Clinical trials

This study is an intervention domain of the Musculoskeletal Adaptive Platform Trial. The primary goal of this pragmatic, randomized, open-label, comparative effectiveness trial is to evaluate if arthroplasty is superior to internal fixation when used to treat minimally displaced femoral neck fractures in older adults ≥60 years old. We hypothesize that arthroplasty will reduce death, preserve ambulation, increase days alive and out of hospital, and improve health status compared to internal fixation within 4 months and 12 months from randomization.

This phase I trial studies the side effects of adding anakinra and tocilizumab to standard treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab and to see how well it works in treating melanoma patients who are 50 years of age or older. Anakinra and tocilizumab are used to decrease the body's immune response and lower side effects. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Researchers think that anakinra and tocilizumab may reduce the side effects experienced from standard treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab while also preserving their anti-cancer effects. Adding anakinra and tocilizumab to standard treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab may be safe, tolerable, and/or effective in treating melanoma patients who are 50 years of age or older.

This clinical trial tests the effect of multiple therapies (propranolol, desloratadine, and magnesium and vitamin D supplements) added to primary standard of care immunotherapy (adjunct), as well as adjusting the timing of standard immunotherapy to a morning infusion, in treating patients with melanoma that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or that has spread from where it first started to other places in the body (metastatic) or hepatocellular cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Propranolol is a medication used for high blood pressure. Desloratadine is a type of drug that blocks the action of histamines, which can cause fever, itching, sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes. Immunotherapy has been approved for multiple kinds of advanced cancers, including melanoma, kidney cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular (liver) cancer. Research suggests that giving propranolol and desloratadine, along with ensuring adequate levels of magnesium and vitamin D, as well as administering immunotherapy infusions in the morning may shrink or stop the spread of advanced cancers better than immunotherapy alone.

This study will attempt to identify social facilitators and barriers to detection and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in order to learn how a history of substance abuse or alcohol use impacts care for non-small cell lung cancer.

Social media apps are designed to make opening and continuing to use them easy, which may contribute to habitual or unwanted use. This study will test whether adding a brief pause before opening a selected social media app can help young adults reduce the time they spend using the app. It will also examine whether the intervention improves digital well-being. Participants ages 18 to 24 who regularly use social media will be randomly assigned either to use a smartphone tool that adds a brief pause before opening a social media app they would like to use less or to continue using social media as usual for approximately two weeks. Participants will visit the laboratory before and after the two-week study period. At each visit, they will complete a survey measuring digital well-being and tasks measuring attention, memory, and self-control. They will also use their smartphones while their brain activity is measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a noninvasive method that uses light sensors worn on the head. During the two-week period, participants will complete brief daily smartphone surveys, and study applications will collect information about their screen time and app use. Researchers will compare the two groups to determine whether the brief pause reduces time spent using the selected social media app and improves digital well-being. Behavioral and neural measures will be examined on an exploratory basis to better understand how participants respond to the intervention.

This study examines information from patients with prostate cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). By collecting biological samples (like blood, urine, and tissue), and health information (such as treatment, diet, and quality of life) researchers hope to learn more about prostate cancer and ways to improve outcomes in the future.

This is a Phase 2 prospective, randomized, controlled, double-arm study to assess personalized self-management training (PSMT) intervention efficacy and patient experiences compared to standardized self-management training (SSMT). A total of 120 gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients will be enrolled and randomized 1:1 to complete a 6-week self-management training program (either PSMT or SSMT) to be carried out by licensed occupational therapists with doctoral training. This study aims to examine whether PSMT is more effective in increasing adherence to healthy behavior recommendations compared to SSMT in GI cancer patients.

This clinical trial studies how well a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based machine learning approach (i.e., artificial intelligence \[AI\]) works as compared to radiologist MRI readings in detecting prostate cancer. One of the current methods used to help diagnose possible prostate cancer is performing a prostate MRI. An MRI uses a magnetic field to take pictures of the body. The MRI images are examined by a radiologist. If a suspicious area is seen in the MRI, the radiologist assigns it a PIRADS score. This stands for Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System. The PIRADS score is used to report how likely it is that a suspicious area in the prostate is cancer. The AI system has been developed also to be able to analyze prostate MRI images and detect suspicious areas in the prostate that may be cancer. The AI system's ability to diagnose aggressive prostate cancer may be similar to detection performed by experienced radiologists using the standard PIRADS system of analyzing prostate MRI.

