Observational study tests the feasibility of enrolling subjects and obtaining an amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) within the first 72 hours of life, a second aEEG recording between 72-168 hours of life, and weekly thereafter up to 36 weeks post-menstrual age. It will enroll 85-100 infants between 401-1,000 grams birth weight OR between 23 0/7 and 28 6/7 weeks gestational age born at the 7 participating NICHD Neonatal Research Network sites.

Completed study. In this feasibility study, hyperoxemia, as proximated by transcutaneous hemoglobin saturation with oxygen (Sp02), at the time of birth will cause sustained pulmonary oxidative stress as demonstrated by elevation of ulmonary protein carbonyl. Furthermore, this oxidative stress will be directly proportional to the imposed oxygen-burden during resuscitation at the time of birth. This study will give us information regarding the magnitude of protein carbonyl elevation in the preterm infant. With these results we will be able to 1. establish the technique for the running or protein carbonyl assays and 2. calculate an appropriate sample size for a future randomized control trial.

Research/study hypothesis is that topiramate will reduce acute seizures after traumatic brain injury and will help prevent the development of epilepsy after traumatic brain injury.

Study to determine if hormone replacement in TBI patients with documented abnormalities in the GH, thyroid, or cortisol axis will improve muscle function, body composition, aerobic capacity (GH) and tests of neuropsychologic function (GH, thyroid, cortisol).

Study to determine if the drug 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate can help reduce the risk of preterm delivery in women with certain risk factors for preterm birth. We hope to learn whether this same medication can be used to prolong pregnancy in a group of patients in whom this medication has not been previously studied. Specifically, we hope to learn whether progesterone supplementation will delay delivery in women with pre-term, premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of magnesium sulfate for preterm suspected abruption

Intraoperative Optical Imaging Mapping of Neocortical Epilepsy in Human

Patients with epilepsy undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) have electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded before and during their stimulation treatment. Subsequently we will be using computer-assisted analysis of the digitally-recorded EEG signals to assess the effects of DBS on the brain-wave frequency content and any abnormal seizure-like patterns that may be present.

Index of clinical trials being conducted at Weill Cornell Medical College

The Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) addresses the necessity of an integrated, comprehensive research support system that includes education, training and mentoring for clinical research investigators, coordinators and staff. Our mission is to support, advance, and promote clinical and translational research enterprises at WCMC

Active research programs of the faculty of the Department of Neurology span the full spectrum of translational neuroscience research from the most basic neuroscience to highly clinically-oriented research, such as clinical trials.

As many more premature infants survive, the numbers of these infants with health problems increases. The rate of cerebral palsy (CP) in extremely premature infants is approximately 20%. Magnesium sulfate, the most commonly used drug in the US to stop premature labor, may prevent CP. This trial tests whether magnesium sulfate given to a woman in labor with a premature fetus (24 to 31 weeks out of 40) will reduce the rate of death or moderate to severe CP in the children at 2 years. The children receive ultrasounds of their brains as infants and attend three follow-up visits over two years to assess their health and development.

"For over 60 years the most appropriate oxygen level for preterm babies remains unknown. To answer this, we will combine data from over 5300 babies to be sure the expected benefits of lower oxygen for babies' eyes and lungs does not come at the expense of increasing death or major disability in these children. Planning to do this before the results of any of the trials are known is called a prospective meta-analysis. This is the first time this technique has been used in neonatal medicine.

A recent study using high-dose rhEpo (3000 U rhEpo/kg body weight at birth) for neuroprotection in very preterm infants revealed that no signs of adverse effects of early high-dose rhEpo treatment in very preterm infants were identified. Contrary to this, a recent study in PVL of a rat model revealed that using a low dose rhEpo (50-100 U/kg) was effective in the treatment of brain damage induced by hypoxia-ischemia and did not affect normal oligodendrocyte maturity. On this basis, the researchers intent to investigate (1) whether low-dose rhEpo (100 U/kg) or high-dose rhEpo (3,000 U/kg) given to very preterm infants (gestation age < 32 weeks) immediately after birth and subsequently during the first 2 days is safe and possesses neuroprotective properties;(2) whether there are gender differences in response to the hypoxia-ischemic insult and EPO treatment; (3)the pharmacokinetics of low dose and high dose rhEPO.

Acute birth asphyxia is a cause of death and neurological injury. At present, there is no proven treatment; however, studies in animals suggest that brain cooling may protect against brain injury. This large multicenter trial will randomize term infants with a history of problems at delivery and signs of depression to total body cooling or standard care.

Study is to determine if a weekly dose of 17P (Progesterone) given to women with preterm rupture of the membranes will: increase the probability of continuing the pregnancy until a favorable gestational age.Increase the interval between randomization and delivery. Decrease neonatal morbidity.

Hundreds of babies in the world are being treated with brain cooling to prevent brain injury after they lose oxygen at birth. This study will use the newly developed information from the magnet resonance image to determine the actual temperature of the brain. This will enable researchers to determine if the brain is being uniformly cooled and if techniques that provide cooling need to be changed to improve the injury prevention from cooling

The Pittsburgh NMR Center, jointly sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh is funded as a Biomedical Technology Research Center by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and the National Institutes of Health

The Mellon College of Science is home to four departments and many programs and research centers that cross disciplines.

Preventing Seizure Progression - Carnegie Mellow University researchers have identified a new anticonvulsant compount that has the potential to stop the development of epilepsy. Findings are published in the journal Epilepsia.