Medical University Of South Carolina

This study tested the safety and effectiveness of combining two immunotherapy drugs, nivolumab and ALT-803, for adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that had worsened after prior treatment. The goal was to see if the combination could help control the cancer. The trial…

This study tested whether a medication called GET73 could help reduce alcohol drinking in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers gave 79 non-treatment-seeking participants either GET73 or a placebo pill for 8 days and measured their drinking behavior, brain chemistry, and …

This study tested if adding a gentle, barely noticeable vibration to the wrist during hand exercises helps people recover hand function after a stroke better than exercises alone. It involved 61 adults who had a stroke at least six months earlier. The goal was to see if this comb…

This study tested whether offering prizes to parents or caregivers could get them more involved in their teenager's drug court program and treatment. Researchers wanted to see if this increased involvement would help reduce the teens' substance use and delinquent behavior. The st…

This study tested whether higher doses of nicotine patches and lozenges help people quit both cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Researchers worked with 46 adults in South Carolina who regularly used both products and wanted to quit. They compared three different dose levels to see whi…

This study tested whether stem cells from umbilical cords could help adults with severe lupus that doesn't respond well to standard treatments. Researchers compared patients who received a single stem cell infusion plus standard care against those who received a placebo infusion …

This study tested if starting a chemotherapy drug (docetaxel) before a hormone-blocking therapy (degarelix) works better for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread. Both drugs are already approved, but they are usually given in the opposite order. The trial enro…

This study tested whether timing magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) to match a person's natural brain rhythms works better for depression than standard TMS. Researchers compared two groups: one received TMS timed to their brain's alpha wave rhythm, while the other received standard…

This study tested a new approach to help cancer patients quit smoking before their surgery. Half of the 282 participants received this novel treatment, while all received standard support including counseling and nicotine patches. The goal was to see if the extra help improved qu…

This study tested whether combining a non-invasive brain stimulation technique (theta burst stimulation) with a medication called N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could help people with cocaine use disorder. The goal was to see if this combo could reduce cravings and change how the brain r…

This study aimed to understand if a person's gender or sex hormones, like progesterone, influence their ability to stop or reduce cannabis use. 224 adults with cannabis addiction joined an 8-week counseling program and tracked their use. Researchers collected daily saliva samples…

This study tested a portable device called BabyStrong that delivers gentle nerve stimulation through the skin in front of the ear during bottle feeding. The goal was to help infants in the NICU who struggle with feeding learn to take all their nutrition by mouth, potentially avoi…

This study tested whether giving the immunotherapy drug nivolumab before surgery could help shrink tumors in patients with advanced oral cavity cancer. Seventeen patients received the drug prior to their scheduled surgery, and researchers measured how much the tumors shrank and l…

This study tested if mailing free samples of quit-smoking medications directly to people helps them stop or cut down on smoking. Over 650 daily smokers were randomly chosen to receive either a sample of varenicline (Chantix), nicotine patches and lozenges, or no sample at all. Re…

This study tested a new, thinner version of a bronchoscope to see if it could clearly view lung nodules during a standard procedure. It involved 51 adults who needed a bronchoscopy to examine a specific lung nodule. The main goal was to check if the thinner scope could successful…

This study tested whether a newer drug called maribavir works as well as the standard drug valganciclovir at preventing CMV infections in high-risk kidney transplant patients. Researchers specifically wanted to see if maribavir causes fewer serious side effects, like low white bl…

This study tested whether a time-restricted eating schedule could lower certain blood markers linked to breast cancer risk. It involved 29 postmenopausal women with pre-diabetes who were randomly assigned to eat all their food within an 8-hour window each day or to follow their n…

This study tested whether a brief task completed on a smartphone could help young women who have experienced sexual assault reduce their alcohol use and risky sexual behavior. Researchers compared a special smartphone task designed to change automatic reactions to alcohol and con…

This study tested two versions of a school-wide program designed to reduce aggressive behavior in middle school students. The program aimed to prevent violence by specifically addressing racial and ethnic discrimination from both teachers and peers. Researchers tracked changes in…

This study tested special safety kits designed to help prevent children with autism from wandering or dashing away from safe places. Caregivers of 65 children tried the kits and reported how useful the items were over 3 months, and whether the kits helped reduce their stress. The…

This small pilot study tested whether a smartphone app could help breast cancer survivors learn yogic breathing exercises in group video sessions. Researchers wanted to see if using the app for 12 weeks would help participants stick with the practice and manage common post-treatm…