This study evaluates the accuracy of blood-based biomarker testing to predict the presence of active testicular cancer.

Many caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias-especially those in immigrant communities who don't speak English well-don't get access to helpful, proven support programs. To address this, the investigative team adapted an existing caregiver support program (called the Savvy Caregiver Program) to better fit target group's culture and language. This new version, called K-Savvy, is a 6-week online program taught in Korean. In an earlier small study, K-Savvy worked well: caregivers found it helpful, were willing to use it, and showed fewer symptoms of depression. Now, the investigative team wants to study it more carefully to see how well it really works and why. The study has two main goals: Goal 1: The investigative team will measure whether K-Savvy improves caregivers' well-being-specifically whether it reduces stress and depression and helps them feel more positive about caregiving. The investigative team will also look at why it works, focusing on whether it changes how caregivers think about their situation (for example, feeling less overwhelmed and more confident). Goal 2: The investigative team will talk directly with caregivers and program instructors to understand their experiences with K-Savvy. This will help the investigative team learn what worked well, what didn't, and why.

The SUSTAIN Trial is a randomized control trial that allows for the control of aggressive hydration that is currently used in an inpatient setting, which can result is fluid overload in certain patients. With the impression that changes in stroke volume in individual patient will further improve the outcome.

This study seeks to understand how endometrial cancer patients get medical information about cancer care and their satisfaction with those health-seeking methods. It also assesses patient interest in using an artificial intelligence educational resource.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test psilocybin in combination with mindfulness training in healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is "Does mindfulness training enhance the effects of psychedelic therapy (psilocybin) on mental health?" Interested individuals will complete an initial eligibility session and eligible participants will then be randomized into one of two groups: one dose of psilocybin (administered under the supervision of study therapists) combined with 8 weeks of weekly mindfulness training classes (Arm 1) or psilocybin alone (Arm 2). Both groups will complete baseline and post-treatment assessment sessions where they will complete questionnaires, computerized cognitive tests, and have an EEG (a measure of electrical activity in the brain) and functional MRI of brain if possible. Both groups will also complete 2 follow-up surveys (at \~8 weeks, and 1 year after the post-treatment assessment) either online through REDCap or by phone or video call with a research assistant.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a long Clomid protocol as compared to a 5-day Clomid protocol for ovarian stimulation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilization. The aim of the long Clomid protocol is to intensify stimulation of the ovaries and reduce both cost and injection burden for patients. Participants will be randomized to receive the long Clomid protocol vs. the typical protocol involving Clomid only for 5 days followed by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. The primary outcome the investigators will evaluate will be the number of mature eggs retrieved.

The purpose of this study is to present social media posts with varying combinations of flavor types and mentions of stealth use, to adolescents and determine whether these message characteristics increase adolescents' perceptions of these products and susceptibility to using these products.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether daily oral metformin extended-release (metformin-XR), taken prior to and in early pregnancy, can reduce the risk and severity of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe nausea and vomiting condition in pregnancy, in individuals aged 18-49 who have experienced HG in a previous pregnancy and are trying to conceive. Researchers also aim to better understand which individuals may respond well - or poorly - to metformin based on biological and clinical characteristics. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Is metformin-XR well-tolerated when taken by non-pregnant individuals who have had HG in a previous pregnancy and are currently trying to conceive? 2. How safe and tolerable is metformin-XR when taken at increasing doses over an 8-week titration period and continued through early pregnancy (or for up to 12 months after reaching maintenance dose if pregnancy does not occur)? 3. Among those who become pregnant during the study, does pre-pregnancy metformin-XR use reduce the risk of HG coming back and lower the severity of nausea and vomiting symptoms? 4. How does pre-pregnancy metformin-XR use affect pregnancy outcomes, postpartum health, and newborn health and development? 5. Are there specific genetic, biomarker, demographic, or clinical features that predict whether someone is likely to benefit from metformin-XR or experience side effects that lead them to stop taking it? Researchers will compare a metformin treatment group to a survey-only group (comparator, no study drug) to see if metformin-XR is associated with improved outcomes, including reduced HG recurrence and better maternal and neonatal health indicators. Participants will: Complete online questionnaires before pregnancy, during early pregnancy, and postpartum (Treatment group only) Take daily metformin-XR and attend three brief study visits (Treatment group only) Undergo blood draws at specified timepoints to assess safety and biological response

