Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

Primary: To compare the toxicity of daily versus weekly dapsone in HIV-infected infants and children; to study the pharmacokinetics of orally administered dapsone in HIV-infected infants and children. Secondary: To obtain information on the rate of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia ( PCP ) breakthrough in children receiving two different dose regimens of dapsone. Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia ( PCP ) is recommended for all HIV-infected children considered to be at high risk. Approximately 15 percent of children are intolerant to trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole, the first choice drug for PCP prophylaxis. Since many children are also unable to take or tolerate aerosolized pentamidine, dapsone is a second choice for PCP prophylaxis. The most favorable dose regimen for dapsone has not been established.

This 8-week intervention will investigate the effect of daily consumption of a fermented whey concentrate on the short-chain fatty acid profile of faeces in healthy individuals. This study will help us understand if consumption of fermented foods rich in lactic acid have a beneficial effect on gut health.

Challenges in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) include increasing antimicrobial resistance and patient's low tolerance to some regimens. Lactobacillus johnsonii (L. johnsonii) and Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) have been shown to decrease the amount and activity of H. pylori in human stomach and can increase patient's tolerance. We conduct a single-center double-masked randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of GastimunHp Plus (a product combining L. johnsonii and IgY) in improving the clearance of H. pylori after six to eight weeks of treatment and side effects of H. pylori treatment. H. pylori is tested by C13- or C14-urea breath test.

The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that the incidence of major complications related to infection or inadequate healing is reduced in morbidly obese patients given 80% inspired oxygen during, and for 12-18 hours after, surgery compared with patients given 80% oxygen only during surgery. The primary outcome will be a composite of major complications plausibly related to infection or healing.

RATIONALE: A donor stem cell transplant can lower the body's immune system, making it difficult to fight off infection. Giving antibiotics, such as moxifloxacin, may help prevent bacterial infections in patients who have recently undergone donor stem cell transplant. It is not yet known whether moxifloxacin is more effective than a placebo in preventing bacterial infections in patients who have recently undergone donor stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying moxifloxacin to see how well it works compared with a placebo in preventing bacterial infections in patients who have recently undergone donor stem cell transplant.

Valacyclovir has replaced acyclovir in many clinical scenarios. Pharmacokinetic data support the use of oral valacyclovir in children, but practical problems exist in children having to take adult-dose tablets. A formulation with acceptable palatability, good pharmaceutical quality and possibility of flexible dosing is developed. Pharmacokinetic data of this formulation is missing. The present study investigates the pharmacokinetics of valacyclovir oral solution in children by determine the area under the curve (AUC0-12), time above critical concentration (Ccrit), Cmax and Tmax of acyclovir. Secondary, the safety profile of a single dose of valacyclovir oral solution will be determined.

Articular Implant Infection (AII) is itself a complicated diagnosis and a challenging condition to treat. In elderly patients, the application of existing recommendations is impeded by multiple frailties For a better knowledge of the long-term consequences of AII in elderly patient, the investigators conduct a prospective, multicentric study, whitch aim this is to better evaluate the burden of AII on elderly patients, in terms of quality of life. Secondly, the investigators would like to identify the factors that influence the prognosis, in order to guide further prospective research.

This study will determine how best to use a vaccine for generating high levels of antibodies called immune globulins (IVIG) in people, which, in turn, can be collected and used to develop a possible treatment for avian influenza (bird flu). Immune globulins are proteins made by the body that attack the influenza virus. This study will use an experimental bird flu vaccine to stimulate immune globulin production in healthy people. The vaccine is similar to the regular influenza vaccine and has been studied in more than 450 people. This study will use high doses of the vaccine to generate high antibody levels that can be collected for producing the new treatment. Healthy adults between 18 and 60 years of age who weigh at least 110 pounds may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical examination. Participants are given one of three doses of the vaccine, depending on when they enter the study. The first 25 people enrolled receive a dose of 90 micrograms (mcg). If this dose is well tolerated, the next 25 people receive 120 mcg, and if this dose is also well tolerated, the last 25 people receive 180 mcg. Vaccination consists of either two shots (one in the muscle of each arm) or one shot in the buttock on four occasions. Subjects are vaccinated on four occasions, each 4 weeks apart. On the day of each vaccination, subjects provide a blood sample to evaluate blood counts, chemistries, and antibody levels, and to test for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and antibody against avian flu. For 7 days after each vaccination, subjects keep a diary card to record any symptoms, such as pain, fever, muscle aches, or others. At the end of the 7 days, they are contacted by study staff to report the symptoms. In addition to the vaccinations, subjects undergo apheresis to collect IVIG once their blood test shows moderately high antibody levels. For this procedure, blood is collected through a needle in an arm vein and flows through a catheter (plastic tube) into a machine that separates the blood cells from the antibodies and protein. The antibodies and protein are collected and the rest of the blood is returned to the body. Subjects are asked to undergo at least three apheresis procedures. ...

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of pre-surgical patients who are MRSA carriers. From an evidence-based practice perspective, findings from this study can be considered in the evaluation of the hospital SOP mandating pre-surgical MRSA screening requirements for patients with scheduled surgeries. The central hypothesis to be addressed in this study is whether the MRSA colonization and subsequent post-operative infection are the equivalent in these populations.

RATIONALE: Voriconazole and caspofungin acetate may control invasive fungal infections in patients who have weakened immune systems. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving voriconazole together with caspofungin acetate works in treating invasive fungal infections in patients with weakened immune systems.