Diagnostic Ultrasound for Focal Neuropathies

项目摘要：候选人，迈克尔S。卡特赖特，医学博士是一个初级神经学家与经验 在临床和研究环境中使用神经肌肉超声。2008年6月，他完成了临床 MDA的研究培训补助金，在此期间，他接受了流行病学，研究设计， 和生物统计学方法。这将为他的临床研究提供坚实的基础，但要发展 作为一名翻译研究员，他需要接受医学成像基础科学的培训， 以病人为导向的纵向研究。在颁奖期间，卡特赖特博士将由两名 在医学影像方面具有互补经验的个人。弗朗西斯步行者博士是一位国际专家 Peter Santago博士是一位生物医学工程师，在神经肌肉超声方面具有专业知识。 医学影像学此外，Cartwright博士将参加医学成像研究生课程， 弗吉尼亚理工大学维克森林生物医学工程学院该研究计划旨在强调 神经肌肉超声在诊断评估局灶性脑梗死患者中的重要性 神经病变，并为Cartwright博士提供组织和进行临床试验的经验。的 研究的第一部分将证明神经肌肉超声的有效性和可靠性。的 第二部分是一项双盲随机临床试验，以评估诊断的有效性。 超声对150名局灶性神经病变患者的功能结局的影响。驱动这一假设的是 研究的第二部分是通过以下组合诊断患有局灶性神经病的个体： 电诊断研究和超声将有一个更精细和准确的诊断，将被称为 适当的治疗更频繁，因此，与那些 仅用传统的电诊断研究进行评价。 相关性（参见说明）： 在美国，局灶性神经病每年影响超过30万人， 每年超过5亿美元。在这个职业发展奖，卡特赖特博士将获得 将先进的神经肌肉成像技术从 发展阶段进入病人护理领域，研究计划将测试诊断超声是否 可以改善患有局灶性神经病的个体的功能结果。

PROJECT SUMMARY: The candidate, Michael S. Cartwright, MD is a junior neurologist with experience using neuromuscular ultrasound in clinical and research settings. In June 2008 he completed a Clinical Research Training Grant from the MDA, during which he received training in epidemiology, research design, and biostatistical methods. This will provide him with a solid foundation for clinical research, but to develop as a translational researcher he requires training in the basic science of medical imaging and experience with longitudinal patient-oriented studies. During the award period, Dr. Cartwright will be mentored by two individuals with complementary experience in medical imaging. Dr. Francis Walker is an international expert in neuromuscular ultrasound, and Dr. Peter Santago is a biomedical engineer with expertise in the basic science of medical imaging. In addition, Dr. Cartwright will take medical imaging graduate level courses at the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering. The research plan is designed to highlight the importance of neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnostic evaluation of individuals with focal neuropathies and to provide Dr. Cartwright with experience organizing and conducting a clinical trial. The first component of the study will demonstrate the validity and reliability of neuromuscular ultrasound. The second component is a double-masked randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of diagnostic ultrasound on the functional outcomes of 150 individuals with focal neuropathies. The hypothesis driving the second component of the study is that individuals diagnosed with a focal neuropathy by a combination of electrodiagnostic studies and ultrasound will have a more refined and accurate diagnosis, will be referred for appropriate treatment more often, and will, therefore, have better functional outcomes compared to those evaluated with traditional electrodiagnostic studies alone. RELEVANCE (See instructions): Focal neuropathies affect more than 300,000 individuals each year in the United States and medical costs exceed $500 million annually. During this career development award, Dr. Cartwright will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to bring sophisticated neuromuscular imaging technologies from the developmental stage into the realm of patient care, and the research plan will test if diagnostic ultrasound can lead to improved functional outcomes in individuals with focal neuropathies.