Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist drugs are used to treat diabetes and aid weight loss. They may also help reduce cravings for drugs and alcohol. Researchers want to know if a GLP-1 drug (tirzepatide) can lessen the urge to drink in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Objective: To learn how the brains of people with AUD respond to a GLP-1 drug. Eligibility: People aged 21 to 65 years with AUD who are non-treatment seeking. They must be enrolled in protocol 14-AA-0181. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: This study consists of Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 (Imaging Procedures): Five healthy volunteers will undergo 2 to 3 combined positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) scans, with an interval of 2 to 3 weeks between scans. For each scan, a radioactive substance (tracer) will be administered intravenously. Participants will undergo PET/MRI scanning to assess brain activity during resting state. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) will be administered during each scan. Each imaging session will last approximately 2 hours. Tirzepatide and placebo will not be administered in Part 1. Participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are not included in Part 1. The purpose of this part of the study is to assess test/retest reproducibility of the PET/MRI combined scan measures. Part 2 (Randomization to Tirzepatide & Placebo): Participants will be randomized to receive either Tirzepatide or Placebo first. Healthy Volunteers and AUD participants will receive both treatments in a crossover design. Tirzepatide and placebo will be administered via subcutaneous injection (under the skin) once weekly for 2 to 3 weeks. This treatment period will be followed by 2 to 3 PET/MRI combined imaging scans described in the next paragraph. After a washout interval of approximately 2 to 3 weeks, participants will cross over to the alternate treatment (tirzepatide or placebo), administered once weekly for 2 to 3 weeks. This second treatment period will be followed by an additional 2 to 3 PET/MRI scans. Participants may receive up to 3 doses of tirzepatide and 3 doses of placebo. Part 2 (Imaging Procedures): Healthy Volunteers and participants with an AUD will undergo PET/MRI scans at two time points: following tirzepatide administration and following placebo administration. For each scan a radioactive substance (tracer) will be administered intravenously. Brain activity will be measured during PET/MRI acquisition during resting state. Methylphenidate will be administered during 1 of the scans at each time point. Each imaging session will last approximately 2 hours. Participants will wear a device to track their activity for at least 1 week before each set of scans. They will have tests of their thinking, memory, and attention.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2026

open study

Background: About 1.5 million adults in the US enter alcohol or substance use treatment programs each year. Unfortunately, more than half of patients do not finish their program. For those who start treatment, about 70% return to substance use within weeks or months after starting treatment. To discover why patients drop out of treatment and return to substance use - and what can be done about it - researchers need to learn more about people who use drugs and alcohol. Objective: To create a data repository by gathering survey and smartphone data from adults who use drugs and alcohol in order to conduct future research. Eligibility: Adults who have used drugs or alcohol in the past and have a Android smartphone. The researchers will recruit targeted demographics at different times throughout the duration of the study period. Design: Data will be collected for up to 6 months. All research activities will be online. Participants will download a smartphone app called TTRU-Curtis AWARE and keep it active on their phone. The app will run in the background and collect participant data, including: screen unlocks, duration of time the screen is on; apps used; words typed (except passwords); duration and time of phone calls; estimated location (exact location is not collected); and movement, such as how many steps are taken in a day. All personally identifying information is automatically removed before the data is stored (including phone numbers, names, or locations described in messages). Each day, participants will receive a text with a link to a survey. They will answer questions about their mood, behavior, and substance use from the day before. This survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Every 30 days, participants will complete a longer survey. They will answer questions about their personal relationships, risky behaviors, mood, substance use, and feelings. They can skip any questions they do not feel comfortable answering. These surveys should take about 30 minutes to complete. Participants may opt to allow researchers to access their social media posts.

