Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Adjustment disorders (AjDs) are common mental health diagnoses in the US military that occur after exposure to stressors, causing difficulty adapting and impairing daily functioning. Diagnosing AjDs is challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other mental health disorders and unclear diagnostic criteria. This research aims to validate a military-adapted diagnostic tool, the Adjustment Disorder New Module 20 for Military (ADNM-20-Mil), and pilot test the audio-visual stimulation device SANA to support treatment for AjD. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care or standard care plus the SANA device. SANA is an eye mask that uses coordinated pulses of light and sound to promote relaxation through neuromodulation. Those in the SANA group will use the device twice daily for 22 minutes over 28 days. All participants will also wear the Emaptica device for 22 hours a day during this period. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, immediately after device use (28 days), and at 3 and 6 months post-baseline. Throughout the study, participants will complete various assessments including the ADNM-20-Mil, PTSD scales, and adjustment disorder diagnosis evaluations at four time points. Researchers will monitor symptom changes and the device's feasibility and effects. The total study participation lasts six months, with close follow-ups to track mental health outcomes and safety.

The goal of this trial is to determine the efficacy of advanced cognitive training for cancer survivors suffering from cancer- and cancer-treatment-related cognitive dysfunction. For millions of cancer survivors, cognitive dysfunction is a prevalent, severe, and persistent problem that has long been associated with poor work-related and health-related outcomes. Evidence suggests that a significant subset of breast cancer survivors (BCS) incur cognitive changes that may persist for years after treatment. Unfortunately, the scientific basis for managing these cognitive changes is extremely limited. Available evidence from pilot studies, including our work, suggests that advanced cognitive training, which is based on the principles of neuroplasticity (ability of brain neurons to re-organize and form new neural networks), may be a viable treatment option. However, previous trials to date have been limited by lack of attention-controlled designs, small samples of BCS, or limited outcome measures. Therefore, to overcome limitations of past studies and build on our pilot results, the purpose of this 2-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial is to conduct a full-scale efficacy trial to compare advanced cognitive training to attention control in BCS.

Researchers are evaluating surgical and minimally invasive treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) by comparing Medicare patients who received the MILD procedure against those who had interspinous process decompression (IPD). The study focuses on outcomes such as the rate of harms related to the initial procedure and the frequency of additional surgical or minimally invasive interventions within 24 months after treatment. Enrollment includes patients treated from January 1, 2017, onward, with continuation until the sponsor decides to stop. The MILD procedure involves percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression, performed under fluoroscopy through a dorsal approach to partially remove tissue and bone at the affected spinal level. The control group receives the IPD procedure for LSS. Both groups are monitored for a 24-month period post-index procedure using Medicare claims data to track reoperations and any harms. Participants contribute data through Medicare claims without needing prior enrollment or consent, as the study is exempt from IRB oversight. Researchers collect and analyze information on procedure-related harms and subsequent interventions over two years. This approach allows evaluation of long-term safety and effectiveness outcomes for patients treated with either MILD or IPD.

Researchers are evaluating whether starting treatment early with venetoclax and obinutuzumab improves overall survival compared to delayed treatment in patients newly diagnosed with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). This phase III trial focuses on patients who have asymptomatic disease but high-risk factors such as a high CLL-International Prognostic Index score or complex cytogenetics. Venetoclax is a drug that blocks a protein needed for cancer cell survival, while obinutuzumab is an immunotherapy that may help the immune system attack cancer cells and prevent tumor growth. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: early treatment or delayed treatment. Both groups receive obinutuzumab intravenously on specific days in cycles and venetoclax orally daily during treatment cycles, with each cycle lasting 28 days for up to 12 cycles unless the disease progresses or unacceptable side effects occur. The early treatment group starts therapy as soon as they meet eligibility, while the delayed group begins once standard criteria for active treatment are met. Throughout the study, participants undergo procedures including CT scans, blood sample collection, and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. During the study, participants are monitored closely through various tests and questionnaires to assess overall survival, quality of life using the FACT-Leukemia scale, response to treatment, and disease progression. The trial also studies measurable residual disease and various biomarkers to understand treatment impact. After treatment, participants are followed for up to 10 years to observe long-term outcomes and safety.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding pembrolizumab, a type of immunotherapy, to usual chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with stage IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer that has been removed by surgery. Pembrolizumab may help the immune system attack cancer cells and prevent tumor growth. Chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin, pemetrexed, carboplatin, gemcitabine hydrochloride, and paclitaxel work by stopping tumor cells from growing and spreading. This phase III trial compares disease-free survival between different treatment approaches involving pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. In Arm B, patients receive four cycles of chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab given intravenously every 21 days for up to 17 cycles or every 6 weeks for 16 cycles. In Arm C, patients receive chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab during the initial four cycles, followed by pembrolizumab alone for up to 13 cycles every 21 days or 12 cycles every 6 weeks. Chemotherapy regimens include various platinum doublets chosen by the treating physician. Arm A was closed as of February 2022. Patients may also undergo tests such as echocardiograms, MRIs, CT scans, and blood sample collections during the trial. Throughout the study, participants are monitored with regular assessments including imaging and blood tests. Follow-up visits occur 6 weeks after treatment, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for years 2-4, and annually up to 10 years after randomization. Researchers measure disease-free survival, overall survival, adverse events, drug discontinuation rates, and patient quality of life using questionnaires. The study also explores outcomes based on tumor markers like PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden.