There are about 9745 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Israel. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
Pregnenolone (PREG) is a neurosteroid, which displays multiple effects on the central nervous system, and may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Our recent 8-week, randomized, double-blind trial among patients with chronic schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, in which PREG versus placebo and DHEA have been added to conventional or atypical antipsychotics have yielded encouraging results with low-dose PREG (30 mg/day; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00140192; Ritsner et al., in press). The goal of the present study is to evaluate the potential role of PREG's augmentation compared to placebo in the treatment of young patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia or schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorders. In a 8-week, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial PREG (50 mg/day) or placebo capsules will be added to the stable ongoing antipsychotic treatment of 60 patients with recent-onset schizophrenia or schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorders. Participants will be assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. A battery of research instruments will be used for assessment of psychopathology, cognitive functions, side effects, general functioning and quality of life. In addition blood PREG levels will be monitored at baseline and during the study. The study is powered to detect moderate between-group effects on persistent positive, negative and cognitive symptoms.
Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is a genetic disorder that develops in boys. It is caused by a mutation in the gene for dystrophin, a protein that is important for maintaining normal muscle structure and function. Loss of dystrophin causes muscle fragility that leads to weakness and loss of walking ability during childhood and teenage years. A specific type of mutation, called a nonsense (premature stop codon) mutation is the cause of DMD/BMD in approximately 10-15% of boys with the disease. Ataluren (PTC124) is an orally delivered, investigational drug that has the potential to overcome the effects of the nonsense mutation. This study is a Phase 2b extension trial that will evaluate the long-term safety of ataluren (PTC124) in boys with nonsense mutation DMD/BMD, as determined by adverse events and laboratory abnormalities. The study will also assess changes in walking, muscle function, and other important clinical and laboratory measures.
The main objective of this study is to investigate depolarization characteristics represented by changes in HyperQ in asymptomatic, apparently healthy athletic and non-athletic individuals. We also aim to examine a subgroup of obese and non-obese subjects. The goal of the study is to establish normal HyperQ values in these populations and compare HyperQ values of age-matched athletic vs. non-athletic individuals of similar health status.
The involvement of Lymphocyte type B in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients will be compared to lymphocyte in healthy subjects.
The purpose of this study is evaluate the safety and feasibility of mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH) during and 12 hours after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction complicated with shock
Probiotics are defined as 'mono- or mixed cultures of live micro-organisms which, when applied to animal or man, beneficially affect the host by improving the properties of the indigenous flora'. Certain probiotics possess potent antibacterial and antiviral properties. Probiotic antibacterial activity may derive from the direct secretion of bacteriocins, the elaboration of proteases directed against bacterial toxins or through their ability to adhere to epithelial cells and thus exclude pathogens. The antiviral properties of some probiotic organisms, including the stimulation of interferon production, together with the well-documented efficacy of certain probiotics in the therapy of rotavirus diarrhea suggests the potential for a role for these agents in PI-IBS. The efficacy of some probiotics in preferentially relieving 'gas-related' symptoms may be related to qualitative changes in the colonic flora, as described earlier, or through the suppression of Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) , as there are reports of efficacy of probiotics in SIBO. The aim of the proposed study is to investigate whether the probiotic preparation "co biotic" can change the composition of fecal bile acids, fatty acids and bacterial composition, and whether such changes, if they occur, are correlated to a change in the symptoms of patients with IBS. Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed as having IBS by the Rome III criteria will be included in the study. Study subjects will be interviewed by a physician who will asses the diagnosis of IBS according to the Rome III criteria. Subjects will sign an informed consent and fill an IBS questionnaire and a health related quality of life questionnaire, A fecal sample will be obtained The subject will receive the probiotic product in a dose of 2 tablets/day, or a placebo containing all the active ingredients in the probiotic capsule, besides the bacteria, for 4 weeks. They will then enter a washout period of 2 weeks in which they will not receive anything, and then another 4 weeks in which they will receive the probiotic product in a dose of 2 tablets/day, or a placebo. Patients will be randomized so that they will receive the study drug for 4 weeks and the placebo for 4 weeks, in a double-blinded fashion. Thus each patient will be his own control.
