Active clinical trials for "Myositis"

This study will examine the abnormal immune response in patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM)-the most common inflammatory muscle disease in people over the age of 50. s-IBM progresses steadily and may lead to severe weakness and wasting of arm and leg muscles. Patients may become unable to perform daily living activities and be confined to wheelchairs. s-IBM is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the body's own immune system attacks healthy muscles. This study will explore the causes of the muscle tissue inflammation that is responsible for destruction of muscle fibers and weakness in this disease. Information from the study may help in the development of an effective treatment for this disease. Patients with s-IBM may be eligible for this study. Those who are unable to travel or who have severe cardiovascular, renal or other end-stage organ disease will be excluded. Candidates will be screened for eligibility with a medical history and physical and neurological examinations. Participants will be seen at the NIH Clinical Center every six months over a 12-month period (visits at enrollment, 6 months and 12 months) either on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on their disease severity. Each 2- to 3-day visit will involve the following tests and evaluations: Blood samples for routine laboratory tests are collected at every visit. Additional blood for research studies is collected at 12 months. Quantitative muscle strength testing is done at every visit. The patient pulls against straps connected to dynamometers (devices that measure muscle power) to evaluate strength of the main muscle groups in the arms and legs. Lymphapheresis is done at enrollment and at 12 months. This is a procedure for collecting quantities of lymphocytes (white blood cells that are an important part of the immune system). Blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein and circulated through a machine that spins it, separating it into its components. The lymphocytes are removed and the rest of the blood (red cells, platelets and plasma) is returned to the body through the same needle or another needle placed in the other arm. Electrophysiologic studies (electromyography and nerve conduction testing) are done at enrollment and 12 months. Electromyography evaluates the electrical activity of muscles. A small needle is inserted into the muscle and the patient is asked to relax or to contract the muscle. For nerve conduction testing, nerves are stimulated by electrodes (small wires taped to the skin over the muscle). Muscle biopsy is done at enrollment and 12 months. A sample of muscle tissue (about the size of a lima bean) from an arm or leg is surgically removed to confirm the diagnosis of s-IBM and for analysis of proteins involved in the muscle inflammation process. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area before the surgery and the wound is closed with stitches.

It is estimated that 15% of adults aged 60-70 years, and up to 50% of adults aged 80 years and older are affected by sarcopenia-the age related loss of muscle mass and function. A disruption of the homeostatic balance between periods of muscle protein breakdown (predominant during fasting) and muscle protein synthesis (predominant following nutrient ingestion) can result in the loss of muscle mass over time. In particular, research suggests that an inability of muscle to fully respond to the anabolic influence of nutrient intake may contribute significantly to age-related muscle loss. This anabolic resistance is likely influenced by increased age-related inflammation. There is evidence in cell line and animal models that increased levels of the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) impairs the molecular pathways that initiate muscle protein synthesis (i.e. mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR signaling), and can accelerate muscle protein breakdown. Obesity, and sedentary lifestyle have been linked to increased TNFα expression, and thus may partially explain impaired muscle protein balance in older adults. The objectives of this clinical trial are to 1) determine if lifestyle modification via weight loss and aerobic exercise can reduce skeletal muscle inflammation and subsequently improve nutrient-stimulated muscle protein synthesis in previously sedentary, obese older adults; and 2) expose undergraduate Kinesiology and Nutrition majors to meritorious research. The investigators have recently published data with undergraduate researchers showing that body composition is associated with elevated skeletal muscle expression of TNFα converting enzyme (TACE). One of the primary actions of TACE is to cleave membrane bound TNFα (mTNFα) to soluble TNFα (sTNFα)-a more mature and bioactive form of TNFα. Both TACE and sTNFα are known to be elevated in a number of clinical conditions, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes. Based on these data, the investigators feel that TACE may represent an important and potentially modifiable (via weight loss and aerobic conditioning) regulator of skeletal muscle inflammation in humans. There are currently no data on the associations among skeletal muscle expression of TACE, TNFα, and muscle protein balance. Thus, the focus of this study is to determine if 5-10% diet-induced weight loss and 6-months (3 days per week) of aerobic exercise training can influence: 1) TACE and TNFα expression in skeletal muscle; and 2) improve molecular indices of muscle protein breakdown and nutrient-stimulated muscle protein synthesis (mTOR signaling) in sedentary, obese older adults. Specifically, 60 sedentary, obese older adults will be randomized to one of the following groups: 1) control group (CON), 2) a diet-induced weight loss group (DIET), 3) an aerobic exercise training group (EX), or 4) a diet-induced weight loss + aerobic exercise training group (DIET + EX). The results of this study will advance the understanding of the connections among skeletal muscle inflammation and muscle protein balance in older adults, and validate TACE as a potentially modifiable target for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and other age-related inflammatory diseases, which will contribute to the development of practice-based guidelines for healthcare practitioners.

