
Use of Electrical Impedence to Measure Lean Body Weight as a Determinant of the Dose of Contrast...
IV Contrast DosingThere are several different methods that can be used to determine the dose of iodinated contrast material for a CT scan. These include a standard fixed dose, a dose based on total body weight, a dose based on body mass index, a dose based on lean body weight, and a dose based on estimated lean body weight. The fixed dose method uses a predetermined amount of contrast material for all patients having a CT scan of the abdomen regardless of size. This is the standard procedure currently used at Duke. The other methods use the patient's weight, either the total body weight or lean body weight, to determine the amount of contrast necessary for the CT exam. For this study, the investigators will use the fixed dose, total body weight, the lean body weight, and estimated lean body weight methods. The purpose of this study is to evaluate these five methods of determining the IV contrast volume and which may be best for abdominal CT scanning.

Study of Effects From Gastric Bypass Weight Loss on Brain Tissue
Weight LossThis study will evaluate how large, intentional weight reduction affects the human brain and possible ways to reverse the changes associated with excess body weight. Subtle changes in some brain regions occur in people who are overweight. Such changes may involve the regulation of eating behavior, though it is not clear whether the changes were present before weight gain or are a consequence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to study local structures of the brain. Patients ages 18 to 45 who are undergoing gastric bypass surgery and who are not pregnant or breastfeeding may be eligible for this study. A study group of lean participants will serve as controls. Patients will visit the Phoenix Indian Medical Center for about 3 days at a time for tests. They will have a medical examination, electrocardiogram, and tests of blood and urine. Questionnaires they will complete involve patients' moods and possible influence on eating behaviors, as well as food preferences. A taste test, smell test, and assessment of decision-making processes will be conducted. An oral glucose tolerance test involves a needle placed intravenously (IV) in the arm, for drawing blood after patients drink a sugar solution. The test takes about 3-1/2 hours, with six blood samples taken (about 2 tablespoons total). A meal test also includes use of an IV line. After patients consume a liquid meal, blood will be collected to analyze levels of blood sugar and hormones. For the DEXA scan, which measures body composition, patients will lie still while low-dose X-rays are used for 5 to 10 minutes. Urine will be collected for 1 whole day, to measure cortisol, a hormone. The MRI scan uses a strong magnetic field to obtain images of body organs and tissues. Patients having any metal in the body that may interfere with the scanning machine should not have this test. For the MRI procedure, patients will lie on a table that slides into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner and be asked to lie still. Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the scan, and they may ask to be removed from the machine at any time.

Body Weight Regulation in Patients With Narcolepsy
NarcolepsyThis study will measure energy expenditure (the rate at which the body burns calories), physical activity and caloric intake in people with narcolepsy to learn more about how the risk of becoming overweight or diabetic may be affected. Healthy control subjects and people with narcolepsy between 18 and 55 years of age may be eligible for this study. Participants are withdrawn from their narcolepsy medication and undergo the following tests and procedures over 5 weeks before resuming medications. Blood draw for genetic studies. Collection of a cerebrospinal fluid sample. Diet to keep subjects' weight constant. Activity watch, using a device worn on the wrist to measure amount of movement, and an activity monitor worn at the waist to measure physical activity and caloric expenditure. Questionnaires about sleepiness, symptoms, food intake, exercise and mood. 24-hour urine collection and 24-hour blood draw to measure hormones. Glucose tolerance test. The subject drinks a sugar solution and blood samples are collected through a catheter before drinking the solution and 30 minutes, 1, 2 and 3 hours after drinking it. Startle reflex test. Subjects hear a loud noise through headphones and are asked to look at pictures. Sleep study to evaluate sleep-related breathing disturbances and record information about sleep stages. Indirect calorimetry test to measure how fast the body uses calories. A plastic canopy is placed over the face for several minutes to capture the air exhaled to analyze oxygen use. To measure the energy associated with meals, the same measurements are taken after the subject eats lunch. CT scan of the abdomen to see how much fat is deposited in the abdomen, and DEXA scan of the whole body to see the percentage of fat and muscle. Plethysmography. Participants sit in an enclosed chamber while the mass and volume of the body are measured by changes in air pressure. Neuropsychological testing to assess thought processes. Continuous 24-hour heart rate measurement. Metabolic chamber. Subjects spend 24 hours in a small room to measure the amount of oxygen inhaled and carbon dioxide exhaled. Walking/running test to assess level of physical conditioning. Dexamethasone CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) suppression test and CRH stimulation test. Subjects receive eight doses of 0.5 mg dexamethasone every 6 hours for a day and a half. After the last dose, two blood samples are drawn, then a dose of CRH is injected, and then six more blood samples are drawn over the next 3 hours. TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) stimulation test. Subjects are given TRH through a vein, and several blood samples are then drawn over the next 3 hours. Doubly labeled water test. Subjects drink a dose of "heavy" water. Urine samples are collected at 2, 3 and 5 hours after drinking and again for two 4-hour collections a week later.