In the CDs rat model, beta-cell dysfunction and pancreatic exocrine damage are triggered and prevented by altering dietary Cu content suggesting a chronic and acute role for Cu. These abnormalities become apparent when the CDs rats are exposed to high sucrose low copper diet, triggering a vicious sequence of events: exocrine damage, recruitment of macrophages expressing IL-1beta leading to oxidative stress and even more reduction in the activity of Cu-dependent enzymes (chronic effect). When Cu levels are re-established (acute effect) they may prevent the inhibitory effect of IL-1beta on insulin release and may restore the activity of enzymes inhibited by IL-1beta. In this study we will identify humans with marginal Cu status that may benefit from copper supplementation to normalize their GSIS. These patients will be given a daily Cu supplement (3mg/d), or placebo for a period of 6 months. GSIS, pancreatic dysfunction and biomarkers of marginal Cu status will be measured in different blood components before and every 4 weeks during treatments or placebo.
Atypical antipsychotics (AA) are broadly used to treat a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders in children and adolescents. Weight gain is a common side effect of these drugs. AA induced weight gain can be the cause of the metabolic syndrome which is a major health concern, as well as cancer and significant psychological disorders. Weight gain may also lead to low compliance with AAs. A number of studies have been conducted in order to find a way to prevent, reduce or reverse AA induced weight gain in children and adolescents, but so far there is no commonly accepted treatment for the problem. Metformin is an antihyperglycemic drug, approved by the FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes in children older than 10 years of age. The drug usually does not cause hypoglycemia, even in high dosage. Contraindications include renal impairment, hepatic disease, a past history of lactic acidosis (of any cause), cardiac failure requiring pharmacological therapy, or chronic hypoxic lung disease. The drug also should be discontinued temporarily prior to the administration of intravenous contrast media and prior to any surgical procedure. The reported incidence of lactic acidosis during metformin treatment is less than 0.1 cases per 1000 patient-years, and the mortality risk is even lower. Acute side effects of metformin, which occur in up to 20% of patients, include diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, nausea, metallic taste, and anorexia. These usually can be minimized by increasing the dosage of the drug slowly, when indicated, and taking it with meals. Intestinal absorption of vitamin B 12 and folate often is decreased during chronic metformin therapy, and calcium supplements reverse the effect of metformin on vitamin B12 absorption. Three studies have studied the effect of metformin on weight gain secondary to use of AAs in adults and 3 other studies studied the effect of metformin in children and adolescents. Most of these studies have proved the drug to be efficient. No serious side effects have been demonstrated in any of these studies. Objective- To assess the effect of metformin on body weight of children and adolescents treated by AAs. Setting- recruitment and follow up would take place in the pediatric ward and outpatient clinic at the Ness- Tziona Mental Health Center. Participants- 30 adolescents aged 12- 20 years old, treated with AAs, who are overweight as defined by more than 10% of what is expected according to age and height. Importance of the Study 1. Identify a medication capable of reducing or preventing weight gain by an AA agent. 2. Identify an agent capable of improving compliance due to lower side-effect profile of AAs.
In spite of multiple attempts to improve the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer, the progress that has been achieved so far is rather limited, and many investigators are exploring newer regimens.A combination of decetaxel (Taxotere) with Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) is considered one of the most effective regimens in this disease. However, it is associated with significant toxicity which avoided its general adaptation by the medical community. The current study is exploring a newer way to administer these three drugs, hopefully making the regimen more comfortable, less toxic and maybe even more effective. We will do this by changing the dose and timing of Taxotere and Cisplating, by replacing protracted infusion of 5FU with tablets of Capecitabine (Xeloda) and by adding the anti-angiogenic drug, Bevacizumab (Avastin), which had shown encouraging results in this disease.
This protocol is intended to test whether a focused nutritional intervention in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes can have an impact on long term eating habits, physical activity and anthropometric parameters. The rational is to use the food tray as a means of conveying simple and practical nutritonal and behavioral messages.