All Clinical Trials

The goal of this clinical trial is to characterize to understand the effects of a type of cell therapy called Chimeric Antigen Receptor T lymphocyte (CAR T) therapy in adult patients with the autoimmune disease dermatomyositis. This study will utilize a technology that modifies a type of white blood cell called the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-this T cell normally functions in the immune system to kill infected or potentially harmful cells in the body. In CAR T therapy, the patients' white blood cells are harvested and the cytotoxic T cells are isolated and modified such that they are programmed to kill any cell that has a protein structure called "CD19" on its outer surface (membrane). Since the CD19 protein is only present on a type of white blood cell called the B lymphocyte, when these "re-engineered" cytotoxic T lymphocytes are then given back to the patient (by an infusion), these cells will seek out and kill essentially all of the patient's B cells. B cells are an important part of a person's immune system and have many functions, including the production of antibodies. It is thought that, in dermatomyositis and other autoimmune diseases, a tiny subset of these B cells plays a large role in making autoantibodies (antibodies directed against the patient's own tissues) and causing disease. The idea is that the therapy will "wipe out" all/most of the B cells in the patient so that they can make an entirely new set of B cells to recreate a functional immune system without the autoimmune disease. The main questions the study intends to answer are: * Understanding how well patients tolerate undergoing this therapy in terms of side effects; * Getting an early idea if this therapy can help certain aspects of the autoimmune disease, including inflammation in the skin, muscles, and lungs; Read Less

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the Flu Pandemic messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine (including dose-finding and dose-confirmation) administered in healthy adults 18 to 85 years of age. Read Less

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical, throat, anal, and genital cancers. Cancers caused by HPV have a HPV protein called E7 inside of their cells. In this new therapy, researchers take a person s blood, remove certain white blood cells, and insert genes that make them to target cancer cells that have the E7 protein. The genetically changed cells, called E7 TCR cells, are then given back to the person to fight the cancer. Researchers want to see if this can help people. Objective: To determine a safe dose and efficacy of E7 TCR cells and whether these cells can help patients. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older with an HPV-16-associated cancer, including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, or oropharyngeal. Design: Participants will list all their medicines. Participants will have many screening tests, including imaging procedures, heart and lung tests, and lab tests. They will have a large catheter inserted into a vein. Participants will have leukapheresis. Blood will be removed through a needle in the arm. A machine separates the white blood cells. The rest of the blood is returned through a needle in the other arm. The cells will be changed in the lab. Participants will stay in the hospital. Over several days, they will get: Chemotherapy drugs E7 TCR cells Shots or injections to stimulate the cells Participants will be monitored in the hospital up to 12 days. They will get support medicine and have blood and lab tests. Participants will have a clinic visit about 40 days after cell infusion. They will have a physical exam, blood work, scans, and maybe x-rays. Participants will have many follow-up visits with the same procedures. At some visits, they may undergo leukapheresis. Participants will be followed for 15 years. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine the difference in the cornea's response to contact lens placement between healthy and unhealthy eyes. The amount of corneal swelling (corneal thickness) between normal and FECD patients before and after a stress test will be measured and compared. Read Less

This protocol will investigate whether topical application of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) eye drops decreases oxidative stress and confers cytoprotection in patients with FECD. Read Less

This clinical trial evaluates the side effects and possible benefits of operating on brain tumors prior to the tumor coming back (recurrence). Understanding when surgery is most useful to patients with brain tumors is important. Some patients may undergo chemotherapy or radiation but still have visible tumor remaining after treatment. The purpose of this research is to compare outcomes of those who have surgery after chemotherapy or radiation, but prior to tumor recurrence, to those who have surgery at a different time, or no surgery at all. Read Less

Background: Each year, the number of cases of tick-borne diseases increases. The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the vector of at least 7 pathogens that cause human diseases, including Lyme disease. Researchers want to learn more to help them develop vaccines against ticks in the future. Objective: To learn how people s bodies, particularly the skin, respond to tick bites. Eligibility: Healthy adults aged 18 years and older who have no known history of a tick-borne disease or tick bite exposure. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Participants will have 2 skin punch biopsies of healthy skin. For this, a sharp instrument will be used to remove a round plug of skin about the size of a pencil eraser. Participants will then have 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks placed at 2 different sites on their skin (20 ticks total). The ticks will be removed from the first site 1 day after placement and from the second site 2-4 days after placement. Participants will complete symptom diary cards. They will answer questions about itching at the tick feeding sites. They will give blood samples. Photos will be taken of the tick feeding sites. Skin punch biopsies will be collected at the sites of the tick bites. Participants will repeat the tick feeding procedures 2 times, each 2-8 weeks apart. For the 2nd and 3rd procedures, 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks will be placed at 1 site. The ticks will be removed 2-3 days after tick placement. They will have telephone follow-up visits after each procedure. After the final tick removal, participants will have follow-up visits in 4-6 weeks and again in 3 months. They will give blood samples and discuss how they are feeling. Participation will last about 5-7 months. Read Less

This phase III trial investigates if perflutren lipid microspheres with ultrasound can be used to diagnose prostate cancer non-invasively. Definity (perflutren lipid microspheres) is an ultrasound contrast agent that is typically used for ultrasound bubble studies that involve the heart. Definity appears on ultrasound images as tiny gas-filled microbubbles. These microbubbles are about the size of a red blood cell and do not stay in a patient's body for more than several minutes, where they are excreted from the lungs and exhaled back into the air when breathing. Definity may enhance ultrasound images of the prostate and help doctors identify prostate cancer on ultrasound images. Read Less

