Clinical Research Directory

Decremental Esophageal Catheter Filling Volume Titration For Transpulmonary Pressure Measurement

Mechanical ventilation is a critical intervention in the management of pediatric patients with respiratory distress. During this process, accurate measurement of transpulmonary pressure (PL) is essential to ensure the safety and efficacy of ventilation. PL is defined as the difference between alveolar pressure (Palv) and pleural pressure (Ppl). While the direct measurement of Ppl is possible, it poses a risk to tissue integrity. Thus, the primary surrogate for Ppl measurement today is esophageal pressure (Pes). However, the measurement of Pes is not without challenges. This abstract outlines the pitfalls associated with Pes measurement, emphasizing the importance of employing well-defined procedures to mitigate potential errors. These errors can range from underestimation of Pes due to underfilled catheters to overestimation resulting from overfilled catheters. To address these challenges and optimize Pes measurement, various methods have been proposed for titrating the filling volume of the esophageal catheter. In this study, investigators aim to assess a faster decremental filling method and compare it to the traditionally accepted Mojoli method in the context of pediatric patients. This research seeks to enhance the intensivists' understanding of the most efficient and accurate approach to Pes measurement during mechanical ventilation in the pediatric population, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and outcomes

Fostamatinib for Treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in Hospitalized Adults

This study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fostamatinib in hospitalized adult participants with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Prognosticators in Pediatric Oncology Patients With Sepsis

The overall purpose of this protocol is to identify subacute sepsis-associated cardiac disease in pediatric patients with cancer by CMR and evaluate the CMR findings during their follow-up. This will help inform heart failure management decision making. Evidence of dysfunction or elevated T2 values may inform adjustment of afterload reduction and beta blocker administration, and elevated ECV findings will suggest the need for increased surveillance for diastolic dysfunction. Primary Objectives: (Feasibility Phase) To determine the feasibility of cardiac MRI without anesthesia in the immediate post-sepsis period in children with cancer. CMR scanning will be completed within 10 days of presentation - this will allow us to ensure that possible hemodynamic or respiratory instability and renal dysfunction has resolved prior to transport to the MRI scanner during the most acute phase of illness. (Completion Phase) To estimate the frequency of subacute sepsis-associated cardiac disease, including myocardial inflammation and dysfunction, in the post-acute phase (within 10 days of presentation) of severe sepsis in children with cancer

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Induced Acute Respiratory Failure (COVID-19 Disease)

\*\*\*At this time, we are only enrolling at Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH)/Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and are not shipping cells outside of BCM/HMH.\*\*\* This is a study for patients who have respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 that have not gotten better. Because there is no standard treatment for this infection, patients are being asked to volunteer for a gene transfer research study using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Stem cells are cells that do not yet have a specific function in the body. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell that can be grown from bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside of bones). Stem cells can develop into other types of more mature (specific) cells, such as blood and muscle cells. The purpose of this study is to see if MSCs versus controls can help to treat respiratory infections caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Rhu-pGSN for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

BTI-203 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, Phase 2 proof-of-concept (POC) study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhu-pGSN plus standard of care (SOC) in subjects with moderate-to-severe ARDS (P/F ratio ≤150) due to pneumonia or other infections. Potential subjects hospitalized with pneumonia or other infections are to be screened within 24 hours of diagnosis of ARDS.

CytOSorb TreatMent Of Critically Ill PatientS Registry

Registry intended to provide a data repository and reporting infrastructure for the surveillance of CytoSorb device use in real-world critical care settings, and to serve as an objective, comprehensive, and scientifically-based resource to measure and improve the quality of patient care

Effect of Albumin Therapy in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Sepsis-Associated ARDS

Sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe condition where severe infection causes fluid accumulation in the lungs, often requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Patients with low blood albumin levels are particularly vulnerable to this fluid leakage, leading to prolonged dependence on a ventilator. This observational study evaluates the association between a targeted human albumin treatment strategy combined with clinically guided fluid removal, and clinical outcomes in adults with sepsis-associated ARDS and low blood albumin levels (≤ 30 g/L). Conducted at a single hospital, this study compares two groups. The prospective group consists of patients receiving current usual clinical care, where albumin administration and fluid management are determined by the treating clinical team. Their outcomes will be compared to a historical control group of similar patients who received standard care before this targeted albumin management strategy was routinely implemented. The primary objective is to evaluate whether this targeted albumin strategy is associated with an increase in Ventilator-Free Days at day 28 (VFD-28). VFD-28 reflects both patient survival and successful liberation from the ventilator. The study will also observe secondary outcomes including oxygenation improvement, fluid balance, organ function, mortality, and safety events (e.g., fluid overload or allergic reactions). As an observational study, researchers do not assign treatments; all interventions are based on real-world clinical judgment.

Molecular Epidemiology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

To examine the possible relationship between genetic factors and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Vascular ARDS Recruitment After Inhaled Nitric Oxide

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is when a person's lungs become inflamed, which can be caused by infection, trauma, surgery, blood transfusion, or burn. ARDS often leads to a situation where the person cannot breathe independently and needs machines' help. Once the lungs are inflamed, the small air sacs responsible for exchanging gases (i.e., ventilation) and the blood flow in the lungs (i.e., perfusion) can be affected. In the past, most research focused on studying ventilation physiology and how to help people breathe with machines. Less was done on perfusion because it requires imaging techniques such as computed tomography with intravenous contrast and radiation. One treatment option for low oxygen levels is inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), a gas that can dilate the lung blood vessels and improve oxygenation; however, it is not always clear whether this treatment will work. Prone position has been used for several years in the care of ARDS patients and has been demonstrated to improve survival in more severe patients. It is not known how iNO and prone positioning interact in determining the distribution of pulmonary perfusion and whether their combine use can benefit ARDS patients. Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a bedside and accessible imaging technique that is radiation-free and non-invasive and can potentially detect changes in lung perfusion. EIT can perform multiple measurements; it is portable and accessible. This prospective interventional study aims to assess changes in regional blood perfusion in the lungs of patients with ARDS in response to iNO and to prone positioning utilizing EIT. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. If EIT can measure lung regional perfusion response to an iNO challenge of 20ppm for 15 minutes. 2. If EIT can measure the lung regional perfusion responses to prone position, applied alone and in combination with iNO. 3. If EIT is comparable to dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), the gold-standard method, in the detection of changes in regional lung perfusion due to iNO. 4. If EIT can be an imaging marker to identify ARDS severity Participants will be divided into three cohorts: 1. Sub-Cohort 1 (n=60): Participants will be asked to be monitored by EIT before, during, and after the administration of iNO (20 ppm) for 15 minutes (OFF-ON-OFF) in the supine position 2. Sub-Cohort 2 (N=10): Participants will be asked to be monitored by EIT before and during the administration of iNO (20 ppm) for 15 minutes (OFF-ON) in both the supine and in the prone position. The same subjects will be monitored also with DECT in the supine position and then after 30 minutes in the prone position (without NO administration). 3. Sub-Cohort 3 (N=10): In this subset of Sub-Cohort 1, subjects will be asked to be monitored also with DECT (in addition to EIT) in the supine body position before iNO and after 15 minutes while receiving iNO.

Influence of NEP Inhibition on Vascular Leak and Inflammation (NEPi-INFLAMMATION)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe type of lung injury that affects 10% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units worldwide, with an unacceptably high mortality of up to 48% in those with the most severe form of the condition. It is a complex and poorly understood syndrome that results in progressive failure of the lungs. Crucially, the inflamed lungs allow fluid to leak from the circulation into the airspace, so that patients' lungs fill with fluid - "drowning from the inside". As this condition progresses, the patient typically requires increasing amounts of oxygen and eventually, support from a ventilator. To date, there are no effective treatments for ARDS that can limit, stop or repair this process. This research study is aiming to look at a naturally occurring substance produced by blood vessels, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). The investigators have evidence suggesting that CNP plays a role in maintaining the barrier provided by blood vessels that stops fluid leaking out into tissues. This is based on various studies done on CNP by the investigators research group that have established its widespread role in maintaining cells that line blood vessels and play a vital role in lungs' barrier function: the endothelium. CNP is broken down in part by an enzyme called Neutral endopeptidase and therefore, drugs that inhibit this enzyme would result in increased CNP concentration and activity. If CNP does in fact strengthen the lungs' endothelial barrier, then this class of drug may benefit patients with ARDS. The aim of this experimental medicine study is to assess the effect of using the licensed NEP inhibitor Racecadotril, in a well-established, safe model of inflammation-induced skin blisters in healthy human volunteers to determine primarily whether the fluid accumulation i.e. leak, in these blisters is reduced by treatment with this drug.

