
Composition & Function of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in Persons With the Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic SyndromeThe investigators previous research has suggested that lipid (fatty) composition in the muscle cells of mice plays a key role in their insulin sensitivity. The purpose of this study is to determine whether these specific fat signatures translate to humans by comparing the muscle of healthy patients to those with pre-diabetes, or "the metabolic syndrome".

A Study of Eltrombopag or Placebo in Combination With Azacitidine in Subjects With International...
ThrombocytopaeniaEltrombopag olamine (SB-497115-GR) is an orally bioavailable, small molecule thrombopoietin receptor agonist that may be beneficial in medical disorders associated with thrombocytopenia. Eltrombopag has been shown to increase platelet counts in patients with thrombocytopenia from various etiologies (Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura [ITP], liver disease, aplastic anemia and chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia). Approximately 350 subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio (175 into the eltrombopag arm and 175 into the placebo arm). Approximately 55 subjects will be enrolled into the azacitidine. Subjects with intermediate-1, intermediate-2 or high risk MDS by IPSS, and baseline platelet count of <75 Giga (10^9) per liter (Gi/L) will only be enrolled. This is a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study designed to explore the platelet supportive care effects of eltrombopag versus placebo in combination with the standard of care hypomethylating agent, azacitidine. The primary objective of this study is to determine the effect of eltrombopag versus placebo on the proportion of subjects who are platelet transfusion free during the first 4 cycles of azacitidine therapy. Key secondary endpoints include overall survival, disease response, and disease progression.

Use of Preemptive Pudendal Nerve Block Prior to Hydrodistention for the Treatment of Interstitial...
Interstitial CystitisPainful Bladder SyndromeInterstitial cystitis/Painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is a chronic debilitating condition that severely impacts between 2.7 and 6.5 percent of women in the United States. Despite its public health importance the pathogenesis of IC/PBS is not well understood and there is no consensus on the optimal treatment approach for this condition. Hydrodistention is the most commonly used therapy for this condition; but it is limited by severe immediate postoperative bladder pain and its short duration of action. It has been postulated that hydrodistention works by disrupting the sensory nerves within the bladder that may be contributing to bladder pain. Recent evidence has provided support for the use of preemptive pudendal nerve block as a way to blunt immediate postoperative pain. The investigators hypothesize that preemptive pudendal nerve block prior to hydrodistention will result in lower postoperative pain after hydrodistention compared to placebo. This is a prospective double- blinded randomized study and patients will be randomized to receive preemptive bilateral pudendal nerve block with either 1% lidocaine or placebo. Bladder pain will be compared at baseline, 2 hours, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months using the Visual Analog Scale, O'Leary-Sant questionnaire and the Pelvic Pain Urgency and Frequency questionnaire.

Stem Cell Transplantation for Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)
Stiff-Person SyndromeNon-myeloablative regimens (as the investigators use herein) are designed to maximally suppress the immune system without destruction of the bone marrow stem cell compartment. When using a non-myeloablative regimen recovery occurs without infusion of stem cells and the stem cells are autologous. While not necessary for recovery, stem cell infusion may shorten the interval of neutropenia and attendant complications. Thus in reality there is no transplant only an autologous supportive blood product. Based on our encouraging results of non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, for patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, the investigators will investigate the role of non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with SPS who require assistance to ambulate.

International Guillain-Barré Syndrome Outcome Study
Guillain-Barré SyndromeMiller Fisher SyndromeInternational GBS Outcome Study (IGOS) is a study conducted by the members of the Inflammatory Neuropathy Consortium (INC) and Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) on disease course and outcome in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The IGOS aims to identify clinical and biological determinants and predictors of disease course and outcome in individual patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, as early as possible after onset of disease.

