Active clinical trials for "Inflammation"

Arterial inflammation will be compared using PET scanning in 3 groups: 1) Non-smokers, 2) Tobacco cigarette smokers, 3) Electronic cigarette users.

Objective: In this study the investigators aim at investigating: probiotics ability to modulate the microbiome and microbial translocation, if probiotics affect the level of cholesterol, triglycerides as markers of cardiovascular risk factors and if a reduction of microbial translocation is associated with a reduction of inflammation in the gastro-intestinal tract. Design: The study is a prospective clinical intervention trial of 40 HIV-infected patients. Method: The investigator will administer the bacteria Lactobacillus Rhamnosus in capsular form to each patient 2 times a day in 8 weeks. At baseline and at the 8th week of the intervention, the investigators will collect blood samples, feces samples and make a positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance scans.

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate allergen-induced nasal airway inflammation following nasal application of felis domesticus, or cat, extract in e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers.

The current study has been designed to identify behavioral and physiological mechanisms through which positive social connectivity (PCS) and negative social processes (NSP) interact with psychosocial stress to promote resilience in the context of illness. The investigators model inflammation (a central element of all disease states) through the use of treatment with interferon (IFN)-alpha, which provides a standardized regimen of chronic cytokine exposure known to produce profound behavioral disturbances, including depression, fatigue and sickness, in a high percentage of individuals. To objectively assess social processes, the current project will employ the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), which periodically and unobtrusively records snippets of ambient sounds in people's momentary environments. To objectively assess behavioral and physiological responses to psychosocial stress the current project will employ the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a standardized laboratory stressor known to reliably activate behavioral, neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses. These novel methodologies and model systems will be employed to test the hypotheses that (a) pre-existing affiliative and prosocial behavior will promote resilience in the context of chronic inflammation and that (b) -conversely-chronic inflammation will reduce affiliative and prosocial behavior via effects on stress reactivity, neuroendocrine function and sleep. Finally, it will explore (c) the potential mediating role of stress physiology. To test these hypotheses, 110 subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus infection will be randomized to receive treatment with pegylated IFN-alpha plus ribavirin or to postpone treatment for 6 weeks: 55 subjects at University of Arizona and 55 subjects at Emory University. Prior to randomization and 6 weeks later all subjects will be evaluated with the EAR and sleep actigraphy in their home environments and will undergo TSST and 14 hour diurnal neuroendocrine and immune measurement.

This research study will examine how diet during pregnancy can benefit pregnancy and pregnancy outcome, such as your baby's weight. More specifically, the investigators will study the effects of two different food oils/fats that are commonly consumed to determine if one is more effective in limiting maternal inflammation during pregnancy. You are being asked to take part in this study because it will help us update and make the best dietary recommendations for pregnant women and women of child bearing ages.

This randomized phase II trial studies how well exercise intervention works in targeting adiposity and inflammation with movement to improve prognosis in stage I-III breast cancer survivors. Different types of exercise may reduce inflammation in fat tissue and minimize the risk of cancer recurrence related to being overweight or obese.

The main objective is to determine the effect that supplementation with 4.8 g/day of w-3 FA [3.2g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1.6 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] have on the inflammatory state of obese patients (BMI ≥ 35.0 kg/m2), at the metabolic, cellular and molecular levels.

Demyelinating diseases represent a broad spectrum of disorders and are induced by excessive inflammation most often triggered by an autoimmune mechanism. Some of these pathologies are chronic and affect the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS), others are monophasic and target the peripheral nervous system such as Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS). In neuroinflammatory pathologies, the excessive response of the pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 lymphocyte lines and the insufficient response of regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) cause excessive inflammation which is deleterious to the nervous tissue. The regulation of these signaling pathways involves key proteins such as kinases. Modulation of these kinases which could allow the development of new pharmacological targets for neuroinflammation. Recent work (unpublished data) has shown an association between the expression of ERK5 and PMK2 kinases, and the clinical severity of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, a mouse model that mimics multiple sclerosis. In order to search for new biomarkers and improve our knowledge of the actors of the initial inflammatory phase of neuroinflammatory pathologies, we propose to study the differences in expression of ERK5 and PKM2 kinases in the blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of patients followed for relapsing-remitting MS and GBS by both RT-qPCR and protein quantification. We also want to study other biological parameters which include characterization of the pro / anti-inflammatory balance by cytokine assay and lymphocyte phenotyping, metabolome study, and mild form neurofilament (NfL) assay.

Active forms of vitamin D and its analogs are used to treat elevated parathyroid hormone levels and bone disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). More recent animal and human studies suggest that treatment with vitamin D may be associated with reduction of inflammation and urinary protein loss as well as reduction the activity of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) in addition to its effects on the bone metabolism. The investigators of this study have used the new technique of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU) to measure the flow of blood to the kidney in other human studies. In this study, the investigators will investigate if 3 month of treatment with an active form of vitamin D in individuals with kidney disease and high parathyroid hormone levels would reduce protein loss in the urine. The investigators will also look at the potential changes in blood flow to the kidney using CEU, kidney function (GFR), inflammation and activity of RAS in response to treatment with active form of vitamin D. Finally, they will examine the association between reduction of protein loss in the urine as shown in other studies with any of the other factors measured (e.g, change in blood flow or inflammation).

The randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled multicenter study will be held in parallel groups. During 5 weeks the efficacy of different endpoints as a measure of response to the daily intake of dietary fibers (8 g of either inulin, pectin, beta-glucan or galactooligosaccharides) will be evaluated. Gut microbiota composition, lipids levels, inflammation markers, microbiome metabolites, changes in quality of life and stool parameters will be assessed in order to predict individual response in participants without serious chronic diseases