Active clinical trials for "Immune System Diseases"

Background: The extent of increase in systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs) during exercise in patients with COPD is unpredictable from lung function data. The non-invasive assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics during exercise and flow-mediated vasodilatation measurement may give useful data in the rehabilitation of COPD patients. Methods: Patients with stable, severe COPD and healthy, age-matched subjects (H) perform semi supine echocardiography with PAPs measurement. COPD patients perform ramp protocol with gas exchange detection. Serum hsCRP level is also determined in COPD patients. Endothel dysfunction is detected by flow mediated vasodilation measurement after arm strangulation with Doppler ultrasonography. Primary endpoint: The degree of pulmonary artery systolic pressure change during exercise? Secondary endpoint: The degree of right ventricular function change during exercise? Is endothel dysfunction manifested with pulmonary artery pressure rise? What is the correlation between the systemic inflammatory marker hsCRP and the degree of pulmonary artery pressure rise?

Despite the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment among HIV-infected patients continues to be an important issue. Although severe forms of AIDS-related dementia have diminished, milder forms of cognitive impairment have been noted among approximately 30% of asymptomatic HIV patients. Studies among HIV-infected U.S. military personnel regarding neurocognitive function have largely been limited to the early 1990s, before the advent of HAART. In these studies subtle neurobehavioral changes were noted among asymptomatic HIV-positive military personnel. This study proposes to determine the prevalence of neurocognitive deficits among HIV-positive military beneficiaries during the era of HAART who are participants of the U.S. Military HIV Natural History Study. The prevalence ascertained in this study will be compared to HIV-negative military beneficiaries who are demographically similar to the HIV positive group. The sample size of the study is to have complete testing on 200 HIV positive and 50 HIV-negative participants; due to the possibility of attrition before study completion, the investigators will enroll up to 300 participants (240 HIV-positive and 60 HIV-negative) to achieve this sample size. The investigators' rates among HIV-positive patients found in this study will also be contextualized in the setting of the prevalence of prior neurocognitive deficits seen in a HIV positive U.S. military population studied in the 1990s, contemporary rates among civilian HIV-infected persons, and normative values in the general HIV-negative population. Compared to other data in the field of neuropsychology, this study is novel in that the HIV population studied is composed largely of HIV patients who have been diagnosed early in their HIV infection; have open, free access to antiretrovirals to begin therapy earlier than most other cohorts; and consists of highly-functioning, educated individuals.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the presence and manifestations of ocular graft versus host disease in adults that had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the past 3 years at the sheba medical center, Israel. As well as correlate the degree of the presentation to the therapeutic protocol (chemotherapy and irradiation).

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of pathologic eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in the cohort of adult patients who present for specialty care in the gastroenterology clinics with complaint of difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). From this, the investigators will make recommendations regarding routine screening for the diagnosis in this cohort. The prevalence of EoE in patients presenting for specialty care in the gastroenterology clinics with the complaint of dysphagia is great enough that the diagnosis should be routinely screened against in this cohort.

A questionnaire will be used in order to find out the reasons for poor adherence for long-term treatment in children with asthma. The hypotheses is maternal factors including the knowledge that asthma is a chronic disease and fear to administer inhaled steroids are major obstacles for appropriate adherence.

To establish a pathology reference laboratory for the consultation on the diagnosis of infectious diseases and lymphoma. To study the specific pathogens on 100 cases of unexplained death due to infectious diseases in the files of Taiwan CDC and the Forensic Institutes of Department of Law and Justice. To study the distribution of children lymphoid lesions in Vietnam and Taiwan and their virus association. To establish a tissue bank for infectious diseases and lymphoma.

TPMT is a key enzyme in the metabolism of thiopurines. TPMT polymorphisms have been described and are associated with a decrease activity of such enzyme. Therefore, a higher risk of developing toxicity is present in patients requiring these drugs, which are indicated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as, immunosuppressors after organ transplantation. The frequency of heterozygotes polymorphisms ranges from 3 till 12 %, in different populations. Homozygous patients have a lower frequency, estimated 1 in 300 individuals. The frequency of such polymorphisms in mestizos mexican population has not been analyzed, and we considered important to determine this frequency in healthy and patients requiring thiopurines, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the monoclonal protein in patients with tuberculosis and monoclonal gammopathy has anti-tuberculous activity, and whether genes coding their monoclonal proteins show characteristic mutations.

This study aims to determine if there is a link between cow's milk allergy in infants and regulatory T cells dysfunction that should be transient in infant acquiring oral tolerance after 12 month avoiding food and persistent in others. Cow's milk allergy is evaluated by basophils activation test, T cells activation test, specific humoral response (IgA, IgE, IgG) in allergic infants before and after 12 month avoiding food, before and after low dose milk exposure, before and after oral challenge. Number and function of regulatory T cells and microflora composition are measured at the same time. Allergic infants are compared to age matched control group.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between cognitive functions and volume of specific brain area measured in MRI of multiple sclerosis patients.