Clinical research

The long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection have recently been described as a new clinical entity (post-COVID-19 status) by the World Health Organization. Diagnostic criteria include persistence of symptoms three months after infection, for at least two months and not clinically attributable to another underlying cause.

Recent observations suggest that neurological and neuropsychological symptoms play a major role in the chronicization of the post-COVID-19 status. These same cognitive impairments, observed 6 to 12 months after infection, have been repeatedly associated with immune markers observed during the acute phase of the disease.

The aim of this study is to follow the evolution of neurological and neuropsychological sequelae of patients who have had a COVID-19 infection, according to the severity of their symptoms during the acute phase of the infection, and relevant socio-demographic variables.

• BASEC No. 2020-02186
• Sponsor: Pr Frédéric Assal, head of General and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva & University Hospitals of Geneva
• Principal investigator:
  • Pre Julie Anne Peron, Associate Professor in Clinical Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPSE), University of Geneva & University Hospitals of Geneva
  • Pr Frédéric Assal, Pr Frédéric Assal, head of General and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva & University Hospitals of Geneva

With symptomatic subdural haematomas, surgical evacuation of the haematoma is performed in order to avoid severe after-effects and enable the best possible neurological recovery. However, recurrence of these haematomas is often observed.

Recent studies suggest that embolization of the middle meningeal artery (the artery that stimulates this bleeding), in addition to surgical evacuation of the haematoma, would limit the recurrence of the haematoma.

The STORMM project aims to study whether the effectiveness of embolization of the middle meningeal artery in the recurrence of subdural haematomas is good, equivalent or superior to conventional radio-clinical follow-up.

• Application in progress
• Sponsor: Prof. Karl Schaller, Head of Division, Division of Neurosurgery and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences
• Principal investigator: Dr Aria Nouri, Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (SSICH) is the second most common form of stroke and accounts for approximately 2,500 cases per year in Switzerland. The prognosis is poor, with nearly half of patients dying within a year of the hemorrhage.

Current treatment options are either drug therapy aimed at reducing blood pressure or surgical evacuation of the hematoma. Neither type of treatment has shown a significant impact on survival rates or disability.

The aim of this study is to compare conventional treatments with a known surgical method, minimally invasive endoscopy

• BASEC No. 2022-02216
• Sponsor: University Hospital Basel
• Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Med. Jehuda Soleman, Senior Neurosurgeon, head of Clinical Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel
• Investigator at HUG : Prof. Philippe Bijlenga, Senior Staff Physician, Departement of Neurosurgery
• Linl to the study EMINENT-ICH
   

The Vestibulo-cochlear Schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors derived from Schwann cells, occurring in the vestibular and cochlear parts of the eighth cranial nerve. 
The use of ionizing radiation (gamma or X rays) is an effective treatment to control tumor evolution. However, ionizing radiation can have side effects such as hearing loss, due to the close proximity between the tumor and the inner ear, disequilibrium, taste loss and facial nerve dysfunction.

The aim of the Radionox study is to assess the side effects of ionizing radiation in the inner ear and to identify the profile of people at high risk for these side effects.

• BASEC No. 2022-01257
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof Pascal Senn, Head of Division, Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery
• Link to the Radionox Study

Cerebral aneurysms are abnormalities in the blood vessels supplying our brain. Aneurysms are diagnosed by X-ray, CT scan, angiography or MRI. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, treatment of the aneurysm is essential for the patient to survive.

The @neurIST project aims to determine the causes and development of cerebral aneurysms in order to improve their treatment.

• BASEC No. 2022-00426
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof. Philippe Bijlenga, Senior Staff Physician, Department of Neurosurgery
• aneurist.org
• SwissNeuroFoundation

The Gemini Project is a multidisciplinary European project aiming to create multi-scale digital twins of people who have suffered an ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, in order to optimize their care.

Oxytocin, in addition to its effect on women during childbirth and breastfeeding, seems to have less known effects including effects on behavior (including confidence), hydro-electrolyte balance (salt), and metabolism (fats).

In this study, we wish to test the hypothesis of a release of oxytocin after pituitary surgery and, if it occurs, try to evaluate the effects of this release on confidence, salt balance and fat metabolism.

•    BASEC No. 2021-01193
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Pr Shahan Momjian, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Neurosurgery, and Pre Sophie de Seigneux, Head of Division, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension

Degenerative disorders of the cervical spine are common causes of myelopathy, especially in patients over 40 years of age.

