Maryland Paid Clinical Trials

Background: - Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic skin disorder. Patients sometimes have infections with S. aureus bacteria. Researchers want to study how eczema treatments affect the number and the type of bacteria on the skin. Objectives: - To study the effect of eczema treatments on skin bacteria. Eligibility: * Individuals between 2 and 25 years of age who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. * Healthy volunteers between 18 and 40 years of age with no history of eczema. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Research samples will be collected. Skin biopsies may also be performed. * All participants will be assigned to one of several study groups. * Healthy volunteers must not have taken antibiotics in the year before the start of the study. * All participants will have regular study visits during their 1-year participation. More research samples will be collected at these visits. * Healthy volunteers may be asked to come in for a one-time follow up after the 1 year mark. Read Less

Background: -The brain has two systems for recognizing objects. One system recognizes what an object is, and the other system recognizes where the object is located. However, there is much about how the brain handles and interprets the information from these two systems that is still unclear. Researchers want to study the parts of the brain that are involved in how vision is processed. They will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) on the brain. MRI measures what parts of the brain become more active when tasks are performed. TMS uses magnetic pulses to temporarily change the activity in parts of the brain. tES uses electrical current to temporarily change brain function. Objectives: -To better understand how people visually recognize different types of objects. Eligibility: -Healthy volunteers between 18 and 50 years of age, who only speak English. Design: * This study includes many different experiments on vision. Each experiment may combine visual tasks, MRI scans, and TMS or tES. Participants may be asked to have several different tests. Each test will require a separate visit to the National Institutes of Health. * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will have a baseline brain scan at the first visit. * Participants may do visual tasks alone, with MRI only, with TMS or tES only, or with MRI and TMS or tES combined. For the visual tasks, they will look at pictures of objects on a computer screen. Sometimes the images will appear very briefly (less than one-tenth of a second). Sometimes they will appear for up to 5 seconds. These images will be of things like faces, bodies, tools, and scenes. Participants will be asked to respond in different ways to the pictures. They may respond by typing on a computer keyboard or by pressing a button. Participants will have time to practice the tasks before the experiment. * Participants will remain on the study for up to 3 years. Read Less

Background: - Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an approved surgery for certain movement disorders, like Parkinson's disease, that do not respond well to other treatments. DBS uses a battery-powered device called a neurostimulator (like a pacemaker) that is placed under the skin in the chest. It is used to stimulate the areas of the brain that affect movement. Stimulating these areas helps to block the nerve signals that cause abnormal movements. Researchers also want to record the brain function of people with movement disorders during the surgery. Objectives: * To study how DBS surgery affects Parkinson s disease, dystonia, and tremor. * To obtain information on brain and nerve cell function during DBS surgery. Eligibility: - People at least 18 years of age who have movement disorders, like Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Design: * Researchers will screen patients with physical and neurological exams to decide whether they can have the surgery. Patients will also have a medical history, blood tests, imaging studies, and other tests. Before the surgery, participants will practice movement and memory tests. * During surgery, the stimulator will be placed to provide the right amount of stimulation for the brain. Patients will perform the movement and memory tests that they practiced earlier. * After surgery, participants will recover in the hospital. They will have a followup visit within 4 weeks to turn on and adjust the stimulator. The stimulator has to be programmed and adjusted over weeks to months to find the best settings. * Participants will return for followup visits at 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery. Researchers will test their movement, memory, and general quality of life. Each visit will last about 2 hours. 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: -DOCK8 deficiency is a genetic disorder that affects the immune system and can lead to severe recurrent infections and possible death from infections or certain types of cancers, including blood cancers. A stem cell transplant is a life-saving treatment for this condition. In this study we are evaluating the efficacy and safety of transplant from different donor sources for DOCK8 deficiency. The donors that we are using are matched siblings, matched unrelated donors, and half-matched donors, so called haploidentical related donors, such as mothers or fathers or half-matched siblings. Objectives: -To determine whether transplant of bone marrow cells from different types of donors corrects DOCK8 deficiency. Eligibility: * Donors: Healthy individuals between 2 and 60 years of age who are matched with a recipient. * Recipient: Individuals between 4 and 35 years of age who have confirmed DOCK8 deficiency, have suffered at least one life-threatening infections, or have had certain viral related cancers of cancer and have a stem cell donor. Design: * All participants will be screened with bloodwork, a physical examination and medical history. * DONORS: --Donors who have donate bone marrow cells or blood stem cells will have a sample of blood/bone marrow stored to be compared with the recipients sample after transplant. * RECIPIENTS: * Recipients receiving 10/10 matched related or unrelated donors will receive 4 days of chemotherapy with busulfan and fludarabine to suppress their immune system and prepare them for the transplant. Donors receiving 9/10 matched related or unrelated donors as well as haploidentical related donors will receive 5 days chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and busulfan. They will also receive one dose of radiation to suppress their immune system and prepare them for the transplant. * After the initial chemotherapy and radiation (if indicated), recipients will receive the donated stem cells as a single infusion. * After the stem cell transplant, recipients will receive two days of a chemotherapy called cyclophosphamide on day's + 3 and + 4 followed by two drugs tacrolimus and mycophenolate to prevent graft versus host disease where the donor cells attack the patient's body. All patients will remain in the hospital for at least approximately 1 month, and will be followed with regular visits for up to 3 years with periodic visits thereafter to evaluate the success of the transplant and any side effects. Read Less