Pasireotide Therapy in Patients With Nelson's Syndrome
Nelson SyndromeNelson's syndrome, an expanding pituitary tumour, occurs in up to 30% of adults after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease, for which no medical treatment exists. Plasma Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels in these patients remain high, they are characteristically deeply pigmented, and may experience neurological effects as a consequence of the tumour. It is not known whether the tumour growth is due to the lack of cortisol feedback after adrenalectomy or whether the pituitary cells were preprogrammed to develop into a tumour. There is a real need for an effective medical management for Nelson's syndrome. This is especially true given the increasing data on the somewhat disappointing longterm outcome of transsphenoidal surgery, and the increasing use of aparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy for failures of pituitary surgery or even as primary therapy for Cushing's disease. Therefore, it is likely that there will be increasing numbers of patients attending endocrine centres worldwide with Nelson's syndrome following bilateral adrenalectomy as part of their management for Cushing's disease. In view of this it is important to investigate all potential avenues for the treatment of Nelson's syndrome and translate any benefits to patients. This study, designed and initiated by the investigators, will assess if pasireotide reduces ACTH levels and tumour volume in patients with Nelson's syndrome. Patients will be recruited for a period of 32 weeks and receive 4 weeks of pasireotide twice daily and then 24 weeks of pasireotide long acting release therapy every 4 weeks. Over the 32 week protocol patients will make 12 visits for serial ACTH blood measurements and have 2 MRI scans to assess tumour volume.

Efficacy and Safety Study of BMN 110 for Morquio A Syndrome Patients Who Have Limited Ambulation...
Mucopolysaccharidosis IVAMorquio A Syndrome1 moreThe primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of 2.0 mg/kg/week BMN 110 in a patient population that has limited ambulation, in a period of up to 144 weeks.

A Multi-centre Trial of an Open Lung Strategy Including Permissive Hypercapnia, Alveolar Recruitment...
Acute Respiratory Distress SyndromeSome people develop the condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is a condition where the lungs have become injured from one of a number of various causes, and do not work as they normally do to provide oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body. This can lead to a reduced amount of oxygen in the patient's bloodstream. Patients with ARDS are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and need help with their breathing by being connected to a ventilator (breathing machine). ARDS can lead to injury in other organs of the body causing other problems but also death. Over the past few years, reducing the size of each breath delivered by the ventilator in conjunction with the use of an occasional sustained deep breath called a "recruitment manoeuvre" have been used to try to prevent further damage to the lungs in people with ARDS. This ventilator strategy (termed the PHARLAP strategy) has been shown in a small research study to have some beneficial effects without causing any obvious harm, when compared to a current best practice ventilator strategy. The main beneficial effects of the PHARLAP strategy were to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood and to reduce markers of inflammation (the body reacting to a disease process) in the body. This study was too small to make a strong conclusion, so this study will be much larger and will assess whether patients who have developed ARDS are better off when we use the PHARLAP strategy. Three hundred and forty patients will be enrolled into this study in multiple ICUs across Australia and New Zealand. The study hypothesis is that the PHARLAP strategy group will have a higher number of ventilator free days at day 28 than the control group.

Tosedostat and Cytarabine or Azacitidine in Treating Older Participants With Acute Myeloid Leukemia...
Acute Myeloid LeukemiaHigh Risk Myelodysplastic SyndromeThis phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of cytarabine and azacitidine and how well they work when giving together with tosedostat in treating older participants with acute myeloid leukemia or high risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Tosedostat and azacitidine may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. It is not yet known whether giving tosedostat and cytarabine or azacitidine may work better in treating participants with acute myeloid leukemia or high risk myelodysplastic syndrome.

Brentuximab Vedotin + Rituximab as Frontline Therapy for Pts w/ CD30+ and/or EBV+ Lymphomas
Adult Grade III Lymphomatoid GranulomatosisAdult Nasal Type Extranodal NK/T-cell Lymphoma116 moreThe purpose of this study is to evaluate how safe and effective the combination of two different drugs (brentuximab vedotin and rituximab) is in patients with certain types of lymphoma. This study is for patients who have a type of lymphoma that expresses a tumor marker called CD30 and/or a type that is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-related lymphoma) and who have not yet received any treatment for their cancer, except for dose-reduction or discontinuation (stoppage) of medications used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs (for those patients who have undergone transplantation). This study is investigating the combination of brentuximab vedotin and rituximab as a first treatment for lymphoma patients