Clinical trials

The purpose of this study is to learn if giving 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17 OHPC) to mothers with preeclampsia diagnosed before 34 weeks gestation improves mother and baby outcomes.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscopy is commonly used to sample lymph nodes in patients with suspected or known lung cancer to determine the stage of the disease. Accurate staging is essential as it directly impacts treatment decisions and prognosis. During EBUS procedures, needles are often reused across multiple lymph node stations and are typically flushed with saline between samples. This raises the concern that residual tumor cells may contaminate the samples and could potentially incorrectly upstage disease. This prospective study will evaluate the current technique used during EBUS procedures to determine if more intensive cleaning leads to reduced cellular contamination without affecting diagnostics. Patients undergoing an EBUS procedure for diagnosis with a large mass and a high probability of malignancy will be selected for the study. Rapid On-Site Examination (ROSE) will be used at the bedside to determine the presence of abnormal cells. Following the final pass, before moving to the next station, the needle will be flushed with saline as normal and then flushed again into another container to evaluate the presence of residual cells. The outcome may help EBUS needle handling practices and improve lung cancer staging accuracy. No additional invasive procedures are performed as part of this study; all analyses utilize material obtained during routine EBUS needle flushing, with no added needle sticks or alteration of clinical care.

Cigarette smoking prevalence has decreased to \~12% in 2022; however, over 40 million U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers in the same year. Rural-urban disparities in tobacco use are persistent, with higher tobacco use and lower cessation in rural areas. Less research has been dedicated to addressing rural-urban tobacco use disparities, perhaps due to logistics, difficulty recruiting and following participants from rural areas, and challenges with conducting clinic-based interventions. Mississippi is one of the states with higher rurality, as 79% of Mississippi counties are classified as rural. Additionally, Mississippi has a higher prevalence of tobacco use and lower cessation rates compared with the national average. Moreover, Mississippi is one of the few states that did not expand Medicaid, which covers comprehensive tobacco cessation services. This may add to the persistent disparity in tobacco use and cessation between rural and urban Mississippians. To overcome these challenges, the investigators propose a randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of theory-driven text messaging for tobacco cessation in rural Mississippi among users of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (SLT), and dual users of cigarettes and SLT. Specifically, this proposal has the following specific aims: (1) To conduct a two-arm, randomized, clinical trial (RCT) of a web-based, text messaging approach for tobacco cessation among cigarette smokers, SLT users and dual users from rural Mississippi; (2) To assess the effectiveness of a web-based, text messaging intervention on tobacco cessation among cigarette smokers, SLT users and dual users; and (3) To identify barriers to and facilitators of tobacco cessation using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). To achieve these aims, a sample of 150 tobacco users (50 cigarette smokers, 50 SLT users, 50 dual users) who intend to quit and have made ≥1 quit attempt in the past 6 months will be recruited via a web-based, crowdsourcing platform (ResearchMatch.org). ResearchMatch.org is a large crowdsourcing platform that facilitates recruitment of a desired research sample from an online panel. Eligible participants will be randomized to intervention and control arms and will be asked to set up a quit date within the first 4 weeks post-intervention. Participants in the intervention arm will receive up to 3 motivational text messages daily during the first 4 weeks, and up to 2 daily during the last 2 weeks. The same frequency will be followed for the control group, but they will receive non-specific text messages. Participants will also receive a daily, midday text message during weeks 1-10 post-intervention to document the barriers and facilitators of tobacco cessation using EMA approach. After week 10 and to the end of 6 months post-intervention, the frequency of EMA texts will be reduced to once per week. Two-way text messaging will be facilitated via a web-based service called Mosio. The investigators will assess prolonged and 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention. This project represents an attempt to test a simple and innovative approach to reducing rural-urban tobacco use disparities and overall tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. The findings can facilitate applying for extramural funding for a larger trial.

The goal of this study to determine if a randomized clinical trial of immediate versus delayed weight bearing after undergoing surgical fixation of a pelvis or acetabulum fracture is feasible. The main questions it aims to answer are: Are surgeons willing to allow inclusion of their patients into such a trial? Are patients willing to participate in such a trial? Will patients be compliant with assigned weight bearing status in such a trial? Can good patient follow-up be obtained in such a trial? Is participation in such a trial safe? Patients from 7 medical centers will be enrolled, and randomized to immediate weight bearing as tolerated (WBAT) versus delayed WBAT (for 6-12 weeks). Feasibility metrics revolving around enrollment, follow-up, and documentation will be monitored, as well as medical and surgical complications. This pilot study will help inform feasibility and design of a larger definitive multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) on this topic.

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of utilizing a telehealth rehabilitation platform to increase patient access for individuals who have undergone orthopedic surgery. Patient participants will be seen via telehealth until they are able to be seen by an in-person physical therapist of their choice. Provider participants will be the physical therapist who are providing physical therapy services through the telehealth application. Data collection: Patient and provider post surveys Home program and scheduled visit compliance rate Healthcare information in keeping with Stand of care physical therapy practices Feasibility criteria will be assessed to determine whether this modality improves physical therapy access for patients living in rural areas.

