Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

The purpose of this study is to monitor patients who have recently been infected with HIV in order to learn how their immune systems respond to HIV infection and to study how the virus multiplies in their bodies. Patients who have been infected with HIV recently are considered to have acute, or early, HIV infection. During this period, viral load (level of HIV in the body) rises sharply to a high level at first but then decreases significantly on its own. Doctors are not sure why this decrease in viral load happens and how the body is able to accomplish this. In this study, patients with acute HIV infection will be monitored so that doctors can study their immune systems to try to learn more about this rise and fall in viral load.

This protocol presents the rationale, 25-year historical review, and methods for multidisciplinary, low-risk studies of individuals referred to the NCI Viral Epidemiology Branch (VEB). Referrals are generally for unusual types of cancer or related conditions, known, or suspected to be related to viruses. Kaposi's sarcoma in two homosexual men evaluated in 1981 is a classic example. These referral cases provide the basis for pilot studies that generate hypotheses, the development of protocols for formal investigations of promising leads, and help to set priorities for VEB. A VEB investigator who is a Staff Member at the NIH Clinical Center, interviews each subject, performs a physical examination, draws a blood sample, and, when appropriate for the disease or virus under study, obtains other clinically indicated biological specimens, such as urine, sputum, saliva, tears, semen, Pap smear, or cervical, anal, oral, or nasal swabs. On occasion, other relatively non-invasive studies may be indicated. Skin testing with conventional, licensed antigens for assessment of cellular immunity may be performed, and skin lesions may be biopsied or excised. Tumor or other tissue biopsies may be obtained when biopsy or surgery is clinically indicated for other reasons. Otherwise no surgery is performed, and no therapy is administered. Clinical referral to other components of NCI, NIH, or the private sector are made as needed. The biological specimens are frozen or otherwise preserved to be batch tested in current assays or future assays that will be developed. Such laboratory testing is performed either at VEB's own support laboratory, or collaboratively in other NCI, NIH, or extramural laboratories that have the needed expertise for the disease or virus under study. Occasionally, repeated or more long-term evaluation is required. More often, a single evaluation in the NIH outpatient clinic, or either at a collaborating physician's office or other suitable site in the field, is sufficient. The VEB investigator provides counseling relevant to the virus or disease under study, and about the interim study results. He or she makes appropriate referral if needed (e.g., to the Genetic Epidemiology Branch for genetic counseling). Clinically relevant results and the VEB investigator's interpretation of these results, are provided in writing to the subject's primary caregiver. Confidentially of the information that is obtained is carefully protected. The results of the study are summarized for publication in the peer review literature.

The microbiome can affect skin health from the gut-skin axis, from environmental exposure, and topical treatments. Decreasing biodiversity of skin microbiota has been linked to inflammatory conditions, allergies, and skin health. This cross sectional study will be used to survey healthy volunteers and measure the density and diversity of skin flora of varying skin types. The aim of this study is to identify associations between the skin flora and characteristics of healthy skin types.

Current British HIV Association (BHIVA) guidelines recommend annual cervical screening (with a cervical smear) for women living with HIV (WLWH). NHS guidelines for women in England will, however, change soon. Women will initially be tested for human papilloma virus (HPV), a virus which causes virtually all cervical cancer. Only those who are infected with HPV will then undergo the smear testing. The BHIVA guidelines, however, taking the view that HIV infection (and its ability to weaken the immune system) increases the risk of persistent HPV infection and of cancer in those who are infected, consider safer for all WLWH to go straight to annual smear testing. Most WLWH in the UK are now receiving treatment which protects their immune system - this suggests that less WLWH could be HPV infected. The identification of a group of WLWH who could benefit from less frequent screening could improve quality of life, and allow the NHS to reduce unnecessary tests and costs. A large study is needed to collect robust evidence that would support changes to standard practice. Before investing huge resources, the investigators need to know if a study would be feasible, conducting a pilot study on 70 WLWH aged 25-64, regularly attending clinics for HIV care. Participants will be asked to complete an entry survey and they will undergo routine cervical smears (baseline and after 1 year). At baseline, after six months, and one year women will take their own vaginal swabs for the detection of HR-HPV. An exit questionnaire will be undertaken at the last visit.

