Sermorelin Treatment Options

This study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of GRF6019, a plasma-derived product, administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion, to subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to see if giving growth hormone and Lupron along with thyroid hormone will improve final height in patients with long term hypothyroidism. Lupron is a medicine which is used to delay puberty and to prevent early closure of growing bones which might increase growth potential. Growth hormone is used to restore growth rate. This study will include children with "short term" and "long term" hypothyroidism. Read Less

Decreased bone strength is a serious medical problem present in many women with Anorexia Nervosa, or disordered eating. Women with weaker bones are more likely to suffer broken bones than women with normal bone strength. We are investigating whether a hormone that is naturally produced by the human body, called growth hormone, can help strengthen the bones of women with this type of disordered eating. Read Less

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of growth hormone (GH) replacement in men and women with a history of acromegaly and who are now growth hormone deficient. We will compare them to persons with a history of acromegaly who have normal GH levels. Acromegaly results when an area in the brain, called the pituitary, produces too much growth hormone. When an individual is cured of acromegaly, the growth hormone levels may be normal or low (that is GH deficiency). Growth hormone deficiency means the body no longer produces as much growth hormone because the pituitary/hypothalamic region was damaged by a tumor or by treatment received. We will study the effects of growth hormone replacement on the health of the heart and blood vessels of GH deficient persons by looking to see if this therapy: 1. has effects on cardiovascular risk markers (special blood tests which indicate how healthy your heart and arteries are) 2. affects the stiffness of the arteries 3. affects your heart rate and the capacity of your heart to respond to changes in body position 4. has different effects depending on whether you are taking estrogen / testosterone. We will assess these measures of health on one occasion in persons with cured acromegaly and normal GH levels and in persons with cured acromegaly who have GH deficiency and a contraindication to receiving GH. GH deficient individuals with no contraindication to receiving GH, will participate in the study for 12 months. Individuals with normal GH levels, or who are GH deficient and have a contraindication to receiving GH, will be asked to return for one more visit (without any interventions). Read Less

Synthetic human growth hormone (HGH) has been available for more than a decade for specific indication in children and adults. Past Randomized Control Trials (RCT)s of HGH (under off-label use) for improving ovarian function have shown that a combination of traditional gonadotropin ovulation induction protocols, with addition of HGH is effective in increasing pregnancy rates, but not increasing egg production after IVF in women with documented diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). The investigators hypothesize that by initiating HGH at least 6 weeks prior to IVF start, the investigators will be able to increase production of oocytes and further improve pregnancy chances. This hypothesis is based on prior observations of effects of growth hormone on small antral follicles and the fact that prior studies utilized HGH principally only during ovulation induction itself. The investigators plan to recruit 30 women (15 in each group) to an open label randomized controlled trial of HGH for augmentation of ovarian response among women with documented DOR and poor prior response to ovulation induction. Eligible participants will be women \< 45 years with documented history of prior retrieval of 2 or fewer oocytes while on maximal ovulation induction despite prior supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Women will be treated with 1.9 mg (5.7 units) of HGH per day, beginning about 6 weeks before start of their treatment cycle. Cost of treatment with HGH will be a cost to the participating patient. HGH will cost the patient approximately $800 per week of treatment. Patients who are randomized to the non-HGH treated group, and do not conceive, will in the following cycle be offered HGH supplementation outside of this clinical trial. This subsequent cycle will not be part of the study dataset and patients will also be responsible for the cost of HGH. Even with only 7 patients in each group, this trial will have a 99% power (error 0.05%) to detect a mean increase to 4 oocytes in the treated group. The investigators plan to recruit 15 patients in each group to allow for possible dropouts. Read Less

Obesity is an important risk factor for osteoporosis and fractures. With the growing prevalence of obesity in the U.S., understanding the pathophysiology of bone loss in this population is of importance to public health. Growth hormone (GH) is a critical mediator of bone homeostasis and is markedly reduced in obesity. Our preliminary data suggest an important role for the GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) system in the pathogenesis of bone loss in obesity. The development of novel imaging techniques provides an opportunity to investigate the effects of GH on skeletal structure and strength, which will provide insights into the pathogenesis of obesity related bone loss. Understanding the pathophysiology of bone loss in obesity may help identify new treatment targets for this important complication. The investigator hypothesizes that low-dose GH administration for 18 months will improve skeletal health. Read Less

Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency, defined by insufficient GH response to a variety of stimulating compounds, is found in 20-35% of adults who suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) requiring inpatient rehabilitation1. However, there is no accepted gold standard for diagnosing GH deficiency in this population. Further, the major effector molecule of the somatotropic axis, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) has recently been recognized as an important neurotrophic agent. Since most repair and regeneration after TBI occurs within the first few months after injury, absolute or relative deficiencies of GH and IGF-1 in the subacute period after TBI are potentially important factors why some patients fail to make a good functional recovery. The proposed study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rhGH, starting at 1 month post TBI, continuing for 6 months. This study has one primary hypothesis, that treatment with recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) in the subacute period after TBI results in improved functional outcome 6 months after injury. As secondary hypotheses, we will investigate what is the optimal method to diagnose GH deficiency in TBI survivors and study the relationship between GH deficiency and insufficiency and functional recovery. Read Less

