Active clinical trials for "Inflammation"

Main objective : The purpose of this study is to prove that the effects of bacterial endotoxin and cytokine TNF-α, on protein loss, fatty acid release, and glucose metabolism depend on two mechanisms: Direct local effects in muscle tissue. Activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and a stress-hormone response Study protocols: Acute metabolic effects of TNF-α(Beromun, Boehringer-Ingelheim Germany) vs placebo perfused into the femoral artery of the leg in 8 healthy subjects. Acute metabolic effects of placebo(saline) endotoxin(US standard reference E.Coli, endotoxin) TNF-α(Beromun, Boehringer-Ingelheim Germany) given systemically in 8 patients with hypopituitarism(to block stress hormone release) and in 8 healthy subjects all studied thrice.

The research questions to be answered by this study are: Is treatment with iron more effective at improving anemia if given at the time of a malaria episode or 1 month after the episode? Which treatment timing is associated with more malaria episodes - 1 month delayed treatment or immediate treatment at the time of malaria? Does timing of iron treatment affect later thinking processes and behavior?

Rationale: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacteria adhere to the mucosa of the proximal intestines. There it produces an toxin which presents a local and relevant challenge to the intestines. This is proposed to give an indication of general resistance and/or the local resistance of the intestines. The sequel of events of mucosal inflammation will be characterized in this study. In addition we will evaluate the effects of probiotics by comparing the infection symptoms and by measuring faecal weight and mucus in faeces. Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of probiotics on the sequels of ETEC administration as intestinal permeability, inflammation and clinical signs as total faecal output, relative faecal dry weight and mucin excretion in faeces. In addition, the sequels of the mucosal inflammation will be characterized and biomarkers will be searched.

The primary purpose of this study is to measure the level of an enzyme in a patient's heart called inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging with a radioactive tracer called 18F-NOS. These PET results will be compared to tissue results obtained during routine endomyocardial heart biopsy. The enzyme iNOS produces nitric oxide in inflammatory diseases such as acute heart transplant rejection, diabetes, Alzheimer's and cancer. Thus, PET with the radioactive tracer 18F-NOS may be a useful tool for detecting the early stages of these diseases. The safety of 18F-NOS during the study will also be assessed. All PET imaging will be performed with a CTI/Siemens Biograph 40 PET/CT scanner. Protocol was revised to add new imaging modality, Biograph mMR PET-MR scanner in order to investigate new hardware and software in order to optimize scanning procedures in order to refine image quality so that we can apply the findings to future standard clinical scans and research imaging studies. Ten additional status-post OHT patients who are scheduled for standard of care endomyocardial biopsy for allograft rejection surveillance will undergo PET/MR imaging with [18F](+/-)NOS.

The combination of impaired insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion is thought to be the basis of type 2 diabetes. Increased free fatty acids levels impair insulin action in muscle and liver, but also systemic inflammation processes play a role in the development of insulin resistance. This study compares the effects of fat and inflammation on insulin sensitivity, systemic inflammation, energy metabolism, vascular system and neural function in healthy humans.

Inflammation is characterised by an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Dysfunction of the vascular endothelium caused by oxidative stress might provide a mechanistic link. In acute and chronic inflammation, oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species [ROS] (including superoxide anions [O2-]) exceeds the capacity of the endogenous antioxidant defense systems, resulting in ROS-mediated damage. Recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rhSOD) has shown potent antioxidant properties in in-vitro and animal studies and has been tested in phase I clinical trials in humans. rhSOD could offer a therapeutic option for vascular dysfunction in diseases associated with increased oxidative stress. The investigators, therefore, want to test if the hyporesponsiveness to vasoactive drugs (norepinephrine, acetylcholine and glyceroltrinitrate) during acute inflammation by low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is due to the increased production of superoxide anions, which could be scavanged by the radical scavenger rhSOD.

Overweight increases the risk to develop chronic diseases including type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The low-grade inflammatory status often seen in overweight subjects is thought to play an important role in disease development. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of inflammation on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. In this study the effect of the anti-inflammatory treatment diclofenac on markers of inflammation and on parameters of glucose metabolism will be studied.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the utility of the cantharidin-induced skin blister assay for evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of macrolides in healthy male volunteers.

People who are overweight are at increased risk of heart disease. Being overweight and having heart disease are linked in that both involve inflammation. Inflammation refers to the body's first line of defense against infection and injury. Metabolic changes in cholesterol, triglycerides (fat in the blood) and sugar in the blood caused by inflammation are similar to that in some people who are overweight. The investigators wish to examine the effects of inflammation on these metabolic changes that may lead to heart disease.

A drug (mepolizumab) that reduces allergic inflammation will affect the function of allergy cells called eosinophils which are produced by the body in response to allergen exposure.