
The Effects of Acetylcysteine on Alleviating Damage of Oxidative Stress in Hemodialysis Patients...
AnemiaAtherosclerosis3 moreThe aim of this study is to explore and identify the effects of acetylcysteine, a common mucolytic with anti-oxidant property, on alleviating the damage caused by increased oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients.

Magnesium Isoglycyrrhizinate Followed by Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate and Combined With Entecavir...
Chronic Hepatitis bLiver InflammationThis study evaluates the addition of glycyrrhizin to entecavir in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B in China. Half of participants will receive magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate followed by oral diammonium glycyrrhizinate and entecavir in combination, while the other half will receive a placebo and entecavir.

Circulating Markers in Preterm Infants With Perinatal and Neonatal Inflammation
SepsisNecrotizing Enterocolitis2 moreCirculating markers to diagnose complications (sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis) in preterm infants are often inaccurate, partly due to the lack of comprehensive studies with temporal evaluation from birth until a disease onset. The investigators plan to collect weekly blood samples of preterm infants from birth until 4 weeks of age to comprehensively characterize differential protein and epigenetic markers in infants with and without complications (sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, chorioamnionitis).

Plant Sterols and Plant Stanols and Liver Inflammation
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseAs the prevalence of obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), increases concomitantly and becomes a major global health hazard. Successful pharmacological interventions to treat or prevent NASH are not available and so far only weight loss has clear benefits, but sustained weight-loss is difficult to achieve on the longer-term. We recently demonstrated in mice that plant sterol and stanol ester consumption inhibited the development of liver inflammation, which needs to be validated in humans in a translational approach. In the current proposed pilot study, the effect of consuming plant sterol or plant stanol esters on biopsy proven liver inflammation will be investigated in NAFLD patients. The objective is to assess the effect of consuming plant sterol or plant stanol esters (3 grams/day) for 12 months on biopsy proven liver inflammation in NAFLD patients. This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blinded pilot study with a run-period of 2 weeks, an intervention period of 12 months and a wash-out period of 1 month. The study population consists of 15 patients with biopsy-proven liver inflammation, aged 18-75 years. All subjects will start a run-in period of two weeks during which they consume daily 20 grams of control margarine after which they will be randomly allocated to consume 20 grams control margarine or plant sterol or plant stanol enriched margarine on a daily basis for a period of 12 months. The primary outcome parameter in this study is biopsy proven liver inflammation.

Protein Supplementation: Body Composition, Muscle Strength and Postural Balance
Diabetes MellitusType 24 moreNutritional interventions witch stimulate the rate of muscle protein synthesis are relevant for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at attenuating the loss of mass and muscle strength related to aging (sarcopenia). To aim of the study is to investigate the effect of protein supplementation on body composition, muscle activity, muscle strength and plasma concentration of inflammatory biomarkers of elderly with type II diabetic, submitted to 12 weeks of resistance training. This is an interventional, controlled, randomized, double-blind study. The population of the present study will be composed of 40 men with type 2 diabetes aged between 70 and 74 years, whose body mass index (BMI) should be between 22 and 32 kg / m2. It will be composed of patients from the Diabetes Outpatient Clinic of the Endocrinology Department at the Medical School of the University of São Paulo. Elderly subjects will be randomized into two groups (n = 20) who will undergo resistance training for 12 weeks, twice a week, and receive protein or placebo supplementation. Exercises will be performed for the large muscle groups: pectoral press, paddling, leg-press, extensor chair, gastrocnemius plantar flexions and abdominal crunches. Protein supplementation will be performed immediately after strength training by ingestion of 20 g of whey protein diluted in water. Also, immediately after training the placebo group will receive 20 g of maltodextrin diluted in water. All participants will be instructed to ingest 1.0 to 1.2 g of protein / kg of body weight per day. 24-hour food recall and food frequency questionnaires will be performed throughout the study. The following evaluations (before and after 12 weeks training) will be applied: Anthropometric: body mass, height, BMI and hip waist ratio. Functional evaluation through isokinetic dynamometry of knee extensors and flexors and a maximal repetition (1RM). Evaluation of body composition through Bioimpedance balance. Evaluation of food intake will be obtained by means of a 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire. All the evaluations will performed after 6 months. The training sessions will have a frequency of twice a week for 12 weeks. Eight exercises will be performed for the main muscle groups. In each exercise, 3 sets will be performed between 8 and 12 repetitions. The intensity should be between 7 - 8 and will be monitored according to Subjective Effort Perception using a scale of 0 to 10.