Type: Observational

Start Date: May 2026

open study

Background: - About 15 million Americans have a food allergy. Because there are no cures or effective prevention or treatment for food allergies, researchers want to learn more about them. Objective: - To learn more about the causes and effects of food allergy and related conditions. Eligibility: - People ages 2 99 who have food allergy and/or a related genetic or other condition - Their relatives - Healthy relatives and volunteers Design: - Participants will have at least 3 visits over 1 2 years, and then once a year for up to 12 years. Each may last a day or longer. - Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and questionnaires. - Participants may have the following: - Blood tests - Allergy skin prick tests: Drops of allergens are placed on the back or arm. The skin is scratched under each drop. - Leukapheresis: blood is taken from a needle in one arm, passed through a machine, and returned through a needle in the other arm. - X-rays - Esophageal string test: One end of a string is taped to the cheek and the other end is packed into a capsule. When the capsule is swallowed, the string unwinds; it is left in for at least 1 hour. - EGD and colonoscopy: Biopsies are taken from the gastrointestinal system. - Tiny biopsies of skin - Photographs of the body - Collection of cells through: - Swab of nose, inside of cheek, or skin - Gentle skin scrape - Tape stripping: piece of tape is put on the skin and pulled off.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2015

open study

Background: - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans must be performed according to specified sets of parameters that provide optimal images of each organ and each area of the body. These scanning parameters are often specific to the institution or organization at which they are employed, and may also depend on the manufacturer of the MRI scanning equipment. Because MRI scanning equipment is always being updated and upgraded, researchers are interested in developing new and optimized scanning parameters for MRI scans. Objectives: - To improve current methods and develop new techniques for magnetic resonance imaging. Eligibility: - Individuals 18 years of age and older who are either volunteers or current NIH protocol participants. - Participants must not have any medical history factors (e.g., extreme claustrophobia, history of metal implants) that would prevent them from receiving MRI scans. Design: - Participants will have at least one MRI scan that will last from 20 minutes to 2 hours (most scans will last between 45 and 90 minutes). The total time commitment for most visits will be approximately 4 hours from start to finish. - Some MRI techniques require standard monitoring equipment or specific procedures during the scanning, such as an electrocardiogram. - Participants will have blood samples taken at the time of the scan. Some MRI studies will require the use of a contrast agent that will be administered during the scan. - Volunteers may be asked to return for additional MRI scans over the course of a few years. Follow-up scans may be done on the same part of the body or on different parts of the body. No more than one MRI scan will be performed in any 4-week period for this protocol....

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2010

open study

data-pm-slice=0 0 []>Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer that primarily affects adolescents and young adults with no prior liver disease. It is defined by a unique genetic fusion and patients often present with vague symptoms which can delay diagnosis and limit treatment options. Currently there are no reliable blood tests or biomarkers to detect or monitor FLC making it difficult to track disease progression or response to therapy.Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that help defend against infection. When activated neutrophils can release web-like structures called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). While NETs play a role in fighting infections research in other cancers suggests they may also promote tumor growth spread and resistance to therapy. However the role of NETs in FLC remains unknown.This study will specifically examine whether neutrophils from FLC patients are capable of forming NETs in the laboratory (in vitro). Patients with FLC will provide a blood sample and neutrophils will be isolated and tested under controlled conditions to measure NET release using imaging and biochemical methods. To provide a comparison a group of healthy volunteers will also donate blood samples so that differences in NET formation between FLC patients and healthy controls can be evaluated.The knowledge gained from this project may provide important insight into how the immune system interacts with FLC and may eventually guide the development of new biomarkers or therapeutic approaches for this rare cancer.

