Maryland Paid Clinical Trials

Background: - High blood pressure in the lungs, known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a rare disorder. In spite of recent advances in treatment, the death rate remains unacceptably high. Lung blood vessel function can be harmed by progressive injuries, such as inflammation, leading to worsening of the disease. A drug called spironolactone has been known to improve blood vessel function and reduce inflammation. Some people with PAH take spironolactone to help treat fluid retention. However, its effect on inflammation and blood vessel function in patients with PAH is not known. Researchers want to see if spironolactone can help these conditions in people with PAH. Objectives: - To test the effectiveness of spironolactone in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Design: * This study will last for 24 weeks. Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. * Participants will take either spironolactone or a placebo. They will take their study drug or placebo for 7 weeks. Treatment will be monitored with regular blood tests. * In Week 8, participants who have had no reaction to the treatment will receive a higher dose of the drug or placebo. * In Week 12, participants will have a study visit with heart and lung function tests. They will also have a 6-minute walk test, and provide blood and urine samples. * After additional study visits for blood samples, participants will have a final visit in Week 24. The tests from Week 12 will be repeated at this visit. Read Less

Background: - Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare cancer of the thyroid gland. In children and adults, it is often part of a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2 (MEN2). MEN2 is usually caused by a genetic mutation, and it can cause a number of problems in addition to MTC. These problems include adrenal gland tumors, hormone changes, and problems with the bones and other organs. Not much is known about how MTC develops over time, especially in people with MEN2. Researchers want to study MTC in children and adults and see how it affects their growth and development. Objectives: - To study how medullary thyroid cancer affects children and adults over time. Eligibility: - Children and adults who have medullary thyroid cancer. Design: * Participants will be screened with a brief physical exam and medical history. Blood and tissue samples will be collected to see whether participants have the MEN2 genetic mutation. * Treatment will not be provided as part of this study. However, participants will be receiving standard care for MTC. They may be eligible for other clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health. * Participants will have regular study visits every 6 to 12 months to evaluate their MTC and any treatment. Blood tests, imaging studies, and other tests may be performed as needed to monitor the disease. * Participants and their parents/guardians will also complete questionnaires about their health and emotions during the study. Read Less

Background: - Gum disease is a condition in which the tissue around the tooth root becomes swollen and infected. This condition can cause tooth loss if it is not treated. Who gets gum disease and how bad it will be depends on (1) the different bacteria in the mouth and (2) how the immune system of an individual handles these bacteria. Researchers want to look at the oral bacteria and genetic immune problems of different people to learn how these affect gum disease and other conditions of the mouth. Objectives: - To study how immune system problems may lead to problems in the mouth, including gum disease. Eligibility: * Children and adults at least 7 years of age who have genetic problems with their immune system. * Healthy adults that have periodontal disease * Health adults that do not have periodontal disease Design: * This study will involve a screening visit and a study visit. * Participants will be screened with a medical history, blood work and a full oral and dental exam, including dental x-rays and photos. * The study visit will involve collection of blood, urine, and other samples, including saliva, plaque, and gum swabs. Any abnormal tissue will sampled for a biopsy. Additional oral and dental exams will be performed. Participants will also answer questions about any current medical or dental problems. Read Less

Background: - White blood cells called granulocytes help the body fight infection. People who have had chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants may have very low numbers of these cells. Transfusions of these cells can help improve the body's ability to fight infection. However, most of the cells are located in the bone marrow or spleen, and are hard to collect from healthy donors. Two drugs, filgrastim and dexamethasone, can help move the cells to the bloodstream to be collected by apheresis. Researchers want to study the best ways to collect these white blood cells. They also want to monitor the effects of the injections and donations on the volunteer donors. Objectives: - To improve the amount and quality of granulocytes (white blood cells) collected by apheresis for donation. Eligibility: - Healthy volunteers between 18 and 75 years of age. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Initial blood tests will be done to check for eligibility. * Participants will donate granulocytes by apheresis a maximum of 12 times in 1 year. Donations will not usually be requested more often than every 4 weeks. Donors will be allowed to decline participation at any time. * Participants will have one injection of filgrastim 12 to 24 hours before donation. They will also have two tablets of dexamethasone 12 hours before donation. * White blood cells will be collected through apheresis. The apheresis will last about 2 hours. * Participants will be eligible to donate until they reach their 76th birthday.... Read Less

