View clinical trials related to Immune System Diseases.
Filter by:The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of regenerative therapy with mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue, administered intravenously in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis who do not respond to treatment.
The study is a Phase III, randomized double blind, placebo controlled, and trial evaluating the addition of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) vs. placebo to systemic corticosteroids as initial therapy for acute Graft Vs Host Disease (GVHD). The primary endpoint will be GVHD free survival at Day 56 post randomization.
Background: - For every CHI research study, patients must fulfill a list of criteria, based primarily on their medical condition. To determine whether a patient meets these eligibility criteria to participate in a research protocol, researchers must perform a series of diagnostic tests and procedures. - These evaluations are designed to evaluate a participant s general medical condition (i.e., blood tests, function of certain organs such as the lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys), and to confirm a diagnosis or ensure that a healthy volunteer is in good condition. They maximize the safety for the patients and healthy volunteers at CHI. Objective: - To determine the eligibility of patients and healthy volunteers for active CHI research protocols. Eligibility: - The procedures included in this protocol will determine eligibility for active CHI research protocols. - Both healthy volunteers and patients will be evaluated. Design: - Required tests and procedures for various research studies may include the following: history and physical examination, blood and urine tests, lung and heart function tests (echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, stress test), imaging studies (X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and tissue collection. - Participants will be asked to undergo tests only for the study or studies for which they are being considered. The research team will provide further information on any additional tests that may be required. - After all eligibility assessments are complete, participants may be offered participation in one or more CHI research protocols or referred back to a home physician.
The primary purpose of the study is to describe by a prospective observational study the serious adverse events occurring in patients treated off-label by rituximab for various auto-immune diseases.
Effective therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has markedly prolonged survival in infected individuals. As a result, other diseases are now becoming clinically significant. Approximately 30% of HIV infected patients are co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) which is now the leading co-morbid disease in co-infected individuals. The histologic severity and natural history of HCV has been reported to be accelerated in those co-infected with HIV. It is hypothesized that 1) the severity and progression of HCV disease is related to the immune competence of the individual, 2) immune restoration associated with HIV therapy may further accelerate the progression of HCV disease which may explain the marked increase in HCV related morbidity and mortality observed in recent years, and 3) the virologic response to anti-HCV treatment is directly related to the degree of immunologic competence. The specific aims of the proposal are: 1) To obtain, through multi-disciplinary didactic teaching, the necessary skills of clinical research design, data collection, data analysis, and biostatistical methods and 2) To study the impact of HIV disease on HCV, the effect of the immune function and immune restoration during HIV therapy on the natural history of HCV, and the efficacy of HCV treatment in HIV co-infection.
Recent studies have demonstrated that subjects with low blood levels of vitamin D are at a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). We are pursuing these studies to test the hypothesis that restoration of vitamin D levels ameliorates the manifestations of RA. We will test this hypothesis by inviting patients with RA to participate in a trial that examines the effects of oral vitamin D administration on the clinical expression of this disease. For this purpose, the participants of this trial will be asked to take an oral dose of 2,000 units of vitamin D daily for 6 months. We will examine the participant's joints, assess disease activity measures, and determine his/her blood levels of vitamin D before starting this treatment and periodically thereafter.
Participants wanted for study of mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), mevalonic aciduria, or hyperimmunoglobulinemia with periodic fever syndrome (HIDS). Patients with MKD (mevalonic aciduria or hyperimmunoglobulinemia with periodic fever syndrome (HIDS)) may be eligible for a research study conducted at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon USA. The purpose of the study is to find out more about how these diseases affect body chemistry and health. The researchers also want to find out how cholesterol in the diet affect blood cholesterol and how the body handles cholesterol. This is a short-term and long-term dietary study. The long-term goal of this research is to see if controlling dietary cholesterol can decrease any of the symptoms of the diseases. The study could involve up to 12 one-week admissions to OHSU over the course of 5 years.
The study is a randomized Phase II, four arm treatment trial. The primary purpose of the study is to define new agents with promising activity against acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) suitable for testing against corticosteroids alone in a subsequent Phase III trial.
The hypothesis is to determine if a preparative regimen of busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) plus allogeneic stem cell transplantation will be effective in the treatment of immune deficiencies and histiocytic disorders.
Background: HIV testing is cost-effective in unselected general medical populations, yet testing rates among those at-risk remain low, even among those with regular primary care. HIV rapid testing is effective in many healthcare settings but scant research has been done within primary care settings, nor within the US Department of Veteran's Affairs Healthcare System. Objectives: We evaluated three methods proven effective in other diseases/settings: Nurse standing orders for testing, streamlined counseling, and HIV rapid testing. Design: Randomized, controlled trial with three intervention models: Model A (traditional counseling/testing); Model B (nurse-initiated screening, traditional counseling/testing); Model C (nurse-initiated screening, streamlined counseling/rapid testing). Participants: 251 patients with primary/urgent care appointments in two VA clinics in the same city (one large urban hospital, one freestanding outpatient clinic in a high HIV prevalence area) Measurements: Rates of HIV testing and receipt of results; sexual risk reduction; HIV knowledge improvement. Results: Testing rates were 40.2% (Model A), 84.5% (Model B), and 89.3% (Model C) (p=<.01). Test receipt rates were 14.6% (Model A), 31.0% (Model B), 79.8% (Model C) (all p=<.01). Sexual risk reduction and knowledge improvement did not differ significantly between counseling methods. Conclusions: Streamlined counseling with rapid testing significantly increased testing and receipt rates over current practice without changes in risk behavior or post-test knowledge. Increased testing and receipt of results could lead to earlier disease identification, increased treatment and reduced morbidity/mortality. Policymakers should consider streamlined counseling/rapid testing when implementing routine HIV testing into primary/urgent care.