To Evaluate the Safety and Potential Therapeutic Activity of JadiCell™, an Investigational Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy, in Patients Diagnosed With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

This study evaluates the safety and potential therapeutic activity of JadiCell™, an investigational umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy, in patients diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). JadiCells are administered intravenously and are intended to modulate inflammatory responses and promote tissue repair in injured lung tissue.

Phase 2a Multiple Ascending Dose Study in Hospitalized Patients With Pneumonia.

A Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose study in patients who are hospitalized with presumed pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen therapy. The purpose of this study is to examine the safety, tolerability and efficacy of AV-001 Injection administration daily to the earlier of day 28 or EOT (day prior to hospital discharge). A total of 60 eligible patients (20 patients in each of cohort 1, 2 and 3) will be recruited from up to 25 participating institutions/hospitals. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either AV-001 Injection or AV-001 placebo Injection, together with standard of care (SOC).

Prone Positioning and Thoracoabdominal Binding on Lung and Muscle Protection in ARDS Patients During Spontaneous Breathing

Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction and intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness are two consequences of prolonged mechanical ventilation and critical illness in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Both complicate the process of withdrawing mechanical ventilation, increase hospital mortality and cause chronic disability in survivors. During transition from controlled to spontaneous breathing, these complications of critical illness favor an abnormal respiratory pattern and recruit accessory respiratory muscles which may promote additional lung and muscle injury. The type of ventilatory support and positioning may affect the muscle dysfunction and patient-self-inflicted lung injury at spontaneous breathing onset. In that regard, ARDS patients with ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction and ICU-acquired weakness who are transitioning from controlled to partial ventilatory support probably present an abnormal respiratory pattern which exacerbates lung and muscle injury. Physiological-oriented ventilatory approaches based on prone positioning or semi recumbent positioning with abdominal binding at spontaneous breathing onset, could decrease lung and muscle injury by favoring a better neuromuscular efficiency, and preventing intense inspiratory efforts and high transpulmonary driving pressures, as well as high-magnitude pendelluft. In the current project, in addition to perform a multimodal description of the severity of ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction and ICU-acquired weakness in prolonged mechanically ventilated ARDS patients, prone positioning and supine plus thoracoabdominal binding at spontaneous breathing onset will be evaluated.

Application Study of Individualized Mechanical Power Titration Strategy Based on PiCCO (Pulse Index Continuous Cardiac Output) Monitoring Parameters in ARDS Patients

Based on PiCCO combined with MP, the optimal mechanical power setting of the ventilator for ARDS patients in normal supine/prone position is determined to reduce the damage to lung function during mechanical ventilation. By detecting peripheral serum NLRP3 and related inflammatory markers in ARDS patients, the relationship between NLRP3 and lung injury caused by mechanical ventilation was studied.

Early Use of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) in ARDS

Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a time-cycled, pressure controlled, intermittent mandatory ventilation mode with extreme inverse I:E ratios. Currently it is considered as a non-conventional ventilatory mode. The investigators aim to compare APRV with conventional mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Reverse Trigger Phenotypification and Response to Ventilatory Adjustments

The goal of this prospective observational study is to describe the incidence of reverse trigger (RT) in mechanically ventilated patients with diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Real incidence of RT based on continuous monitoring * The response to mechanical ventilatiory adjustments Participants will be included as soon as neuromuscular blockers (NMB)/sedation is stopped or in case of spontaneous respiratory efforts detection, whatever happens first. Continuous monitoring will be performed by esophageal manometry until switch to a pressure support (spontaneous) mode, restart of deep sedation/neuromuscular blockers by medical indication, or death. In order to allow detection of possible RT in patients with ongoing sedation/NMB, mechanical ventilator waveforms will be screened every 1-2 hours by investigators and critical care physicians with at least 1 year of specific training in detection of dyssynchronies.

