Maryland Paid Clinical Trials

Background: Bone marrow is the soft material found inside most large bones of the body. Bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets that are released into the blood stream. Inside the marrow, these cells start off as young, immature cells called progenitor cells. Researchers want to study these cells in healthy people. Objective: To understand how progenitor cells change with age. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 18 and older Design: Participants will be screened with a questionnaire, a physical exam, and blood tests. Participants will have a bone marrow aspirate. They will be asked to lie on their stomach or side. A local anesthetic will be injected with a small needle under the skin at the site. A needle will then be placed through the skin and into the hip bone. A small amount of the liquid part of the bone marrow will be taken up into the needle. After the needle is removed, a pressure bandage will be placed on the site. Participants will be asked to become a repeat volunteer and have a bone marrow aspirate sample collected once every other year. They will have a physical exam and blood tests before each collection. The cells from the collection will be used for genetic testing and research. Participants will be in the study for as long as they remain healthy and willing to participate. Read Less

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used to treat people with severe depression. During ECT, the brain is given electric pulses that cause a seizure. Although it is effective, it can cause side effects, including memory loss. Researchers want to study a new way to give ECT called iLAST. Objective: To see if iLAST is safe and feasible in treating depression. Eligibility: People ages 22 70 years old who have major depressive disorder and are eligible for ECT Design: Participants will be screened under protocol 01-M-0254. This includes: Medical and psychiatric history and exam Blood and urine tests Participants will be inpatients at the Clinical Center. They study has 3 phases and will last up to 20 weeks. Phase I will last 1 week. It includes: MRI: Participants will lie in a scanner that takes pictures of the body MEG: A cone over the participant s head will record brain activity. TMS: A wire coil placed on the participant s scalp will produce an electrical current to affect brain activity. SEP: An electrode on the participant s wrist will give a small electrical shock to test nerve function. Phase II will last 2 and a half weeks. It includes: Seven sessions of iLAST under general anesthesia. Participants may also get standard ECT. EEG: A small electrode placed on the participant s scalp will record brain waves. Interviews about mood, symptoms, and side effects. Participants facial expressions may be video recorded. TMS Phase III will last at least 1 week. It will include: MRI EEG TMS MEG Standard ECT if needed. Participants will have sessions every other day, 3 times a week. Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Mental Health ... Read Less

Study rationale High risk patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) require therapy with 131 I under thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation. There are two methods of TSH stimulation endogenous by thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) leading to hypothyroidism and exogenous by injection of human recombinant TSH (rhTSH Thyrogen). The appropriate 131-I activity utilized for treatment is either based on empiric fixed dosage choice or individually determined activity based on 131 I dosimetric calculations. Although dosimetry utilizing radioactive iodine isotope 131 I enables calculation of maximum safe dose, it does not estimate the tumoricidal activity necessary to destroy the metastatic lesions. The alternative radioactive isotope of iodine -124 I, used for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, might be used for calculation not only the maximum safe131 I dose, but also to predict the absorbed dose in the metastatic lesions. Study objectives The primary objective of this study is to compare the 124 I -PET/CT lesional and whole body dosimetry in each individual patient with metastatic radioiodine (RAI)-avid thyroid cancer under preparation with rhTSH and THW. The secondary objective is to evaluate the predicted by PET/CT lesional uptake with the early response to therapy. Study design This is a phase 2 pilot prospective cohort study comparing the lesional and whole body dosimetry within each patient undergoing exogenous (rhTSH) and endogenous (THW) TSH stimulation and followed for 5 years. Interventions Each study participant will undergo rhTSH and THW-aided 124 I-PET/CT dosimetric evaluations and will be subsequently treated with THW-aided RAI activity based on dosimetric calculations enabling maximum safe dosage. The patients will be followed in 12+/-3 months intervals for 5 years. Sample size and population This pilot study will include 30 patients with high risk differentiated thyroid cancer presenting with distant and/or loco-regional metastases. ... Read Less