Type: Observational

open study

Background: Disorders of hearing instability (HI) are poorly characterized and ineffectively treated. HI can cause fluctuations in hearing thresholds and speech understanding. Researchers want to use a specialized form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood tests to learn more about HI. Objective: To characterize a cohort of people with HI and to correlate HI with other data, including hearing evaluations, as well as radiologic and immunologic biomarkers of inflammation over time. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-80 who have symptoms consistent with possible HI. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical and hearing history and medical record review. Participants will have physical exams. Their head and neck will be examined. They will have blood drawn. Participants will have hearing tests. They will wear headphones or foam earplugs. They will listen to different tones. They may describe what they hear. Participants will have balance tests. They will wear goggles as they watch moving lights or while cold or warm air is blown into their ears. They will sit in a spinning chair in a quiet, dark booth. From a reclining position, they will raise their head while clicking sounds are played into their ears. Participants will have MRIs of the inner ear and brain. The MRI scanner is a metal cylinder surrounded by a strong magnetic field. During the MRIs, participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. Soft padding or a coil will be placed around their head. They will get a contrast agent through an intravenous catheter. Participation will last up to 15 months. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2021

open study

Background: Fibroblast-activation protein (FAP) is an enzyme that appears in high numbers in cancer-associated fibroblasts of certain cancer types. [18F]FAPI-74 is a new PET (positron emission tomography) tracer, a substance that is injected into a person s body before an imaging scan. Researchers believe that [18F]FAPI-74 PET imaging may be able to visualize cancer more effectively than the approved tracers. If so, the new tracer would make it easier to find FAP-positive tumors in the body. Objective: To see if [18F]FAPI-74 PET scan is as good or better than other imaging methods for detecting certain cancers. Eligibility: People aged 18 years or older with one of these cancer types: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), gastric cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) or extrapulmonary neuroendocrine cancer (EP-NEC), mesothelioma or sarcoma. Participants must be scheduled or intended to receive treatment for cancer. Design: Participants will have 2 baseline scans: an [18F]FAPI-74, and the approved tracer [18F]-FDG. The [18F]FAPI-74 will be infused through a needle inserted into a vein. About 1 hour later, the participant will undergo imaging. Within 1 week, participants will undergo the same scanning procedures with the approved tracer. If the baseline scan with [18F]FAPI-74 shows the tumor(s), scans with this tracer will be repeated when their regular treatment regimen calls for scans again. If the scan with the regular FDG also show tumors, this scan will be repeated within the same week as the repeated [18F]FAPI-74 scan. If [18F]-FAPi PET scan shows no tumor(s), scans will not be repeated. If the participant's cancer progresses within 2 years, scans may be repeated. Follow-up calls will continue for 2 years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

Background: Scientists have long used simple measures (such as height and weight) to estimate how much a person s body uses food (calories) as energy, as commonly called the metabolic rate. But metabolism varies among people with similar body sizes. Scientists now believe the old formulas for estimating metabolic rates may not work well for all people. Researchers want to find more accurate ways to measure a person s metabolism. Objective: This natural history study will examine the relationships between metabolism, body composition, and body surface area in a wide range of people. Eligibility: Healthy children and adults aged 2 years or older. Also, people aged 2 years or older with conditions that may alter metabolism. These may include diabetes, obesity, renal disease, or cancer. Design: Participants will spend 2 days and 1 night in the hospital. They will provide a medical history and answer questions about their activity levels, the foods they eat, and their lifestyle. They will also eat a special diet. Participants will undergo many tests: They will lie in a bed with a clear hood covering their head for 30 to 45 minutes to measure the gases in their breath. They will lie on a padded table for about 15 minutes while their body is scanned. They will stand on a platform while a 3D scanner measures their body. They will have a test to measure how fast an electric signal moves through their body. They will grip an instrument to measure the strength of their hands. They will drink salty water and provide blood and urine samples. Participants may be invited to return for these 2-day visits up to 8 times per year. Return visits must be at least 2 weeks apart.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

