Clinical trials

Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions (DGBIs) significantly impact children globally, leading to reduced quality of life and increased healthcare utilization. Despite their prevalence, effective treatments for pediatric DGBIs remain limited. Acupuncture, though commonly used in clinical practice and supported by adult data, lacks robust empirical evidence in pediatric populations. This study addresses this critical gap. The primary objective is to assess the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing symptom severity in pediatric patients with DGBIs. Key secondary objectives include evaluating improvements in quality of life, functional disability, and mental health outcomes. This is a parallel-group, randomized, placebo sham-controlled, participant-blind clinical trial. The study is being conducted in an outpatient pediatric referral center. A total of 96 participants, aged 8-17 years, meeting eligibility criteria for DGBIs will be enrolled. Participants must be medically stable and meet protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture, alongside standard care. Treatments will occur over a predefined protocol period. Data will be collected at baseline, during treatment, and at specified post-treatment intervals. The primary outcomes will evaluate changes in pain intensity and frequency. Secondary outcomes will include assessments of pain resolution, quality of life, functional disability, and mental health. Statistical analyses will employ rigorous methodologies to ensure reliability and validity of findings.

This is a phase II clinical trial in which children with refractory infantile spasms (also called epileptic spasms or West syndrome) will be treated with fenfluramine, to evaluate efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Patients with infantile spasms that have not responded to treatment with vigabatrin and ACTH we will be invited to participate. Study participants will undergo baseline video-EEG, receive treatment with fenfluramine for 21 days, and then undergo repeat video-EEG to determine effectiveness. Patients with favorable response will have the opportunity to continue treatment for up to 6 months.

The purpose of this study is to test the effect of Auricular Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation (a Neurostim device) on children with pain and Post Concussion symptoms. An additional purpose of this study is to demonstrate that PENFS improves functioning in children with post Covid-19 symptoms.

The goal of this project is to assess the feasibility, clinical effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of IV iron therapy using ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) as a treatment for pediatric patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in the emergency department (ED). The primary objectives are to: 1. examine and compare healthcare utilization and clinical outcomes of IV FCM use in the pediatric ED compared to historical cohort. 2. determine the feasibility of IV FCM in the pediatric ED. A secondary objective of this study is to evaluate if additional laboratory markers such as soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) or reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent can serve as potential surrogate markers for diagnosing and monitoring treatment response of IDA between oral iron and IV FCM. By evaluating clinical outcomes such as the time to resolution of anemia, hospitalization rates and need for PRBC transfusion, assessing the feasibility of FCM implementation, and secondarily exploring potential adjunct markers for monitoring IDA, this study aims to fill the current research gap and potentially revolutionize management of IDA in pediatric emergency care.

The purpose of this study is to better understand how heart and blood vessel problems develop in people with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). The investigators are looking at certain substances in the body called GAGs and proteoglycans to see how they affect the heart. The investigators also want to find reliable blood and urine markers that can help us track heart health and guide future treatments. This study aims to answer two main questions: 1. Do people with MPS show faster changes in their blood vessels over time (such as thickening or stiffening of the carotid artery) compared to people without MPS? 2. Do people with MPS have higher levels of certain proteins in their blood (such as clusterin and inflammatory markers) that are linked to blood vessel changes? What participants will do? Participants will complete the following tests once a year for 4 years: * Carotid ultrasound: an imaging test that looks at the blood vessels in the neck. * Echocardiogram: an ultrasound of the heart. * Blood draw * Urine collection These tests help the investigators track changes in heart and blood vessel health over time.

Suramin has been found to correct the symptoms, metabolism, and brain synaptic abnormalities in two classical genetic and environmental mouse models of autism. A preliminary clinical trial (SAT-1) examined the safety and activity of a single low-dose of suramin in children with ASD and concluded suramin showed promise as a novel approach to treatment of ASD. The current study, STAT-2A, will be a randomized, double-blind, crossover, 30-week study to evaluate the preliminary proof of concept, safety, and PK of suramin sodium (KZ101) with repeat dosing by IV infusion in males 5-14 years of age who have been diagnosed with ASD. The study will be conducted at approximately 3 sites contributing approximately 15 subjects per site. Total enrollment of approximately 45 subjects is planned to achieve approximately 36 participants completing the study.

The purpose of this research study is to better understand patient preference and their satisfaction rates with cryotherapy machines based on the direction of the tubing. This study will evaluate both satisfaction and pain of patients who use the cryotherapy machines in the two groups: tubing facing towards the head, and the other with tubing facing toward the feet.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer seen in pediatric oncology. The necessary chemotherapy for pediatric and adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with ALL includes steroids, anthracyclines, asparaginase, and vincristine. One of the most hepatotoxic chemotherapy agents is asparaginase, with treatment-associated hepatotoxicity (TAH) observed in up to 60% of patients. The frequency of TAH is increased in overweight or obese patients of Latino heritage. Carnitine is a naturally-derived compound that is produced in the liver and kidneys; it is found in certain foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, and some dairy products. Endogenous carnitine transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are oxidized to produce energy, and acts as scavengers of oxygen free radicals. Thus, carnitine can reduce oxidative stress and modulate inflammatory response. Levocarnitine is a supplement form of carnitine used typically in the care and management of patients with carnitine deficiency. Pediatric and AYAs with ALL will be given oral levocarnitine as a supplement during their initial phases of treatment, when the most hepatotoxic agents are administered, to determine if the incidence of liver toxicity can be reduced or eliminated.