View clinical trials related to Immune System Diseases.
Filter by:The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way is effective at fighting cancer. This research study combines two different ways of fighting disease: antibodies and T cells. Antibodies are proteins that protect the body from disease caused by bacteria or toxic substances. Antibodies work by binding those bacteria or substances, which stops them from growing and causing bad effects. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill other cells, including tumor cells or cells that are infected. Both antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers. They both have shown promise, but neither alone has been sufficient to cure most patients. This study combines both T cells and antibodies to try to create a more effective treatment. This investigational treatment is called autologous T lymphocyte chimeric antigen receptor cells targeted against the CD19 antigen (ATLCAR.CD19) administration. In previous studies, it has been shown that a new gene can be put into T cells that will increase their ability to recognize and kill cancer cells. A gene is a unit of DNA. Genes make up the chemical structure carrying the genetic information that may determine human characteristics (i.e., eye color, height and sex). The new gene that is put in the T cells makes a piece of an antibody called anti-CD19. This antibody can flow through the blood and can find and stick to leukemia cells because these leukemia cells have a substance on their surface called CD19. Anti-CD19 antibodies have been used to treat people with leukemia but have not been strong enough to cure most patients. For this study, the anti-CD19 antibody has been changed so that instead of floating free in the blood a piece of it is now joined to the surface of the T cells. Only the part of the antibody that sticks to the leukemia cells is attached to the T cells instead of the entire antibody. When an antibody is joined to a T cell in this way it is called a chimeric receptor. These CD19 chimeric (combination) receptor-activated T cells kill some of the tumor, but they do not last very long in the body and so their chances of fighting the cancer are unknown. Preliminary results of giving ATLCAR.CD19 cells to leukemia patients have been encouraging; however, many subjects receiving this treatment have experienced unwanted side effects including neurotoxicity and/or cytokine release syndrome (also referred to as cytokine storm or an infusion reaction). Cytokines are small proteins that interreact as e signals to other cells and are the way cells talk to one another. During cytokine release syndrome, too many cytokines are released and too many cells in your body react to their release. Symptoms resulting from cytokine release syndrome vary from flu-like symptoms to more severe side effects such as cardiac arrest, multi-system organ failure or death. We predict that about 50% of patients on this study will experience mild to severe cytokine release syndrome. To help reduce cytokine release syndrome symptoms in future patients, a safety switch has been added to the ATLCAR.CD19 cells that can cause the cells to become dormant or "go to sleep". The safety switch is called inducible caspase 9 or iC9. The modified ATLCAR.CD19 cells with the safety switch are referred to as iC9-CAR19 cells. The purpose of this study is to determine whether receiving the iC9-CAR19 cells is safe and tolerable (there are not too many unwanted effects). Researchers has previously tested different doses of the iC9-CAR19. An effective dose that had the least number of unwanted side effects in patients was identified. It was planned to test this dose in more patients to learn more about its effect in the body. This type of research study is called a dose expansion study. It will allow the investigators to collect more information about the effect of this dose in treating of certain type of cancer.
Background: The increasing effect of environmental, occupational and climate change poses serious global threat for public health. More than half of the world's population, including around 85% people in Bangladesh, are exposed to household air pollutants (HAP). Environmental consequences of climate change are among the highest. Little evidence is available on the effects HAP on cardiopulmonary outcomes in low-income populations. Same is true for occupational health and climate change. The investigators will evaluate the effects of HAP on cardio-pulmonary and markers of immune function among non-smoking individuals. The investigators will also conduct two pilot studies to explore health effects associated with working in the garments industry and that of temperature due to climate changes. Hypothesis: 1. Preclinical measures of cardiovascular diseases and pulmonary function are associated with exposure level of house hold air pollution (HAP) (assessed through PM2.5, CO and BC concentrations) 2. Stable biomarkers of immune function and inflammation are associated with exposure level of HAP. 3. Use of improved cook stove reduces exposure to HAP and thereby improve pre-clinical and molecular measures of cardio-pulmonary and immune functions. Methods: The investigators will conduct a cross sectional study to assess the associations of HAP with preclinical makers of CVD among 600 non-smoking participants aged 25 to 65 years. Biomass exposure will be assessed for PM2.5, carbon Monoxide (CO) and black carbon (BC) by collecting personal air samples for 24-hour. Blood sample will be utilized from a subset of 200 adult participants and 60 children aged 3-5 years for assessing immune markers. The study will be conducted in icddr,b and URB study site at Matlab and Araihazar respectively. After the cross sectional assessment, the investigators will conduct a pre-post intervention study to evaluate effectiveness of improved stoves in a subset of 200 homes. The investigators will measure the aforementioned markers after two years of cook stove installation. Finally, as pilot studies, health outcomes due to climate change (temperature change) and occupation (garment industry work) will be explored. Outcome measures: HAP will be assessed through PM2.5, CO and BC concentrations. Pulmonary function will be assessed through FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC. Preclinical makers of CVD will include RH-PAT, FMD, IMT, BAD, EKG and PFT. Markers of Immune function - proliferation of macrophage, dendritic cells (DC), neutrophils and T-cell, as well as macrophage derived cytokines (a panel of 17 or 27 cytokines) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way seems perfect for fighting cancer. This research study combines two different ways of fighting disease: antibodies and T cells. Antibodies are proteins that protect the body from disease caused by bacteria or toxic substances. Antibodies work by binding those bacteria or substances, which stops them from growing and causing bad effects. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill other cells, including tumor cells or cells that are infected. Both antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers. They both have shown promise, but neither alone has been sufficient to cure most patients. This study is designed to combine both T cells and antibodies to create a more effective treatment called autologous T lymphocyte chimeric antigen receptor cells targeted against the CD30 antigen (ATLCAR.CD30) administration. In previous studies, it has been shown that a new gene can be put into T cells that will increase their ability to recognize and kill cancer cells. The new gene that is put in the T cells in this study makes an antibody called anti-CD30. This antibody sticks to lymphoma cells because of a substance on the outside of the cells called CD30. Anti-CD30 antibodies have been used to treat people with lymphoma, but have not been strong enough to cure most patients. For this study, the anti-CD30 antibody has been changed so that instead of floating free in the blood it is now joined to the T cells. When an antibody is joined to a T cell in this way it is called a chimeric receptor. These CD30 chimeric (combination) receptor-activated T cells seem to kill some of the tumor, but they do not last very long in the body and so their chances of fighting the cancer are unknown. The purpose of this research study is to establish a safe dose of ATLCAR.CD30 cells to infuse after lymphodepleting chemotherapy and to estimate the number patients whose cancer does not progress for two years after ATLCAR.CD30 administration. This study will also look at other effects of ATLCAR.CD30 cells, including their effect on the patient's cancer.
In a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial to investigate the effect of pamidronate in treatment of chronic non bacterial osteomyelitis. Main objective: 1. Reduction of the inflammatory activity in the bone lesions measured by whole body MRI after 36 weeks. 2. Healing of the inflammatory activity in the bone lesions measured by whole body MRI after 36 weeks. Secondary objectives: 1. Changes in bone lesions in whole body MRI between baseline and week 12 and between week 12 and week 36 2. Changes in bone lesions of anterior chest-wall (adults) evaluated by CT scan between baseline and week 36. 3. Changes in patient self reported outcome measures 4. Changes in inflammatory markers and bone markers.
Background: Allogeneic blood or marrow transplant is when stem cells are taken from one person s blood or bone marrow and given to another person. Researchers think this may help people with immune system problems. Objective: To see if allogeneic blood or bone marrow transplant is safe and effective in treating people with primary immunodeficiencies. Eligibility: Donors: Healthy people ages 4 or older Recipients: People ages 4-75 with a primary immunodeficiency that may be treated with allogeneic blood or marrow transplant Design: Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Participants will have urine tests, EKG, and chest x-ray. Donors will have: Bone marrow harvest: With anesthesia, marrow is taken by a needle in the hipbone. OR Blood collection: They will have several drug injections over 5-7 days. Blood is taken by IV in one arm, circulates through a machine to remove stem cells, and returned by IV in the other arm. Possible vein assessment or pre-anesthesia evaluation Recipients will have: Lung test, heart tests, radiology scans, CT scans, and dental exam Possible tissue biopsies or lumbar puncture Bone marrow and a small piece of bone removed by needle in the hipbone. Chemotherapy 1-2 weeks before transplant day Donor stem cell donation through a catheter put into a vein in the chest or neck Several-week hospital stay. They will take medications and may need blood transfusions and additional procedures. After discharge, recipients will: Remain near the clinic for about 3 months. They will have weekly visits and may require hospital readmission. Have multiple follow-up visits to the clinic in the first 6 months, and less frequently for at least 5 years.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (50 mg/d), administered for 12 weeks, on patients with mild Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Patients with obstructive jaundice (OJ) often require surgical, endoscopic or radiological interventions to facilitate biliary drainage and relieve jaundice. However it is known that patients with OJ have increased surgical risks than non-jaundiced patients undergoing the same procedures. Surgery for severe OJ is associated with a significant post-operative mortality (10-15%) and morbidity (30-65%). The commonest complications are related to sepsis but the pathophysiological mechanisms behind this susceptibility to bacterial infection are not clear. Recent work has shown a pivotal role of bile in the maintenance of enterocyte tight junctions and the expression of tight junction-associated proteins which could account for the translocation of enteric bacteria and bacterial products to mesenteric lymph node complexes, the portal circulation and subsequently the liver. Some of these bacterial products, such as endotoxin and quorum sensing signalling molecules (QSSMs), have immunomodulatory properties which may dampen normal immune responses to infection resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction. Bacterial endotoxin and quorum sensing signalling molecules (QSSMs) represent good candidates for the mediators of this immune suppression and although there is a compelling case for their involvement in the pathogenesis of sepsis, evidence to support their involvement in the aetiology of infection in OJ is currently lacking.
