Clinical Research Directory

Brain Stimulation for Foot-sole Sensation in Older Adults With Foot-sole Somatosensory Deficits

In older adults, diminished sensation of the legs and feet is highly prevalent and causes poor balance and reduced mobility. This type of sensation is not only dependent upon the receptors and nerves in the legs and feet, but also upon a complex central nervous system pathway that includes the cerebral cortex of the brain. This project will use a form of noninvasive brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to test whether increasing the excitability of the brain networks that process sensory feedback can augment foot sole sensation, balance, and mobility in older adults suffering from mild-to-moderate foot sole sensory impairments.

Designing a Virtual Reality Intervention to Improve Physical and Psychological Health in Intensive Care Units

The goal of this study is to explore if Virtual Reality helps patients in the cardiothoracic ICU move more and feel better. Participants will be asked to answer a survey about anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The study team will teach participants how to use the VR device and how to play the game. Participants will play the game at least once per day, but can play as much as they want. Study activities include nurse facilitated patient use of VR applications that involve upper body movement (e.g., using arms and hands to dance or hit objects in a virtual reality environment).

Parathyroidectomy and Mobility Study

This study evaluates whether surgical removal of the parathyroid gland (parathyroidectomy) improves physical function and mobility in older adults with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). PHPT, a common endocrine disorder in older adults, is associated with reduced muscle strength, mobility, and quality of life. This prospective observational study will enroll up to 80 participants aged 60 and older undergoing parathyroidectomy at UF Health. Participants will complete physical performance tests, wear an Actigraph device to assess physical activity, and provide blood samples for biomarker analysis at pre- and post-operative time points. The goal is to characterize changes in physical function and activity following surgery and to identify biomarkers that may predict mobility improvements. Findings will help inform future larger-scale studies and could expand surgical indications for PHPT in older adults.

Implementation and Assessment of the BE-FIT Program

Lengthy hospitalization and immobility can lead to muscle loss resulting in reduced recovery rates and prolonged hospital stay or readmission. Older adults discharged from hospitals are at an increased risk for functional decline, falls and disability. Daily exercise and physical activities have proven to enhance the recovery and discharge process for older patients from the hospital and ultimately save vast amounts of dollars each year. The aim of this study is to initiate early mobilization and decrease the rate of functional decline in post-surgical older adults' patients in the acute care hospital setting in Alberta, Canada. The investigators are implementing a BE-FIT (BEdside reconditioning for Functional ImprovemenTs) a quality improvement, evidence-based exercise program that focuses on early mobilization and recovery by minimizing bed rest, promoting functional tasks, and encouraging self-management. Patients enrolled in the program will receive a bedside exercise plan to be completed independently throughout their stay in the hospital. Control patients will receive usual care without the added exercise plan. Patient mobility during their hospital stay will be assessed pre and post BE-FIT initiation according to a predetermined mobility scoring system. Secondary outcomes will include: time-to-mobility, length of stay, complication incidence and hospitalization costs.

The Effect of Mobilization Coverall on Anxiety, Comfort, Physical Privacy and Satisfaction

This study is designed as crossover randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of a mobilization coverall designed for intensive care patients on anxiety, comfort, physical privacy and satisfaction.

Intravenous Acetaminophen to Reduce Post-operative Opioid Consumption

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a commonly used medication after surgery to control pain. Tablets for oral use and suppositories for rectal use are the most frequently employed forms of acetaminophen after surgery. Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen is widely used in several countries but is not a standard medication for the adult population in Canada. It is mainly considered when it is impossible to take medication in tablet or suppository form. Opioids (Morphine, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, etc.) are another class of medications commonly used after surgery for pain management. While they are generally very effective and stronger than acetaminophen or other pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen/Advil), reducing their use is preferable, as they can cause various side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and dependence. IV acetaminophen may help control pain while also reducing opioid consumption. However, there are few high-quality scientific studies proving the benefits of IV acetaminophen compared to other forms, such as tablets or suppositories. Acetaminophen has been available in Canada for many years and has already been recommended for use in Quebec by the Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) under certain conditions. This study aims to validate its benefits with clear data.

Effect of Targeted Mobilization Program

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of early mobilization training given to patients undergoing cesarean section in the preoperative period and targeted mobilization program applied after the surgery, on preventing gastrointestinal complications that may develop after the surgical intervention and participating in breastfeeding and baby care. The research will be conducted in experimental design. The research will begin after receiving written permission from Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Ethics Committee, Niğde Provincial Health Directorate and Ömer Halisdemir Training and Research Hospital. Pregnant women who are between the ages of 18-35, who are at least a primary school graduate, who gave birth at term, who have a live singleton pregnancy, and who do not have a risky pregnancy history (DVT, thromboembolism) will be included in the study. Before starting the research, the study will begin by obtaining institutional permissions and written permission from the pregnant women. Personal Information Form prepared in line with the literature, postoperative gastrointestinal functions information form, postoperative abdominal distension diagnosis form, walking chart, VAS, LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale and Breastfeeding Information Form data collection forms will be used to collect data. The data will be evaluated on a computer using the IBM SPSS Statistics 24 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows) package program. Appropriate statistical analyzes will be used to evaluate the data

PRotein Optimization With eXercise to Improve MUscle Mass and Functional outcomeS

The investigators have designed a 2-center, pilot feasibility, randomized controlled trial (PROXIMUS) to determine the feasibility and safety of a larger multi center, randomized open-label trial comparing high protein combined with individualized exercise vs. standard management during the acute phase of critical illness in children. The investigators aim to determine the impact of the intervention on preservation of muscle mass; and functional status at 1 month and 6 months after randomization.