Connexin Genotypes in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic FibrosisInflammationBackground: There is wide variety in lung disease phenotype for the delta F508 (homozygous) genotype. A leukocyte driven inflammation is most important for the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease in CF. Blood cytokines correlate negatively with pulmonary function in delta F508 homozygous patients. Gap junction proteins might be of importance for the influx of blood cells into the lung and may influence the course of pulmonary inflammation. A primary analysis (Horn et al. 2020) has shown that GJA4 variants (rs41266431) are linked to more severe disease in CF. This is very similar to variants of MBL. Aims: To assess the relationship between gap junction proteins alpha 1 (GJA1/Connexin 43) and alpha 4 (GJA4/connexin 37) genotypes and clinical disease phenotype. Moreover are GJA4 variants in terms of clinical phenotype independent of MBL variants. Methods:Patients homozygous for delta F508 get recruited from the CF centres of Bonn, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Sequence analysis is performed for connexin 43 and 37 and MBL genotypes. Clinical disease is assessed longitudinally over 3 years by pulmonary function tests (FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second), FVC (=(forced vital capacity), FEF75 % (Forced expiratory flow at 75% of the pulmonary volume) pred), BMI (percentiles), P. aeruginosa colonization, diabetes mellitus and survival to end-stage CF lung disease (death or lung transplantation).
PET Imaging CCR2 in Lung Inflammation
Lung InflammationThe primary objective of this study is to assess the lung distribution of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging radiotracer Cu-DOTA-ECL1i, which binds to the specific population inflammatory cells, in patients with fibrotic lung diseases. This objective includes sub-studies to assess radiotracer distribution in the lung, the reproducibility of PET scans and the relationship of the scan to distribution of inflammatory cells in human lung tissue. The overall goal is to assess the potential of the radiotracer to track inflammatory cells in lung diseases.
Inflammation, Intracellular Invasion and Colonization of the Nasal Mucosa by Staphylococcus Aureus...
HealthyAn inflammatory state of the nasal cells (very close to keratinocytes) could favour the internalization of Staphylococcus aureus and thus constitute a persistent reservoir for the carriage of this bacterium. Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal bacterium of the skin and mucous membranes that colonizes approximately 2 billion people worldwide Staphylococcus aureus is also a leading cause of community and healthcare-associated infection. Staphylococcus aureus has demonstrated its ability to invade many non-professional phagocytic cell lines such as keratinocytes, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, epithelial cells and endothelial cells. During pro-inflammatory stimulation, internalization of Staphylococcus aureus into keratinocytes is mainly mediated by ICAM-1. These results suggest that, in humans, an inflammatory state of the nasal cells (very close to keratinocytes) could promote the internalization of Staphylococcus aureus and thus constitute a persistent reservoir for the carriage of this bacterium.
Determine How Consumption of Dairy Fat as Cheese Influences Inflammation-Phase 2
Metabolic SyndromeObesityPhase 2 of this study involves determining how consumption of cheese compared with a non-dairy cheese substitute influences inflammation over a six hour period.
Multimodal Imaging Assessment of the Inflammatory Atheromatous Plaque
InflammationAtheromatous Plaques1 moreThe present study aims at assessing the ability of 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT for the detection of inflammatory atheromatous plaques in the carotid arteries, compared to 18F-FDG PET/CT, MRI and US and to determine the contribution of each imaging technique. Current gold standard for inflammation is histopathology. Hypothesis : 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD might give a better initial evaluation of patients with atheromatous plaques in the carotid artery eligible for endarterectomy.
Targeting Risk Factors for Diabetes in Subjects With Normal Blood Cholesterol Using Omega-3 Fatty...