The purpose of this study is to monitor regularly and with standardized means all patients operated on for cervical myelopathy in the Neurosurgery Department of HUG in order to better understand, diagnose and treat the disease, and to identify patients respond best to surgical treatment.

•    BASEC No. 2018-00122
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Prof. Enrico Tessitore, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Neurosurgery

EUROSPIN is an observational study taking place in several European hospitals in Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The purpose of this study is to compare, in patients requiring fixation of the spine with pedicle screws, three different techniques to assist with screw insertion: 1) traditional surgery to fix pedicle screws using x-ray control, 2) navigated surgery using a camera and a frame of reference attached to the patient, and 3) robot-assisted surgery.

•    BASEC No. 2019-00901
•    Sponsor: Bergman Clinics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
•    Principal investigator: Pr Enrico Tessitore, Senior staff physician, et Dr Granit Molliqaj, Senior resident, Division of Neurosurgery
 

In the presence of a smell disorder, tests are carried out to measure olfactory function and make a diagnosis. However, the results of these tests can be improved, because they are influenced by the individual experience of smells and the genetic code of each person.

The Rhinology and Olfactology Unit seeks to determine the reliability of SMELL-RS, a new universal olfactory test.

• BASEC No. 2020-02581
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof Basil Landis, Senior Staff Physician, Head of the Rhinology and Olfactology unit, Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery
• Link to the SMELL-RS study

The gut microbiota is defined as the community of microorganisms colonizing the human intestinal tract. It has been suggested that the gut microbiota could be involved in Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology but no definite relationship has been demonstrated.Probiotics consumption (commensal bacteria of the intestinal
flora) has become common, especially in digestive disorders. Several clinical studies have shown that the use of certain probiotics can have positive effects on memory. 

The aim of our project is to precisely identify the effects linked to probiotics consumption on different biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease.

• BASEC No. 2022-01052
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof Giovanni B. Frisoni, Senior Staff Physician, Head of the Memory Center

Swiss hospitals specializing in ophthalmology, ophthalmologists and general practitioners work together to improve patient care. The Swiss Ophthalmic Imaging Network (SOIN) aims to develop platforms for a better exchange of patient data between doctors and researchers to improve research on occular diseases.

The primary objective of our project is to determine the reproducibility of non-invasive retinal scans (called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A)) to characterize the neuronal and vascular layers of the retina and regions around the optic nerve in healthy volunteers. Such technics would help to detect ocular neurodegenerative and vascular changes at an early stage in patients affected by diabetic retinopathy
and glaucoma.

• BASEC No. 2022-01992
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigators : Dr Eline de Clerck, Senior Resident,  Prof Gabriele Thumann, Head of Division, Department of Ophthalmology and Experimental Ophthalmology Research Group, Dr Martina Kropp, Senior researcher

Xerostomia, also called dry syndrome, is a common problem in the population.
Xerostomia, which is a subjective complaint of the patient, is assessed by a questionnaire. Hyposalivation, which is the objective measure of xerostomia, is assessed using a quantitative measurement of saliva called sialometry.
Saliva plays many functions including digestion but also oral cavity protection. Healthy subjects produce 500 to 1500 mL of saliva per day and this production varies during the day. The quantity and the quality of the saliva can be altered by many environmental factors such as drugs, hormonal factors but also by pathologies affecting the salivary glands.

Our research aims to standardize methods of diagnosis and post-therapeutic follow-up of patients with oral dryness and/or salivary disorders. We first assess the "normal" production of saliva in healthy subjects during the day.
 

• BASEC No 2019-00253
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Pr. Francis Marchal, Consultation des affections salivaires, Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery

Nearly half of hospitalized patients suffer from pain. There is considerable evidence that non-pharmacological adjunct techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques, can reduce pain perception.

Virtual reality is an exciting new technology that offers multiple possibilities for use in the hospital. It allows a complete immersion in a distant virtual place and a total escape, without physical displacement. Its positive effects have been studied since the 90s in pain and anxiety management, neuro-rehabilitation and psychotherapy.

In our study, we want to use virtual reality during the period of sedation induced by anesthesiologists in the preoperative period to measure the beneficial effect on stress, and on the intraoperative and postoperative parameters that follow. By improving the patient's environment at the time of sedation we hope to decrease the effect of the impact of stress and pain on surgery and its complications.

•    BASEC No. 2020-00962
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Prof. Karl Schaller, Head of Division, and Dre Insa Janssen, Senior Resident, Division of Neurosurgery