Study rationale High risk patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) require therapy with 131 I under thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation. There are two methods of TSH stimulation endogenous by thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) leading to hypothyroidism and exogenous by injection of human recombinant TSH (rhTSH Thyrogen). The appropriate 131-I activity utilized for treatment is either based on empiric fixed dosage choice or individually determined activity based on 131 I dosimetric calculations. Although dosimetry utilizing radioactive iodine isotope 131 I enables calculation of maximum safe dose, it does not estimate the tumoricidal activity necessary to destroy the metastatic lesions. The alternative radioactive isotope of iodine -124 I, used for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, might be used for calculation not only the maximum safe131 I dose, but also to predict the absorbed dose in the metastatic lesions. Study objectives The primary objective of this study is to compare the 124 I -PET/CT lesional and whole body dosimetry in each individual patient with metastatic radioiodine (RAI)-avid thyroid cancer under preparation with rhTSH and THW. The secondary objective is to evaluate the predicted by PET/CT lesional uptake with the early response to therapy. Study design This is a phase 2 pilot prospective cohort study comparing the lesional and whole body dosimetry within each patient undergoing exogenous (rhTSH) and endogenous (THW) TSH stimulation and followed for 5 years. Interventions Each study participant will undergo rhTSH and THW-aided 124 I-PET/CT dosimetric evaluations and will be subsequently treated with THW-aided RAI activity based on dosimetric calculations enabling maximum safe dosage. The patients will be followed in 12+/-3 months intervals for 5 years. Sample size and population This pilot study will include 30 patients with high risk differentiated thyroid cancer presenting with distant and/or loco-regional metastases.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2019

open study

Background: Follicular lymphoma is a type of cancer of the lymph nodes. Lab studies are important for cancer research. They help scientists better understand differences in the cancer biology of different patients. Researchers want to collect serial samples over time from people with follicular lymphoma to help them design future treatments. Objective: To collect a variety of samples from people with follicular lymphoma to study how these diseases progress and respond to treatment. Eligibility: Adults at least 18 years old who have been diagnosed with, but have not yet had any treatment for, follicular lymphoma. Design: Participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. They will answer questions about daily functioning. They will have blood and urine tests. They may have scans and have tissue samples taken. Participants will be monitored about every 4 months for up to 2 years. They will repeat screening tests. They will have a cheek swab. A small brush will be rubbed against the inside of the cheek to wipe off some cells. Participants will have imaging scans about every 8 months for up to 2 years. Participants may have a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. The hipbone will be numbed with a small needle. A needle will be put into the hipbone, and about 2 tablespoons of bone marrow will be taken out through the needle. Participants will continue being monitored every 6 months for up to 5 years, then 1 time a year.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2017

open study

BACKGROUND - This protocol acknowledges that it is in the interest of the NIH and ROB, as well as our participants, to continue to follow those who have been treated with radiotherapy at ROB and are not otherwise eligible for current active research protocols. - It also provides a mechanism for the correlation and interpretation of disparate data for research into the long term side effects and outcomes for a variety of disease entities and treatments, such as combined modality treatment, MoAb, PDT, radiation modifiers, intraoperative radiotherapy, etc. OBJECTIVE -The primary objective of this protocol is to assess the late effects of treatment and the natural history of disease through collection of data from any standard procedures performed as part of follow up care on participants previously treated with radiotherapy. ELIGIBILITY -Participants who received radiation therapy. DESIGN - This is a natural history protocol in which long-term follow up data will be collected from participants who received radiation therapy. - It will be made clear to participants in the consent form, that data collected during their follow-up may be used anonymously for publications concerning the natural history of disease processes and long-term effects of treatment.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2000

open study

Background: Studies show that rare genetic variants might lead to diseases. Researchers want to collect blood and tissue samples so they can study them and better understand diseases. Objective: To collect blood and tissue samples for studies to identify underlying causes of disease. Eligibility: People of all ages Design: Participants will have blood and/or tissue samples collected. Samples can be collected at the NIH Clinical Center. Participants doctors can collect the samples and send them to NIH. NIH staff can collect samples off site. For blood samples, blood is taken from an arm vein using a needle. Tissue collection may involve: Buccal smear: Cells are collected by scraping the inside of the cheek with a cotton swab. Saliva collection: Participants spit into a cup. Skin biopsy: A special needle takes a very small skin sample. Surgical waste tissue: If participants have surgery, NIH may receive samples of tissue that would routinely be removed. Umbilical cord or cord blood collection: If a participant has a baby, NIH may receive a small piece of the umbilical cord or blood from the cord once the baby is delivered.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2015