Cellular Immunotherapy for Septic Shock
Septic ShockSepsis5 moreSeptic shock is associated with substantial burden in terms of both mortality and morbidity for survivors of this illness. Pre-clinical sepsis studies suggest that mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells may modulate inflammation, enhance pathogen clearance and tissue repair and reduce death. Our team has completed a Phase I dose escalation and safety clinical trial that evaluated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with septic shock. The Cellular Immunotherapy for Septic Shock (CISS) trial established that MSCs appear safe and that a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is feasible. Based on these data, the investigators have planned a phase II RCT (CISS2) at several Canadian academic centres which will evaluate safety, signals for clinical efficacy, and continue to examine potential mechanisms of action and biological effects of MSCs in septic shock.

The Effect of Ibuprofen on Women With PCOS.
PCOSHyperandrogenism1 morePolycystic ovary syndrome occurs in about 10% of women of childbearing age. His pathogenesis is not fully understood. More and more research concerns the role of chronic inflammation in these women as the cause of the disease. In vitro studies have shown a significant reduction in testosterone production by teak cells after ibuprofen. The goal of the project is to use a low dose of ibuprofen in women with PCOS to lower androgen levels.

Evaluation of DEXTENZA in the Management of Pain and Inflammation in Patients With Anterior Uveitis...
Non-infectious Anterior UveitisThis a prospective study review of the clinical efficacy of DEXTENZA for the treatment of anterior uveitis compared to the standard of care topical corticosteroid treatment

Impact of Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy on Oral and Gut Microbiome
Microbial ColonizationPeriodontal Diseases1 morePeriodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by a dysbiotic microbiome which can lead to bone destruction and tooth loss. Several studies had been reported the association to periodontal disease with systemic conditions and this relation suggests and axis that links oral and gut microbiome. In order to clarify the impact of periodontal condition on gut microbiome, we aim to evaluate the clinical, immunological parameters and the microbiological condition by sequencing of subgingival biofilm and stool samples both before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment with and without antibiotics as adjunct.

Effect of Chronic Inflammation on Myocardial Perfusion and Function
PsoriasisBackground: Heart failure (HF) is a public health burden. Studies have shown a link between inflammation, myocardial dysfunction, and HF. Researchers want to use psoriasis as a disease model of chronic inflammation to further study the link between inflammation and myocardial dysfunction. Objective: To learn if chronic inflammation affects the heart and if taking a biological medicine for chronic inflammation helps improve how the heart works. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who have moderate to severe psoriasis, and healthy adult volunteers. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history. They may take a pregnancy test. Healthy volunteers will have 1 visit. Those with psoriasis will have a second visit 1 year later. Participants may give blood samples. They may have a heart function test. They may have a heart imaging test, and may get a contrast agent. If so, it will be injected into a vein. Participants may have positron emission tomography/computed tomography tests. They will lie on their back on a padded table with their arms straight overhead. They may get radioactive drugs through an intravenous (IV) catheter. They will get stress medicines through the IV. These drugs mimic exercise and increase blood flow through the heart. Participants may have cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The scanner is a large tube. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the tube. They will get gadolinium contrast in a vein to improve the pictures. They may get stress medicines. Coils will be used to help make the pictures. Participation for healthy volunteers will last 1-2 days. Participation for those with psoriasis will last 14 months. ...