Active clinical trials for "Immune System Diseases"

After acute stroke, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is impaired. This impaired acute stage BRS has been reported to be predictive of worsen outcome years after stroke in general. However, it is not very clear if the impaired acute stroke BRS would actually persist months after the acute stage. It is also not clear that such change, if any, would correlate with the functional outcome or prognosis after stroke. The trial is to investigate the longitudinal time course of BRS after ischemic stroke up to the 6th month post stroke and to see if there is any correlation of the changes in BRS with the functional outcome parameters using NIHSS and mRS scores throughout this period.

A comparison of outcome in children with JIA who are in remission on MTX, when MTX is then stopped for either 6 or 12 months

An increased number of patients with heparin-induced skin lesions is reported in the literature. Heparin-induced skin lesions may result from either occlusion of cutaneous vessels in patients suffering from autoimmune HIT or from a type IV allergic reaction (delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response). However, the incidence and nature of heparin-induced skin lesions has not been determined in a prospective investigation. To address this open issue is the goal of this ongoing, so far monocenter, clinical investigation.

There are two regions in the adult brain that exhibit neuronal stem and progenitor cells, generating new neurons postnatally and throughout adulthood. One is the so called subventricular zone the other is the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Adult neurogenesis is a physiological process representing an important functional impact for certain brain areas, especially the hippocampus. The hippocampal formation plays an important role in long-term memory and spatial navigation. Inhibition of adult neurogenesis in mice by chemotherapy or radiation is followed by significant deficits in hippocampal memory functions while hippocampus-independent memory is unaffected. Clinical trials had shown that chemotherapy and brain radiation lead to cognitive dysfunction. However, the exact mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still unidentified. The aim of our study is to investigate, whether the inhibition of adult neural stem cell proliferation in the hippocampus by intrathecal chemotherapy and/or cerebral radiation is responsible for treatment induced memory deficits. We will investigate patients suffering from acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL) that receive prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy and brain irradiation. The study represents a longitudinal investigation including a virtual "humanized" version of the morris-water-maze to test hippocampus dependent spatial memory, as well as MR-imaging for morphological (volumetry) and biochemical (spectroscopy) data.

Macrophage activation syndrome(MAS) is a complication of bone marrow suppression, coagulopathy and CNS dysfunction which occurs in rheumatic diseases. Normally the (Hemophagocytic Lympho-Histiocytosis) HLH-2004 criteria is used to diagnose patients with MAS. However this criteria is probably not sensitive and would probably be fulfilled quite late into the disease. Thus there would be an unacceptable delay. Ravelli et al came up with a different set of criteria based on data of patients reported in literature. Systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA) is the most common cause of MAS. MAS in other rheumatic illnesses occurs in the setting on unbridled inflammation. In both SoJIA and uncontrolled rheumatic disease the patient is liable to have high WBC counts and high platelet counts. Bone marrow suppression which is one of the pathognomic features of MAS would be picked up very late if absolute cut off values were utilized. Kelly et al used the same arguments in their review to suggest that in MAS/Reactive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(ReHLH), the trend of change in laboratory parameters would be more useful than absolute cut offs. Hence the investigators propose new candidate criteria which are based on trends of laboratory parameters and seek to determine their utility in comparison to absolute cut offs of HLH or Ravelli criteria. The investigators also wanted to determine that among the Ravelli criteria and HLH-2004 criteria, which were fulfilled earlier in patients diagnosed as having MAS. Study hypothesis:-Criteria which measure serial trend of laboratory parameters would be fulfilled earlier than absolute cut offs when diagnosing MAS in patients with rheumatic illness.

The aim of the present PPS3 study is (1) to assess the determinants of the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure variations and carotid properties (under different physiologic stimulations) and (2) to evaluate the respective contribution of heart rate, blood pressure variations and carotid properties to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including sudden death during 10 years at least in healthy considered subjects.

Swimmers show the highest prevalence of asthma among elite athletes, certainly due to chlorine exposure. The consequences of a chronic exposure to chlorine compounds by swimmers and the mechanisms of asthme in this population are still poorly documented. Specific diagnostic criteria have been proposed by the International Olympic Committee - Medical Council (IOC-MC) and World anti-doping agency (WADA) to determine the presence of asthma in athletes. Using the more specific bronchial provocation tests, our aims are to compare the prevalence of asthma in swimmers and control subjects to analyze the Influence of chlorine exposure on bronchial inflammatory processes in swimmers versus control subjects to study the time-course of changes in airway symptoms, responsiveness, inflammation and remodeling after cessation of training

The chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia (FM) cause serious discomfort, but at the same time they are not life threatening and they cannot be detected by any laboratory tests. The problems connected with these conditions have gained little attention in Estonia so far. It can be assumed that the CWP and FM often remain undetected and the sufferers live without treatment they need. So far, there are no data on the prevalence of the CWP and FM in Estonia available. The goal of the current research is to assess the prevalence of the CWP and local pain syndromes among Estonia's RA patients and among the control population in Tallinn and Harju County; also the factors connected with the presence of the pain and the pain treatment in use. At the same time there will be a similarly designed research conducted in Jyväskylä Central Hospital, which provides the opportunity to compare results in Estonia's and Finland's research groups. The study on the distribution of the chronic pain among RA patients and control population will allow to assess the magnitude of the problem in Estonia and to raise the awareness of physicians about CWP and significance of its treatment. Performing the study will provide an experience which forms the base for further epidemiological and clinical research on CWP and FM

Establishment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Data Base in the Department of Oncology

Comparison of single time point with dual time point PET imaging in the accuracy of diagnosing active lymphoma. Biopsy results or clinical/radiological progression will be used in conjunction with the PET data.