Background: The NCI Surgery Branch has developed an experimental therapy that involves taking white blood cells from patients' tumors, growing them in the laboratory in large numbers, and then giving the cells back to the patient. These cells are called Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes, or TIL and we have given this type of treatment to over 200 patients with melanoma. Researchers want to know if TIL shrink s tumors in people with digestive tract, urothelial, breast, or ovarian/endometrial cancers. In this study, we are selecting a specific subset of white blood cells from the tumor that we think are the most effective in fighting tumors and will use only these cells in making the tumor fighting cells. Objective: The purpose of this study is to see if these specifically selected tumor fighting cells can cause digestive tract, urothelial, breast, or ovarian/endometrial tumors to shrink and to see if this treatment is safe. Eligibility: - Adults age 18-72 with upper or lower gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, genitourinary, breast, ovarian/endometrial cancer, or glioblastoma refractory to standard chemotherapy. Design: Work up stage: Patients will be seen as an outpatient at the NIH clinical Center and undergo a history and physical examination, scans, x-rays, lab tests, and other tests as needed. Surgery: If the patients meet all of the requirements for the study they will undergo surgery to remove a tumor that can be used to grow the TIL product. Leukapheresis: Patients may undergo leukapheresis to obtain additional white blood cells. (Leukapheresis is a common procedure, which removes only the white blood cells from the patient.) Treatment: Once their cells have grown, the patients will be admitted to the hospital for the conditioning chemotherapy, the TIL cells and aldesleukin. They will stay in the hospital for about 4 weeks for the treatment. Follow up: Patients will return to the clinic for a physical exam, review of side effects, lab tests, and scans about every 1-3 months for the first year, and then every 6 months to 1 year as long as their tumors are shrinking. Follow up visits will take up to 2 days. Read Less

Background: - Researchers are studying types of thyroid cancer that seem to cluster in families. Non-medullary thyroid cancer accounts for the vast majority of all types of thyroid cancer, but little is known about possible genes that may cause the cancer. More research is needed to develop the best ways to screen for familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) so that it can be diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Objectives: * To evaluate the natural history of FNMTC. * To determine the best screening strategy for FNMTC. * To identify genes that may indicate susceptibility to FNMTC. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 7 years of age who have two first-degree relatives (e.g., parents, children, siblings) who have or have had non-medullary thyroid cancer or a documented diagnosis of non-medullary thyroid cancer and one living relative with documented non-medullary thyroid cancer. Design: * Participants will be evaluated by family history pedigree, physical examination, imaging (including possible neck ultrasound and radioactive iodine scans), and laboratory testing. * Participants who agree to have blood or other biological samples collected will be asked to enroll in an additional study to provide the appropriate samples and tissues. * After the initial study evaluation, participants who are not found to have a malignant thyroid tumor will be re-screened every year with non-invasive imaging studies. Participants who are found to have a malignant thyroid tumor will be informed of possible treatment options. Read Less

Background: * Idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a condition in which there is a decreased level of CD4+ lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell), which can lead to opportunistic infections or autoimmune disorders and diseases. Objectives: * To characterize the natural history with regard to CD4+ T cell count and onset of infection, malignancy, and autoimmunity. * To describe the immunological status of patients affected by ICL while providing the best possible standard therapy to eradicate opportunistic infections. * To establish the timeline of CD4 lymphocytopenia, with particular focus on defining subgroups of patients according to the decline, stabilization, or rise of CD4+ T cell counts over time. * To characterize the opportunistic infections that occur in ICL patients at microbiologic and molecular levels. * To characterize the immunophenotype and possible genetic immunodeficiency causes of ICL. * To determine whether measurable immunologic parameters correlate with the development of opportunistic infections or other comorbidities such as lymphoma in patients with ICL. * To determine whether there is any association between ICL and autoimmunity. * To determine CD4+ T cell turnover, survival, functionality, and cytokine responsiveness in ICL patients. Eligibility: * Patients 2 years of age and older with an absolute CD4 count less than 300 in children 6 years or older and adults or less than 20% of T cells in children younger than 6 on two occasions at least 6 weeks apart. * Patients with negative results of HIV testing by ELISA, Western Blot, and viral load. * Patients must not have underlying immunodeficiency conditions, be receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs that kill cells), or have cancer. Design: * At the initial visit to the National Institutes of Health, the following evaluations will be conducted: * Personal and family medical histories. * Physical examination, including rheumatology evaluation and other consultations as medically indicated (e.g., dermatology, pulmonology, ophthalmology, imaging studies). * Blood samples for analysis of red and white blood cell counts, liver function, immune hormones, and antibody and autoantibody levels, white blood cell growth and function, and DNA. * Urinalysis and urine pregnancy testing for female patients of childbearing age. * Evaluation and treatment of active infections as medically indicated, including biopsies, buccal swabs, pulmonary function tests, and imaging studies. * Follow-up visits will take place approximately every 12 months or more frequently if indicated, and will continue for a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 10 years. * Evaluations at follow-up will include blood samples (i.e., CBC with differential, biochemical profile, HIV testing, etc.) and urinalysis and rheumatology consults. Read Less