This study aimed to find the most effective amount of speech therapy for people struggling to speak after a stroke, a condition called non-fluent aphasia. Researchers tested a therapy called Speech Entrainment, which helps people speak more fluently by having them talk along with…

This study compared two types of anesthesia for patients getting a minimally invasive heart valve replacement (TAVR). Researchers wanted to see if using lighter 'monitored' anesthesia instead of full 'general' anesthesia would help patients leave the hospital faster and avoid the…

This study tested whether a patient navigator program could help minority patients with lupus get better care. The navigators helped with scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, understanding medications, and providing emotional support. Researchers wanted to see if th…

This study tested a new type of balance training for people who have had a stroke. Researchers wanted to see if practicing how to recover from pushes and pulls while walking on a treadmill could help prevent real-world falls. They enrolled 86 stroke survivors who had a history of…

This study tested whether a short, 10-session version of a proven parent training therapy, delivered by video call, could help reduce disruptive behaviors in young children with autism. Eighty families were randomly assigned to receive either this special telehealth program or th…

This small pilot study tested a video-based program designed to help cancer patients quit smoking. Researchers wanted to see if patients found the videos helpful and easy to use, and if they increased knowledge about quitting. The goal was to gather information before launching a…

This study tested if injections to block a nerve in the neck could reduce chronic cough. Seventeen adults with a cough thought to be caused by an overactive nerve were randomly assigned to receive either the real nerve-block injections or placebo saline injections. Researchers tr…

This study tested a program called 'Be Well Care Well' designed to reduce stress and burnout in childcare teachers. It involved 244 teachers from early childhood education centers who participated in workshops and activities. The main goal was to see if the program could lower te…

This study tested if a short, intense course of non-invasive brain stimulation could improve mental performance and help people bounce back from stress. Thirty-eight healthy adults received up to ten magnetic stimulation treatments per day for five days. Researchers measured chan…

This small, completed pilot study explored whether gentle yoga and breathing exercises could help people with scleroderma manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Thirty participants learned the exercises and practiced them at home twice daily for 12 weeks while r…

This study tested a handheld device called SinuSonic for people with Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), which causes ear pressure, clogging, and sometimes facial pain. Thirty adults with long-term ETD symptoms used the device at home twice a day for six weeks. Researchers measure…

This study tested whether a small, at-home device that gently stimulates nerves in the ear could improve common symptoms of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). Twenty-five participants with hEDS used the device at home for two weeks, with some receiving a fake version to c…

This study tested a new mobile app called CAARE, designed to help children and their parents cope with the emotional stress that often follows a serious injury. It involved 54 families where a child under 12 was hospitalized for an injury. The goal was to see if using the app cou…

This study tested whether a single steroid pill given on the third day after a child's tonsillectomy surgery could reduce pain and decrease the need for strong opioid painkillers. It involved 163 children aged 3 to 12 who had their tonsils removed. Researchers compared children w…

This small study explored whether listening to personally meaningful music could improve alertness and brain function in people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. Ten participants listened to short, emotionally significant songs and nature sounds while researchers measu…

This study tested whether a stress management program could help African American lupus patients feel less stressed and improve their quality of life. Researchers worked with 30 participants to see if learning stress-reduction techniques could lower their perceived stress and cha…

This small study explored whether a gentle, at-home ear stimulation treatment could help manage symptoms in teens with autism. Researchers used MRI brain scans to look for changes in brain activity before and after a month of treatment. The main goal was to find brain scan patter…

This study aimed to understand how a specific type of brain-to-muscle training changes the nervous system in people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers worked with 21 participants who had stable injuries to see if repeated training sessions could strengthen weakened connection…

This study aimed to understand how the medication dupilumab helps people with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps regain their sense of smell. Researchers followed 60 adults already scheduled to take dupilumab, measuring inflammation and smell ability over three months. The goal w…

This study aimed to understand the link between how the brain learns new physical skills and how it recovers movement after a stroke. Researchers used MRI brain scans to compare brain activity in 40 volunteers, some with and some without stroke-related movement difficulties, whil…

This study aimed to understand if vaping causes early lung changes in teens and if seeing those changes on an ultrasound could help them quit. Researchers performed lung ultrasounds on 90 adolescents who vape and asked them questions about their habits. The goal was to gather new…

This study aimed to understand how stress affects the health behaviors of African American breast cancer survivors. Researchers measured stress responses in 110 women and looked at how those responses related to their diet, exercise, and treatment follow-through. The goal was to …