Type 2 DiabetesInflammation3 moreEvery 3 minutes a new case of diabetes is diagnosed in Canada, mostly type 2 diabetes (T2D) increasing the risk for heart disease. T2D and heart disease share many common risk factors such as aging, obesity and unhealthy lifestyle. Paradoxically however, while lowering blood LDL, commonly known as "bad cholesterol", is protective against heart disease, research over the past 10 years have shown that the lower is blood LDL, the higher is the chance of developing T2D. This phenomena is happening whether blood LDL is lowered by a common drug against heart disease called Statins, or by being born with certain variations in genes, some of which are very common (~80% of people have them). To date, it is unclear why lowering blood LDL is associated with higher risk for diabetes, and whether this can be treated naturally with certain nutrients. Investigators believe that lowering blood LDL by forcing LDL entry into the body tissue through their receptors promotes T2D. This is because investigators have shown that LDL entry into human fat tissue induces fat tissue dysfunction, which would promote T2D especially in subjects with excess weight. On the other hand, investigators have shown that omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3) can directly treat the same defects induced by LDL entry into fat tissue. Omega-3 is a unique type of fat that is found mostly in fish oil. Thus the objectives of this clinical trial to be conducted in 48 subjects with normal blood LDL are to explore if: Subjects with higher LDL receptors and LDL entry into fat tissue have higher risk factors for T2D compared to subjects with lower LDL receptors and LDL entry into fat tissue 6-month supplementation of omega-3 from fish oil can treat subjects with higher LDL receptors and LDL entry into fat tissue reducing their risk for T2D. This study will thus explore and attempt to treat a new risk factor for T2D using an inexpensive and widely accessible nutraceutical, which would aid in preventing T2D in humans.
Effects of Oral Cladribine on Remyelination and Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Multiple SclerosisRelapsing-RemittingMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Typical brain lesions of the disease may be partially repaired by an endogenous remyelination process which is limited and tends to deplete over the course of the disease. Cladribine tablets are an approved treatment that promotes selective lymphocyte depletion, reducing the inflammatory activity of the disease. The present study is based on the hypothesis that improved inflammatory control through cladribine tablets provides a tissue microenvironment more favorable for remyelination of brain lesions in MS. This hypothesis will be evaluated by a single-arm, open-label, phase IV, single-center, proof-of-concept clinical trial in which 10 participants with relapsing-remitting, highly active MS, relatively early in the course of the disease, will receive conventional treatment with cladribine tablets and will be followed-up for 48 months. Neurological, neuropsychological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters will be measured. Remyelination will be assessed by a novel MRI technique called the q-Space myelin map. Additionally, the peripheral blood lymphocyte and cytokine profiles will be evaluated in order to understand the immunological aspects that influence the remyelination capacity in patients treated with cladribine tablets. The study will be conducted in accordance with current regulations governing clinical research in Brazil.
Miniscrew Stability and Peri-implant Inflammation When Precoated K21 vs Ethanol Control
Inflammation Caused by the Placement of a Temporary Anchorage DeviceTo determine if coating miniscrews with K21 would increase the success rate of orthodontic miniscrews by reducing adjacent tissue inflammation.
Assessment of Intestinal Inflammation by Infrared Thermography in Pediatric Crohn Disease
Crohn DiseaseInfrared Thermography1 moreThe assessment of digestive inflammation and disease activity in paediatrics Crohn's disease (CD) is currently based on anamnestic, clinical and paraclinical elements such as the paediatric CD activity index (wPCDAI) , faecal calprotectin measuring or digestive endoscopy. Infrared thermal imaging is based on capturing electromagnetic waves, on a specific Wavelength, emitted by the human body surface and representing local thermic-metabolic activity. It concern metabolic activity in digestive inflammations. Infrared imaging is a non-invasive, contactless, stressless technique that assess the variations in skin surface temperature of the patient's entire abdomen or more targeted areas in a single photography. This technique would be useful for determination of Crohn's disease activity, inflammation's degree and partial mapping of inflammatory lesions. In a specific room with a patient lying, the investigators will determine the abdominal infrared radiation with a FLIR® thermal camera. This will be correlated with the measurement of the faecal calprotectin concentration and the composite CD activity index wPCDAI. All measurements will be performed during the standard follow-up of Crohn disease. No additional follow will be necessary.
Small Airway Inflammation and Dysfunction in Different Asthma Phenotypes
AsthmaSmall airway inflammation and dysfunction will be measured in 40 children and 40 adults with asthma before and after 8 weeks of treatment with inhaled budesonide. The same measurements will be conducted once in 80 age and sex matched healthy controls.