Study of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections
Viral DiseaseBlood Donation1 moreThis study will follow blood transfusion recipients for 6 to 9 months following transfusion to monitor the quality and safety of blood transfusion. Improved viral testing and careful donor screening in the last several years has dramatically reduced the rates of transfusion-related HIV and hepatitis. Nevertheless, ongoing surveillance of transfusion-related infections is essential to maintain a high safety standard and to determine the transfusion risk of other infectious agents, such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B-19, HHV-8 (Kaposi s sarcoma virus) and other possible hepatitis viruses that might be blood-transmitted. Transfused patients blood will be tested for various infectious agents. Their blood samples and blood samples from their donors will be frozen and stored in a repository so that any new infectious agent can be rapidly evaluated for its danger to the safety of the blood supply. Adult patients at the National Institutes of Health and children at the Children s National Medical Center who are scheduled to receive a blood transfusion or to undergo surgery for which a blood transfusion may be needed are eligible for this study. All participants will have a 20- to 25-milliliter (about 2 tablespoonfuls) blood sample drawn before their transfusion and again at 1, 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the transfusion. Patients who are transfused on more than one occasion over the course of the study will provide three additional monthly samples. Patients who develop a transfusion-transmitted infection during the study will provide up to four more samples to study the infection and its effects. Participants will complete a brief questionnaire at the end of the study regarding prior blood transfusions and the development of any illnesses, such as hepatitis, that might have been caused by the transfusion.
Study to Determine the Hepatitis C Virus Infection Prevalence Among Patients Attended Primarily...
Chronic Hepatitis cVasculitisChronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) is usually asymptomatic; nevertheless, there are studies that show that up to two thirds of patients may present some type of extrahepatic manifestation. The most frequent extrahepatic manifestation is type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MCG-II) and clinically the most common presentation is leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) with palpable purpura that affects the lower extremities. It is estimated that up to 80% of MCG-II cases are due to CHC. Also, previous studies have demonstrated that CHC prevalence is higher in patients with autoimmune diseases compared with general population. Therefore, if vasculitis is an extrahepatic manifestation of CHC, then the prevalence of CHC infection in this group of patients could be higher than the prevalence reported in general population. The aim of the study is to know the prevalence of CHC, determined by serological rapid test for hepatitis C screening, then all positive cases will be confirmed by quantitative viral load, in patients who consult primarily to a rheumatology department for "vasculitis" or other potential hepatitis C extrahepatic manifestations (rheumatological conditions).
Home Testing of Respiratory Illness
Influenza -Like IllnessInfluenza A3 moreThe main goal of this research study is to use data from activity trackers (such as Fitbits), lab tests, and surveys to see if activity, sleep, and heart rate data can tell the difference between when someone has a respiratory illness (e.g., flu) and when they are feeling healthy. The research will also study an investigational flu@home test and app. If successful, results from the study could be used in the future to better identify people with respiratory illness. In addition, this study will test the accuracy of an at-home flu test kit compared to laboratory test results.
Effectiveness and Safety of a Heterologous, Two-dose Ebola Vaccine in the DRC
Ebola Virus DiseaseA single arm, open-label, non-randomized, interventional phase 3 study to measure safety and effectiveness of a heterologous, two dose preventative vaccine (Ad26. ZEBOV, MVA-BN®-Filo) against Ebola Virus Disease.
Effect of Weight Reduction on Immunity
LymphocytesWeight Loss3 moreThis study included two groups of premenopausal healthy obese women. Experimental group underwent a weight loss program involved a low calorie diet plus anti-obesity drugs and moderate physical activity and control group underwent an ad libitum diet. At baseline and after a 10-15% weight loss lymphocyte subgroups were analyzed and compared between two group.
A Rapid Test for Acute Respiratory Illness
Respiratory Tract Infection AcuteTranscriptome2 moreThe primary purpose of this study is to support the development of a host response test for acute respiratory illness to identify bacterial, viral or NB/NV etiologies as compared to a clinical adjudication reference standard. Secondary objectives include: Evaluate the effect of age on the performance of the HR-ARI test Evaluate the effect of race/ethnicity on the performance of the HR-ARI test Evaluate the effect of geography on the performance of the HR-ARI test
Can COVID-19 Persist in Intraocular Fluid?
Ocular InfectionViralSeveral common viruses thrive and persist in intraocular fluid due to ocular immune privilege. Immune privilege is maintained by lack of lymphatic tissue, a strong blood ocular barrier, and regulation of the systemic immune response via immunosuppressive factors such as TGF-B and processes like anterior chamber associated immune deviation. Notable viruses that benefit from ocular immune sequestration include DNA viruses such as Herpes simplex virus, Varicella Zoster, Cytomegalovirus and RNA viruses like Ebola and Rubella.In light of the global 2019 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus (SARS CoV-2 or commonly COVID-19) pandemic, there has been growing interest on COVID-19's long term effects on the ocular system. Ocular symptoms at the time of diagnosis and during illness have been reported previously. The most commonly reported are epiphora, chemosis, and conjunctivitis. Less common were findings of retinal hemorrhages and retinal ischemic changes. Recent literature has demonstrated its presence in ocular fluid such as tears and the aqueous humor, but whether this is sustained for an extended period of time has yet to be determined. Long term effects of covid on the neurological system are being identified - large vessel ischemic strokes, cerebral hemorrhages, cranial nerve palsies, and memory loss in young adults are being reported. The persistence of COVID 19 in the intraocular fluid several months after covid infection has not been studied previously.
Host RNA Profiles to Detect Infections in Young Infants
Bacterial InfectionsUrinary Tract Infections8 moreThis study seeks to identify and test host RNA expression profiles as markers for infections in young infants. Preliminary studies have shown high sensitivity and specificity for the discrimination of bacterial from non-bacterial infections in children, but the method has only been investigated in a limited number of young infants. The study aims to include 65 young infants with serious bacterial infections. The samples will be analysed by RNA sequencing. New diagnostic tools may help reduce unnecessary antibiotic treatment, antibiotic resistance, side-effects, hospitalisation and invasive procedures.
Integrating Enhanced HIV PrEP Into a STI Clinic in Lilongwe
HIV InfectionsSexually Transmitted Diseases12 moreThis is a prospective cohort study evaluating acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of integrating HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) into a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic alongside assisted partner notification and etiologic STI testing in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Medicine-induced Cardiac Hemodialysis on COVID-19
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related CoronavirusRenal Dialysis3 moreThe clinical trial studies the human pathogen of SARS-CoV-2, with a specificity in the circulating Spike 2 protein in the human system. The clinical trial hypothesizes that SARS-CoV-2 human pathogen arises from immune attacks, underlying the severe physiological symptoms that can be lethal. It further hypothesizes that the vaccines do not deal with the Spike 2 protein that causes the immune attacks.