All clinical trials

Otitis Media (OM) is one of the most frequent diseases in childhood and the primary reason for children to visit a physician. In many countries it is the most common reason to prescribe antibiotics leading to increased drug-resistance of the causative agents, or to undergo surgery. Costs for general health care are expanding, and are estimated to be 3-5 billion dollar annually in the United States. Prevention is suspected to be an important solution to this problem. Although OM management has no universal standard yet, it may imply watchful waiting, antibiotic treatment, adenoidectomy, insertion of tympanostomy tubes and (future) vaccination. Approximately 80% of the acute otitis media (AOM) cases is self-limiting within 2-14 days and also otitis media with effusion (OME) resolves spontaneously: 60% of newly detected OME resolves within 3 months. However, in a significant part of the OM population persistent or recurrent episodes of OM are responsible for a significant morbidity for both children and parents, despite variable treatment options. Through the set up of a new prospective cohort in a clinical setting, relevant patient characteristics, the role of bacterial and viral pathogens, the role of recurrent infection in relation to biofilm formation, and the host response at protein level will be studied in detail. This project is expected to increase the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of OM disease, which will support future treatment and prevention strategies. Better understanding in OM pathogenesis is warranted in order to develop these novel preventive strategies.

Use ultrasound and computed tomography to evaluate the condition of peritoneum(thickness, calcified, etc. )and correlate the relationship between the peritoneum and other clinical condition

Characterization of receptors present in non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas by Reverse Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) would assist with targeted medical therapy based on the information obtained by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare irregularities in dopaminergic function in fronto-subcortical circuits, between Parkinson's Disease patients (ON and OFF medication) and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, by examining performance on cognitive tasks involving cognitive flexibility, decision-making, and attentional bias.

Congestive Heart failure (CHF) is asociated with changes in cardiac function and vascular responses. The aim of this study is to characterize these differences. Our hypothesis is, that there are differences in vascular responses between healthy subjects and patients with CHF.

Though it is generally accepted that exposure to sunlight is a major causative factor for skin cancer, the risk for developing melanoma is not directly linked to sun exposure such as in non-melanoma skin cancer. Therefore, a dual pathway has been proposed, distinguishing melanoma that develops on skin that is chronically exposed to sunlight from those that occur on skin that is normally protected. The risk for each type of melanoma is believed to be determined in part by genetic factors. To define these markers reproducibly, the investigators plan to establish a large cohort with comprehensive information regarding sun sensitivity (skin type), history of experienced sun exposure, skin pigmentation phenotypes, total number of nevi, and other types of skin tumors in a central European population. The investigators will obtain blood from all participants for DNA as well as serum analyses. Based on the finding that genetic variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, associated with red hair and fair skin, have been shown to be associated with increased risk for melanoma, particularly those harboring BRAF mutations, the investigators will now focus on the study of recently discovered genetic variants associated with pigmentation. Furthermore, the investigators will study the relation of these variants with oncogenic mutations of melanoma in BRAF, RAS and c-Kit. The study of other genetic variants will follow, once a sufficiently large cohort has been established to reveal an independent genetic risk factor in a multivariate analysis including potential covariates as mentioned above. The identification of genetic risk factors for melanoma will not only help identify individuals with increased risk but also improve our understanding of the molecular background of the development of melanoma.

This is a prospective assessment of 80 living kidney donors.

Recently it has been suggested that specific mutations in the EGFR gene in lung cancer patients is associated with response to a novel drug targeting the EGF system. Recent research also indicates that there is a possible association to the degree of aggressiveness of the disease. The importance of these mutations is controversial, because the data are based on small studies with highly selected patients. In this project the investigators want to study the types and frequencies of EGFR mutations in both untreated and treated patients in a systematic manner and relate this to survival. The thorough registration of patient data in DK enables us to create a strong The investigators expect this knowledge to be of greatest importance for future rational use of drugs targeting the EGF receptors.

Ask the 4 carers of children with Prader-willi syndrome to disclose their experiences and difficulties for searching better management and intervention

The purpose of the study is to create a prospective database of T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (T-LBL) cases in order to conduct an appropriate statistical study as well as to monitor diagnosis and minimal residual disease (MRD), to detect specific genetic profile useful to give advices on therapies, to assess if PET has a prognostic validity on T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (T-LBL).