Healthy Clinical Trials

The global aim of this study is to investigate how the human microbiome changes from baseline with commonly used topical medications such as topical antifungals, low to mid potency topical steroids and emollients. The specific aims are as follows: Investigate whether ketoconazole cream, a commonly used topical antifungal, causes alterations in the human skin microbiome with short-term use. Investigate whether desonide 0.05 % ointment, a commonly used low potency topical steroid, alters the human microbiome with short-term use. Read Less

For an overview of the study and link TO REGISTER please go to -- https://brainhealth.utdallas.edu/programs/the-brainhealth-project/ The BrainHealth Project is a ten-year, longitudinal study focused on identifying determinants of brain health and performance. Participants will have the opportunity to complete semi-annual (twice a year) online assessments to track their performance over time. In between semi-annual assessments, participants will have access to online trainings and ongoing supplemental content regarding ways to optimize brain health and performance. Online one-on-one coaching sessions will be offered to participants to answer questions and provide support in applying the information to their daily lives. A small portion of participants will be invited to participate in the brain imaging portion of this study. The main objectives are: (i) to characterize lifestyle, cognitive, and behavioral markers related to an individual's cognitive function from adolescent to elderly ages, (ii) to assess the neural/biological determinants predictive of maintenance of brain health, and (iii) to evaluate the impact of available cognitive and lifestyle interventions on improving and maintaining brain health and performance. Read Less

Emerging evidence demonstrates that animals and people can exert control over the level of excitability in spinal and corticospinal neural circuits that contribute to movement. This discovery has important implications, as it represents a new strategy to improve motor control in people of all ability levels, including those with neurological conditions. Operant conditioning is a well-studied mechanism of learning, in which the modification of a behavior can be brought about by the consequence of the behavior, and reinforcement causes behaviors to become more frequent. In recent years, operant conditioning has been applied to spinally-mediated reflex responses in mice, rats, monkeys and people. By electrically stimulating a peripheral nerve, recording the muscle response, and rewarding responses that are within a desirable range, it is possible to increase or decrease the neural circuit's excitability. This may alter the level of resting muscle tone and spasticity, as well the muscle's contribution to planned movements and responses to unexpected events. Operant conditioning of spinal reflexes has been applied to a lower limb muscle in healthy people and those with spinal cord injuries. In this project, we will expand the use of operant conditioning to muscles of the upper limb, demonstrating feasibility and efficacy in healthy people and people post-stroke. We will determine whether operant conditioning can be used to decrease excitability of spinal reflexes that activate a wrist flexor muscle. Additionally, in a separate group of healthy people, we will determine whether operant conditioning can be used in a similar way to increase corticospinal excitability. We will stimulate the motor cortex with transcranial magnetic stimulation to elicit motor evoked potentials in the same wrist flexor muscle, and will reward responses that exceed a threshold value. We will examine the effects of these interventions on motor control at the wrist, using an innovative custom-designed cursor-tracking task to quantify movement performance. We will determine whether changes in spinal reflex excitability or corticospinal excitability alter motor control. The overall goal of this research is to develop a new, evidence-based strategy for rehabilitation that will improve recovery of upper limb function in people after stroke. Read Less

We will sample intestinal microbiota using a microbiome sampling capsule in Healthy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and Functional Gastrointestinal Disease. Read Less

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with 4 arms. Healthy and GH deficient adults ages 18-45 years will be studied. Arms will consist of 21-day treatment periods and be separated by 8-week washout periods. Subjects will receive, in random order: i) GH alone, ii) GH with liraglutide, iii) liraglutide alone and iv) placebo. Each phase of the study will consist of a 7-day baseline period including 2 days of testing and 21 days on therapy with visits on days 2, 7, 14 and 21. Testing before, during and at the completion of each arm will include blood sampling and assessments of insulin resistance, energy expenditure and body composition. Read Less

This study will help us learn more about how early infant diet may influence child's growth and development at age 14. Read Less

This study will help us learn more about how a mother's health during pregnancy may influence her child's growth and development later in life. Read Less

This research is being done to investigate the dietary supplement, Synaquell (TM), for effects on brain function in youth contact sport athletes. Read Less

The primary objective of this study is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET radiopharmaceutical [F-18]DPA-714 in individuals with chronic pain and fatigue suspected to be associated with neuroinflammation. The PET tracer [F-18]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The primary objective of this study is to determine if pain and fatigue patients have higher levels of neuroinflammation than HC individuals as measured with [F-18]DPA-714-PET/MRI. Read Less

This research is a 5-year observational, longitudinal registry study with no treatment or medication provided as part of participation. Individuals with current or lifetime stimulant use disorder, in addition to healthy control individuals, may be eligible to participate in this study. A variety of assessments and tasks including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Electroencephalography (EEG), blood draws, urine drug screens, and both self-report and clinician-rated assessments will be used to assess biomarkers in this population. This study has a visit schedule of four in-person visits and eight remote visits per year. Read Less

This pilot study aims to leverage VR's capacity to easily replicate content and allow for multiple users to share the same space and engage in activities as if they're meeting in person. Integrating VR into afterschool programs will allow youth to receive more consistent programming content, even when they are unable to travel to the physical location for the in-person meetings. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of maximal mental effort combined with elastic band training on strength and neuromuscular function in healthy, older females. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does elastic band training in combination with maximal mental effort increase strength more than elastic band training alone? Does elastic band training in combination with maximal mental effort improve neuromuscular function more than elastic band training alone? Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: Elastic band training Elastic band training with maximal mental effort Control Researchers will compare groups to determine differences in changes in strength, neuromuscular function, and body composition. Read Less