Oxygen administration is a common practice in intensive care units, although concern is growing about oxygen toxicity. The aim of the study is to access whether a rigorous maintenance of a state of normal oxygenation in critically ill patients could obtain better outcomes, such as mortality, infections and organ failures, in comparison to conventional oxygen therapy practice.
The Hyper IgE Syndromes (HIES) are primary immunodeficiencies resulting in eczema and recurrent skin and lung infections. Autosomal dominant Hyper IgE syndrome (AD-HIIES; Job's syndrome) is caused by STAT3 mutations, and is a multi-system disorder with skeletal, vascular, and connective tissue manifestations. Understanding how STAT3 mutations cause these diverse clinical manifestations is critical to our complete understanding of bone metabolism, bronchiectasis, dental maturation, and atherosclerosis. Bi-allelic mutations in DOCK8 cause a combined immunodeficiency previously described as autosomal-recessive Hyper IgE syndrome. These individuals suffer from extensive viral infections as well as have a high incidence of malignancy and mortality. The pathogenesis of this disease and long-term natural history is being investigated. Therefore, we seek to enroll patients and families with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of HIES syndrome for extensive phenotypic and genotypic study as well as disease management. Patients will be carefully examined by a multidisciplinary team and followed longitudinally. Through these studies we hope to better characterize the clinical presentation of STAT3-mutated HIES, DOCK8 deficiency and other causes of the hyper IgE phenotype, and to be able to identify further genetic etiologies, as well as understand the pathogenesis of HIES. We seek to enroll 300 patients and 300 relatives.
The purposes of this study are to 1) identify the genes responsible for certain immune disorders, 2) learn about the medical problems they cause, and 3) learn how to predict who is likely to develop these disorders and what the risk is of passing them on to children. The immune system is the body s defense system. Some immune deficiencies impair a person s ability to fight infections; others render a person susceptible to allergies, or to autoimmune diseases such as lupus or arthritis, in which the immune cells (white blood cells) attack and destroy the body s own tissues. Patients with immune disorders known or suspected to have a genetic basis and their family members may enroll in this study. Eligibility will be determined by a review of the patient s medical records and family medical history. Participants will provide a small blood sample for genetic (DNA) and white blood cell analysis. Gene samples (but not white blood cells) may also be obtained by mouth brushing or skin biopsy. For the mouth brushing, a small brush is rubbed against the inside of the cheeks for 1 minute to wipe off some cells. For the skin biopsy, a small circle of skin (about 1/8 inch) is removed under local anesthetic. Pregnant women may be asked to provide a fetal sample (amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villus sample). All samples will be used for immune or genetic studies of the family s immune disorder. If test results show a specific genetic variation responsible for the family s immune disorder, a report will be sent to the patient s doctor or genetic counselor, who will discuss the implications for the family. NIH researchers and genetic counselors will also be available to explain results and answer questions. Information will not be available in the case of disorders that cannot yet be linked to a specific genetic abnormality. Information from this study will increase knowledge about the immune system and what causes immune deficiencies. Participants may also learn the underlying cause of an immune disorder that affects them or someone in their family information may be useful in guiding treatment and in making decisions regarding family planning.