open study

Background: Immune bone marrow failure is a condition that occurs when a person s immune system attacks the cells of the bone marrow. This can lead to diseases including different types of anemias and blood cancers. Some of these diseases can be deadly. Better treatments are needed. Objective: To test a drug (ruxolitinib) in people with different types of immune bone marrow failure. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 and older with an immune bone marrow failure. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam. They will give samples of blood and saliva. They will have a bone marrow biopsy: A large needle will be inserted into a small cut to remove a sample of the soft tissue inside the bone. Some participants may have a skin biopsy: A small piece of skin will be removed. Some may have a computed tomography (CT) scan: They will lie on a table that slides into a donut-shaped machine that uses X-rays to make pictures of the inside of the body. Ruxolitinib is a tablet taken by mouth. Participants will take the drug twice a day for up to 6 months. Participants will have blood tests every week while they are taking the drug. These tests can be done by the participant s own physician and the results sent to the researchers. Participants will have clinic visits after taking the drug for 3 months and 6 months and then after 1, 2, and 3 years. The blood tests and bone marrow biopsy will be repeated. Participants who improve while taking the drugs may go on to an extension phase of the study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2024

open study

Background: The National Eye Institute (NEI) wants to evaluate and provide standard treatment to people with eye diseases. Objective: To examine and treat people with eye diseases and learn more about eye diseases and how they are inherited. Eligibility: People with eye diseases who can give consent or have a guardian who can consent for them. Asymptomatic first-degree relatives willing to provide a blood sample may also be enrolled for the purpose of genetic testing. Design: Participants will be screened with an eye exam. Participants will have 1-12 visits per year depending on their eye disease for up to 5 years. Visits last about 4 hours and could include: Medical and family history Physical exam Eye exam and photography. Oculography: They put on contact lenses or goggles. They watch spots on a computer screen for 20-30 minutes. Electrooculography: Small metal disks are placed on the skin next to both eyes. They look left and right in the dark and light for about 30 minutes. Electroretinography: They sit in the dark with their eyes patched. A small metal disk is taped to the forehead. After 30 minutes, the patches are removed and contact lenses put in. They watch flashing lights. Fluorescein angiography: A needle guides a thin plastic tube into an arm vein. A dye is injected through the tube and travels up the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures are taken of the eyes. Immunosuppressive treatment Eye cell sample: Samples are obtained from swabbing, pressing paper on, or taking a small biopsy sample from the surface of the eye. Blood tests Skin, tear, urine, saliva, stool, or hair sample Exam under anesthesia for some children At each visit participants could get medications, eye drops, eye injections, laser treatments, or surgery.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2016

open study

Background: - Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It causes more than one million deaths every year. Researchers want to gather tissue samples from people with lung and thymic cancers to understand the disease better. This may lead to new ways to diagnose and treat it. Objective: - To collect tissue samples for use in the study of lung cancers. Eligibility: - Adults over age 18 with non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, extra pulmonary small cell cancer, pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, and thymic epithelial tumors. Design: - Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. They will be asked about how they perform their daily tasks. - Participants may be asked to give urine and blood samples. They may give a saliva sample if they cannot give blood. They will also give a sample of their tumor from a biopsy they had. They may also be given the option to undergo a biopsy. - Participants may have MRI, CT, and/or PET scans of the body. They will lie in a machine that takes pictures of the body. - After visits to the Clinical Center end, researchers will contact participants by phone every year to check on their health.

