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The purpose of the study proposed is to investigate the role of neurosteroids and GABA in the pathophysiology and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) by 1) measuring cortical gama-aminobutyric acid levels (GABA levels) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) during the follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle pre and post treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (Prozac®, Sarafem®), and 2) correlating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma GABA and neurosteroid levels with cortical GABA levels at these same time points. Neurosteroids to be measured include allopregnanolone, pregnenolone, and pregnenolone sulfate. Findings from women with PMDD will be compared to those of healthy subjects.

This study is a 2 (treatments) by 5 (time points), repeated measures intent-to-treat randomized control design with multiple dependent variables. The sample includes a total of 150 ethnically diverse adolescents who are clinically referred for substance abuse treatment throughout St. Charles Parish, a New Orleans area parish that was heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The parish has high rates of teen substance abuse as documented in school surveys (State of Louisiana Office for Addictive Disorders, 2002, 2004). Eligible youth, who meet American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria for outpatient substance abuse treatment and report trauma symptoms related to Hurricane Katrina, will be randomized to a family-based treatment (MDFT) or group CBT. Both treatments will be delivered approximately twice weekly over 4 months. Assessments of youth and family functioning across several domains will be conducted at intake, 2, 4, 6, and 12 month follow-up. Measuring multiple domains at several assessment points within and following treatment (Brown, 2004) will enable investigators to examine trajectories of change as well as mediators and moderators of treatment effects. The study has four aims: Aim 1: To explore links between hurricane-related stress and trauma and youths' substance abuse. Hypothesis 1: Severity of youths' substance use at intake to treatment will be predicted by level of exposure to Hurricane Katrina, stressful life events following Katrina, trauma symptoms, and coping. Aim 2: To investigate in a community based randomized control trial the effectiveness of a family-based intervention (MDFT) vs. group CBT for teen substance abusers impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Hypothesis 2a: Family-based treatment (MDFT) will more effectively reduce youths' substance abuse, delinquency, trauma, and school problems up to one year post-intake than a group CBT approach. Hypothesis 2b: Family-based treatment (MDFT) will more effectively reduce parents' stress and family conflict up to one year post-intake than group CBT. Hypothesis 2c: Youth assigned to MDFT will be less likely to meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD at 12 month post-intake than group CBT. Aim 3: To examine teen and parent coping as mediators of treatment effects. Hypothesis 3a: Youth in MDFT will develop more effective coping strategies than those in group CBT through improved parental coping and parenting practices, and lower family conflict, as well as directly through intervention effects. Hypothesis 3b: Youth in MDFT will achieve greater reductions in substance abuse and trauma symptoms than those in group treatment through more effective coping during the 12 month follow-up period. Aim 4: To explore moderators of treatment effects based on post-Katrina stress and trauma symptoms. Hypothesis 4: The advantage of MDFT over group CBT in decreasing substance abuse will be more pronounced with youth who report higher levels of disaster-related stress and trauma symptoms at intake. This protocol seizes this rare scientific opportunity to test an integrative family based model to address youths' coexisting substance abuse and trauma in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The study would address a number of gaps in the current evidence base related to understanding and treating comorbid teen drug abuse and trauma that may be initiated or exacerbated in the wake of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. This study would compare two promising interventions for youth with comorbid trauma and substance abuse, family-based treatment and group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), potentially yielding new and vital information about effective treatment for substance abusing youth following traumatic events.

This was an open label assessment of hydroxyurea pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability conducted in two independent cohorts of pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia or sickle beta-zero thalassemia. A total of 42 participant were enrolled, out of which 39 were enrolled and dosed. A one-compartment population PK model was successfully developed to describe the time course of hydroxyurea concentrations after oral administration in sickle cell anemia participants from both study arms. The relative bioavailability analysis showed very similar pharmacokinetics for peroral liquid and capsule formulations. No adverse events (AEs) were classified as being caused by the study drug, and no AEs led to study drug interruption. Lastly, no significant changes from baseline in laboratory values, vital signs, or physical examination results were found. Hydroxyurea was well tolerated as evidenced by safety monitoring and reporting.