In pediatric dentistry, our primary goals are to prevent dental caries and, when necessary, provide treatment in a safe and comforting environment that minimizes anxiety for young patients. By familiarizing young patients with the steps involved in common dental procedures, tactile pre-visit imagery booklets can reduce the fear of the unknown. Study Objective/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether tactile pre-visit imagery could reduce dental anxiety and fear in pediatric patients prior to their first restorative procedure. An additional aspect of this study entails assessing the patient's behavior and determining if it improves with the use of a tactile pre-visit imagery booklet.

The proposed study will conduct two randomized between-subject experiments among 6,000 adolescents (per each experiment) recruited nationwide to test the effects of audio-visual features of e-cigarette influencer marketing on perceptions of influencer credibility, e-cigarette harm perceptions, appeal, and susceptibility to e-cigarette use. This protocol represent the first experiment.

This multi-site clinical trial will generate data on the efficacy of tirzepatide for smoking cessation and associated outcomes (e.g., post-cessation weight gain) in treatment-seeking people who smoke (PWS) with overweight or obesity. A sample of 300 treatment-seeking people who smoke with body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or greater will be recruited from four geographic sites (University of Southern California, Yale University, University of Chicago, and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) to participate in a parallel-arm, dose-escalating, placebo-controlled trial. Participants will attend weekly clinic visits to receive subcutaneous tirzepatide or placebo over 16 weeks (Visit Weeks 1-16), followed by follow-up visits at Week 17 and Week 27. Medication will be prescribed according to the standard dose titration schedule for the first 16 weeks of treatment (initial dose: 2.5mg/week; final dose: 10mg/week). All participants will also receive nicotine patches.

Oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) are non-combustible nicotine products that may reduce cigarette craving and smoking cue-induced brain activity, supporting their potential as harm-reduction tools for adults who smoke cigarettes. This within-subject, repeated-measures study will evaluate the acute effects of a single 6 mg oral nicotine pouch on subjective craving and prefrontal neural responses to smoking-related cues using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants will complete assessments before and after nicotine pouch administration following overnight nicotine abstinence to characterize changes in craving and neural cue reactivity.

There has been a recent proliferation of novel oral nicotine products (ONPs) brought to market, including new nicotine gums and pouches. Unlike electronic cigarettes (ECs) ONPs have no impending regulatory barriers with regard to flavoring or nicotine dose, and manufacturers have capitalized on this by introducing an extensive slate of characterizing flavors and nicotine concentrations. Both sales trajectory and the surge in marketing suggest ONP use is likely to increase in the coming years. Work by the investigators and others indicates that interest in these products is high among current EC users, and among specific demographic groups including those who identify as sexual and gender minority (SGM). ONP use is discrete and so can function as a secondary source of nicotine, encouraging dual use patterns and more severe nicotine dependence. Depending on the use patterns of ONPs that emerge, regulation of ONPs may serve the public health interest. However, very little is known about factors relevant to the actual appeal and abuse liability of these products. The investigators propose to address this important gap by assessing the appeal and abuse liability of gum and pouch ONPs as a function of flavor (mint vs fruit) and nicotine concentration (2mg vs. 4mg). Flavor and nicotine strength, along with product type, are regulatable attributes, and so it is essential to understand their impact on appeal and abuse liability. Evidence from EC use suggests a potential interaction between flavor and nicotine strength, with flavorants in the "mint" category desensitizing receptors integral to the aversive sensory experience of nicotine, leading to greater tolerability of high nicotine concentration. Because of current ONP marketing emphasis on youth, the investigators will recruit young adult exclusive EC users (N = 320; ages 21 - 25). The investigators will target recruitment of a sufficient number of SGM participants (N = 64, 20% of sample) to allow assessment of potential differentiation of this group. Participants will complete one virtual session focused on assessment of the sensory appeal of ONPs. Based on individual participant ratings, the preferred fruit and the preferred mint ONP will be selected (from their randomized product type and nicotine strength) to each be assessed in a single-product session examining factors known to predict abuse liability (relief of withdrawal, liking, behavioral economic indices of demand, and follow-up naturalistic product use). The investigators will pay particular attention to evidence suggesting dual use potential of ONPs, given its association with greater severity of nicotine dependence. The proposed work will inform efforts to mitigate ONPs potential to promote dual-use and more severe nicotine dependence among young adult EC users, by isolating the impact of potential regulatory targets.

