All Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of a point ablation catheter (Farapoint, Boston Scientific) in the mapping and ablation of focal ventricular arrhythmias (premature ventricular contractions or ventricular tachycardia) using pulsed field energy. Read Less

The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects study is to determine whether other psychoactive substances can produce experiences akin to those seen with classic psychedelics. Screening involves a medical and psychiatric examination, including blood draw, history and physical, interviews, and questionnaires. Eligible participants will then be asked to complete up to 6 experimental drug administration session during which the participants will potentially receive and report on the subjective effects of 6 different psychoactive substances or inactive placebo. Drug assignment for some sessions will be randomized (like flipping a count or rolling a pair of dice), and both participants and study staff will be blind to the drug condition on any given day. Participants will also complete 2 preparation sessions (4 hours total) before the first experimental session, and follow-up visits after each session to discuss and debrief on the participants subjective experience. Read Less

A pilot study on simulated lung scenarios using the standard manual resuscitator bag, flow limiting resuscitator bag, and an FDA approved flow rate limiting device paired with a standard manual resuscitator. Read Less

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects at least 40% of women in the United States. Synthetic polypropylene mid-urethral slings (MUS) are the gold standard treatment for SUI. Post-operative urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common complications after MUS placement. Some studies have demonstrated that MUS placement can increase the risk of UTI up to 21-34%. Post-operative UTI can lead to significant healthcare and patient burden. This additional burden further contributes to an estimated annual cost of $1.6 billion for UTI management in the United States. With increased antibiotic usage, there is simultaneous increase in bacterial resistance leading to treatment refractory UTI. The investigators prescribe post-operative antibiotics prophylactically for 3 days after MUS placement with or without concurrent pelvic reconstructive surgery based on prior literature recommending post-operative prophylaxis. There is a greater emphasis on limiting antibiotic use given the trend of development of bacterial resistance. There are studies supporting alternatives such as methenamine for recurrent UTI prophylaxis treatment, but there are limited studies evaluating methenamine for UTI prophylaxis after MUS. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a novel imaging approach that combines hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate magnetic resonance imaging (HP-13C-MRI) and \[¹⁸F\]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in a single exam to improve the prognostic assessment of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Primary Hypothesis: Can the simultaneous acquisition of HP-13C-MRI and FDG-PET data improve the metabolic, viability, and mechanical function assessment in ischemic cardiomyopathy? Primary Outcome Measure: To determine whether the combined HP-13C-MRI/FDG-PET approach provides better prognostic value for ischemic cardiomyopathy compared to current separate imaging modalities. Secondary Outcome Measures: Baseline metabolic and viability profiles in healthy individuals. Correlation of metabolic imaging with clinical outcomes in preoperative patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Longitudinal changes in myocardial metabolism post-surgery. Study Design: This is a prospective, non-blinded, single-center study utilizing a hybrid PET-MR scanner for simultaneous imaging. Participants will be divided into three groups: Healthy subjects (n=6) with normal LVEF for baseline reference. Preoperative patients (n=6) with low LVEF due to ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Post-CABG patients (n=6 at 4-6 months, n=6 at 10-12 months) to evaluate post-surgical changes. Procedures: Undergo HP-13C-MRI and FDG-PET imaging in a single session. Blood samples for metabolic biomarkers (lactate, pyruvate, triglycerides, insulin, glucose). Standard clinical cardiac imaging (Echocardiography, SPECT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging). Read Less

The study protocol is a randomized trial of standard of care therapies for severe aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Namely, the therapies to which patients will be randomized will be transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), in patients deemed clinically suitable for both following heart team review. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) for treating patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who have a congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) anatomy. Patients with BAV anatomy have been under-represented in previous trials and this study might provide important information to help guide future treatment options. The study patients will be followed with standard of care procedures for 10 years. Read Less

Most of the time, body weight is evaluated by looking at the ratio of your weight to your height. This measurement is called body mass index or BMI. However, BMI does not account for what your body is actually made up of (e.g., body fat versus muscle), which may be more important for determining cardiovascular disease risk. The investigators aim to understand vascular health in females with a "healthy" BMI with differing amounts of body fat and muscle mass. We will have participants come to the lab for two different study visits. At one visit, participants will eat a meal high in fat, and at the other visit, participants will undergo a stress task. Read Less

This project is being done to understand if a drain reduces recovery problems after surgery, such as infection or the need for more surgery. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine if analysis of DNA and protein material found in urine will be useful in the detection of urothelial cancer of the bladder and kidney. This analysis may be helpful to determine if how a particular cancer will act regarding remission and recurrence Read Less

Use of discarded embryos to advance laboratory expertise and technology in the area of human embryo development and assisted reproductive technologies Read Less

The purpose of this study is to collect DNA samples from patients undergoing routine care at the University of Chicago. These samples will be tested for differences in genes that may suggest greater risk of side effects or chance of increased benefit from certain medications. The results will be made available to the patient's treating physician and the researchers will track whether or not this information is used in routine health care. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the usefulness of MRI using 129Xe gas for regional assessment of pulmonary function. Specifically, three forms of 129Xe MRI contrast will be the investigators focus - 1) imaging of the 129Xe ventilation distribution, 2) imaging the alveolar microstructure via the 129Xe apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and 3) imaging 129Xe that dissolves in the pulmonary blood and tissues upon inhalation. Such imaging of 129Xe gas transfer is expected to be uniquely sensitive to pathologies affecting gas exchange (fibrosis, emphysema, pulmonary hypertension) and provide new insights regarding the normal resting heterogeneity of pulmonary gas exchange. Read Less