Attitudes Toward Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention During Cancer Treatment
Breast NeoplasmsBody Weight ChangesTwenty-five women will be followed through their breast cancer treatment. The women will be asked to provide their opinions and desires for lifestyle intervention at different times throughout treatment. In addition, basic clinical data will be collected . The primary goal of this pilot study is to investigate the physical and behavioral changes that occur in patients receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Management of Gestational Weight Gain by Family Physicians: Seeking Congruence With Guidelines
Gestational Weight GainBackground The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published guidelines in 2009 for optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy. These guidelines include trajectories for optimal GWG, based on a woman's pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), to be used throughout the duration of a pregnancy. Although there is a significant association between the total GWG recommended by these guidelines and maternal and perinatal outcomes, research has demonstrated that only approximately one-third of pregnant women have total GWG within the recommended amounts. Factors known to influence GWG include maternal age, parity, being in a committed relationship and smoking. In addition, recommendations by primary care providers have been shown to influence actual GWG. Women appreciate advice from their primary care providers, however, despite this, there is evidence that many patients report not being advised at all about GWG by their primary care providers. Relevance Excess weight gain in pregnancy has been shown to be a modifiable risk factor for excess weight in childhood, thus contributing to the intergenerational cycle of obesity. There is an opportunity to interfere with this cycle during the peri-pregnancy period, as women's motivation to engage in behaviour change is elevated and contact with their primary care providers is frequent. Research Question and Hypothesis What impact does training family physicians to regularly refer to the IOM trajectories and provide feedback about GWG ("training in the use of IOM charts") during routine prenatal visits, compared to usual care, have on congruence of total GWG with IOM guidelines? Null Hypothesis: there is no difference in the congruence of total GWG with IOM guidelines between women whose family physicians were assigned to training in the use of the IOM charts and those whose family physicians were assigned to usual care. Objectives The following are the objectives for this study: To compare the congruence of total GWG with IOM guidelines between women whose family physicians were assigned to training in the use of IOM trajectories and those whose family physicians were assigned to usual care. To explore the relationship between other independent variables (maternal age, parity, committed relationship and smoking) and congruence of total GWG with IOM guidelines, for women whose family physicians were assigned to training in the use of IOM trajectories and for those whose family physicians were assigned to usual care.

Mechanism of Weight Loss After Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Sleeve Procedures
Weight LossRefluxThe purpose of this research study is to understand the mechanism of weight loss for weight loss procedures: that is Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Endoscopic sleeve Gastroplasty.

Clinical Trial of Infant Formula-fed
Body Weight ChangesCompared with breast milk and another commercially available formula, infants' growth rate after 12 weeks' Friso formula with different ways of processing feeding will be assessed.

Implications of Self-weighing During Weight Loss Treatment
Overweight and ObesitySigns and Symptoms2 moreThis study aims to analyze the effectiveness of introducing behavioral elements in a weight loss program, in this case, comparing the difference between self-weighing versus not doing so.

Associations Between Genetic Markers of Caffeine Metabolism, Appetite Hormones and Body Weight
Food Consumption and AppetiteFood Habits1 moreThe effect of caffeine on appetite and body weight is controversial. Mostly epidemiological studies exist that show either a negative effect (reduction of appetite and body weight) or no effect. In this trial we are going to study the results of the consumption of 5mgr/kgr body weight of caffeine on appetite, food consumption and hormones ghrelin, asprosin, leptin and pancreatic polypeptide in relation to gene polymorphisms that affect caffeine metabolism and body weight. Seventy subjects will participate in a cross sectional study consisting of two trials (with or without the consumption of caffeine) in order to study the aforementioned parameters. Differences of total calories consumption between fast metabolizers of caffeine and the rest of the participants is the primary outcome.

A Study to Assess the Effects of Freshly Fit Meals on Body Weight and Wellness in Overweight and...
Weight LossThe primary objective of this trial is to examine the weight-loss efficacy of Freshly Fit meals, as well as body composition, waist/hip circumference, metabolic markers, and quality of life in overweight and obese adults.