Background: Sealants are a great tool in the prevention of caries in the pediatric population. It has been shown that up to 71% of occlusal decay is preventable after a single sealant application in a fissure, and thus is the standard of care due to difficulty for pediatric patients in hygiene, diet, and overall home care until manual dexterity increases. Purpose: This prospective randomized case control study aims to look at the longevity of sealants with bonding agent cured prior to sealant placement vs those with uncured bond. The study will be performed by USC graduate pediatric personnel. Methods: A split mouth prospective randomized control study will be performed on pediatric dental patients at Long Beach Memorial's Children's Dental Health Clinic and USC Pediatric Dental Clinic, placing sealants with cured bond on half of a mouth and sealants with uncured bond on the contralateral half. Intraoral photos will be obtained at the initial visit and recalls to evaluate the overall retention/longevity of the sealant placement. The goal of this study is determine which sealant has higher longevity and to provide recommendations for future pediatric dentists regarding sealant procedures.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if hearing devices, like cochlear implants, affect social and cognitive function of older adults. The main questions the researchers want to answer are: * How social are older adults with hearing loss before and after using hearing devices? * How well do older adults with hearing loss think before and after using hearing devices? * For older adults who have hearing loss and use hearing devices, do changes in social interaction explain changes in how well they think (cognitive function)? * Do brainwaves (EEGs) in older adults with hearing loss change after using hearing devices? * Are there differences in how social older adults with hearing loss are compared to older adults without hearing loss? What Participants Will Do: * Participants will take questionnaires for around 60 minutes. Questionnaires will ask participants about their background, health, hearing, and how social they are. Another set of questionnaires will check their thinking ability or cognition. * Participants will wear an audio sensor (TILES Audio Recorder on Jelly Mobile phone) for 2 weeks. The sensor will collect and store information about a participant's voice during conversations. Once the device has information about a participant's voice such as pitch and tone it will store this information and delete the audio recording. Words spoken during conversations will be deleted. * (Optional) Participants can choose to participate in a 45-60-minute EEG (electroencephalogram) recording session. Participants will have sensors placed on top of their heads. Sensors will record the participants' brainwaves. Sounds will be played to see how participants' brainwaves change when they hear sounds. Eligible participants will be invited to participate in 4-month follow-up study.

This research study will test the efficacy of a telehealth version of the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), which is the gold standard prevention and intervention approach to target heavy alcohol use on college campuses across the United States.

The long-term goal of this project is to improve the health and well-being of preterm infants and their parents. Although there is evidence to support positive multisensory interventions in the NICU, these interventions are often applied in an inconsistent manner, reducing their benefit. Through a rigorous and scientific process, we have developed a structured multisensory intervention program, titled Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE), which includes specific doses and targeted timing of evidence-based interventions such as massage, auditory exposure, rocking, holding, and skin-to-skin care. The interventions are based on the infant's developmental stage and are adapted based on the infant's medical status and behavioral cues. The multisensory interventions are designed to be conducted during each day of NICU hospitalization by the parents, who are educated and supported to provide them. The proposed work aims to determine the effect of multisensory interventions on parent mental health, parent-child interaction, brain activity (amplitude integrated electroencephalography), and infant developmental outcomes through age 2 years, with specific attention to language outcome.