Background: Gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors. Some have certain changes (mutations) in the genes IDH1 or IDH2. If there are a high number of mutations in a tumor, it is called hypermutator phenotype (HMP). The drug nivolumab helps the immune system fight cancer. Researchers think it can be more effective in patients with IDH1 or IDH2 mutated gliomas with HMP. They will test gliomas with and without HMP. Objectives: To see if nivolumab stops tumor growth and prolongs the time that the tumor is controlled. Eligibility: Adults 18 years or older with IDH1 or IDH2 mutated gliomas Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Heart, blood, and pregnancy tests Review of symptoms and activity levels Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants will lie in a cylinder that takes pictures in a strong magnetic field. Tumor samples Participants will get the study drug in 4-week cycles. They will get it through a small plastic tube in a vein (IV) on days 1 and 15 of cycles 1-4. For cycles 5-16, they will get it just on day 1. On days 1 and 15 of each cycle, participants will repeat some or all screening tests. After cycle 16, participants will have 3 follow-up visits over 100 days. They will answer health questions, have physical and neurological exams, and have blood tests. They may have a brain MRI. Participants whose disease did not get worse but who finished the study drug within 1 year of treatment may have imaging studies every 8 weeks for up to 1 year. Participants will be called or emailed every 6 months with questions about their health. ... Read Less

This phase II trial studies how well radiation therapy with or without olaparib works in treating patients with inflammatory breast cancer. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Olaparib is an inhibitor of PARP, an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy with or without olaparib may work better in treating patients with inflammatory breast cancer. Read Less

Background: Chronic hepatitis C infects the liver. It may scar the liver. This is called cirrhosis and may lead to liver cancer or death. Current chronic hepatitis C treatments cure most people. But some keep getting complications even after it is cured. Researchers want to study why. Objective: To study the course and complications of liver disease after cure of hepatitis C infection. Eligibility: Adults 18 years and older infected with chronic hepatitis C virus who were never treated or were treated and not cured and those who were cured Design: Participants will be screened with: Blood and urine tests Questionnaires Liver ultrasound Fibroscan. A probe vibrates the liver, testing stiffness. In Phase 1, people with chronic hepatitis C will: Have a 3-day hospital admission to repeat some screening tests and have a liver biopsy. A small piece of liver is removed by needle passed through the skin. Take 1 tablet containing 2 hepatitis C drugs once a day for 12 weeks. Repeat some blood tests at 3 visits in those 12 weeks while on treatment, then 4 additional visits in the next 24 weeks with more blood work collected. Phase 1 participants who test negative for hepatitis C and all other eligible participants will enter Phase 2. Phase 2 participants will have a visit every 24 weeks for 10 years. These may include: Repeats of screening tests Questionnaires Scans Stool tests Chest x-ray Heart function test Endoscopy. A tube guides a camera into the upper digestive system. At about 5 years, participants will have another liver biopsy. Some participants will give separate consent for genetic testing and a special blood procedure.... Read Less

This study is to provide access for patients who are receiving treatment with dabrafenib and/or trametinib in a Novartis-sponsored Oncology Global Development, Global Medical Affairs or a former GSK-sponsored study who have fulfilled the requirements for the primary objective, and who are judged by the investigator as benefiting from continued treatment in the parent study as judged by the Investigator at the completion of the parent study. Read Less

Background: People with the brain disease AUD (alcohol use disorder) have a serious problem with drinking. Researchers want to study how different people react to alcohol, and how genes affect this. They will focus on a nicotine receptor gene that may increase a person s AUD risk. Objectives: To see if people with variations of a nicotine receptor gene take alcohol differently and have different brain responses to alcohol cues. Eligibility: Healthy adults ages 21 - 60. This study includes smokers and non-smokers. Design: Participation will be based on evaluation under the NIAAA natural history protocol (14-AA-0181) or a screening visit under this protocol. Participants will have two 9-hour visits. They must have no alcohol or non-prescription drugs before all visits and no food or drink before the first visit. At every visit, participants will: Get a light meal Have breath and urine tests Get taxi rides there and back At visits 1, participants will: Have a thin plastic tube inserted in an arm and connected to a pump for alcohol infusion. Have sensors on their chest to monitor heart rate. Sit in a chair for 2.5 hours and get alcohol by pushing a button. Their breath alcohol level will be monitored. Answer questions about mood and effects of alcohol Give blood samples Relax at the clinic while their breath alcohol level drops At visit 2, participants will: Answer questions and do computer tests Have an alcoholic drink and a snack Have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. They will lie in a machine that takes pictures of the brain. They will do computer tasks. Have another drink and snack Relax until their alcohol level drops Participants will have a follow-up call after each visit.... Read Less

