Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

PRIMARY: To determine whether pentoxifylline changes the self-reported measures of quality of life status, using measures of scores from double-blinded drug withdrawal and drug restart periods. SECONDARY: To measure the changes in monthly CD4 counts, fasting serum triglyceride levels, and weight; to assess the safety of pentoxifylline in HIV-infected persons.

To demonstrate, in patients with tubercular or nontubercular mycobacterium infections with or without HIV infection, the safety of thalidomide use as judged by symptoms, physical exam, and studies of microbiologic, immunologic, hematologic, renal, and hepatic status. To demonstrate efficacy of the drug as judged by status of fever, nutrition, tuberculosis lesions, and immune responses.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of azithromycin administered once a week in the prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in severely immunocompromised HIV-infected patients with a CD4 count < 100 cells/mm3.

PRIMARY: To assess the tolerability of the combination regimen of clarithromycin plus ethambutol with or without clofazimine in patients with disseminated Mycobacterium avium Complex (dMAC). SECONDARY: To determine the proportion of patients achieving a sterile blood culture along with the time required to achieve it. To determine the duration of bacteriological response, defined as length of time that blood cultures remain sterile.

To demonstrate a dosage regimen for intravenous itraconazole that produces a plasma concentration range comparable to that obtained after currently used oral dosages of itraconazole oral solution; and to obtain preliminary safety data in patients with advanced HIV disease.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of anti-HIV drug courses of different lengths in infants who became HIV infected at birth.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of tigecycline in the treatment of selected serious infections caused by VRE. The primary efficacy endpoint will be the clinical response for all subjects.

This is a 48-week study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of an investigational regimen including FDA approved HIV drugs in HIV-infected pediatric subjects, ages 4 weeks to < 2 years old.

It is not known if anti-HIV treatment for recently infected patients improves long-term patient prognosis. The purpose of this study is to determine if a one year course of anti-HIV medications slows progression of HIV disease in adults recently infected with HIV. Study hypothesis: A one-year course of HAART administered during acute or early seroconversion may slow the progression of HIV infection.

Bacteria carry substances on their surface called antigens. When antigens come into contact with the right kinds of cells in the body an immune reaction is caused. This reaction is often the symptoms of sickness that a patient feels. In order for the body to fight off the attack of antigens, it creates substances called antibodies. Antibodies counter the action of antigens and make the bacteria harmless. However, the immune system must learn how to make the right antibodies for the right antigens. Sometimes the body creates antibodies that confuse normal tissues as foreign and attack them. This is called an autoimmune reaction and sometimes occurs when the body is exposed to certain bacteria. One bacteria known for causing autoimmune reactions is Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS). This bacteria often causes throat infections commonly known as "strep throat". Some researchers believe that the autoimmune reaction associated with strep throat infections may cause neuropsychiatric disorders, like obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or tic disorder in children. As a result, each time a child with one of these disorders experiences an infection with GABHS his/her symptoms can reoccur or worsen. Researchers believe that by giving patients a certain antibiotic, they can prevent GABHS infection and thus prevent the return of symptoms. This study is designed to test the effectiveness of the antibiotic Amoxicillin for the treatment of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS). Patients will receive Amoxicillin for six weeks and placebos "inactive sugar pills" for six weeks in order to see if the medication is truly working. Effectiveness of the treatment will be based on the presence or absence of symptoms. If at the end of the study Amoxicillin is proven to be effective treatment for PANDAS patients may be offered the opportunity to continue taking the medication for an additional six months.