Clinical Research Directory

The Swedish BioFINDER - Memory Clinic Study

The diagnosis of diseases causing memory difficulties or dementia is often challenging. Without the use of advanced methods such as cerebrospinal fluid tests, approximately 25-30% do not receive a correct diagnosis today. However, the investigators have recently developed new blood biomarkers with high diagnostic accuracy, and the investigators now want to investigate whether they can eventually replace cerebrospinal fluid tests. This is because blood tests are much more cost-effective and significantly easier for patients compared to cerebrospinal fluid tests. In this study, 1200 patients undergoing clinical evaluations at the Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, are included for blood and cerebrospinal fluid sample collection. The blood samples are sent for analysis using the new blood biomarkers. Subsequently, the results are compared with those from the clinical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid to determine how well they perform in routine clinical practice as an alternative to cerebrospinal fluid tests and whether the blood test improves patient care. This comparison is carried out by the attending physician in three steps: 1. Assessment without access to the results of either the blood test or cerebrospinal fluid test. 2. Assessment with access to only the results of the blood test. 3. Assessment with access to the results of both the blood test and cerebrospinal fluid test. Aim 1) To prospectively validate plasma Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers for diagnosis of patients with cognitive symptoms who are evaluated in a specialist memory clinic. Aim 2) Determine whether blood AD biomarkers improve patient management in specialist memory clinic settings.

The Swedish BioFINDER - Primary Care Study

The overall aim of the study is to improve the diagnostic accuracy of AD and cognitive impairment in primary care settings to ensure better care and treatment as well as facilitate correct referrals to specialized memory clinics. The investigators will strive to recruit diverse and representative populations of patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia. The specific aims of the study are to: 1. Improve the detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in primary care. 2. Develop and evaluate cognitive tests, blood-based biomarkers and brain imaging methods that are suitable for accurate and early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in primary care. 3. To prospectively validate plasma AD biomarkers for diagnosis of patients with cognitive symptoms who are evaluated in primary care. 4. Determine whether blood AD biomarkers improve patient management in primary care.

Efficacy of Liberal Versus Restricted IV Fluid Approach in the Management of Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Crisis

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent inherited blood disorder characterized by vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), which lead to severe pain and complications. Despite hydration being a cornerstone of VOC management, the optimal fluid strategy remains uncertain. This study evaluates restrictive versus liberal fluid management strategies in patients with acute VOC. This multi-center, open-label, non-inferiority RCT will enroll patients with SCD presenting with acute VOC. Participants will be randomized to either a restrictive or liberal intravenous fluid management protocol. Primary outcome is pain score reduction. Secondary outcomes include time to pain resolution, ED length of stay, hospital admission rate, cumulative opioid dose, adverse events (incidence of fluid overload, pulmonary congestion), acute chest syndrome, incidence of acute kidney injury, revisit rates within 72 hours of ED discharge, need for intensive care or high-dependency unit admission, need for additional interventions, and 28 days overall mortality. Data will be analyzed using intention-to-treat principles. We hypothesize that a restrictive fluid strategy will achieve non-inferior pain control compared to a liberal strategy, while minimizing fluid-related complications. This study will provide evidence to inform clinical guidelines for fluid management in SCD patients experiencing VOCs.

Neonatal Screening for Haemoglobinopathies EmoCamp

Hereditary haemoglobin defects defined under the term haemoglobinopathies represent the most frequent congenital diseases worldwide. The proposed observational study is aimed at determining the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in newborns in the Campania Region. The neonatal screening test will be performed at the birth centers in Campania Region, before the newborn's discharge, at the same time as the sampling for neonatal screening required by law. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and impact of the screening programme performed at the birth centers on the earliness of diagnosis and the annual rate of sickle cell anaemia diagnosis in children. The secondary objective is to evaluate the benefits of early diagnosis of SCD in children as measured by two endpoints: * Improved disease management and early initiation of conventional therapy with reduction of complications, potentially fatal; * Difference between costs related to the neonatal screening programme and estimated costs related to conventional screening and treatment resulting from complications that may arise with late diagnosis.