Type: Observational

Start Date: May 2014

open study

Despite the clear importance of adolescence in the emergence of a number of disease states and processes, there is surprisingly little known about how the endocrine and metabolic events accompanying puberty in humans impact normal developmental neurobiology. Epidemiologic studies have identified sexual dimorphisms in the prevalence of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. Many of these sex differences emerge during or shortly after puberty and are maintained until the 5th-6th decade of life. For example, the two-fold greater risk of unipolar depression in women compared with men does not appear until adolescence, and prior to puberty girls are not at increased risk relative to boys. Puberty is a structured, transitional process that can be influenced by both nutritional factors and environmental stressors; nonetheless, the variability in the timing and duration of puberty is largely determined by oligogenic inheritance. Basic neuroscience research has demonstrated that hormonal events accompanying puberty impact on many of the physiologic systems involved in the regulation of brain function (e.g., the appearance of new neurons in a brain-region specific pattern, neuronal remodeling, and the pruning of cortical connectivity). Additionally, not only does stress during puberty increase the risk of disturbances in affective adaptation during adulthood, but the events accompanying puberty modify stress responsivity (e.g., alterations in the duration and peak response of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis hormones to stressors). Moreover, animal work has demonstrated that neural connectivity differs in a brain regional specific manner according to the stage of puberty (i.e., early versus late). In humans, puberty also occurs in stages, and although the endocrinology of puberty, surprisingly, has not been fully characterized with longitudinal data, studies have documented that the physical changes measured by Tanner stages I to V are accompanied by progressive increases in the secretions of both gonadal and adrenal steroids. Nonetheless, there remains considerable variability in the timing and duration of this otherwise highly structured reproductive transition. We propose to perform a longitudinal, naturalistic study examining changes in brain structure and function, behavior, and stress responsivity in boys and girls across the pubertal transition. Because the pubertal transition is defined by a complex series of physiologic events that emerge sequentially over several years and involve changes in multiple endocrine and growth systems, and because there is also considerable variability in the timing of these events reflecting the influence of both genetic and environmental factors, puberty cannot by delineated by age of the participants as has been done in most imaging and other neurobiological studies of adolescence. The present study will formally bridge this gap by defining pubertal events per se in participants. Participants will include healthy boys and girls whose pubertal status will be assessed, and in whom endocrine, metabolic, and brain imaging measures will be evaluated at eight - ten month intervals from age eight years (pre-puberty) until age 17 years (post-puberty). Reproductive endocrine, metabolic, and physical measures will be employed to characterize the stage and duration of pubertal development. Outcome measures will be derived via multimodal neuroimaging techniques, cognitive/behavioral assessments, metabolic measurements, and evaluations of HPA axis function. Additionally, the impact of genetic variation on the developmental trajectory of these parameters (both reproductive and CNS) will be determined. This cross-institute proposal will employ a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating the effects on CNS function of the process of puberty in both boys and girls. This work will not only serve to inform research on the mechanisms by which sexual dimorphisms in neuropsychiatric disorders develop, it will also have important implications for the prevention and treatment of these disorders.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Nov 2011

open study

Background: About 90,000 new cases of brain and spinal cord tumors are diagnosed annually in the United States. Most of these tumors are benign; however, about 30% are malignant, and 35% of people with malignant tumors in the brain and spinal cord will die within 5 years. Many of these people have changes in certain genes (MYC or MYCN) that drive the development of their cancers. Objective: To test a study drug (PLX038) in people with tumors of the brain or spinal cord. Eligibility: People aged 18 years or older with a tumor of the brain or spinal cord. Some participants must also have tumors with changes in the MYC or MYCN genes. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam and blood tests. They will have imaging scans and a test of their heart function. They may need to have a biopsy: A sample of tissue will be removed from their tumor. PLX038 is given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. All participants will receive PLX038 on the first day of each 21-day treatment cycle. They will take a second drug 3 days later to help reduce the risk of infection; for this drug, participants will be shown how to inject themselves under the skin at home. Blood tests, imaging scans, and other tests will be repeated during study visits. Hair samples will also be collected during these visits. Some participants may have an additional biopsy. Study treatment will continue up to 7 months. Follow-up visits will continue every few months for up to 5 years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

