Bone Density and Serum Testosterone in Male Methadone Maintained Patients
Opiate DependenceOsteoporosis2 moreThis is a pilot study designed to answer the question " Do men who are receiving methadone maintenance therapy have lower spinal bone densities compared with age-matched controls who are not receiving methadone therapy?" The primary aim is to assess whether the mean or median spinal dual-ray energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan results are different between these two groups of male patients. Primary measurements include: spinal bone densitometry by DEXA scan. The secondary aim is to examine the role of sex steroids in men receiving methadone maintenance therapy and their association with spinal bone density and sexual dysfunction. Secondary measurements include: serum testosterone, estradiol, lutenizing hormone, albumin, sex hormone binding globulin and Vitamin D levels; age; Brief Sexual Function Inventory; Dietary, smoking/alcohol use and physical activity; Medical history, surgical and medication use; length of time using illicit opiates and time on methadone maintenance therapy.
A Cross-sectional Study to Investigate the Effect of Topiramate on Bone and Mineral Metabolism in...
SeizuresConvulsions3 moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of topiramate monotherapy on the bone and mineral metabolism markers, and bone density (the amount of mineral per square centimeter of bone ) in female participants with epilepsy (seizure disorder), before menopause (time in life when a woman stops having a menstrual period), as compared with healthy participants and comparative group received either carbamazepine or valproic acid monotherapy for at least last one year.
MedlinePlus Health Prescriptions: Developing a Pragmatic Approach for Clinic Use
Acne VulgarisAllergic Rhinitis35 moreThe specific aim of this proposed pilot study is to compare two standardized processes (paper and electronic) to deliver a customized MedlinePlus health information prescription.
Fractures in the Elderly Population of El Salvador at Hospital Zacamil: Exploring Knowledge, Causes,...
OsteoporosisFractures in the ElderlyAs the population's life expectancy increases, fractures among the elderly in El Salvador are also increasing. There is currently limited data specific to the incidence and cause of fractures in the elderly within developing countries, such as El Salvador. The problem of inadequate knowledge pertaining to bone health and osteoporosis among the elderly is contributing to this aging population's health issues. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence, prevalence, and risk factors effecting elderly patients admitted for fractures at the Hospital Zacamil in San Salvador, El Salvador. The study will also assess the current knowledge in two distinct populations on bone health and osteoporosis. The first population will be the patients over the age of 45 that present to Hospital Zacamil with acute fractures and are consulted by the department of orthopedics. The second population will consist of students at the Evangelical University over the age of 18 in non-medial track studies. All individuals will have to accept the invitation to participate in the study. In addition, educational materials will be developed on the prevention of fractures for medical professionals and for the elderly in El Salvador. The study objectives will determine incidence and prevalence of elderly fractures of patients over the age of 45 at Hospital Zacamil. Secondly, the study will look at demographic information, prevalent causes of fractures, treatment of the fractures, morbidity and mortality, and any complications that may arise in the fracture patients prior to their discharge from the hospital. Thirdly, the study will seek out the current level of knowledge on bone health, osteoporosis, and fracture prevention in the young, educated Salvadorians and patients over the age of 45 at Hospital Zacamil. Fourthly, the study will address the benefits of the information gained by use of educational materials with the patients and doctors of El Salvador. Hypothesis One: Fractures of the elderly at Hospital Zacamil are significantly associated with occurring at the hip, wrist, and vertebra in comparison to other fracture locations.
Use of Bisphosphonates in the Treatment of Osteopathy After Liver Transplantation
OsteoporosisLiver TransplantationPatients with a terminal chronic liver disease have a disordered bone metabolism resulting in a higher risk of falling ill with osteoporosis. Although liver transplantation restores liver function, immunosuppressive therapy (especially corticosteroids) after transplantation increases again the risk of osteoporosis and bone fragility. Zoledronate, a bisphosphonate, slows down the destruction of bone. The purpose of this study is to determine whether bisphosphonates are effective in the prevention of osteoporosis following immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation.
A Pilot Methodology Study To Evaluate Changes In Bone Quality Parameters Following Therapy With...
OsteoporosisThis methodology trial will be conducted in patients with osteoporosis and will measure the changes in bone quality parameters, micro- and macroarchitecture, bone biomarkers and bone density following therapy with the approved drug, Forteo.
Joint Determinants of Bone Density and CVD Calcification
AtherosclerosisCardiovascular Diseases2 moreTo evaluate the relationship bone marrow density and coronary artery and aortic calcification.
Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia) Clinical Research Network (TCRN)
AnemiaCooley's7 moreThe purpose of the TCRN is to accelerate research in the management of thalassemia, standardize existing treatments, and evaluate new ones in a network of clinical centers in North America. The emphasis will be on clinical trials that help identify optimal therapy. Therapeutic trials may involve investigational drugs, drugs already approved but not currently used, and drugs currently used.
A Physical Activity Program for Female Nursing Home Residents at Risk of Osteoporosis
OsteoporosisWorldwide, osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures per annum. Osteoporosis used to be a significant public health concern that most commonly affected Caucasian women in Northern Europe and the United States. Recently, it has become a major public health problem in Asia, most notably among Chinese women. We intend to conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine if a physical activity and education intervention, compared with an education-only intervention (waiting list for physical activity), can result in improved physical activity, reduced falls, and maintaining bone mass, among female nursing home residents in China. The aim of the current pilot and feasibility trial is to test the feasibility and acceptability of conducting these interventions. A pilot and feasibility cluster RCT will be conducted for females aged 60 to 75 years living in nursing homes in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, Western China. The unit of cluster randomization is the nursing home. A total of four nursing homes (two state-owned and two private-owned) will be involved in the pilot and feasibility trial. They will be randomly selected and afterwards randomly assigned to either the intervention group (2 nursing homes) or control group (2 nursing homes). We seek to recruit 20 women from each nursing home. The intervention group participants will exercise with the research staff or under supervision of the trained nursing home staff, and will receive face-to-face workshops, booklet, newsletters, phone calls, and short message service (SMS) reminders. Participants in the control group will only receive educational materials (i.e. face-to-face workshops and booklet) and will be wait listed to receive no other interventions of this study until after the post-intervention. All participants will be referred to doctors for advice and standard care as usual. The primary outcome is the change of habitual physical activity from baseline to 12 months, which will be measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Secondary outcomes include incidental falls and change in bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline to 12 months. The study results will serve to provide an estimate of the effect size, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and rates of eligibility, recruitment and attrition, which may enable a more accurate sample size calculation for a definitive RCT.
MRI Study of the Distal Radius Bone Marrow Fat Fraction in Osteoporotic and Healthy Women
OsteoporosisPostmenopausalThe aim of the study is to test whether the distal radius bone marrow show significant difference in the fat fraction in young women compared to post menopausal women with and without osteoporosis.