Acute Oral Ketone Monoester Supplementation and Resting-state Brain Connectivity

The primary objectives of this pilot study are to test if a single dose of an oral ketone monoester supplement will increase blood flow and connectivity in the brain in adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a single dose of an oral ketone supplement increase global cerebral blood flow (CBF)? Does a single dose of an oral ketone supplement improve resting-state functional connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN)? Does the increase in CBF positively correlate with improved functional connectivity in the DMN? Participants will: * Attend one 2-hour session, which includes: * Neurocognitive assessment * MRI Scans (two, each 15 Minutes) * Capillary blood ketone level measurements * Hemodynamic assessment (blood pressure, heart rate)

Early Check: Expanded Screening in Newborns

Early Check provides voluntary screening of newborns for a selected panel of conditions. The study has three main objectives: 1) develop and implement an approach to identify affected infants, 2) address the impact on infants and families who screen positive, and 3) evaluate the Early Check program. The Early Check screening will lead to earlier identification of newborns with rare health conditions in addition to providing important data on the implementation of this model program. Early diagnosis may result in health and development benefits for the newborns. Infants who have newborn screening in North Carolina will be eligible to participate, equating to over 120,000 eligible infants a year. Over 95% of participants are expected to screen negative. Newborns who screen positive and their parents are invited to additional research activities and services. Parents can enroll eligible newborns on the Early Check electronic Research Portal. Screening tests are conducted on residual blood from existing newborn screening dried blood spots. Confirmatory testing is provided free-of-charge for infants who screen positive, and carrier testing is provided to mothers of infants with fragile X. Affected newborns have a physical and developmental evaluation. Their parents have genetic counseling and are invited to participate in surveys and interviews. Ongoing evaluation of the program includes additional parent interviews.

Identification of Neuroinflammation and Neuroimaging Biomarkers Through Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Unraveling the Heterogeneity of Aged Subjects at Risk of Dementia and to Better Inform Prevention Strategies

SCD and MCI are very heterogeneous conditions, which can be prodromal to different types of dementia. The application of data driven clustering methods on neuroimaging and inflammatory data aims at identifying the features characterizing subgroups of subjects at high risk of developing overt dementia. This approach promises to develop tailored early interventions for subjects with profiles of cognitive decline correlating with high risk of progression. To this end in this project, we propose to examine in these subjects both brain structure and cerebral blood flow (CBF) through MR T1-weighted and pCASL (pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling) imaging and the neuroinflammatory status. The latter will be done by measuring the populations of innate and adaptive immune cells, the chemokines that are required to attract these cells to their potential sites of action in the CNS, and the cytokines by means they exert their function. The analyses performed in aged subjects with MCI and in SCD, will allow identifying common mechanisms predisposing to an increased susceptibility to progression to overt cognitive decline.

The Relationship of Platelet Counts With Sickle Cell Anemia in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between platelet counts and sickle cell disease in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Effects of Social Isolation and Social Interaction on the Risk of Dementia Progression and Brain Function in SCD (Subjective Cognitive Decline, SCD)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of social isolation and social interaction on the risk of dementia progression and brain function in SCD 1. To explore the association between social isolation and lonely SCD populations and the occurrence and progression of MCI and AD through cross-sectional studies, cohort studies and randomized controlled trials of SCD; 2. To clarify the correlation between different carrier states, resting brain function connectivity characteristics, and dual-task walking ability of APOEε4 allele and the progression of SCD to MCI and AD during the cognitive progress of people with SCD affected by social isolation; 3. Establish a predictive model of cognitive decline from SCD to MCI and AD, and apply it to the SCD population to carry out individualized interventions; 4. Confirm the protective effect of social interaction on cognitive level and brain function in SCD patients.