A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal Using PrismaLung+

PrismaLung+ is a sterile, single-use medical device aimed at performing partial removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the patient's venous blood via diffusion through a membrane. The goal of this prospective, open label, randomized controlled study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PrismaLung+ on extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) in critically ill patients under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Patients will be randomized to receive either IMV combined with ECCO2R (using PrismaLung+) in the study group or IMV alone in the control group, at a ratio of 2:1.

EndotyPIng PreHospitAl de Novo Acute hYpoxemic Respiratory Failure

We attempt to perform dynamic endotyping of critically ill patients presenting in the emergency department with de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). We also attempt to identify what clinical, radiological, physiological and biological variables collected early in the course of AHRF correlate with subsequent mortality and/or persistent severe hypoxemia.

Multimodal Physiologic State Intelligence Study

The OMNIPHYS study will investigate whether multimodal ultrasound and other routinely collected clinical and physiologic data can be combined with artificial intelligence to characterize changes in a person's physiologic state over time. The study will examine cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, and systemic physiologic measurements and develop longitudinal models that describe baseline physiology, physiologic perturbation, compensation, deterioration, treatment response, and recovery. The study is observational and will not assign experimental treatments. The goal is to determine whether changes in multimodal physiologic patterns can be identified and characterized earlier and more reliably than conventional single-time-point assessment.

Effect of Spontaneous Breathing in APRV Mode on Respiratory Physiology of ARDS Patients

This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, three-period crossover physiological study in adult patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS, PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤150 mmHg). Each enrolled subject will receive all three APRV ventilation conditions in random sequence: low-level spontaneous breathing (spontaneous minute-ventilation proportion 10%-30%), high-level spontaneous breathing (31%-50%), and fully suppressed spontaneous breathing as control. A 30-minute wash-out period is set between each condition to restore unified physiological baseline. Primary outcome is ventilation-perfusion mismatch percentage (mismatch%) measured by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Secondary outcomes include EIT-derived pulmonary parameters, respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, diaphragmatic function and safety profiles. Only short-term, reversible ventilator and sedation adjustments will be performed; routine clinical management remains unchanged throughout the trial.

A Comparative Study of Glucocorticoids Efficacy in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The aim of the work is to compare the efficacy of equivalent doses of methylprednisolone, dexamethasone and hydrocortisone in patients with ARDS

The ARISE Study - Use of Vertical Positioning

The pilot study will randomize 40 ARDS patients who if proning were required would be randomized to upright bed positioning or to stand of care with bed in the head of bed elevation position

Serum sRAGE, CC16, and Syndecan-1 as Predictors of ARDS and Mortality After Severe Chest Trauma

This prospective cohort study aims to evaluate whether blood levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), Club Cell Protein-16 (CC16), and Syndecan-1 measured early after severe chest trauma can predict the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in-hospital mortality. Adult patients aged 18 years or older admitted with severe blunt or penetrating chest trauma will be enrolled. Clinical data, injury severity, laboratory findings, imaging results, and clinical outcomes will be recorded. Patients will be followed daily during the first 7 days after admission for the development of ARDS, and in-hospital mortality will be recorded until discharge or death. The findings may help identify patients at high risk of respiratory complications and poor outcomes after severe chest trauma.

Diffuse Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Recruitment Maneuver, and sRAGE (DAMAGE Study)

RAGE, the receptor for advanced glycation end products, is a novel marker of alveolar epithelial type I cell injury, and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) is elevated in the plasma and in the pulmonary edema fluid from patients with ALI/ARDS. Few data are available about the influence of ventilatory interventions on levels of sRAGE in the setting of ALI/ARDS. The purpose of this prospective monocentric randomized controlled cross-over study is to describe the effects of a recruitment maneuver (RM) on plasma sRAGE levels during diffuse ARDS.