Clinical Research Directory

Influence of β-hydroxy β-methyl Butyrate (HMB)Supplementation on Post-operative Muscle Mass and Function in Female Athletes

The proposed project will evaluate the musculoskeletal outcomes of quadriceps and hamstring muscle size and function following orthopedic knee surgery involving anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair or reconstruction. Currently, the research team collaborates with a team of orthopedic specialists at the University of Kansas Health System and monitor muscle size post-knee repair and follow the standard of care (SOC) practices of the licensed physical therapists (PT). The proposed project will include a randomized clinical trial to observe the muscular outcomes following the current SOC plus supplementation of calcium-β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (caHMB) or placebo. CaHMB has been shown to improve rates of muscle protein synthesis while suppressing muscle protein breakdown in healthy adults. The use of caHMB has also provided evidence of muscular protection from atrophy during prolonged bed rest. This evidence supports the utility in clinically injured athletes that are subjected to disuse atrophy from the inability to bear weight or participate in typical daily physical activity. Additionally, matched for activity-related knee injuries, female athletes are more susceptible to incurring a significant injury due to a variety of genetic, hormonal, biological, anatomical, and biomechanical predispositions. Therefore, the proposed study will recruit approximately 30 females over the age of 18 that have sustained an injury to the ACL and will plan to undergo reconstructive knee surgery involving the ACL. Subjects will be monitored and measured prior to their surgical date (T0), at 2-weeks post operative (T1), and every 6-weeks until they are cleared to return to sport (T2-TRTS). Participants will be randomly assigned 1:1 in a double-blind manner to either an experimental (EXPHMB) or placebo (CONPLA) group. Doses will be provided to the participants in coded containers and will complete their dosing and a record log of intake for the duration of their rehabilitation. Three 3-day food, exercise, and health record logs will be collected to monitor nutritional intake, activity, and menstrual patterns at T0, T3, and TRTS. Participant's assessments will include body composition analysis via bioelectrical impedance analysis for total and segmental muscle and fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat percent. We will collect ultrasound images of the quadriceps and hamstrings of the operative-involved limb (OPIL) and non-operative limb (NOPL) limbs for muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA), thickness (mT), subcutaneous fat thickness (TFAT), and corrected echo intensity (EICOR) at all time points. Strength and functional assessments will occur upon entrance to the study (T0), and after loaded exercise is indicated by the practitioner (T3-TRTS) to the tolerance of the athlete. These assessments include maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) for leg extension and leg curl, standing balance tests, single-leg and double-leg jump assessment, and drop landing deviation, all on dual force plates. Data will be analyzed using multiple three-way analyses of variance \[surgical leg (OPIL vs. NOPL) x treatment (EXPHMB vs. CONPLA) x time (T0 vs. T1 vs. T2 vs. T3 vs. T4 vs. T5 vs. TRTS) for the dependent variables. Significance is established at p≤0.05 and follow-up ANOVAS, T-tests, and post-hoc analyses will be conducted when significance is present. The evidence from this study will support the practitioners and coaches' abilities to maximize recovery and training outcomes, respectively, in previously injured female athletes.

A Collaborative Resource of Heidelberg Multimodal Imaging of Intermediate and Early Atrophic AMD Cases to Study Prediction of Disease Progression

This is a multicentre retrospective and prospective cohort study with the goal to develop a well-characterised multimodal image database of eyes with intermediate AMD with and without early atrophy. The main objectives are: 1. Develop a collaborative well-characterised database on intermediate AMD with or without early atrophy. 2. Grading of these images to explore imaging markers of progression. 3. Develop predictive models as a secondary analysis of our dataset. This study will recruit around 1.000 eyes in 6 months. All consenting patients who have had at least 3 clinic visits with multimodal imaging done at least at 6 months interval between 2 visits and meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be included in the study for retrospective data collection. Those with one visit remaining to complete 2 years, images will be acquired prospectively. In addition to the images, routine demographic data (age and sex) and available visual acuity (VA) (BCVA if possible, VA with Pinhole or VA with patient's glasses) will be collected. Multimodal imaging includes mandated macular OCT with or without enhanced depth imaging and infrared imaging. Fundus autofluorescence (AF) and multicolor imaging are optional. All imaging must be done on Heidelberg Spectralis system.

PRF vs. Graftless Sinus Lift With Implant Placement

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of sinus floor elevation using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) compared to a graftless approach in adult patients with atrophic posterior maxilla (residual bone height 5-7 mm) requiring dental implant rehabilitation. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does PRF enhance bone height gain more effectively than graftless sinus elevation? Does PRF improve implant stability and reduce marginal bone loss compared to the graftless approach? Researchers will compare the outcomes of PRF-grafted implants versus non-grafted implants to see if PRF improves radiographic and clinical results in single-stage implant placement. Participants will: Undergo internal sinus lift via crestal drilling approach Be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group I: sinus lift without graft material Group II: sinus lift with PRF as the sole grafting material Receive simultaneous dental implant placement during the sinus lift Be monitored through clinical exams and radiographic imaging over 6 months postoperatively

Investigation of Respiratory Muscle Sarcopenia in Adults Diagnosed With Diabetes

The aim of this study was to investigate respiratory muscle sarcopenia in individuals with diabet. The main question it aims to answer is: What is the prevalence of respiratory muscle sarcopenia in patients with diabet? Participants body composition (bioelectrical impedance), hand grip strength (hand dynanometer), physical performance tests (5 repetition sit-and-stand test, 4-meter walk test, 6 minute walk test, Timed up-and-go test) and respiratory muscle strength were evaluated.

Long-Term Safety & Efficacy of Apitegromab in Patients With SMA Who Completed Previous Trials of Apitegromab

The ONYX study is an Open-Label, Multicenter, Extension study that will evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of Apitegromab in Patients with Type 2 and Type 3 SMA who have completed TOPAZ or SAPPHIRE.

A Modified Sinus Floor Elevation Technique - a Pilot Study on 12 Patients

The aim of the present study is to establish a modified minimally invasive surgical technique for sinus floor augmentation with a residual bone height of 3-6mm. Hypothesis: The investigators expect that the present surgical technique allows to achieve an adequate implant bed of at least 10mm height after a healing period of 3-5 months. Further the modification of the technique enables a reduced patient stress level.