Objective This investigation will focus on two areas: 1) early communication impairments as predictors of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and later developmental delays, and 2) the relationship between communication and evidence of CNS function (sleep, EEG) and structure (MRI DTI and volumetrics) in young children at risk for ASD. The objective is to delineate early communicative impairments that predict ASD vs. other developmental delays and to examine how these impairments correlate with brain abnormalities in both structure and function. Study Population We will recruit 64 children [n=32 at 12 months of age (plus or minus 2 months); n=32 at 18 months of age (plus or minus 2 months)] who are at-risk for ASD due to communication/language delays (at-risk group). The at-risk children will be matched at initial on chronological age, SES, and sex, to typically developing children (n=75) with no history of developmental delays. These 139 participants will hereafter be referred to as the toddler sample. At the 36 month final visit, diagnostic status (e.g. ASD, non-ASD specific delays, catch up) will be determined for children in the at-risk group. In addition, 10 healthy adults, aged 18-40 will serve as control participants for the purpose of piloting the functional paradigms for the MRI portion of the protocol. Design We propose to conduct a prospective, longitudinal study of toddlers at-risk for ASD compared to typically developing toddlers. Children will complete behavioral testing and an overnight Sleep/EEG as well as MRI at either a 12 or 18 month initial. Follow-up visits that include behavioral assessment will occur at 24 and 36 months for all children (and at 18 months of age for the 12-month cohort). The Sleep/EEG and MRI will be repeated at the 36 month final follow-up. Outcome Measures Autism symptoms, language status, and cognitive development at 36 months will serve as the primary outcome measures. The purpose of this study is to learn more about risk factors for autism by studying the behavior and brain functioning of toddlers with early communication delays and typically developing toddlers. Children 12 or 18 months of age with language delays (i.e., no words at 18 months, limited vocalizations at 12 months) and typically developing toddlers may be eligible to participate. This study will be conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. There will be an initial screening evaluation that will include behavioral assessment. Eligible participants will then complete a baseline visit that includes an overnight sleep study that includes Electroencephalogram (EEG) test to measure brain electrical activity, and an MRI scan. Follow-up visits that include behavioral assessment will occur every 6-12 months, depending on age at study entry. The final study visit will occur at 36 months of age and will include behavioral assessment, sleep/EEG study, and MRI. There is no cost for participation. Compensation will be provided. To find out if your child qualifies or for more information, please call 301-451-7822 (TTY: 1-866-411-1010) or e-mail NIMH-ASD@mail.nih.gov. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services....

Fish oils have many proven benefits for a wide range of clinical arenas such as ischaemic heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Recent research has described the beneficial effects of intravenous fish oils for surgical patients, such as reduced hospital stay, reduced re-operation rate and reduced requirements for intravenous antibiotics. These are in part due to the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oils. There is evidence that fish oils are also effective against cancer, large population studies indicate that diets rich in omega-3 are associated with a lower incidence of cancer, and in vitro and animal studies demonstrate anti-tumour effects of fish oils 1. Fish oils inhibit the growth of different human cancer cell lines 2. They act specifically on tumour cells only and do not impair the function of normal cells 3. EPA and DHA inhibit the growth of human cancer cell lines and enhance apoptosis. 4. Fish oil induces apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cell lines in-vitro after 48hrs incubation 5. Fish oil has been shown to inhibit the proliferation activities, inhibit the invasive activities and increase the apoptosis of human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines in-vitro after only 48hrs of exposure 6. Fish oil has been shown to enhance colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines sensitivity to radiotherapy 7. Fish oil has also been shown to reduce the incidence of liver metastases in experimentally induced ductal pancreatic cancer in rats after 30 weeks of oral treatment with an omega-3 supplemented diet. 8. Lung cancer xenografts in animals fed with fish oil showed significantly increased tumour regression in response to doxorubicin compared to those fed with omega-3. This study aims to assess the effect of omega-3 FA upon hepatic colorectal metastases in a pilot study. 20 patients will be selected for this pilot study with potentially resectable hepatic colorectal adenocarcinoma metastases. 10 patients will receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN) without fish oils (controls), 10 will receive fish oil containing lipid emulsion in their TPN. Changes in tumour angiogenesis (increased angiogenesis is associated with a poorer prognosis in hepatic colorectal metastases) will be investigated using digital contrast enhanced MRI scanning, and markers of angiogenesis will be investigated in blood and resected tumour samples from the patients. It is a randomised controlled double blind trial. The purpose of this study is to determine whether fish oils - a known source of omega-3 given intravenously (via a 'drip') will help cure secondary deposits in the liver from bowel cancer.

