This is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy of bariatric surgery vs medical weight loss vs. the "usual standard of care" to optimize a morbidly obese patient with end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joint for total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The study population will include patients with hip or knee joint osteoarthritis and BMI (Body Mass Index) > 40 kg/m2 who are evaluated in the joint arthroplasty clinic at Boston Medical Center. The primary objective of the study is to determine if bariatric surgery or medical weight loss is more effective than the usual standard of care in optimizing a morbidly obese patient with osteoarthritis of the hip or...
This study will use brain Positron Emission Tomography/ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) and an investigational radioactive drug called [Zr-89]oxine to track the location of white blood cells (also called leukocytes) in the body. PET/MRI will be used to visualize labeled white blood cells and determine if they enter the central nervous system in conditions associated with brain inflammation (also called neuroinflammation). By better understanding the role of neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis, the investigator hopes to be able to better diagnose and treat patients in the future.
Posterior spinal surgery for adult deformity is associated with high incidence of blood loss and need for blood transfusion and intraoperative blood salvage, with associated increased cost and risk for perioperative complications. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is relatively inexpensive anti-fibrinolytic agent that has been proven effective for decreasing intraoperative blood loss in various surgical specialties. Intravenous TXA (ivTXA) is routinely used at our institution for adult spinal deformity cases. Meanwhile, topical TXA (tTXA) is an attractive alternative/adjunct to ivTXA used with good results in orthopedic arthroplasty and cardiac surgery. To the investigators' knowledge, no...
The primary purpose of this pilot study is to investigate a novel approach to the treatment of cognitive symptoms that persist despite prior antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease (Post treatment Lyme Disease or PTLD). Aim 1: The primary aim of this study is to assess whether the processing speed of individuals with PTLD can be enhanced by combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with computer based cognitive training games. To achieve this aim, over a 4-week period, all individuals with PTLD will participate in at home adaptive cognitive training combined with either active stimulation or sham stimulation. Aim 2: To determine if treatment benefit in processing...
This study aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral coping skills program, Treatment and Education Approach for Childhood-onset Lupus (TEACH), for youth with cSLE when integrated into medical care. This TEACH program aims to teach participants skills in order to cope with fatigue, pain, and depressive symptoms--symptoms that commonly affect adolescents and young adults with lupus.
The study is a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of formal occupational therapy on outcomes following CMC arthroplasty
This study seeks to compare two methods of trapeziectomy for basilar thumb arthritis. The first is trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition, which means removing the trapezium bone and filling the void with a tendon graft. This is the most commonly used procedure and the control group. The experimental group is trapeziectomy with suture tape suspension of the 1st metacarpal to the 2nd metacarpal. This is using a device called the InternalBrace, produced by Arthrex.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about preventing falls in people who have total knee replacement surgery using treadmill perturbation training. Perturbation training involves adjusting to rapid speed changes on a treadmill. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Does perturbation training improve the way that people who are planning to have total knee replacement surgery recover after treadmill test that reproduces a trip to the front or side? - Does perturbation training reduce the incidence of preventable gait-related falls during the first year after total knee replacement? Participants will: - complete surveys about their...
The purpose of this study is to determine if platelet-rich plasma is superior to steroid/anesthetic for the treatment of sacroiliac joint pain.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder that affects the musculoskeletal system, causing widespread pain, tenderness, and fatigue. It is estimated to affect 1-5% of the population. The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain throughout the body, accompanied by tenderness and sensitivity to pressure. Pharmacological treatments include drugs such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and painkillers. Another treatment option for fibromyalgia is the use of devices such as Quell. Other non-pharmacological treatment options for fibromyalgia include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, and relaxation techniques. Remote Electrical Neuromodulation (REN) is a...