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Translating Metabolic Responses to Mechanical Insult Into Early Interventions to Prevent PTOA
This is a small-scale proof-of concept clinical trial of amobarbital as a treatment to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis in fractured ankle joints. The study is a double blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, stepwise trial. Amobarbital will be delivered to ankle joints in solution with hyaluronic acid (HA) as a vehicle. Amobarbital/HA injections (active dose) will be compared to HA alone (placebo dose). Our primary goal is to confirm safety, but we will also assess whether treatment improves chondrocyte viability and decreases synovial inflammation. The intervention that has proven to be effective in vitro and in...
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Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia With HRG 80 Red Ginseng
Will a unique form of ginseng be clinically helpful in those with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia?
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Treatment of Fibromyalgia and CFS With Ribose, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Licorice, Schisandra and Green Tea Extract
Is a combination of Ribose, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Schisandra, licorice, and green tea extract helpful in CFS and FIbromyalgia?
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Treatment of Fibromyalgia With Recovery Factors
Treatment of Fibromyalgia and CFS with Recovery Factors
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Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis With Methotrexate: Predictors of Response
This is an open-label, prospective study of methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) designed to characterize the subset of RA patients that respond best to methotrexate monotherapy. Eligible patients will be adults with RA who are naïve to prior methotrexate or combination disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Patients will be started on methotrexate at 15 mg once weekly, with the dose escalated to 20 mg once weekly at 8 weeks for patients not in remission. Patients will be assessed with joint counts and laboratory monitoring at study entry, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. Primary endpoint will be ...
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Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) With N-acetylcysteine
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease which often has debilitating and potentially life-threatening consequences. The cause of SLE is unknown and current therapies lack specificity and carry significant side-effects. We previously discovered the depletion of glutathione in lymphocytes of patients with SLE and associated this metabolic change with the elevation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. This study will titrate to tolerance during an initial 3 month open label period and then subjects will be randomized to one of 2 arms. It was determined by statistical analysis that each group...
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Treatments Against RA and Effect on FDG-PET/CT
In a randomized controlled clinical trial, investigators will compare the effects on [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) from two treatment regimens in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients deemed methotrexate inadequate responders (MTX-IRs). Two common RA treatments will be compared: triple therapy (sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine) versus tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor (etanercept or adalimumab, plus background methotrexate for all subjects and hydroxychloroquine for subjects who were taking this at screening).
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Trial of Belimumab in Early Lupus
This two year study will evaluate the effects of giving belimumab (Benlysta) to patients with Early Lupus. Early lupus is a diagnosis of lupus within 2 years. Subjects will be randomized to receive belimumab or placebo during the first year. During the second year, subjects who were randomized to belimumab will be rerandomized to continue to receive belimumab or to receive placebo. The study will look at clinical effects as well as effects on the immune system.
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Trial of Unicompartmental Versus Total Knee Arthroplasty
This study is a prospective, randomized trial to compare patient outcomes of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis.
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Trial Outcomes for Massage: Caregiver-Assisted vs. Therapist-Treated
Given the modest effectiveness of current treatments and the burden chronic neck pain places on Veterans, the investigators' research proposal is significant in several regards. First, Trial Outcomes for Massage: Caregiver-Assisted vs. Therapist-Treated (TOMCATT) Study directly addresses a high priority area for the VA and is well aligned with the VHA Pain Management Strategy and VHA Pain Management Directive 2009-053. Second, because previous massage studies have included relatively small sample sizes, this trial will provide information vital to fill an evidence vacuum regarding effectiveness of a massage treatments for chronic neck ...
