Clinical Research Directory

Bevacizumab in Adults With Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP)

Background: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease that causes wart-like growths in the airways. These growths come back when removed; some people may need 2 or more surgeries per year to keep their airways clear. Better treatments are needed. Objective: To see if a drug called bevacizumab can reduce the number of surgeries needed in people with RRP. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older with recurrent RRP; they must need surgery to remove the growths in their airways. Design: Participants will be screened. Their ability to breathe and speak will be evaluated. They will have an endoscopy: a flexible tube with a light and camera will be inserted into their nose and throat. They will have a test of their heart function and imaging scans of their chest. Participants will have surgery to remove the growths in their airways. Bevacizumab is given through a small tube placed in a vein in the arm. After the surgery, participants will receive 11 doses of this drug: every 3 weeks for 3 doses, and then every 6 weeks for 8 more doses. They will come to the clinic for each dose; each visit will be about 8 hours. Tissue samples of the growths will be collected after the second treatment; this will be done under general anesthesia. Participants may undergo apheresis: Blood will be drawn from a needle in an arm. The blood will pass through a machine that separates out the cells needed for the study. The remaining blood will be returned to the body through a second needle. Follow-up will continue for 1 year after the last treatment....

Maximizing Lymph Node Dissection on Fresh and Fixed Lung Cancer Resection Specimens

Lung cancer patients undergoing upfront surgery, highly benefit from a systematic lymph node dissection in the mediastinum and in the surgical specimens. The latter is performed by the pathologist. Developing a standardized technique to dissect the lobectomy specimen has the potential of maximizing the retrieval of all N1 stations lymph nodes. The investigators believe that the adoption of such technique will improve lung cancer staging and identify a higher number of patients that qualify for adjuvant therapies.

Strategy to Avoid Excessive Oxygen Using an Autonomous Oxygen Titration Intervention

This study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of a closed loop/autonomous oxygen titration system (O2matic PRO100) to maintain normoxemia (goal range SpO2 90-96%, target 93%) during the first 72 hours of acute injury or illness, compared to standard provider-driven methods (manual titration with SpO2 target of 90-96%).

Insertable Cardiac Monitor-Guided Early Intervention to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation Burden Following Catheter Ablation

To prospectively investigate the efficacy of an insertable cardiac monitor-guided atrial fibrillation (AF) management in reducing subsequent AF burden in patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF undergoing atrial catheter ablation (CA).

Testing VIRTUES Patient Care Sets in Cardiac Patients (VIRTUES Cardiac Care)

Patients with various cardiac conditions (such as those who experience a heart attack) are increasing in Canada and are in need of appropriate cardiac rehabilitation and care. Many patients do not have access to local in-person cardiac clinics, particularly in rural regions of Canada. A user-friendly digital application with accessible educational resources and recommendations based on the most up to date clinical practice guidelines can help mitigate these issues. VIRTUES is a digital healthcare application that targets 11 modifiable modules as follows: 1. antithrombotic management 2. lipid management 3. rate and rhythm control for atrial fibrillation 4. heart failure care 5. post myocardial infarction care 6. blood sugar management 7. blood pressure management 8. physical activity 9. healthy eating 10. smoking cessation 11. alcohol reduction Of the 11 total modules, the first 7 listed provide recommendations in VIRTUES. The remaining 4 (physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation and alcohol reduction) consist of simple referrals to existing recommendations (i.e., for healthy eating and physical exercise) and referrals to existing local programs (i.e., for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction). Thus, in this cohort study, the investigators will test the primary 7 modules with 200 patients per module for approximately one month each in order to obtain feedback on the usability of each module. The investigators will also conduct virtual focus group discussions to obtain open ended feedback on the application. This study will provide valuable feedback, which will be used to improve and adapt the VIRTUES platform.

Oral Ifetroban to Treat Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) or SSc-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

The purpose of this phase 2 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study is to assess the safety and efficacy of ifetroban in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic SSc (dcSSc) or SSc-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH).

MIDNOR-STROKE- a Long Term Follow-up Study of Patients With First Ever Ischemic Stroke in Central Norway

Annually 13000 Norwegians experience an ischemic stroke. The number of stroke is anticipated to increase with 50% within 2030 due to a growing number of elderly. Many of them will have severe function deficits and reduced quality of life. The investigators have established a cohort consisting of 800 patients with first time ischemic stroke treated at hospitals in Central Norway. The investigators want to study the incidence and prognostic markers for death, recurrent stroke and severe functional deficits during a period of 10 years after the initial ischemic stroke. The investigators want to focus on the impact of physical functioning, the level of physical activity and use of medication for secondary prevention on the incidence of death, recurrent stroke and severe functional deficits. The investigators are especially interested in the importance of fulfilling the treatment targets for blood pressure and cholesterol and the importance of smoking cessation in stroke survivors. Our objective is to improve todays stroke treatment and achieve a more efficient use of the health resources in order to increase survival after stroke maintaining a good physical and psychological function and quality of life.