The Mississippi Community Engagement Alliance (MS CEAL) Team proposes to address the complexities of Mississippi's health issues and social determinants of health through its Fostering Community Solutions (FOCUS) Project, with two objectives: (1) advance the health and wellbeing of Mississippi's populations experiencing differing health outcomes; and (2) enhance the resilience and power within communities to disseminate and implement evidence-based interventions. This study's specific aims include: (1) examine whether the inclusion of a nutrition education program increases fruit and vegetable consumption in a food box distribution program and (2) recruit and train community nutrition liaisons to implement sustainable community strategies to longitudinally support nutrition security. The primary outcome for the first specific aim will be fruit and vegetable consumption. Secondary outcome measures will include changes in perceptions and knowledge related to food consumption and dietary intake. Clinical outcomes will include changes in blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. For Specific Aim 2, outcomes will include the ability to recruit community nutrition liaisons at each site, the number of trainings, pre/post training assessments, and outreach metrics.

This research study wants to learn about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) with Obesity, and Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) and better ways to evaluate these diseases. HFpEF means that the heart is not able to fill properly with blood while it is resting so the amount of blood pumped out to the body is less than it would be if it was filling properly. The study is being done to describe the differences in how the kidneys handle protein and salt in participants with HFpEF and obesity compared to healthy persons.

The proposed multicomponent digital health intervention has the potential to significantly impact the trajectory of maternal health in a rural, pregnant, Black adolescent population with the highest risks for cardiometabolic diseases worldwide. The proposed implementation strategy leverages mobile technologies which are ubiquitous across the socioeconomic gradient and proposes to train young adult WIC moms to deliver peer health coaching in a telehealth setting to address social barriers and support behavior change in pregnant, Black adolescent WIC clients in the Mississippi Delta - a rural region where the population is more than two-thirds percent Black and the teen birth rate is the highest in the United States. This is a scalable and sustainable approach to enhance WIC services and improve WIC's impact on population health and cardiometabolic health disparities in Black women.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of #BabyLetsMove - a 24-week mobile Health and peer health coaching intervention paired with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in pregnant, Black teens in the Mississippi Delta. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does #BabyLetsMove increase objective moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior from ≤16 to 26- and 36-gestational weeks compared to usual WIC care alone? * Does # BabyLetsMove decrease the rate of gestational weight gain and mean arterial pressure from ≤16 to 26- and 36-gestational weeks compared to usual WIC care alone? * Is #BabyLetsMove a feasible and acceptable intervention according to the RE-AIM framework? * Using the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, what are the barriers to organizational uptake and how can strategies be improved for future testing? Participants will be given three empirically supported behavior goals including (1) watching ≤2 hours of TV or other screen time per day, and (2) walking ≥10,000 steps per day - or - (3) engaging in ≥20 minutes of organized exercise per day. Researchers will compare the #BabyLetsMove groups to the WIC care only groups to see if the #BabyLetsMove intervention improves traditional WIC care for bettering health outcomes ( amongst pregnant, Black teens in the Mississippi Delta.

This study examines the link between health literacy, gestational weight gain, and infant birthweight in pregnant teenagers. A randomized trial of 50 participants will be conducted at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Consent will be obtained from all participants. Both control and intervention groups will complete a 20 questions health literacy assessment at baseline and after eight weeks, along with the ASA24 dietary recall tool twice weekly. The intervention group will join a private social media group created solely for study purposes. This will be a private account, accessible only to participants who are added or invited by the study team.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a text-based motivational interviewing (MI) intervention can increase exclusive breastfeeding rates and breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers of healthy full-term infants. This study focuses on addressing breastfeeding barriers, particularly among mothers in underserved and rural populations. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does a text-based MI intervention improve exclusive breastfeeding rates at two, four, and six weeks postpartum? * Does the intervention increase maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy during the same period? Researchers will compare the outcomes of mothers receiving the text-based MI intervention to standard breastfeeding support to assess its feasibility, acceptability, and initial effectiveness. Participants will: * Receive weekly personalized motivational text messages for six weeks postpartum. * Engage in interactive exchanges with MI-trained interviewers addressing breastfeeding challenges. * Complete surveys at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention to assess breastfeeding behaviors and self-efficacy.

This clinical trial is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of three interventions aimed at preventing violence and supporting those affected by it. Over next three years, the impact of these interventions on key areas will be measured, including the incidence of firearm injuries, the recovery of victims, the occurrence of retaliation and re-injury, and health economics. The interventions are developed based on data collected from a comprehensive needs assessment, community summit, retrospective medical chart reviews, and focus group sessions. The defined interventions are as follows: Intervention A - Integration of an existing community-based intervention program with Hospital services intervention B - Unrestricted Cash Assistance Intervention C - Mobile Community Support Services Additionally, the investigators will implement a detailed violence-focused survey for firearm survivors at the time of study enrollment. Follow-up is planned at 3,6 and 12 months. The results of this trial (including analyses of firearm injury rates, recovery outcomes, retaliation/re-injury occurrences, and economic data) will be shared with the affected communities and stakeholders to promote ongoing improvement and support.

People with spinal cord injuries may experience muscle tightness or uncontrollable spasms. This study is being conducted to investigate whether transcutaneous spinal stimulation can improve these symptoms. Transcutaneous spinal stimulation is a non-surgical intervention by applying electrical currents using skin electrodes over the lower back and belly. The investigators want to see how well the intervention of transcutaneous spinal stimulation performs by testing different levels of stimulation pulse rates. Also, transcutaneous spinal stimulation is compared to muscle relaxants such as baclofen and tizanidine, commonly given to people with spinal cord injuries, to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms. By doing this, the investigators hope to discover if transcutaneous spinal stimulation similarly reduces muscle spasms and stiffness or if combining both methods works best. This could help improve treatment options for people with spinal cord injuries in the future.