The primary aim is to characterize the prevalence, severity and quality of musculoskeletal nociceptive pain in adult patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). The secondary objectives are to evaluate whether severity and distribution of muscle pain is associated with muscle function, and to assess whether muscle pain is associated with alterations of muscle elasticity and muscle stiffness. Results of patients with neuromuscular disorders will be compared to age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Approx. 70 patients with neuromuscular disorders and 20 healthy volunteers will be enrolled, including patients with the following neuromuscular disorders: histologically confirmed inclusion body myositis (IBM), genetically confirmed late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy type 3 (SMA3), genetically confirmed facio-scapulo-humeral muscle dystrophy (FSHD), genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1 or type 2 (DM1, DM2). The duration of patient recruitment will be around 12 months.

So far, only limited data is available regarding the natural course in Congenital Cataract Facial Dysmorphism Neuropathy Syndrome (CCFDN) and sporadic and hereditary inclusion body myopathies (IBM). Several criteria and outcome measures have led to contradicting results. The investigators want to retrospectively assess the natural course of the disease in CCFDN and IBM patients according to the data recorded during clinical routine visits.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether moderate-severe endpoints (including high fever, lower respiratory tract disease, acute otitis media, or serious extra-pulmonary complications) were predictive of hospitalization, intensive care admission, antibiotic use and other complications in children under 8 years of age.

This study will define the major genetic risk and protective factors for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), a group of immune disorders affecting connective tissues such as muscles. It will also identify new environmental risk factors for IIM and identify immune responses in myositis and related diseases. There are many forms of IIMs, and the causes of these diseases are unknown. However, scientists suspect that they result when people with some genetic factors that predispose them-that is, put them at greater risk-are exposed to certain environmental triggers. Some of those triggers include food, drugs, biologics (such as a vaccine to prevent disease), medical devices and occupational exposures. Patients, including children under 18, who had a diagnosis of myositis, a related autoimmune disease, or a rheumatic disease, as well as their blood relatives, and control subjects who were in good health have already been recruited for this study. The evaluation consisted of one outpatient visit to the patient's doctor, who will obtain a medical history and conduct a physician examination. Patients spent 20 to 30 minutes to answer written questions. There was a blood collection of about 6 tablespoons. If there was a major change in patients' medical conditions, they were asked to return for a second outpatient evaluation to determine whether any of the blood tests or antibodies, which show an immune response, had changed. Blood samples collected will be used only for laboratory research studies. The samples have been identified by a code, and all other identifying information have been removed. During the study, researchers will explore possible environmental risk factors, including studies of infectious and non-infectious agents. They will analyze the blood for genetic markers and test for certain antibodies. Laboratory results will be evaluated as they relate to the signs, symptoms, and severity of patients' illnesses. That would help researchers to better understand patterns of the diseases and the outcomes for patients. This study will not have a direct benefit for patients. However, results from the study can be made available to patients' doctors for use in appropriate care. Also, it is hoped that information gained can help other people in the future. ...

The purposes of this study are to identify gene mutations in patients with the muscle diseases phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency, acid maltase deficiency (GAA deficiency) and to learn more about how these diseases develop. PFK deficiency is a mild, exercise-related illness. The childhood form of GAA deficiency (Pompe disease) affects the heart and liver and is rapidly fatal. The adult form begins in midlife and involves degeneration of skeletal muscles, leading to weakness and muscle wasting. The following groups of individuals may be eligible for this study: Group A: Patients with PFK deficiency, acid maltase deficiency, and relatives who also are affected. Participants in this group will undergo a brief medical and family history, blood sample collection, and possibly a physical examination, review of medical records, and interview with the patient's physician. Group B: Unaffected family members of patients in group A, including both blood relatives and spouses. People in this group may be asked to provide a history and genetic information. A review of medical records, interview with the individual's physician, and blood sample may also be requested. Group C: Control subjects. This group will provide a small blood sample or buccal mucosal sample (tissue sample collected by brushing the inside of the cheek). The samples will be coded and the investigators will not know the participants' identities. DNA from these samples will be analyzed for frequency of gene mutations. Genetic counseling will be arranged for patients, as appropriate.

Knowledge of the descriptive epidemiology of MIs is very limited. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of inflammatory myopathies in Alsace at the 1st January 2012 with "capture-recapture" design using several independent sources of case identification.

Antisynthetase syndrome (AS) is a rare overlapping myositis characterized by cellular and humoral autoimmune responses directed against aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A pathogenic role of neutrophils was described during inflammatory myopathies, with increased netosis correlated with disease activity and muscle damage. Higher number of alveolar neutrophils was observed in patients with rapidly progressive forms of interstitial lung disease. Peripheral neutrophils could represent a simple biomarker of severity and activity in patients with antisynthetase syndrome. The main objective is to compare circulating neutrophils between severe and non severe patients with antisynthetase syndrome. Secondary objectives are: 1) to evaluate correlation between circulating neutrophils and organ-specific severity, 2) to compare circulating neutrophils at time of diagnosis and circulating neutrophils after 6 months of treatment in patients with antisynthetase syndrome.

Comparison of a group of 20 IBM patients with 20 controls matched on age, gender and weight.