A long-term low carbohydrate, high monounsaturated fat diet, compared to a high carbohydrate, low glycemic index diet, results in more rapid progression of diabetes; i.e. increased fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin, reduced beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity and increased free fatty acids. The deleterious effects of a high carbohydrate diet on plasma lipids are only temporary and do not persist beyond 6 months. A long-term high carbohydrate, low glycemic index diet, compared to a high carbohydrate, high glycemic index diet, improves glycemic control and beta-cell function

Pharmacokinetics and safety of sildenafil will be studied in preterm infants who are receiving sildenafil per standard of care or 1 dose prescribed for the study. The purpose of this study is to learn more about the safety and dosing of sildenafil in infants.

This is a multicentre prospective randomised controlled trial to determine whether a reduction of body temperature by 3-4°C following perinatal asphyxia improves survival without neurodevelopmental disability. Full term infants will be randomised within 6 hours of birth to either a control group with the rectal temperature kept at 37 ± 0.2°C or to whole body cooling with the rectal temperature kept at 33.5 ± 0.5°C for 72 hours followed by slow rewarming. The outcome will be assessed at 18 months of age by survival and neurological and neurodevelopmental testing. Eligibility criteria: Term infants less than 6 hours after birth with moderate or severe perinatal asphyxia (a combination of clinical and EEG criteria). Exclusion criteria: Infants expected to be 6 hours of age at the time of randomisation or infants with major congenital abnormalities. Intervention: Intensive care with whole body cooling versus intensive care without whole body cooling (babies are cooled to 33.5°C for 72 hours) Main Outcomes: Death and severe neurodevelopmental impairment at 18 months of age Secondary Outcomes: Cerebral thrombosis or haemorrhage, persistent hypotension, pulmonary hypertension, abnormal coagulation, arrhythmia and sepsis in the neonatal period. Neurological impairments at 18 months Number of patients required: 236. On 30th November 2006, when recruitment closed, 325 babies had been recruited. Hypothesis: Prolonged whole body cooling in term infants with perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy reduces death and severe neurodevelopmental disability. This study aims to determine whether whole body cooling to 33-34°C is a safe treatment that improves survival, without severe neurological or neurodevelopmental impairments at 18 months, of term infants suffering perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy.

It has been found that the chemical changes that take place in a patient's body during the development of inflammation may provide an environment which stimulates cancer cells. One step in the development of inflammation is the production of certain chemical substances which are important in the formation and spread of tumours. These are called prostaglandins. Cyclo-oxygenase II (COX-2) is an enzyme (a substance that speeds up chemical changes in the body) involved in the production of these prostaglandins and although it is not usually present in most tissues it is made at the sites of inflammation. Celecoxib is a selective Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) which works by blocking the action of the COX-2 enzyme, leading to a decrease in the production of prostaglandins and a reduction in inflammation. The purpose of this study is therefore to find out if celecoxib can be used after breast cancer treatment (chemotherapy and/ or radiotherapy) to reduce inflammation and thus reduce the ability of new tumours to grow and survive. 2590 women with primary breast cancer will be recruited in this study from several locations in the United Kingdom and Germany. Eligible patients will be randomly allocated a treatment group, which can be celecoxib or placebo. Both treatments are taken orally (celecoxib 400mg daily, placebo 2 tablets daily) for a total of 2 years. In addition, hormone receptor positive patients will receive endocrine treatment as per local practice. Patients will prematurely discontinue treatment with celecoxib/placebo if disease progression is confirmed or if patients experience unacceptable toxicity. Patients will be seen every 6 months for the first 3 years and then off treatment follow-up is carried out annually. Participating patients will also be given the option to take part in the pathology sub-study by donating a sample of the tumour tissue collected at the time of the primary surgery.