All Clinical Trials

Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa (H-JEB), an incurable, fatal, inherited skin disease, is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the LAMA3, LAMB3 or LAMC2 genes, resulting in loss of laminin 332 and poor epidermal-dermal adherence. Eighty percent of H-JEB patients have LAMB3 mutations and about 95% of these are nonsense mutations. The investigators recently demonstrated that gentamicin readily induced nonsense mutation readthrough and produced full-length laminin beta3 in several nonsense mutations tested. Importantly, the gentamicin-induced laminin beta3 restored laminin 332 assembly, secretion, and deposition into the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). Newly induced laminin 332 reversed abnormal H-JEB cellular phenotypes. Herein, the investigators propose the first clinical trial of gentamicin (by topical and intravenous administration) in JEB patients with nonsense mutations. The milestones will include restored laminin 332 and hemidesmosomes at the DEJ, improved wound closure, and the absence of significant gentamicin side effects. Read Less

The PHA Registry (PHAR) is a national study about people who have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). PHAR collects information from people with PAH and CTEPH who are cared for in participating PHA-accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers throughout the U.S. PHAR will determine how people with PAH and CTEPH are evaluated, tested, and treated, and will observe how well these participants do. The goal is to see if people with PH are treated according to recommended guidelines, and to see if there are certain factors that can lead to better or worse outcomes. PHAR will include information about people with PAH and CTEPH in the U.S. who are seen at participating PHA-accredited PH Care Centers. PHAR contains data about patient care and outcomes. Specifically, data in the PHAR includes information on diagnosis; clinical status; socioeconomic status; diagnosis test results; body size; treatment information; interest in participating in clinical trials; family health and social history; and information about smoking, alcohol, or drug use. Participants are followed over time, and provide updates such as changes in therapy, how often participants need to go to the hospital, and survival. Such information may help healthcare providers provide better care. Read Less

This study will be a multi-institutional randomized clinical trial of a short course of pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis in addition to perioperative antibiotics prior to undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The select patient population will be those patients deemed to be at a moderately increased risk of postoperative infectious complications. These higher risk patients are those with indwelling urinary drainage tubes and those with a positive preoperative urine culture. Read Less

This study will be a single-institutional randomized, single-blinded prospectively controlled clinical trial of a single dose of Ciprofloxicin 500mg antibiotic tablet as prophylaxis at the time of office flexible cystoscopy with ureteral stent removal. The control group will be no prophylaxis oral antibiotics. Read Less

The purpose of this pilot study will be to conduct a clinical trial using a time-of-flight PET scanner and MRI scanner to test an improved method for differentiating tumor recurrence from radiation necrosis in glioblastoma patients. We will attempt to do so by performing a static and dynamic FDG-PET scan, a static and dynamic FDOPA-PET scan, and a multiparametric MRI scan - then comparing the results with surgical pathology and static FDG-PET scans. We hypothesize that the new quantitative kinetic analytical methods using FDOPA in combination with FDG will provide crucial functional information to distinguish recurrent tumors from treatment-induced radiation changes in patients with treated brain neoplasms. This is important for improving patient outcomes by allowing treating physicians to more accurately tailor treatments. Furthermore, dynamic FDG and FDOPA PET will be combined with high resolution anatomic and physiologic MRI in order to develop a multimodal multiparametric approach for differentiating tumor recurrence from treatment effect. Read Less

With the completion of the human genome project, investigators can now explore new questions in human biology. Previously human genetics focused on highly penetrant, Mendelian traits; however, now rare and common variants can be discovered that affect "common" diseases that have multi-gene architecture with variable penetrance such as breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. This change took place because investigators now have the tools to illuminate the whole genome at once to discover the genetic variants responsible for different disease phenotypes through statistical differences between populations. Besides disease phenotypes, health can be considered a human phenotype that can be studied. Health is not merely the absence of disease but may be viewed as a dynamic ongoing interplay between the environment and the genome to maintain homeostasis. Individuals often attempt to optimize environmental conditions according to ones genome to maximize their health. All individuals possess potentially beneficial and harmful variants depending on the environment. How this dynamic interplay occurs between the genome and environment requires understanding the boundary conditions of the genetic architecture of health and disease and then modeling the system to simulate the observed data. The aging process also affects health. Aging involves a loss of the normal coping responses to internal and external environmental stressors or signals. Investigators now have the tools to uncover from the bottom up the mechanisms involved in maintaining the ability to overcome environmental conditions that can affect health. Against this genomic breakthrough of whole genome association studies, the demographics in the United States are quickly changing. The older population (age > 65 years) in 2030 is projected to be twice as large as in 2000 representing nearly 20 percent of the total US population. The first baby boomers turn 65 in 2011 and will challenge all facets of health care in the coming decades. The demographic changes underscore the need to understand the mechanisms that promote health and disease in this cohort. Genomic discoveries will help individuals and may reduce medical costs and benefit society. In summary, the objective of this study is to obtain blood and/or saliva samples in order to help model health and disease phenotypes through population genomics. The blood and/or saliva samples may allow for participants' entire genomes to be sequenced if such comprehensive analysis becomes feasible and economical. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on memory in cognitively unimpaired older adults and in patients amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study will use repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to stimulate nodes of the Default Mode Network (DMN)- which is thought to support episodic memory and to be affected by Alzheimer's pathology. We will use functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) to assess changes in functional network architecture following the stimulation. We will also assess putative cognitive improvements resulting from the stimulation by in-depth memory testing. Read Less

Columbia University Medical Center is conducting a pilot clinical research study that will assess the use of the medication metformin for heart failure in patients who are not diabetic and have no evidence of insulin resistance. Patients will received either the study drug metformin or placebo for 4 months. During the study, the patients will undergo extensive testing that will include symptom assesment, exercise capacity, echocardiography, cardiac PET imaging and blood tests. Read Less

The goal of this study is to determine the genetic basis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We will first look for genes in the Icelandic population, where large family trees are known and it is easier to search for genes. We will then determine whether these same genes are important in U.S. PCOS patients. Read Less

While advancements in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) have improved image quality, it is unclear how these improvements are connected to the clinical evaluation of individuals with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this large prospective registry revolves around 4 key principles: 1) utilize CMR to gain additional pathophysiologic insights into cardiovascular disease, 2) understand how CMR compares to alternative cardiovascular diagnostic modalities, 3) determine how CMR affects clinical management decisions, and 4) establish a link between CMR findings and long term prognosis in patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease. The ultimate aim is to utilize CMR to improve patient outcomes. CMR techniques to be studies include function, fibrosis, and flow. Focus areas include valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and vascular disease. Read Less

This is a prospective, observational study designed to describe disease progression, symptom change, quality of life, diet and lifestyle habits, and frequency of adverse events among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In addition to describing the patterns of CAM use, this study will also identify and describe the positive deviants, those individuals with the highest quality of life and least amount of disease activity. Positive deviants will be compared to controls in order to describe medication, diet, and lifestyle patterns associated with a lack of MS disease progression and high quality of life. Read Less

Local injection of 5-fluorouracil into a chalazion (stye) is as effective as local injection of triamcinolone (steroid) and incision and curettage for treatment of chalazia. Read Less