Volume 16, Number 1
THERAPY'S ROAD
Surveying the Latest Neuro-Related Trials
ADHD
Martha Denckla, M.D., and Kennedy Krieger colleagues are recruiting children age 9 to 11 for a study on female differences in ADHD. They'd like children of both genders who've been diagnosed with ADHD and, as controls, those without the disorder. Participants receive $50 for two days of computer and paper-based testing and an MRI scan.
Call Deana Crocetti at 443-923- 9254.
Alzheimer's Disease
Can the anti-inflammatory drugs Aleve or Celebrex prevent AD? An ongoing study led by Constantine Lyketsos, M.D., is recruiting fairly healthy, cognitively unimpaired subjects age 70 and older who have an immediate blood-relation (parent, brother or sister) with memory problems of any sort. The trial is placebo-controlled. Participants visit Hopkins twice yearly for cognitive tests and a blood sample.
Call Julia Pedroso, R.N., at 410-955-1535.
Brain Tumors
The NIH-funded New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy (NABTT) CNS Consortium has multiple clinical trials for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent high grade astrocytomas and primary CNS lymphomas. See www.nabtt.org. A new trial for patients with newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma uses high dose methotrexate and thiotepa without intrathecal therapy or radiation.
Call Stuart Grossman, M.D., at 955-8837 or e-mail grossman@jhmi.edu
Epilepsy
The Early Randomized Surgical Epilepsy Trial compares standard medical therapy and early surgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy to determine whether early surgery can improve patients' neurological and social outcome. Surgical and other expenses for both treatment groups will be paid by the NIH. Subjects must be older than 12 and have at least six seizure days per year for less than two years after onset.
Call Gregory Krauss, M.D., 410-955-2822.
Infectious Disease
In at least half of the patients who receive acyclovir therapy for herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) and survive the disease, brain function doesn't return to normal. Now a new study looks into efficacy of valacyclovir, as contrasted with placebo, for HSE. Patients who've been on acyclovir therapy may enroll in the five-year trial, which periodically evaluates medical and physical health as well as neuropsychological performance and quality of life.
Page Daniel F. Hanley, M.D., or Susan Rice, R.N., M.P.H. at 410-283-8342.
Hydrocephalus
Hopkins' Adult Hydrocephalus Program is offering two new trials. The first uses a variety of noninvasive tests to assess changes in arm and leg motor function after controlled CSF drainage and after shunt insertion. The second-designed to shed light on white matter integrity as well as verify its clinical observation-uses diffusion tensor imaging to examine changes in brain structure and function before and after controlled CSF drainage. Patients older than 50 with clinical and radiological confirmation of normal pressure hydrocephalus, as well as normal control subjects may enroll.
Call George Thomas, M.D. at 410-955-7482.
Memory
Patients age 18 to 50 who have memory problems associated with a closed head injury may be eligible for a 12-week, placebo-controlled trial of an investigational drug, followed by an open- label extension. The injury must have occurred at least 12 months prior to participating. All evaluations including MRI, ECG and blood tests are free. Applicants must not be taking memory- enhancing drugs.
Call JHU's memory clinic at 410-955-8531.
Pain
Neurologist Ursula Wesselmann, M.D., is recruiting women diagnosed with vulvodynia or interstitial cystitis for NIH-sponsored studies that require one visit to Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Parkinson's Disease
NIH and NINDS are funding a trial of minocycline and creatine to see if they'll slow the advance of Parkinson's disease. Minocycline is an antibiotic and creatine a dietary supplement. The Hopkins arm of the 18-month study will enroll patients with early, untreated PD.
Contact Becky Dunlop, R.N., at 410-955-8795.
Psychiatry/Psychology
An NIMH-sponsored study on treating childhood anxiety disorders seeks children and adolescents with separation anxiety disorder, social phobia and/or generalized anxiety disorder. Subjects will be randomly assigned to a group receiving sertraline, cognitive behavioral therapy, a combination of the two or a placebo. Children age 7 to 16 may apply for the 12-week study, and those responding well have an option to continue for six months. There's compensation for parking and assessment visits.
Call John Walkup, M.D., at 410-614-4460.
A second study under Hopkins' Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division compares three medications for children and adolescents, age 6 to 15, with bipolar disorder. Subjects receive lithium, Depakote or Resperdal for eight or 16 weeks, depending on past medication and response.
Call Maureen Masarik at 410-955-8391.
KKI's Mark Mahone, Ph.D., is conducting a study on a new computerized measure of attention in preschool children. His team is looking for children age 3 to 6 with either a history of high activity level or a history of mild hearing loss associated with ear infections. Participation takes about a half-hour and involves a hearing evaluation, assessment of attention, language and motor skills, and parent ratings of behavior.
Call Jennifer Hoffman at 443-923-4466.
Spina Bifida
KKI's Center for Spina Bifida and Related Conditions is recruiting children with myelomeningocele for a study of factors that affect gait, mobility and quality of life. Participants' age may range from 5 to 16. They'll be evaluated by a physical therapist and fill out questionnaires.
Call Jonna DeBenedictis, R.N., at 443-923-9130.