level with endoscopy skills. Survey responses will not be linked to an individuals' performance in their program training and endoscopy coaches will not be made aware of the survey responses. Read Less

AliveCor (www.alivecor.com) has developed an ECG device (KardiaMobile) that interfaces with iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. This ECG consists of a lightweight hardware case with two metal electrodes that can snap onto the back of the phone and a software application. By holding the right finger(s) on the right electrode and the left finger(s) on the left electrode, an electrical circuit is completed and a lead-I, 30 second rhythm strip is created. KardiaMobile and a newer device, KardiaMobile 6L, were approved by FDA for ECG rhythm recording. Recently, AliveCor developed a new device: Kardia 12L to record 12-lead ECGs. However, the data generated from the new device has not yet been validated for accuracy. The specific aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and safety of the AC 12L ECG System. The ECGs collected by the AC 12L ECG System will be compared to simultaneous standard- of-care 12-lead ECG, recorded using the GE CardioSoft 12-lead ECG System. The ECGs will be analyzed for accuracy based on statistical difference using root-mean-square error, and cross correlation between the simultaneous 10 second recordings as well as the median beats of all 12 leads. Read Less

Low level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (LLTS) involves delivery of electrical impulses transcutaneously at the auricular branch of vagus nerve and it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic effects. In previous studies from our laboratory, we found that LLTS significantly suppressed atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and decreased AF duration. The anti-arrhythmic effects of LLTS were similar to those delivered to the cervical VN trunk. LLTS for just one hour significantly shortened the AF duration and decreased inflammatory cytokines. We have also shown that LLTS leads to favorable heart rate variability (HRV) changes and cardiac mechanics in patients with diastolic dysfunction. These results support the use of LLTS as a novel non-pharmacological, non-ablative treatment modality for AF and possibly other inflammatory conditions. However, the optimal stimulation parameters of LLTS remain to be determined. In this study, we aim to examine the effect of 2 different frequencies (5Hz and 20Hz) and 2 different amplitudes (50% below the pain threshold and 1mA below the pain threshold) of LLTS on heart rate variability with deep breathing (HRVdb), mental arithmetic stress test (MAST), frequency domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and brain stem evoked potentials (BSEVP) in healthy volunteers and patients with AF or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HRV is a marker of vagus nerve activity and can be easily measured by software calculating the distance between consecutive R waves on the ECG. BSEVP are a surrogate for the central projections of the vagus nerve. Patients will be randomized into 4 groups in a 2x2 factorial design. LLTS will be delivered through a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device for 15 minutes. HRVdb, HRV and BSEVP will be measured before and after LLTS and compared. Read Less

The goal of the study is to examine multiple markers of anthropometrics, body composition, sarcopenia and frailty and compare them to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) output, which is considered the current clinical gold-standard tool to measure body composition. The result of this study will provide detailed data regarding the nutrition and body composition within this Cystic Fibrosis population and also provide a baseline evaluation for use of these biomarkers in the future studies including evaluation of nutritional intervention. Further, the study will also include psychosocial and other patient-reported outcomes and medical contributors to understand their contributions to the nutritional failure in the adult advanced lung disease population. Finally, the study will evaluate both established and emerging nutritional and body composition parameters and link them to clinical outcomes in adults with CF across the spectrum of pulmonary function. Read Less

This Phase 3 study is conducted to evaluate lanifibranor in adults with NASH and liver fibrosis histological stage F2 or F3 Read Less

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm clinical study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eblasakimab in participants with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) previously treated with dupilumab.The study consists of a 16-week treatment period and an 8-week follow-up period up to Week 24. Eligible participants will be randomized into one of the 2 treatment arms. Read Less

Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) often have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) which may adversely affect prognosis. There is uncertainty about the benefits and the optimal timing of revascularization for such patients. There is currently clinical equipoise regarding the management of concomitant CAD in patients undergoing TAVR. Some centers perform routine revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (either before or after TAVR), while others follow an alternative strategy of medical management. The potential benefits and optimal timing of PCI in these patients are unknown. As TAVR expands to lower risk patients, and potentially becomes the preferred therapy for the majority of patients with severe aortic stenosis, the optimal management of concomitant coronary artery disease will be of increasing importance. The COMPLETE TAVR study will determine whether, on a background of guideline-directed medical therapy, a strategy of complete revascularization involving staged PCI using drug eluting stents to treat all suitable coronary artery lesions is superior to a strategy of medical therapy alone in reducing the composite outcome of Cardiovascular Death, new Myocardial Infarction, Ischemia-driven Revascularization or Hospitalization for Unstable Angina or Heart Failure. The study will be a randomized, multicenter, open-label trial with blinded adjudication of outcomes. Patients will be screened and consented for elective transfemoral TAVR and randomized within 96 hours of successful balloon expandable TAVR. Complete Revascularization: Staged PCI using third generation drug eluting stents to treat all suitable coronary artery lesions in vessels that are at least 2.5 mm in diameter and that are amenable to treatment with PCI and have a ≥70% visual angiographic diameter stenosis. Staged PCI can occur any time from 1 to 45 days post successful transfemoral TAVR. Vs. Medical Therapy Alone: No further revascularization of coronary artery lesions. All patients, regardless of randomized treatment allocation, will receive guideline-directed medical therapy consisting of risk factor modification and use of evidence-based therapies. The COMPLETE TAVR study will help address the current lack of evidence in this area. It will likely impact both the global delivery of health care and the management and clinical outcomes of all patients undergoing TAVR with concomitant CAD. Read Less