Background: - Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a genetic condition that increases the risk for some types of cancer. LFS may lead to cancer of the bone or connective tissue, breast, and brain. It may also increase the risk for certain types of leukemia and other cancers. The only known cause of LFS is a change (called a mutation ) in a gene known as TP53. However, not all people with LFS have a TP53 mutation. Researchers want to study other possible genetic causes of LFS, and factors that may increase or decrease cancer risk in people with the syndrome. Objectives: * To learn more about the types of cancers that occur in individuals with LFS. * To study the role of the TP53 gene in the development of cancer. * To look for other possible genes that cause LFS * To study the effect of LFS diagnosis on families. * To determine if environmental factors or other genes can change a person s cancer risk associated with LFS. Eligibility: * Individuals with a family or personal medical history of cancers consistent with LFS. * Individuals with a family or personal medical history of cancers that does not meet the diagnosis of LFS, but the history is suggestive for LFS (meets the diagnosis for the so-called Li-Fraumeni like syndrome) * Individuals with certain rare cancers * Individuals with a family or personal history of a TP53 gene mutation, with or without related cancer(s). Design: * Participants will fill out a medical history questionnaire and a family history questionnaire. * Blood samples will be collected for DNA and for storage. Cheek cell samples may be collected if blood cannot be obtained for DNA. Participants can choose to have or not have cancer screening with blood tests, imaging studies, and other exams. * Participants will complete questionnaires about their worries about cancer, stress levels, and coping strategies. Diet and physical activity questionnaires will also be given. Other psychological tests may be given as needed. * Participants will be monitored for several years, with regular followup visits to the National Institutes of Health, if indicated. Any changes in health or cancer status will be recorded. Read Less

Background: - Best Vitelliform Dystrophy (Best disease), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration (L-ORD), and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) all affect the retina, the light sensing area at the back of the eye. Doctors cannot safely obtain retinal cells to study these diseases. However, cells collected from hair follicles, skin, and blood can be used for research. Researchers want to collect cells from people with Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD, and compare their cells with those of healthy volunteers. Objectives: - To collect hair, skin, and blood samples to study three eye diseases that affect the retina: Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD. Eligibility: * Individuals affected with ocular condition is one year of age or older. * Individuals affected with Best disease, L-ORD, or AMD is 18 years of age or older. * Unaffected individuals are seven years of age or older. Design: * The study requires one visit to the National Eye Institute. * Participants will be screened with a medical and eye disease history. They will also have an eye exam. * Participants will provide a hair sample, a blood sample, and a skin biopsy. The hair will be collected from the back of the head, and the skin will be collected from the inside of the upper arm. Read Less

Background: - GNE Myopathy is a disease that causes walking difficulties and increasing muscle weakness. It usually develops in young adults (between 20 and 30 years of age), and affects arm and leg muscles. HIBM is caused by mutations in a gene that may affect how the muscles function. Researchers want to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and effects of HIBM. Objectives: - To collect genetic and medical information from people with GNE Myopathy . Eligibility: - Individuals between 18 and 80 years of age who have GNE Myopathy and do not use a wheelchair. - Participants must be willing to stop any current treatment of HIBM while enrolled in the study. Design: * Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and neurological exam. * At the first visit, participants will have the following tests: * Questionnaires about the impact of HIBM on daily activities, mood, and quality of life * 24-hour urine collection * Blood samples * Heart function tests * Muscle strength and endurance tests, including walking * Imaging study of the muscles * Participants will return for followup visits at 6, 12, and 18 months. They may be asked to return for a final visit at 24 months. Not all tests will be performed at each visit. * Treatment will not be provided as part of this protocol. For more information, visit our website: http://hibmstudy.nhgri.nih.gov/ Read Less

Background: * The Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) Clinical Studies Unit (CSU) enrolls healthy volunteers into clinical studies to study infectious diseases. * Viruses can be highly infectious and contagious. They cause considerable illness in the United States each year and a good example of this is influenza (the flu). The LID CSU performs clinical studies to learn about these viral infections and assist in the development of vaccines and treatments for the infections. These clinical studies include influenza "challenge studies" as well as natural history studies and phase I trials involving vaccines for viruses carried by mosquitos such as Zika or Dengue virus. * In influenza challenge studies studies, doctors expose a person to a flu virus. Then they study the flu through the body's natural healing process. This information will help to find better ways to prevent the flu and may also improve treatments for the flu. * Natural history studies and phase I trials of new vaccines are performed so the researchers can learn how some viral infections occur and if new vaccines are safe and potentially effective in preventing the infections. In some of these studies, participants experience insect bites with special clean (non-infected) insects (such as mosquitos) to better understand the role of insects in these infections. Objectives: - To screen healthy volunteers for future CSU studies. Eligibility: - Healthy people between the ages of 18 and 65 Design: * The 3- to 5-hour screening exam includes the following: * Medical history and physical exam * Standard blood tests including pregnancy, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV tests * Standard urine drug testing * Electrocardiogram (ECG) to test heart rhythm and function * Chest x-ray * Eligible volunteers are enrolled in the study for up to 1 year, until they take part in a CSU study or are found to be ineligible to participate. * Volunteers may withdraw from the study pool at any time. Read Less

