All Clinical Trials

Most cardiometabolic diseases are characterized by increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during rest and exercise which contributes to poor health outcomes. In healthy humans during muscle contraction, there is a blunting of skeletal muscle vascular responsiveness to increases in MSNA. However, the exact mechanisms involved are unknown although, best evidence suggests that the mechanism is endothelium derived, but nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) independent. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) is a NO and PG independent vasodilator in both cerebral and skeletal muscle circulations, however, it is unknown if EDHF contributes to vascular responsiveness during elevated MSNA. The application of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) is a safe and non-invasive manipulation that can be used to increase MSNA causing vasoconstriction in humans. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment is to determine if acute inhibition of EDHF alters central and peripheral vascular responses to LBNP at rest and during dynamic exercise. Thereby, providing evidence by which EDHF contributes to vascular control in healthy humans and identify it's potential as a therapeutic target for cardiometabolic diseases that are characterized by elevated MSNA Read Less

This prospective, single-arm, multicenter registry is being conducted to collect real world post-market data from patients aged from 6 months to 17 years of age who are undergoing an in-office ear tube placement procedure (tympanostomy) using the Tula® System. The Registry will include up to 20 centers in the US and up to 200 patients for the initial evaluation. The FDA-approved Tula System includes the Tula Iontophoresis System (IPS) with TYMBION™ otic anesthetic for local anesthesia of the ear drum and the Tula Tube Delivery System (TDS) for ear tube placement. Clinical research established the safety, efficacy and tolerability of this system for in-office procedures in the pediatric population. Patients will be treated and evaluated according to standard medical care. Outcome data is collected up to 6 months following extrusion or removal of their tube(s). Read Less

The purpose of this study is to examine the mechanisms of asthma. The investigators are comparing the cells of individuals with and without asthma and looking at the roles various parts of the cell play in the production and secretion of mucus. Read Less

This is a multi-center, exploratory, estimation study in both adult and pediatric populations. There is no investigational product injection during this study The exploratory objective of this study is to evaluate the anatomical characteristics of both anterolateral thighs in healthy adult and healthy pediatric populations (2 to 17 years old) by ultrasound scan before and while applying a force similar to the ZENEO® triggering force. In the healthy adult population, anatomical characteristics of one shoulder (deltoid) and one upper arm (biceps and triceps) will also be evaluated by ultrasound scan before and while applying a force similar to ZENEO® triggering force. Only ultrasound procedures will be performed using an investigational ultrasound system. All subjects will be asked to undergo 1 on site visit (Study Visit) during which the eligibility assessment and the ultrasound scans will be performed. Read Less

This is a parallel design, randomized, controlled pilot trial comparing a controlled breath intervention (REST) to usual care for reducing stress in individuals with COPD. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of decreased insufflation pressure on postoperative pain, analgesic use, and surgical safety and feasibility for laparoscopic hysterectomy. Read Less

This study is being done to identify markers that will allow researchers to identify in advance patients with sarcomas who are at highest risk for developing heart failure related to chemotherapy. Read Less

SprmPik AI Assisted Sperm Selection Study SiD, an assistant for sperm selection during intracytoplasmic sperm injection in medically assisted reproduction: effect on fertilization, blastocyst formation, early pregnancy loss, and consistent practice. A prospective pilot study. Read Less

Mild intermittent hypoxia (IH) initiates sustained increases in chest wall and upper airway muscle activity in humans. This sustained increase is a form of respiratory plasticity known as long-term facilitation (LTF). Repeated daily exposure to mild IH that leads to the initiation of LTF of upper airway muscle activity could lead to increased stability of the upper airway. In line with PI's laboratory's mandate to develop innovative therapies to treat sleep apnea, this increased stability could ultimately reduce the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) required to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and improve compliance with this gold standard treatment. Improved compliance could ultimately serve to mitigate those comorbidities linked to sleep apnea. Moreover, in addition to improving CPAP compliance numerous studies indicate that mild IH has many direct beneficial effects on cardiovascular, neurocognitive and metabolic function. Thus, mild IH could serve as a multipronged therapeutic approach to treat sleep apnea. In accordance with this postulation, our proposal will determine if repeated daily exposure to mild IH serves as an adjunct therapy coupled with CPAP to mitigate associated co-morbidities via its direct effects on a variety of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurocognitive measures and indirectly by improving CPAP compliance. Modifications in autonomic (i.e. sympathetic nervous system activity) and cardiovascular (i.e. blood pressure) function will be the primary outcome measures coupled to secondary measures of metabolic and neurocognitive outcomes. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to examine the safety and feasibility of performing hyperpolarized metabolic MRI in the diagnosis of brain tumor. This study will also assess the accuracy of hyperpolarized metabolic MRI to diagnose intermediate to patients with infiltrating gliomas and examine the added utility of metabolic MRI over standard MRI imaging The FDA is allowing the use of hyperpolarized \[1-13C\] pyruvate (HP 13C-pyruvate) in this study. Up to 5 patients may take part in this study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Read Less

This will be a prospective, randomized, noninferiority clinical trial comparing rehabilitation methods post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Population of interest is adult hip/knee clinic patients over age 18 who are indicated for unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty. All TKA patients are prescribed physical therapy (PT) for rehabilitation post-operatively. The investigators will compare this current treatment with a new, validated, wearable smart knee brace (FM2 Knee Brace) that can be used for rehabilitation post-TKA. Following enrollment in the study, the investigators will match and randomize participants into two cohorts (outpatient PT versus FM2 Knee Brace). Outpatient PT group will be prescribed routine six-week course of outpatient PT (no pool exercises, remainder at therapist's discretion) to start as soon as possible upon discharge. The FM2 Knee Brace group will complete device set up at pre-op visit and will be prescribed 3-4 exercises to complete at their discretion over six weeks. The investigators will collect measurements of knee flexion, extension, total arc of motion at pre-op visit and at 6-week, 3-month, and 1-year post-op visits. The investigators will also plan to record additional PROs, therapy compliance, and complication rates. The investigators will compare the two groups to test whether the new FM2 Knee Brace is noninferior to regular PT when recovering from TKA, and if the new technology could be an alternative to outpatient PT. Read Less

Oral supplementation of L-carnosine will increase muscle carnosine, stabilize HIF1-alpha promote angiogenesis, and thus improve the functioning of lower extremities in PAD patients. Read Less