This study will investigate HIV infection and associated conditions by monitoring infected patients. The study will also serve as a means for recruiting HIV-infected individuals to NIAIDs ongoing clinical and laboratory studies and supporting the institute s infectious disease training program by providing Infectious Disease fellows with ongoing training in the management of HIV infection. People 18 years of age and older with suspected or confirmed HIV infection who live in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area may be eligible for this study. Physician referral is required. Participants come to the NIH Clinical Center a minimum of once every 3 to 4 months for evaluation with a physical examination; blood tests for research purposes, safety, immune status and viral load; and response to any treatment they may be receiving. Other procedures, such as a biopsy, are done only as needed for standard medical practice, and informed consent is obtained before any such procedure is done. Treatment offered is consistent with standard medical practice; no experimental treatments are offered under this protocol. Read Less

This study will examine microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses) that live on human skin and how microbes contribute to health and disease. It will analyze healthy human skin and how the these microorganisms might change in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), a skin condition also known as eczema. Healthy volunteers, as well as patients with moderate to severe eczema (AD), between 2 and 40 years of age may be eligible for this study. We also wish to enroll children and adults aged 2-40 who have been diagnosed with inherited immune disorders known as HIES (hyperimmunoglobulin-E syndrome), WAS (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome), or DOCK8 immunodeficiency because they frequently have skin problems similar to AD. Eligible participants undergo the following tests and procedures: * Medical family and medication history * Skin examination * Blood tests (research blood as well as serum IgE, and complete blood count) * Skin samples to analyze microbes. Samples are obtained by the following methods: swabbing the skin with a cotton swab; scraping (scratching) the skin gently with a blade to remove only the outermost skin layers; and, only in adults, biopsy (surgical removal) of a small skin sample less than 1/4-inch (5 mm) in diameter. * Nose swabs to analyze microbes. * Patients with eczema may have photographs of their skin taken to help monitor the skin rashes. Participants may be contacted periodically for follow-up studies. Patients with atopic dermatitis may have additional skin samples collected to examine changes in the skin bacteria over time and during all of the stages of eczema. In addition, patients who have a flare of their eczema are asked to undergo a skin sample collection as soon as possible. Read Less

Objective With this prospective natural experiment trial on neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) study, we hope to understand the factors leading to tumor progression and neurological disease burden in NF2. Study Population A total of 269 participants, ages 8-75, with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of NF2 will participate in this study. Design Study participants will be evaluated with a thorough physical and neurologic examination upon enrollment. This initial outpatient evaluation will include magnetic resonance imaging with contrast of brain and spine and blood collection for research use. Participants with measurable hearing will have audiology assessment performed. Participants with untreated vestibular schwannomas will have vestibular assessment performed during the initial visit. Genetic studies performed outside will be acceptable as confirmation of NF2 in enrolled patients. If needed to confirm NF2 with genetic studies, or for research purpose, whole genome/whole exome sequencing may be performed on blood obtained from subjects enrolled in this study. All participants will be evaluated by a speech language pathologist. Subjects will be followed as outpatients for up to ten years, during which clinical, and radiologic evaluation will be performed annually. Auditory testing will be performed annually for participants with measurable hearing. Participants with initially untreated vestibular schwannomas will be followed annually with vestibular testing. Speech and swallowing reassessments will be repeated if worsening of speech or swallowing is reported. Blood will be collected at each visit for blood biomarker testing Outcome measures We hope to understand the biologic basis for speech and swallowing dysfunction in patients with NF2. We will study and report the strength of association of MRI findings, clinical assessments cranial nerve deficits and speech/swallowing dysfunction. We hope to identify imaging biomarkers of hearing loss in NF2. We will attempt to discover the mode of peripheral neuropathy in patients with NF2. Lastly, we will attempt to discover previously unknown serum biomarkers associated with high tumor burden in NF2. Read Less

Cystinosis is an inherited disease resulting in poor growth and kidney failure. There is no known cure for cystinosis, although kidney transplantation may help the renal failure and prolong survival. Both the kidney damage and growth failure are thought to be due to the accumulation of the amino acid cystine within the cells of the body. The cystine storage later damages other organs besides the kidneys, including the thyroid gland, pancreas, eyes, and muscle. The drug cysteamine (Cystagon; ProCysBi) is an oral medication given to patients with cystinosis prior to kidney transplantation. The drug works by reducing the level of cystine in the white blood cells and muscle tissue. The drug may also decrease levels of cystine in the kidneys and other tissues. This study has several goals: 1. Long-term surveillance of cysteamine treated patients. 2. Detection of new non-kidney complications of cystinosis. 3. Maintenance of a patient population for genetic testing (mutational analysis) of the cystinosis gene.\<TAB\> Read Less