Clinical Research Directory

AI Technologies for Enhanced and Celerated High-Field WB-MRI

Single-center, cross-sectional observational study assessing the feasibility of advanced accelerated MRI sequences versus standard ones in terms of image quality, diagnostic reliability, and acquisition time.

Outcomes of Iliac Vein Stenting With Dedicated Venous Stents in Treatment of Chronic Post-thrombotic Venous Ulcers

Outcomes of iliac vein stenting with dedicated venous stents in treatment of chronic post-thrombotic venous ulcers Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects 1 to 3 individuals per 1000 annually. Among these patients, 20% to 50% may develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), with the likelihood varying based on the extent and location of the thrombus. Notably, despite receiving anticoagulation therapy, 5% to 10% of patients may progress to severe PTS, potentially leading to the development of venous ulcers (Afsha Aurshina, 2018). Chronic venous obstruction (CVO) refers to the impediment of venous flow, typically resulting from either partial or complete blockage of the venous system. This obstruction leads to diminished venous flow and elevated pressure within the affected veins. CVO serves as a broad descriptor for various conditions, including post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVLs). PTS commonly arises as a complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), with estimates indicating that up to 50% of patients diagnosed with iliofemoral DVT will develop PTS within two years following their initial diagnosis. (Mohammad E. Barbati, 2024) The study aims to know the outcomes of iliac vein stenting with dedicated venous stenting in the treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome venous ulcer. Type of Study: Prospective single arm cohort study * Study Setting: Ain Shams University hospitals * Study Period: 2 years with 6 months follow up * Sample Size: 20 patients. * Study Population Patients presenting to the outpatient clinic at Ain Shams University Hospitals with venous ulcers. * Study Tools * 20 patients will be selected. * Written informed consent. * Full history taking, personal history , risk factors of DVT, presence of any medical illness , assessment of QOL based on CVIQ 20 - questionnaire, list of symptoms, sensations or types of discomfort that you may or may not be experiencing and which may make everyday life hard to bear to a greater or lesser extent. * Clinical evaluation: based on revised Venous Clinical Severity Score rVCSS , Villalta score and CEAP classification . rVCSS includes 10 items, such as pain, varicose veins, oedema, skin pigmentation, inflammation, skin induration, number of active ulcers, ulcer size, duration of ulcer, and application of pressure therapy. Each item is scored from 0 to 3 according to the severity, and the total score is 30. A higher score indicates higher severity. And using villlata score It can be used to both diagnose and categories the severity of the condition. The Villalta score involves both the patient who grades the presence and severity (0-3 points) of five symptoms ( pain , cramps, heaviness, parasthesia and pruritus ) and and the physician who grades six clinical signs(Pre-tibial oedema, Hyper-pigmentation, Redness, Venous Ectasia, ain on calf compression, ulcers) (0-3 points) after examination of the lower limb. Also the clinical severity of the venous disease will be graded according to the clinical, etiological, anatomical, and pathophysiological (CEAP) scoring system, and assessment of venous ulcer assessment (by onset, course, duration, site, size, shape

Feasibility of Digital Thermal Monitoring to Assess Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT)

The Vendys II, an FDA-approved device, uses finger digital thermal monitoring (DTM) after a period of blood flow restriction to evaluate vascular health. This study will evaluate the feasibility of using this device to measure the Vascular Reactivity Index (VRI) in children and adolescents/young adults (AYA) undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).

The PASTDUe Nutrition Ecosystem Project (PASTDUe)

This is a research study to determine if a particular method of providing nutrition improves the clinical outcomes of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who have undergone abdominal surgery and would require nutrition delivered via the bloodstream (called total parenteral nutrition or TPN). The nutrition method we are testing is a structured nutrition delivery plan that involves tube feeding, oral nutrition supplements, and the use of a device (called an indirect calorimeter or IC) to measure calorie needs. This study will also use two devices to measure fat and muscle mass to examine changes during hospitalization. Subjects will be followed throughout hospitalization where nutrition status and fat and muscle mass will be closely monitored. Study activities will begin within 72 hours of a patient's abdominal surgery. TPN (total parenteral nutrition, a method of feeding that bypasses the usual process of eating and digestion) will be started, a non-invasive method of assessing calorie needs (indirect calorimetry (IC)) will be started, a urine sample will be collected to help assist in protein needs, and fat/muscle mass will be measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and an ultrasound. This is a minimal risk study and all products/devices used are non-invasive and FDA-approved. Indirect calorimetry and urine sample collection will be conducted every 3 days during the stay in the Intensive Care Unit - ICU, then every 5 days until hospital discharge. BIA and muscle ultrasound will be conducted every 7 days during ICU stay, then every 14 days until hospital discharge.

The Role of Estrogen and Testosterone in Determining Brain Blood Flow and Metabolic Regulation in Humans

Due to historical exclusion of females from research, there are gaps in the understanding of female physiology, how it differs from males, and how sex-specific hormones contribute. As a result, many diagnoses and treatments are based on male physiology and may not be appropriate or effective for females. Females consistently experience greater risk and report worse neurological outcomes in many diseases, including stroke, cardiac arrest, and dementia. As research in females progresses, differences between sexes and changes throughout the lifespan (e.g., puberty, menopause) highlight the importance of understanding the effects of sex and sex-specific hormones on the body. The brain is arguably the most important organ in the body, consuming 20% of the body's total energy. Previous research supports higher blood flow to the brain in females, and research in animals suggests hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are responsible. However, it is extremely difficult to isolate these hormones in humans, due to natural fluctuations (i.e., menstrual cycle). Therefore, the investigators plan to explore the direct role of these sex-specific hormones in regulating blood flow to the brain by blocking hormone production in healthy males and females and giving back testosterone and estrogen, respectively. The investigators will then conduct a range of tests to look at blood flow to the brain at rest and during various stressors. This research will provide crucial insight into how males and females differ in regulation of brain blood flow and inform new treatments and therapies to a wide range of brain injuries and diseases, improving outcomes and reducing the sex disparity in clinical pathways.

NON-INVASIVE BLOOD FLOW ASSESSMENT: Computational Tool for Measuring Arterial Flow From CT

Major invasive surgery, such as oncological abdominal surgery, is associated with a high risk of complications and mortality. One of the main problems in this type of surgery is the difficulty in preserving the arteries and veins necessary to support vital organs. The main objective of this project is to develop software to predict vascular flow changes based on preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. Currently, the only way to assess preoperative vascular flow is through percutaneous angiography. This is an invasive procedure that requires anaesthesia, hospitalisation, high doses of radiation, vessel manipulation and the possibility of serious injury. It is often used for the diagnosis of vascular stenosis, analysis of vascular flow and preoperative planning to determine which vessels are directly related to organ perfusion. This preoperative planning will be key in the following clinical scenarios: 1. Anomalous hepatic artery anatomy in pancreaticoduodenectomy. 2. Celiac trunk stenosis. 3. Hepatic artery revascularisation from the superior mesenteric artery. 4. Hepatic artery flow assessment in liver transplantation. 5. Splenic artery flow steal phenomenon in liver transplantation. Novella aims to develop a tool that has the capability to predict postoperative vascular flow.