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are the second most common infection in the body. UTIs account for five percent of all visits to primary care physicians. Many women who have had a UTI will develop recurring urinary tract infections. Recent studies suggest that some women who suffer from recurrent UTIs have urinary tracts that allow bacteria to adhere to it more readily than others. Women who suffered from bladder inflammation and recurrent UTIs were noted to have reduced UTIs and bladder inflammation with heparin bladder instillations. Heparin is a highly-sulfated glycosaminoglycan and stored within the secretory granules of mast cells and released only into the vasculature at sites of tissue injury. It has been proposed that, in addition to anticoagulation, the main purpose of heparin is defense at such sites against invading bacteria and other foreign materials. The central question the research is intended to answer is does Heparin bladder instillations decrease UTI rates in patients. Read Less

XLPAD is an observational study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and use of stent and non-stent based therapies among PAD patients. The study will create a registry that will include entry of procedural and clinical follow-up information into an online data collection software, REDCAP.Data available since Jan 1 2005 will be included in the registry, until 14,000 patients have been included. The primary objectives of this observational registry study are to: 1. Compare stent and non-stent based outcomes defined as a composite of symptom driven target vessel revascularization (TVR), unplanned surgical revascularization of the target limb and need for target limb amputation through 12 months post-index procedure (Primary efficacy endpoint) 2. Compare stent and non-stent based outcomes defined as a composite of causes such as: death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, peri-procedural complications, target vessel revascularization (TVR) and unplanned surgical revascularization/amputation of the target limb through 12 months (Primary safety endpoint) 3. Compare stent and non-stent based change in walking distance, Rutherford category and/or ankle- brachial index (ABI) at 12 months compared to baseline (Primary clinical improvement endpoint) Approximately 14,000patients will be enrolled at approximately 60 sites worldwide. Enrollment in the observational study will be monitored in an effort to achieve at least 20% (and no more than 80%) of the population receiving stents as the initial treatment strategy. Follow-up visits by sites will be reported at 6 and 12 months after index procedure to collect data on treatment patterns and effectiveness, and outcomes. The follow-up procedures are not mandated by the registry protocol. Each site will be encouraged to enter follow-up information derived from clinically indicated follow-up visits. All events post-index procedure till the 7th month will be reported under the 6 month follow-up form and subsequent follow-up till the 13th month post-procedure will be entered on the 12 month follow-up form. Patient management and treatment decisions are at the discretion of the care team per routine clinical practice. The procedural aspects (including selection of stent type or non-stent based treatments) and follow-up are not mandated by the registry and will be up to the discretion of the operator and/or based upon the practice dictated by the clinical care of the patient. Therefore the study poses minimal risk to the patient. Read Less

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a technique that uses ultrasound along with bronchoscope to visualize airway wall and structures adjacent to it. Pneumothorax is a known complication from EBUS procedure. To rule out a Pneumothorax after the procedure, a Chest -X-ray is usually done. Point-of-care sonography has emerged as an invaluable tool in the assessment of patients with both traumatic and non-traumatic dyspnea. Multiple studies involving bedside ultrasound has shown that a pneumothorax can easily be ruled out if pleural sliding sign or B lines are visualized on lung ultrasonography; the accuracy of lung ultrasound in ruling out pneumothorax approach computed tomography and exceed plain radiography. Preforming a lung ultrasound using the EBUS bronchoscope tip as a way to rule out pneumothorax has never been described previously. If this is possible it will obviate the need of getting a Chest -X-ray and decrease the dose of radiation that the patient is exposed to. In this study we will demonstrate that the feasibility of using the transducer of the EBUS Bronchoscope to perform bedside lung ultrasound to rule out pneumothorax. Read Less