In this research study, we want to learn more about the impact of two different local anesthetics (bupivacaine and lidocaine) on patient experience following orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Both anesthetics are within the standard of care for dental and orthognathic procedures, but can vary in how quickly they take action and how long they last. This study will provide us with a greater understanding of how anesthetic choice affect patient outcomes, and how we can strive to make these outcomes as favorable as possible. Read Less

Background: Cushing syndrome (CS) is a set of diseases that develop when the body produces too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH stimulates the production of a hormone called cortisol. Excess cortisol can cause serious issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, and mood changes. Diagnosing CS early can be difficult. One test used to diagnose CS, the desmopressin (Desmo) stimulation test (DesmoST), has not been studied in enough people to know how accurate it is. Objective: To find ways to improve the DesmoST. Researchers especially want to learn more about how well the DesmoST identifies people with specific ACTH CSs: Cushing disease (CD) and ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS). Eligibility: People aged 18 to 70 years who have or may have CS, especially CD or EAS. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants with CS will have 3 DesmoSTs at least 48 hours apart. The procedure for each is as follows: They will limit their fluid intake the day before each test. They will have nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours before the test. For 1 of the tests, they will take a pill that contains a hormone (dexamethasone). They will take it around 11 pm the day before the test. Desmo is given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein. Blood will be drawn a total of 6 times before and after the desmo is given. Healthy volunteers will have 4 DesmoSTs. These will be 2 to 14 days apart. All participants will have follow-up visits 3 to 5 days after each test. These visits may be by phone. Read Less

PTSD occurs in up to 17% of post-9/11 US Service Members and is associated with long-term functional impairment, family problems, unemployment, and suicidality. Trauma-focused therapies (TFTs), such as Prolonged Exposure (PE), result in significant relief for many. Yet, TFTs are not equally effective for everyone. An important minority (\~40%) will retain their PTSD diagnoses after treatment, and many discontinue treatment prematurely, especially post-9/11 Service Members. TFTs are also more effective in addressing symptoms than psychosocial functioning. More work is needed to improve the consistency and potency of TFTs. Partnering with significant others may provide a powerful method for helping individuals get more out of their PTSD treatment. Observational research shows that relationship factors can help patients initiate, stay in, and experience greater benefit from PTSD treatment. Veterans that were surveyed experienced greater treatment gains when they shared more about their treatment with loved ones and when loved ones accommodated less for PTSD symptoms. Despite the promise of partner-involved interventions, there is no couples approach to PTSD treatment that has demonstrated superior outcomes to individual-only treatment models (i.e., TFTs). To address this gap, the investigators have completed a series of partner-assisted PTSD treatment studies, leading up the current proposal (Partnered PE, PPE). The investigators found that treatment completion rates were better than routine clinical care, and the treatment led to large improvements in participants' functioning, PTSD symptoms, and romantic functioning. For this proposed study, the primary objective is to conduct a randomized controlled trial (Research Level 3; larger-scale clinical trial) to test the superiority of PPE to standard PE among post 9/11 Veterans. The investigator's primary hypothesis is that PPE will lead to greater improvements in psychosocial functioning than standard PE. Secondary and tertiary aims examine posttreatment clinical outcomes (PTSD, depression) and intimate partner outcomes (relationship functioning, distress, caregiver burden, and psychosocial functioning), as well as examine strategies for PPE implementation. In exploratory aims, the investigators will examine the stability of group differences, treatment completion rates, the role military sexual trauma history, and treatment mechanisms. Read Less

This study will investigate how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, and related conditions. Individuals \>=4 weeks with a personal or family history of melanoma or atypical spitzoid/Spitz tumor may be eligible for this study. Participants will: * Fill out one or two questionnaires about their personal and family medical history. * Provide written consent for researchers to review their medical records and pathology materials related to their care and those of deceased relatives with melanomas, tumors, cancer, or other related illnesses for whom they are the next-of-kin or legally authorized representative. * Donate a blood or cheek cell sample to be used for genetic studies. (The blood sample is collected through a needle in an arm vein. The cheek cell sample is obtained either by gently brushing the inside of the mouth with a soft brush or by swishing a tablespoon of mouthwash and then spitting it into a container.) * Undergo a skin biopsy (removal of a small piece of skin tissue) for genetic study. For this procedure, the area of skin to be removed is numbed with a local anesthetic and a 1/4-inch piece of skin is excised with a cookie cutter-like instrument. The wound is then covered with a band-aid. Participants may be asked to travel to the NIH Clinical Center for evaluation, including a medical history, physical examination, and some of the following procedures: * Full body skin examination to evaluate the type and number of moles and document any evidence of sun damage to the skin. The examination involves all the skin from the scalp to the bottoms of the feet. After the examination, a medical photographer will photograph the skin, with close-ups of skin lesions marked by the examiner. If there are parts of the skin the participant does not want examined or photographed, he or she can tell the examiner. * Blood draw of about 120 milliliters (4 ounces) or less * Skin biopsy * Cheek cell sample * X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies to detect tumors or changes in tumors or other types of changes in specific tissues. MRI is a diagnostic test that uses strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to examine body tissues. The subject lies on a table that is moved into a large tunnel-like machine (the scanner) for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the tests are finished, a doctor will discuss the results with the participant and the need, if any, for clinical follow-up.... Read Less