This study is examining the effects of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). GHRH will be given at a dose of 1mg/day for 10 weeks to subjects with MCI as well as healthy controls. Read Less

The diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults is established by laboratory testing in patients with an appropriate clinical history of hypothalamic pituitary disease. Two tests that are considered to be gold standard tests for the diagnosis of GHD are the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) combined with L-arginine (L-ARG). However, these tests are either bothersome (given intravenously) to the patient or are linked with side effects. Therefore, an orally available compound like AEZS-130 (formerly ARD-07), if demonstrated to be safe and providing adequate sensitivity and specificity could be a welcome alternative and/or complement to the current available tests. The intent was to recruit 40 adult GHD (AGHD) patients and 40 healthy control subjects into this trial, but the original sponsor (Ardana Biosciences Ltd.) discontinued the study for financial reasons before this was completed. At the time of withdrawal of GHRH from the market in 2008, 42 AGHD patients and 10 normal controls had completed the study at 9 US sites. This study reactivated to complete the remaining 30 matched control subjects. Additionally upon agreement with the FDA in a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA), 10 additional adult growth hormone deficient and their matched control were planned to be enrolled into this trial for a total treated population of approximatively 100 subjects. Read Less

PP1- The purpose of this study is to determine whether giving more of the hormone produced by everyone called growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) can improve heart function in individuals with congestive heart failure. You must be 50 years old or older, have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and have a high likelihood of having lower than normal growth hormone effect. GHRH is approved by the US FDA for treatment in children with growth hormone deficiency because GHRH stimulates Growth Hormone (GH). Its use for treatment of congestive heart failure in adults is investigational. Growth hormone releasing hormone is a hormone produced in the brain. We will be using synthetic hormone made in the laboratory. It is identical to the hormone in the brain. Many older people, due to aging have low levels of growth hormone. The aim of this study is to find out whether restoring growth hormone levels to the levels found in younger individuals and then maintaining those levels for 12 weeks will help strengthen heard muscles in older persons with congestive heart failure. Read Less

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of a naturally occurring hormone, called Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) on the muscle, bone, and fat tissues of the body. GHRH stimulates the production of growth hormone (GH), which regulates the build up of many tissues in the body, including muscles and bones. Many elderly people have low levels of GH. The overall goal of this research is to determine the efficacy of GHRH to raise levels of GH and improve these body tissues. Healthy men and women age 65 and older will receive GHRH in four doses nightly for 12 weeks and assessed for changes in muscle strength, body mass, physical performance, and how the body uses sugar. Read Less

Our specific aims include: 1. AIM 1. Characterization of glucose tolerance, nutritional and clinical status, socioeconomic status, family history of diabetes and genotype in Hispanic CF children compared to Caucasian CF children. Each child will undergo a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test and will be categorized by glucose tolerance according to standards set forth by the 1998 CF Consensus Conference on Diabetes. Nutritional status will be determined by three-day food journals and intake will be compared to energy needs measured by indirect calorimetry. Socio-economic status will be calculated from reported family income and medical insurance coverage. Genotyping will be done at the laboratory of Dr. Arthur Beaudet at Baylor College of Medicine. Clinical status will be measured using modified NIH scores. Family history for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes will be obtained in Spanish by Dr.Vanderwel. This specific aim tests the hypothesis that glucose intolerance /frank CF related diabetes occurs at a younger age in Hispanics than in Caucasians with CF, and is correlated to family history of diabetes and clinical status. 2. AIM 2. Characterization of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. Previous studies in adults have described peripheral insulin resistance as a major cause of CF related diabetes, yet studies have not been conducted in children. Studies in adults and children without CF suggest that insulin resistance occurs more frequently in Hispanics. We will measure insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity using the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and the minimal model analysis of Bergman, as modified for children. This specific aim tests the hypothesis that Hispanic children with CF have worse peripheral insulin resistance, but similar insulin secretion when compared to Caucasian children with CF. 3. AIM 3. Quantification of post-absorptive gluconeogenesis and whole body protein turnover. Total hepatic glucose production (HGP) will be measured using \[6,6-2H2\]glucose. We will quantify gluconeogenesis by measurement of the incorporation of 2H into the 2nd, 5th and 6th carbons of glucose following 2H20 administration method of Landau). We will determine whole body protein turnover using the stable isotopes \[1-13C\]leucine and will measure serum amino acid levels. This specific aim tests the hypothesis that gluconeogenesis and whole body protein turnover are disproportionately higher in Hispanic children and adolescents with CF than in Caucasian CF children. Read Less