Pennsylvania Paid Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy virtual reality videos to facilitate exposure therapy in social anxiety disorder (SAD). The exposure therapy videos are the focus of this experiment. Essentially, we are testing the efficacy of the Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) scripts (i.e., virtual scenarios, people, and interactions that we expose socially anxious people to). To this end, the goal of the current study is to help people with social anxiety overcome their phobias. Individuals who experience a difficult time building social relationships, accomplishing everyday tasks, or pursuing job interviews can practice those same behaviors in a controlled environment. Specifically, we aim to test the following hypotheses: (1) Virtual reality exposure therapy intervention (vs. waitlist control condition) is effective for treating SAD symptoms. (2) Participants who received the VRET will experience maintenance of treatment gains following 3-month and 6-month post-termination of treatment. (3) Users of the virtual reality exposure therapy will demonstrate high amounts of acceptability of the treatment. Read Less

The primary objective of this study is to determine if planned induction of labor at 39 weeks for nulliparous with pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 reduces the incidence of cesarean section compared to expectant management Read Less

The primary objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the impact of glomerular disease on bone strength and (2) investigate the pathophysiologic underpinnings of impaired bone strength in glomerular disease. Read Less

The goal of this study is to investigate that a common cholesterol lowering agent (atorvastatin) alone or combining with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (aspirin) would reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in high-risk individuals with Lynch syndrome. Read Less

This project aims to monitor the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide actively. The primary objectives of the project include a) to estimate the prevalence of each local and systemic side effect of each COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers (HCW), old adults over +65 (OA), and schoolteachers (ST); b) to evaluate the potential demographic and medical risk factors for side effects frequency and intensity; c) to evaluate the long-term consequences of COVID-19 vaccines. The secondary objectives include a) to evaluate the relative safety of COVID-19 vaccines compared to each other; b) to evaluate the impact of palliative drugs used by the recently vaccinated individuals on their short-term side effects resolution. Read Less

This is a comparative effectiveness study of two pragmatic models aiming to introduce palliative care for end stage liver disease patients. The 2 comparators are: Model 1: Consultative Palliative Care (i.e. direct access to Palliative Care provider), Model 2: Trained Hepatologist- led PC intervention (i.e. a hepatologist will receive formal training to deliver Palliative Care services) Primary Outcome: The change in quality of life from baseline to 3 months post enrollment as assessed by FACT-Hep (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Hepatobiliary). 14 Clinical Centers across US are recruited to participate in this study. Read Less

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and a leading cause of death worldwide. Only about 50% of hypertension patients have good blood pressure control. Patients with low health literacy have worse blood pressure control, perhaps because they find it harder to interpret whether blood pressure readings are high or low, reflect good or bad blood pressure control, and indicate a need for behavior change or medication use. The American Heart Association has called for broad efforts to help empower hypertension patients from different backgrounds to control their blood pressure. Therefore, the investigators will evaluate different ways for helping hypertension patients to interpret their blood pressure readings and motivate blood pressure control, in a sample of hypertension patients varying in health literacy, age, and socio-economic status. Their strategy is based on insights from behavioral science studies, which suggest that people find it easier to interpret numbers when they can see the range of possible numbers. Aim 1: Based on existing communications, the investigators will create 3 blood pressure communications: (A) a basic table showing only the normal blood pressure range, which is often used in clinical practice and online communications about blood pressure, but may make it hard to interpret numbers outside of the normal range, potentially undermining behavior change intentions; (B) an enhanced table showing how combinations of diastolic and systolic blood pressure reflect normal, elevated and hypertension ranges, from the American Heart Association; (C) an enhanced graph to be adapted from Blood Pressure UK to show the same color-coded ranges as the enhanced table, with diastolic blood pressure on the x-axis and systolic blood pressure on the y-axis. Aim 2: : In a sample of 650 diagnosed hypertension patients recruited through the Pitt+Me Patient Registry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), the investigators will evaluate whether being presented with the enhanced table or graph (vs. basic table) affects patients' self-reported blood pressure measurement (as averaged across two measurements taken at the time of the survey at least 1 minute apart, as per directions of the American Heart Association), and improves interpretations of these two blood pressure readings and of hypothetical blood pressure readings, as well as behavior change intentions. Aim 3: The investigators will examine whether Aim 2 findings vary by health literacy, age, and SES. Read Less

The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy and safety of an innovative two-hand (hand forceps) fetal head extraction technique during the transverse cesarean sections (LTCS) by comparing with the conventional one-hand technique used worldwide for centuries. The primary research question of the study is whether two-hand fetal head extraction technique results in quicker head delivery. The secondary research question is whether two-hand technique would cause increased incidence of extension of uterine incision as well as other adverse events while compared to conventional one-hand technique. Our hypothesis is that two-hand technique would speed up fetal head delivery without increasing the risk of extension of uterine incision as well as other adverse events, in the meantime, maternal discomfort will be significantly reduced since fundal pressure will not be required during the fetal head delivery. Read Less

The objective of this study is to collect both active and passive data using a wearable, multi-sensor device (Verily Study Watch) and phone application (Mood App) which aims to capture mental health status, in subjects participating in the RECOVER clinical trial (A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression). Read Less

The major objective is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ANG-3070 in patients with primary glomerular disease and persistent proteinuria. Read Less

The investigators have previously shown that youth with MS are very inactive, and that vigorous physical activity is associated with higher levels of well-being and lower MS disease activity in youth. Yet, no effective physical activity interventions have been developed for youth with MS to date. The investigators have taken input from youth with MS to create a Smartphone-based app (the ATOMIC - Active Teens with Multiple Sclerosis - App) that provides tailored physical activity information and coaching, provides tools to increase social connectedness, and promotes physical activity. This proposed research will therefore address the problem of inactivity in youth with MS by studying an intervention to increase physical activity. Read Less

Randomized prospective study to evaluate next generation sequencing (NGS) and standard-of-care culture for clinically infected penile implants and to compare outcomes with identification of microbes. Read Less