In April 2020, a meta-analysis on the long-term sequelae of respiratory syndromes related to seasonal coronaviruses (SARS and MERS) showed a significant alteration in quality of life, with in particular a decrease in physical and emotional capacities and a deterioration of social life. An improvement of the quality of life is evidenced after 6 months but without reaching the level usually observed in healthy people. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on quality of life can be explained by the persistence of pleomorphic symptoms in the medium to long term. In the military population, the majority of SARS-CoV-2 cases present minor to moderate forms of the disease. Military personnel have living conditions that differ from those of the general population, in particular because of their geographic mobility, which may be responsible for isolation from the family. This isolation can be regular (we speak of "geographical celibacy" when the soldier is posted in a geographical area far from the family unit) and/or occasional, during missions on the national territory or outside. This singularity justifies a study on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection on the quality of life in this specific population.

The SARS-Cov2 virus was identified in china at the end of 2019 and spread worldwide causing a global pandemic. Current research showed that SARS-Cov2 virus invades human cells via the receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through scRNA-seq data analyses. The study identified the organs that are at risk and are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, cells with ACE2 receptor distribution may become host cells for the virus and cause inflammatory response in related organs and tissues, such as the tongue mucosa and salivary glands. These results suggest that oral mucosa could be a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection

The purpose of this study is to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with non-cholera Vibrio infection in Western France from 2000 to 2019.

A retrospective study to determine the potential value of MDW among other biomarkers in the diagnosis of infection.

This is part of a feasibility study to compare the predicate standard FDA cleared test for serum to a point of care test Toxoplasma ICT IgG-IgM BK produced by LD Bio Diagnostic. The specificity and sensitivity in testing serum and whole blood will be compared. This study includes 70 persons either pregnant or non pregnant. This is being done in accordance with FDA requirements for clearance of a testing device . We will use a standard FDA cleared test in all studies. The FDA has suggested that we submit a pre subQ for a 510K and dual CLIA waiver. This allows us also to determine feasibility of use of the predicate test in conjunction with the experimental test with volunteers, including men, women, and pregnant women.

Perineal injury following childbirth can result in complications such as wound infection. The perineum has closely related anatomical structures including the external genital organs and the anal triangle which contains the anal sphincter muscles. Therefore as wound infection can extend and as muscles of the perineum sit in such close proximity to each other, the anal sphincter muscles could potentially be affected. This could also potentially include cases of perineal injury where the anal sphincter was not injured. However ultrasound has never been used to investigate this. Endoanal ultrasound is the gold standard diagnostic tool in the assessment of obstetric anal sphincter injury. The anal sphincter can also be visualised using multiplanar transperineal ultrasound(three/four-dimensional. Therefore both modalities could be used. However, it has been shown that transperineal ultrasound has a high positive predictive value and therefore is able to correctly identify an intact anal sphincter, but low positive predictive value; meaning poor detection of sphincter defects. Therefore, although it cannot completely substitute endoanal ultrasound (the gold standard in investigating obstetric anal sphincter injuries), it provides and adjunct/alternative for women who cannot tolerate endoanal ultrasound. The investigators plan to perform an observational study to evaluate to the natural history of perineal wound infections. Patients will be assessed weekly with endoanal ultrasound and/or transperineal ultrasound until the wound infection has resolved and the wound has clinically healed. If a bacterial wound swab has not been taken prior to recruitment or wound swab results are not available, one will be taken to detect the causative organisms. Appropriate antibiotics will then be given to cover the detected organism. Bacterial burden and will also be measured weekly using the MolecuLight i:X; a bacterial autofluorescence camera which captures the presence and load of bacteria. In wounds that have superficially dehisced; exact wound measurements including wound surface area, depth, volume and healing progress will be precisely measured using the Silhouette® 3D camera