Background: - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used scanning technique to obtain images of the human body and evaluate activity in the brain. A particular MRI method called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be used to study brain chemistry as well, which may help researchers who are studying new treatments for psychiatric illnesses. Researchers are interested in improving current MRI and MRS techniques, as well as developing new MRI and MRS techniques to view and measure brain chemicals and brain activity. Objectives: - To implement, develop, and optimize brain chemistry imaging techniques using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Eligibility: - Healthy individuals between 18 and 65 years of age. Design: * This study will involve a screening visit and a scanning visit at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. * Participants will be screened with a full medical and physical examination, blood and urine tests, and neurological testing. * During the second visit, participants will have an MRI scan of the brain. (Participants who have received an MRI within the past year will not need to have a second one; the images of the previous scan will be used for this study.) All participants will then have an MRS scan using the same scanning equipment.... Read Less

Background: - Researchers are interested in studying disorders that make individuals more susceptible to fungal infections, specifically infections with the Candida yeast. These disorders are often related to problems with the immune system and may have genetic factors, which suggests that researchers should study not only the individual with the disorder, but also his or her first- and second-degree relatives (such as parents, siblings, children, and first cousins). To provide material for future research, individuals with immune disorders and their first- and second-degree relatives will be asked to provide blood and other samples for testing and comparison with samples taken from healthy volunteers with no history of immune disorders. Objectives: - To collect blood and other biological samples to study immune disorders that make individuals more susceptible to fungal infections. Eligibility: * Individuals of any age who have abnormal immune function characterized by recurrent or unusual fungal infections, recurrent or chronic inflammation, or other types of immune dysfunction. * First- or second-degree genetically related family members (limited to mother, father, siblings, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, and first cousins). * Healthy volunteers at least 18 years of age (for comparison purposes). Design: * Participants will provide blood samples and buccal (cells from the inside of the mouth near the cheek) samples. * Participants with immune disorders will also be asked to provide urine samples, saliva or mucosal samples, or skin tissue biopsies, and may also have imaging studies (such as x-rays) to collect information for research. * Samples may be collected at the National Institutes of Health or at other clinical locations for the samples to the sent to the National Institutes of Health. * No treatment will be provided as part of this protocol. Read Less

Background: - Gene therapy is being investigated as a possible treatment for individuals with immunodeficiency diseases or other conditions that make it difficult to fight off infection. Gene therapy avoids problems with donor identification and possible rejection of bone marrow transplant by using the patient s own modified blood cells to help treat the disease. Researchers are interested in collecting stem cells from the blood of individuals with immunodeficiency diseases in order to use the cells to develop potential gene therapy treatments. Objectives: - To collect blood stem cells from patients with immunodeficiency diseases tto test our ability to correct the defects of these cells in the test tube. Eligibility: * Individuals between 18 and 40 years of age with immunodeficiency diseases. * Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) will not be able to participate in this study. Design: * Participants will provide an initial blood sample for disease screening (such as hepatitis B and C, syphilis, or viruses like the Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, or toxoplasmosis) and to check kidney and liver function. * Starting 5 days before blood donation, participants will receive daily injections of a drug called G-CSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor, or filgrastim), which pushes stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the bloodstream. Participants will receive the injections at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. * On day 5, participants will have a single leukapheresis procedure to collect the stem cells from the blood. * No additional treatment will be provided as part of this protocol. The cells that are collected will be used fore experiments in the lab and will not be used to treat individuals with these diseases. Read Less

Background: - Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that affects numerous people worldwide. Researchers are interested in actively recruiting individuals with TB for research and treatment studies. Objectives: - To collect blood and other samples to study the natural history of tuberculosis. Eligibility: - Individuals 2 years of age and older who have either active or latent tuberculosis. Design: * Latent TB patients: Participants will have a single study visit with a physical examination and medical history, and will provide blood samples for testing. * Active TB patients: Participants will have an initial visit with a physical examination and medical history, and will provide blood samples for testing. Participants will also provide sputum samples if required, and may have an optional skin punch biopsy to collect a sample of skin tissue for study. * Treatment for active TB will be provided as part of this protocol. * Active TB participants may be asked to return for study visits every 1-2 months while receiving treatment. Read Less