Active clinical trials for "Inflammation"

Overweight and obesity have become an increasing problem in patients on hemodialysis. However, in virtually all observational studies in chronic kidney disease(CKD) and dialysis patients , using body mass index(BMI) as metric fat mass is associated inversely with death rate. Nevertheless, it is questionable that obesity can be considered an unequivocal protective factor in chronic diseases as increase body fat mass appears to be a potential cause of the chronic inflammation frequently present in these patients. The consequences of this inflammation are impaired nutritional status, accelerated atherosclerosis, and increased mortality. In the present study, by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) to evaluated the contributions of fat mass to outcomes in an observational cohort of hemodialysis patients. Besides, we aim to assess the relationship between body fat composition, clinical metabolic risk profiles, measures of adiposity, such as waist circumference (WC), visceral adiposity index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), markers of inflammation and adipocytokines in these maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Liver-related death is the leading cause of mortality in HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ cell counts over 200, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the greatest risk for liver-related mortality in HIV-positive patients. Compared to HCV monoinfected individuals, patients with HIV and HCV coinfection experience accelerated progression of liver fibrosis, which can lead to higher incidence of cirrhosis, end stage liver disease (ESLD), and death. Changes in CD8+ T-cell activation, inflammatory cytokines, and serum markers of tissue injury may offer an immunologic platform to determine factors associated with progressive liver fibrosis in coinfected patients. In this cross-sectional study we will evaluate whether HIV and HCV coinfection patients with well-controlled HIV infection who have an undetectable viral load exhibit abnormal levels of inflammation and immune activation, potentially contributing to advanced liver fibrosis. Comparative groups include coinfected patients successfully treated for hepatitis C, or who have absence of hepatitis C viremia through spontaneous clearance, hepatitis C monoinfected patients, and HIV-positive patients with well-controlled HIV infection without hepatitis C. Liver fibrosis will be measured by non-invasive methods. The primary objectives of this study are: To determine if there are differences in markers of inflammation and immune activation in subsets of patients with HIV, hepatitis C, and HIV and hepatitis C coinfection. To assess the stage of liver fibrosis using non-invasive methods in subsets of patients with hepatitis C and HIV and hepatitis C coinfection and compare the degree of liver fibrosis with levels of inflammation and immune activation.

Understudied drugs will be administered to children per standard of care as prescribed by their treating caregiver and only biological sample collection during the time of drug administration will be involved. A total of approximately 7000 children aged <21 years who are receiving these drugs for standard of care will be enrolled and will be followed for up a maximum of 90 days. The goal of this study is to characterize the pharmacokinetics of understudied drugs for which specific dosing recommendations and safety data are lacking. The prescribing of drugs to children will not be part of this protocol. Taking advantage of procedures done as part of routine medical care (i.e. blood draws) this study will serve as a tool to better understand drug exposure in children receiving these drugs per standard of care. The data collected through this initiative will also provide valuable pharmacokinetic and dosing information of drugs in different pediatric age groups as well as special pediatric populations (i.e. obese).

The body's immune response to injury or infection is very complex.Endotoxin is a man-made substance, which causes the body to "mimic" sickness (fever,chills, and achiness)for a few hours. This study is designed to determine whether certain proteins, genetics, or heart rate variability change affects the body's response to endotoxin.

The purpose of this study is to determine if there are signs of inflammation in one's blood and urine and to find out if one's body size or ethnicity has an effect on these substances.

A not randomized , cross sectional study will be done to determine the possible association of coronary artery calcification (CAC) score assessed by multirow spiral computed tomography (MSCT) with specific and non specific uremic factor of vascular calcification.

The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm. In this study we hope to show better ways of predicting risk in this condition by using a combination of FDG-PET with CT.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease. Azithromycin, an antibiotic, may be beneficial at reducing the symptoms and severity of the disease. This study will analyze previously collected study data to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of azithromycin and determine how azithromycin affects the frequency and severity of COPD exacerbations.

The laboratory test, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), has become well established as a marker of inflammation. Recently a high CRP level (indicating an increase in inflammation) was identified as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. We are conducting this study with patients such as yourself with atrial fibrillation who are planning to undergo cardioversion to determine what sort of relationship exists between CRP levels and atrial fibrillation. We will then look at success rates of converting atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm, compared to patients' CRP levels.

The primary objective of this study is to proof the concept of EP 1645 as a diagnostic tool for carotid artery atherosclerosis and plaque instability and to assess the safety and tolerability of this diagnostic agent, a monoclonal antibody fragment (Fab') conjugated with the diagnostic radionuclide 99mTc. Safety and tolerability will be determined by adverse events (AEs) observed and reported upon administration of the product and the absorbed dose of radiation.