Strategy to Avoid Excessive Oxygen for Critically Ill Trauma Patients

The objective is to determine the effectiveness of a multimodal educational intervention to reduce supplemental oxygen use in critically injured patients. Investigators will also evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the more targeted use of oxygen therapy.

Strategy to Avoid Excessive Oxygen in Major Burn Patients

The objective is to determine the effectiveness of a multimodal educational intervention to reduce supplemental oxygen use in major burn patients. Investigators will also evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the more targeted use of oxygen therapy.

Perioperative Respiratory Care and Outcomes for Patients Undergoing High Risk Abdominal Surgery

PENGUIN is a pragmatic multi-center trial investigating the effects of pre-operative mouthwash and perioperative oxygen on the incidences of pneumonia and surgical site infection (SSI) following major abdominal surgery. Patients will be recruited from low and middle income countries and randomly assigned to a trial treatment arms: a) pre-operative chlorhexidine mouthwash and 80-100% FiO2; b) no pre-operative mouthwash and 80-100% fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2); c) pre-operative chlorhexidine mouthwash and 21- 30% FiO2; or d) no pre-operative mouthwash and 21-30% FiO2.

Clinical Trial Assessing Human Placental Membrane Products and Standard of Care Versus Standard of Care in Nonhealing DFUs and VLUs

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of multiple human placental membrane products and Standard of Care (SOC) versus SOC alone in the management of nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs) over 12 weeks using a modified platform trial design.

Umbilical Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as Cellular Immunotherapy for Septic Shock

Septic shock is associated with substantial burden in terms of both mortality and morbidity for survivors of this illness. Pre-clinical sepsis studies suggest that mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs) modulate inflammation, enhance pathogen clearance and tissue repair and reduce death. Our team has completed a Phase I dose escalation and safety clinical trial that evaluated MSCs in patients with septic shock. The Cellular Immunotherapy for Septic Shock Phase I (CISS) trial established that MSCs appear safe and that a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is feasible. Based on these data, the investigators have planned a phase II RCT (UC-CISS II) at several Canadian academic centres which will evaluate intermediate measures of clinical efficacy (primary outcome), as well as biomarkers, safety, clinical outcome measures, and a health economic analysis (secondary outcomes).

Evaluation of Efficacy of Skål Pro Powder on Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Skal Pro in alleviating symptoms, enhancing stool consistency, improving quality of life, and addressing psychological distress in individuals diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as compared to those who receive no intervention.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Frailty Syndrome

This Phase I/II study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of UMC119-06-05, an allogeneic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, in older adults with frailty syndrome. This study will also seek to determine the long-term safety and clinical outcomes of UMC119-06-05 in subjects with frailty syndrome, which will provide information for subsequent clinical trials with UMC119-06-05.

Acceptability of Exoskeleton Assisted Walking for Persons With Mobility Issues Due to Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Lack of physical activity is common in people with MS (pwMS). This can lead to several comorbid conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes and worse prognosis. An increasing number of studies suggest that physical exercise can play an important role in managing symptoms, preventing complications and comorbidities in pwMS, and may possibly be neuroprotective. However, doing exercise can be very challenging for pwMS who have moderate/severe mobility disability and who have problems with walking. In this project, the investigators will explore the use of a powered Exoskeleton as an exercise tool for people with moderate to severe difficulty walking due to MS. Powered Exoskeletons are wearable robots that offer opportunity to persons with lower limb weakness to stand and walk. The Exoskeleton-assisted training provides active training with potentially much less intervention needed from therapists. However, it is not clear whether pwMS can walk with a powered Exoskeleton at speeds and intensities sufficient to positively affect health and fitness outcomes. Thus, in this study, the investigators aim to explore whether using an Exoskeleton will enable people with MS to exercise at a moderate intensity and whether people with MS find this acceptable and safe to do on a regular basis. The investigators will also explore whether training with an Exoskeleton can improve walking. The investigators will train 12 patients with MS to walk with an Exoskeleton twice a week for 8 weeks. The investigators will compare the effects with another group of 12 patients who will do exercises with a fitness instructor twice a week for 8 weeks. The investigators will study whether walking with Exoskeleton is better than fitness training in terms of fitness outcomes, walking and cognitive, psychological factors.

Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis as Treatment for Lymphedema

The primary aim of this study is to investigate and test whether the use of combined indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography and ultra high frequency ultrasonography can correctly identify lymphatic vessels and venoles in close proximity to each other, for identification prior to lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) surgery.