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a type of fat in the body. It may prevent weight gain, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce fatty liver. Researchers want to see if BAT helps the body burn energy. Objective: To learn more about how BAT works to burn energy. Eligibility: People ages 18-40 with a body mass index between 18 and 40 Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood, urine, and heart tests Dietitian interview Participants will have an overnight baseline visit. This includes: Repeats of screening tests Exercise test Scans. For one scan, a radioactive substance is injected into the arm. FSIVGIT: An IV is inserted into veins in the right and left arms. Glucose and insulin are injected in one arm. Blood glucose and insulin levels are measured from the other. Metabolic suite: Participants stay 18 19 hours in a room that measures their metabolic rate. Monitors on the body measure heart rate, movement, and temperature. Optional fat biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed with a needle. Participants will take 2-4 pills daily for 4 weeks. All women will take the drug mirabegron. Men will be randomly get either the drug or a placebo. All participants will have a visit after 2 weeks of the pills. They will repeat the screening tests. Participants will have an overnight visit 2 weeks later. They will repeat the baseline tests. Participants will keep food and medication diaries. Participants will have a follow-up visit 2 weeks after stopping the pills. This includes heart tests. ... Read Less

Background: People with Williams Syndrome (WS) and supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) have less elasticity in their blood vessels. This is called blood vessel stiffness. Blood vessels may have focal narrowings called stenoses or may just be globally more narrow. Objectives: Researchers want to see how blood vessel differences in people with Williams Syndrome and supravalvular aortic stenosis affect organs in the body including the heart, gut, kidneys, and brain. Eligibility: People ages 3-85 who have WS or SVAS Healthy volunteers ages 3-85 Design: Participants will have yearly visits for up to 10 years. All participants will be offered the same tests. Participants will give consent for the study team to review their medical records. If the participant is a child or an adult with WS, a parent or guardian will give the consent. Participants will visit the NIH where they will have a physical exam and medical history. Based on their health history, participants will undergo a series of imaging tests and measures of blood vessel function over the course of 2-4 days. Tests of cognitive abilites will also be performed. Blood will be drawn and an IV may be placed for specific tests. Read Less

Background: We are involved in testing new behavioral science methods and measures for future research projects. In the course of these evaluations, we will also test research questions related to parents psychological experiences and how these relate to the responses they have when they encounter different types of communication about child health. We are testing multiple research questions in the course of this research. Objective: - To learn about technologies and approaches to use in future research studies. Eligibility: - Parents (fathers and mothers) of children between the ages of 3-7. Design: As part of the main study, participants will do four tasks: Task 1: Before participants arrive for an in-person visit, they will answer questions online about themselves, their child, and their thoughts and opinions related to health. Task 2: At the in-person visit, participants will watch a short scene from a movie and answer some questions Task 3: At the in-person visit, participants will read information about a child health topic and answer questions Task 4: At the in-person visit, participants will use a virtual reality-based buffet restaurant simulation to make hypothetical food choices for their child... Read Less

Background: People with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) who have plexiform neurofibromas (pNFs) can have pain that affects their daily lives. This study aims to improve questionnaires that measure their pain, daily living, and physical functioning. Objectives: To examine and improve questionnaires about daily living for people with NF1 and pNFs. Eligibility: People ages 5 and older with NF1 and a pNF Design: Participants will be screened with medical history. This study will have 2 phases. Phase 1 participants will talk about existing pain assessment questionnaires and how pNFs affect their life. They will have group discussions of up to 8 people of a similar age with NF1 and pNFs, or the parents of children with it. These will last about 90 minutes. Children ages 5 to 7 and their parents will have one-on-one meetings instead. These will last about 45 minutes. Discussions will be audiotaped. After the questionnaires have been changed, individual interviews will discuss the new wording, instructions, questions, and electronic format of the new forms. Phase 2 is now complete. Phase 1 participants may be invited to Phase 2. Phase 2 participants will complete the new questionnaires. These may be pen-and-paper or electronic. The questionnaires will take about 30 minutes for adults and teens. Children will work one-on-one with a staff member and may need up to 45 minutes. A small group of participants will be complete the forms twice-in clinic and 1 month later at home. Also, a small group who start a new pain treatment or have a dose increase in their treatment will complete the forms twice-before the treatment change and 1 month later. ... Read Less