All clinical trials

To evaluate the correlation between SERPIN D1 expression in clinical specimen (including surgical specimen and blood sample) and lung cancer metastasis.

The release of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is thought to play a causative role in migraine. Nociceptin immunoreactivity and ORL-1 mRNA have been detected in human trigeminal ganglia where it was co-localized with CGRP. It may play a role in migraine pathogenesis. We are collecting the blood samples of migraineurs for analysis of these neuropeptides.

Primary headache disorders are now accepted as physiological diseases, and advanced imaging-techniques have demonstrated a migraine generator in the brain stem and increased stimulus sensitivity in these patients. The underlying neuronal dysfunctions remain to to clarified and the existing neurophysiological methods have not yet been useful. More sensitive and reliable methods are therefore highly needed. The aims of the study are therefore to develop a sensitive and reliable method to demonstrate a cortical reorganisation and expansion of pain sensitive cortical areas in patients with migraine or tension-type headache.

This study aims to determine if there is a link between cow's milk allergy in infants and regulatory T cells dysfunction that should be transient in infant acquiring oral tolerance after 12 month avoiding food and persistent in others. Cow's milk allergy is evaluated by basophils activation test, T cells activation test, specific humoral response (IgA, IgE, IgG) in allergic infants before and after 12 month avoiding food, before and after low dose milk exposure, before and after oral challenge. Number and function of regulatory T cells and microflora composition are measured at the same time. Allergic infants are compared to age matched control group.

Transvaginal ultrasound of the cervix has become a common tool to evaluate patients who are at risk for preterm delivery. A shortened cervical length has been associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery. Dynamic cervical change is visible shortening(>6mm) of the cervix seen during the ultrasound examination. Prior studies have shown that the presence of dynamic change in patients with a shortened cervical length(<3cm) is not independently predictive of preterm delivery. However, a subset of patients with normal initial cervical length(>3cm) and dynamic change did demonstrate an increased rate of preterm delivery. Because this was a small sub-group, the present study was designed to obtain a larger sample size for further evaluation. The second focus of this study involves patients with a dilated cervix and whether cervical length adds predictive value to gestational age at delivery. Patients presenting to with symptomatic preterm labor(vaginal pressure or uterine contractions), who consent to the study, will undergo the standard evaluation for preterm labor(described in detail below.) The only additional evaluation is a prolonged transvaginal ultrasound of approximately 10 minutes to evaluate for the presence of dynamic change during a contraction. Null hypothesis: Symptomatic preterm labor patients, with normal initial cervical length(>3cm), who exhibit dynamic cervical change deliver at a gestational age equal to those without dynamic change. Alternative hypothesis: Symptomatic preterm labor patients, with normal initial cervical length(>3cm), who exhibit dynamic cervical change deliver at an earlier gestational age than those without dynamic change.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between cognitive functions and volume of specific brain area measured in MRI of multiple sclerosis patients.

18F ion is a positron emitting bone radiopharmaceuticals. The skeletal uptake of 18F relies on the exchange of hydroxyl ions in the hydroxyapatit crystal which is an indicator of bone metabolic activity (8). It has good soft tissue clearance and high affinity of to the bone matrix. It is able to perform a highly sensitive whole-body screening for bone metastases using a high resolution PET scanner. Therefore, we conduct a prospective study to evaluate the accuracy and clinical value of 18F PET in staging bone metastases by Comparing the sensitivity of 18F-NaF PET with that of 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy; Determining the clinical impact of PET results on subsequent patient management.

The goal of this research study is to investigate the role of genes that may point to a higher risk of developing a glioma. Researchers will use new gene mapping techniques to study how high-risk factors are passed on through a family's genes and increase the risk of developing gliomas. Objectives: We propose an international multi-center, multidisciplinary study consortium, GLIOGENE, to identify susceptibility genes in high-risk familial brain tumor pedigrees using the most sophisticated genetic analysis methods available. To address our hypothesis, we propose the following specific aims: Aim 1: Establish a cohort of 400 high-risk pedigrees for genetic linkage analysis. To date, we have identified and collected biologic samples from 20 high-risk families that have met our criteria of 2 or more relatives diagnosed with a brain tumor. From the 15 centers in the United States and Europe, we will screen and obtain epidemiologic data from approximately 17,080 gliomas cases to identify a target of 400 families for genetic analysis. We will establish a cohort of the first and second-degree relatives from these glioma cases to obtain new knowledge about how cancer aggregates in glioma families. We will also acquire biospecimens (blood and tumor tissue), and risk factor data from relevant family members. Aim 2: Identify candidate regions linked to familial brain tumors. To strengthen evidence of linkage to regions found in our preliminary analysis and to identify additional regions linked to brain tumors, we will genotype informative glioma pedigrees identified in aim 1 using Affymetrix 10K GeneChip with markers spaced throughout the genome, and conduct a genome-wide multipoint linkage scan with these markers. Aim 3: Fine map the regions established in Aim 2 by genotyping selected SNPs from genome databases. We will attempt to further refine the regions identified in Aim 2 to less than 1cM by using approximately 1,500 - 2,000 carefully selected SNPs. The prioritization of regions will be based on a combination of the strength of evidence for linkage from families of various ethnic backgrounds and the presence of obvious candidate genes.

The aim of this study is to identify genetic loci,or gene variations contributing to inflammation and to the development of CHD. We will compare coronary angiogram results to genetic findings within coronary artery disease patients and in patients with normal coronaries.

ECMO offers an acceptable cardiopulmonary support in adults with similar hospital survival rates as other mechanical support. It is versatile and salvages some patients, who may otherwise die. Improvement in intermediate term outcome will require multidisciplinary approach to protect organ function and limit organ injury during this support.