Active clinical trials for "Syndrome"

The pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is poorly understood and no effective therapy has been developed. Recent studies suggest that a preceding viral infection causes mitochondrial dysfunction of the brain and skeletal muscle of genetically susceptible individuals. There is no specific laboratory test to identify patients with CFS. However, certain clinical manifestations are similar to those seen in mitochondrial disorders. Both patients with mitochondrial disorders and CFS manifest elevated serum lactate levels after exercise, and demonstrate elevated brain cerebrospinal fluid levels and decreased brain glutathione levels on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Therapy consisting of daily conditioning exercise, dietary recommendations, and nutraceutical supplements (ENT) has been show to be beneficial in treating patients with mitochondrial disorders. Similar therapy has been instituted in individual patients with CFS and has been shown to also improve their clinical conditions. A placebo-controlled trial will be undertaken in 24 CFS patients aged 25-55. Patients fulfilling the CDC criteria for CFS will participate in this 6 month study. Other medical causes for fatigue will be excluded. Half the patients will receive treatment consisting of daily conditioning exercise plus nutraceutical supplements (ENT), that has been shown to be beneficial for patients with mitochondrial dysfunction, while the other half will receive daily conditioning exercise and placebo tablets. Response to ENT will be evaluated by maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and circulating lactate levels during & after treadmill exercise, a 6-minute walk test, and a fatigue questionnaire. In addition, whether ENT corrects the elevated brain cerebrospinal fluid levels and decreased brain glutathione levels will be measured. To ensure compliance to therapy patients will be monitored frequently. The objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of ENT and whether ENT leads to sustained improvement of CFS patients compared to their baseline status, and compared to an exercised group of patients not receiving supplements.

Several lines of evidence indicate that a significant proportion of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events are attributable to the presence of a cluster of metabolic abnormalities and perturbations, defined as the metabolic syndrome. It has been estimated that approximately 25% of the North American adult population is living with the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies from the investigators group show that overaccumulation of atherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) seen in insulin-resistant patients is partly due to increased production rate of intestinally derived apolipoprotein (apo) B-48-containing lipoproteins. This is of interest because substantial evidence exists indicating that elevated levels of intestinal lipoproteins are associated with increased CVD risk. In this regard, there is some evidence that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) may beneficially modify lipoprotein metabolism in hypertriglyceridemic patients. However, as emphasized in the body of this grant proposal, the specific impact of MCTs on the intestinal lipoprotein secretion and on expression of genes that regulate intestinal lipid absorption and chylomicron synthesis has not yet been investigated in humans. The general objective of the proposed research is to investigate the mechanisms by which MCTs beneficially modify intestinal lipoprotein metabolism in patients with the metabolic syndrome. The primary hypothesis is that MCT supplementation will decrease plasma levels of intestinal lipoproteins by reducing secretion of these particles.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers often find that specific foods can exacerbate their symptoms; identifying which foods involves a long and arduous process. Different food allergy tests are marketed to IBS sufferers and healthcare practitioners as an easy way to identify these offending foods. Which test method might be best to use? This project compares the results of different food allergy methods versus an elimination/challenge diet to determine which method maybe superior in IBS sufferers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of nut consumption on metabolic parameters and biomarkers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function in Korean adults with metabolic syndrome.

The main purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of metformin in abrogating androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) induced insulin resistance as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMAIR) in men with non-metastatic prostate cancer.

The purpose of this study is to assess efficacy and safety of pregabalin in treating moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome in comparison to placebo.

The effects of a 16-week exercise training program on insulin resistance and adiposity in overweight/obese women with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

A known risk of red blood cell transfusions is that it puts excess iron into the patient's body. Researchers are continually seeking the most effective method of measuring iron concentration. The purpose of this study is to determine how much iron has been deposited in a patient's heart and liver as a result of having received red blood cell transfusions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The EVITA study is a clinical trial that will test the effect of varenicline (Champix™), a new drug used to help people quit smoking, in patients who have suffered a heart attack. Varenicline has been recently shown to increase the number of otherwise healthy people who quit smoking compared to placebo (sugar pill). Although varenicline has been shown to reduce smoking in healthy populations, its effectiveness in patients recovering from a heart attack is unknown. The EVITA trial will help answer this question. A total of 300 patients who have recently suffered a heart attack and are active smokers will be recruited in the study. For twelve weeks, half the patients will receive varenicline and the other half will receive placebo pills. Patients will be followed for a period of 12 months. During this time, patients will receive telephone calls and go to clinic visits in order to assess if they are smoking. These follow-ups will also assess any side effects and clinical events such as another heart attack or hospitalization that patients may have had. Smoking cessation will be checked using exhaled carbon monoxide readings and self-reports. The EVITA trial will be the first study to examine the use of varenicline in patients who have recently had a heart attack. These patients, if they continue to smoke, are at high risk of having another cardiac event. If varenicline is shown to be useful in this population, it will have a major impact on prevention of cardiac events in patients who have suffered a heart attack.

The investigators specific objective is to determine the effectiveness of a pulse-based diet combined with an exercise training program for reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome in older adults. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that predispose one to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These risk factors include increased abdominal obesity, high blood triglyceride levels, low blood high-density lipoproteins, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and insulin levels, and increased inflammation. The investigators hypothesize that a pulse-based diet combined with exercise training will be very effective for reducing the risks of the metabolic syndrome because each intervention acts on different components of the metabolic syndrome. The design will involve a randomized single-blind cross-over for the pulse-based diet, and a single blind randomized parallel group assignment for the exercise-based intervention. 100 subjects will be randomized to receive the pulse-based diet or their regular diet for 2 months and then cross-over to receive the opposite diet for 2 months, separated by a one-month "wash out". Subjects will be further randomized to exercise or "exercise placebo" groups for the duration of the trial (i.e. 5 months). The exercise intervention will involve aerobic training as this is most effective for reducing metabolic syndrome risk. Dependent variables will be measured at 4 time points: baseline, after the first 2-month diet, before the second 2-month diet (i.e. after the washout) and at the end of the second 2-month diet. These variables will include: Serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, C-reactive protein (as an inflammatory marker), glucose, and insulin, trunk body fat, and blood pressure. A composite metabolic syndrome score will be determined by converting each of these variables into Z-scores and determining the mean of these Z-scores. Secondary variables will include other serum lipids, including low density lipoproteins and total cholesterol.