Active clinical trials for "Infections"

The purpose of this study is to characterize the quality of life (QOL) and longitudinal patterns of change in QOL outcomes in children and youth with HIV infection; to identify demographic, social, disease status, treatment, and health care utilization factors that predict longitudinal changes in outcomes; to develop a conceptual model that characterizes the effects of specific factors that predict longitudinal changes in QOL; and to characterize the influence of HIV symptoms on QOL outcomes in the domains of health perceptions, physical, psychological, and social role functioning.

Infection by Streptococcal pneumoniae is a common invasive bacterial infection in HIV infected children. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety of and immune response to a pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (PncCV) in HIV infected and uninfected children. The study will also determine the safety of and immune response to Haemophilus influenzae vaccine (HibCV) in these children. Recruitment for this study will occur at two hospitals in South Africa, and all HIV infected infants participating in this study must also be coenrolled in the CIPRA SA-Project 2 study.

The purpose of this study is to find out what might increase nerve damage in people with HIV who have taken drugs for treatment of HIV disease. Another purpose is to see if nerve exams are done correctly before clinical research sites enroll HIV-infected patients. Nerve damage is common in patients with HIV infection and can cause serious problems. The factors that place patients at risk are not well understood. This study will examine these factors in patients with advanced HIV infection and who have been taking anti-HIV drugs.

Our hypothesis is that long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis does not reduce the recurrence of infection and the risk of appearance of kidney scars in children with a documented previous upper UTI.

The purpose of this study is to document the developments associated with puberty and determine if any of the children who previously participated in another research study have been diagnosed with cancer. The previous study was a Collaborative Antiviral Study Group (CASG) protocol entitled "Evaluation of Ganciclovir (DHPG) for the Treatment of Symptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infections." One of the medications used in this study to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), ganciclovir, has been known to cause cancer and affect the development of gonads (ovaries in females and testes in males) when administered to animals. Children, 9-14 years old, who participated in the previous research study, will participate in this study for 1 day. Subjects will be evaluated by an endocrinologist and will have the following procedures performed: a complete physical examination, a single blood sample collected, an x-ray of the left wrist.

This 2-part study will examine 1) the immune response to influenza (flu) vaccine in HIV-infected patients, and 2) the effect of flu vaccine on HIV viral loads. Earlier studies have shown that people with HIV infection do not respond as well to flu vaccine as healthy subjects; that is, they don't make as many antibodies in response to the vaccine. Also, studies done before the use of HAART (highly active antiretroviral treatment) have shown that HIV levels increase for a period of time after flu vaccination. One small study showed a small brief increase in HIV even in patients taking HAART. The current trial will examine whether the flu vaccine does, in fact, cause an elevation in viral load and whether this increase is harmful or indicates a better response to the vaccine. HIV-infected patients and healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 60 years of age may be eligible for part1of this study. (Healthy volunteers will serve as control subjects to make sure the flu vaccine stimulates production of enough antibody to protect against the flu). Part 2 will include only HIV-infected patients with fewer than 50 copies per milliliter of HIV. Patients in both parts of the study must have been receiving HAART (consisting of at least two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or a protease inhibitor) for at least 3 months before enrollment in the study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and blood tests, including HLA testing (a genetic test of immune system markers). Women who are able to have children will have a pregnancy test. Pregnant women are excluded from the study. Participants will undergo the following procedures: Part 1 - Immune Response to Flu Vaccine In the first of two visits, participants will have blood drawn for flu antibody levels before vaccination and, in HIV-infected patients, measures of T cell count and viral load. They will then receive the flu vaccine. Blood will be drawn at a second visit 28 days later for the same tests. Part 2 - Effect of Flu Vaccine on Viral Levels Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the flu vaccine either at the beginning of their enrollment in the study (immediate) or 3 weeks after enrollment (deferred). Those in the immediate group receive the flu vaccine on the first day (day 0) and have blood drawn on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, 35, 38 and 42. Those in the deferred group are vaccinated on day 21 and have blood drawn on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, 35, 38, 42 and 49. The blood is tested for viral load, CD4 cell counts and antibody levels.

As new drugs and vaccines are developed to prevent HIV disease progression and prolong survival of HIV infected patients, the short-term safety and effectiveness of these treatments are evaluated in research studies. However, the long-term effects, whether they are benefits or side effects, need to be studied as well. These long-term effects may have a greater impact on infants and children who are still growing and developing. The purpose of this study is to follow HIV-exposed and HIV infected infants, children, and adolescents who are seen at Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group (PACTG) study sites. These patients will be observed for long-term benefits or any late harmful effects of medications or vaccines.

To examine markers of underlying chronic inflammation and infection as potential risk factors for future myocardial infarction (MI), stroke (CVA), and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in plasma samples collected at baseline from healthy participants in the Physicians' Health Study (PHS).

Taking anti-HIV medication consistently and properly is a critical issue for patients with HIV. Drug regimens are complex; when regimens are not taken properly, HIV can become resistant to the drugs. Taking anti-HIV medication properly leads to improved health. Children and adolescents with HIV face unique challenges to taking HIV medication properly. This study will look at the relationship between how children cope with the responsibility for taking medication and the child's language, memory, attention, behavior, and academic skills. This study is open to children and adolescents who are currently enrolled in the PACTG 219C study (Long-Term Effects of HIV Exposure and Infection in Children).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the nervous system. The exact cause of MS is unknown, but it is believed to be an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions are diseases that cause the body's immune system and natural defenses to attack healthy cells. In the case of MS, the immune system begins attacking myelin, the cells that make up the sheath covering nerves. Without myelin, nerves are unable to transmit signals effectively and symptoms occur. This study is directed toward a better understanding of the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Researchers will evaluate patients with a tentative diagnosis of MS or other neurological diseases possibly caused by a immunological reaction. Patients will undergo a series of three MRIs, taken once a month for three months and submit blood samples for immunological studies.