Background: Diseases involving blood, blood vessels, and immune systems are leading causes of death in the United States. Researchers studying these diseases need to compare blood samples from both healthy and sick individuals. Blood samples from healthy people are also used to establish what is normal when developing new tests for diseases and to make sure new testing equipment is working properly. Objective: This natural history study will collect blood samples from healthy people. The blood will be used for various kinds of research. Eligibility: Healthy adults aged 18 years or older. Pregnant or nursing women will be excluded. Design: Participants will have a telehealth visit or telephone call to review their medical history. They will come to the NIH Clinical Center. They will have a needle inserted into a vein in their arm or hand. About 10 tablespoons of blood will be drawn through the needle. Researchers may perform a complete blood count, a type of blood test that can help evaluate the participant s overall health. They may do a blood type test. The blood samples will also be used for genetic studies. Some blood samples may be stored for use in future research. Participants may choose to return for repeat visits for up to 10 years. Review of their medical history may also be repeated at later visits. They will receive $50 per blood collection visit. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2022

open study

Background: Ongoing and future research projects that study gastrointestinal diseases depend on access to biological samples and clinical data. Researchers want to study people who are seen and treated for these diseases. This may help them assess and treat these diseases better in the future. Objective: To collect data and samples from people being seen and/or treated for gastrointestinal problems at NIH, to use in future research. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 and older who have known or suspected gastrointestinal disorders or need screening, treatment, or follow-up per current medical guidelines. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam. Their medical records will be reviewed. Participants will be seen by doctors based on the ailment they have. Their condition will be treated just like it would at a doctor s office. But the data and samples collected will be used for future research. Participants may give blood, urine, and/or stool samples. If participants have an endoscopy or colonoscopy as part of their standard care and samples are taken, they may be asked to give their leftover samples to NIH. Or, they may be asked to have extra samples taken for NIH to use. These samples may include gastric acid and/or tissue from the lining of the stomach or intestines. If samples are not taken as part of their standard care, they may be asked to have samples taken for NIH to use. Data will be stored at NIH. The data systems are password protected. Samples will be coded. Participants will take part in the study for as long as they agree to be seen for their disease....

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2022

open study

Background: - Best Vitelliform Dystrophy (Best disease), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration (L-ORD), and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) all affect the retina, the light sensing area at the back of the eye. Doctors cannot safely obtain retinal cells to study these diseases. However, cells collected from hair follicles, skin, saliva, urine, and blood can be used for research. Researchers want to collect cells from people with Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD, and compare their cells with those of healthy volunteers. Objectives: - To collect hair, skin, saliva, urine, and/or blood samples to study three eye diseases that affect the retina: Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD. Eligibility: - Individuals affected with ocular condition is one year of age or older. - Individuals affected with Best disease, L-ORD, or AMD is 18 years of age or older. - Unaffected individuals are seven years of age or older. Design: - The study requires one visit to the National Eye Institute. - Participants will be screened with a medical and eye disease history. They may also have an eye exam. - Participants will provide a hair sample, saliva sample, urine sample, blood sample, and/or a skin biopsy. The hair will be collected from the back of the head, and the skin will be collected from the inside of the upper arm.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2011

open study

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects blood sugar levels. Complications can include heart and blood vessel (vascular) diseases. Rates of type 2 diabetes have tripled in children and young adults over the last 40 years. Vascular diseases are also increasing in young people. Objective: To learn more about factors, including type 2 diabetes, that may cause vascular disease in young people. Eligibility: People aged 12 to 25 years who (1) have type 2 diabetes; (2) are overweight but not diabetic; (3) or are lean and healthy. Biological parents are also needed. Design: Young participants will visit the NIH clinic once a year for up to 25 years. Each visit will take 4 days. Before each visit, participants will wear devices to track their sleep, activity, and blood sugar levels for 7 to 10 days. At each visit, participants will have tests including: Samples: They will provide blood, urine, and stool samples. Heart: They will ride a stationary bike for 6 minutes with stickers applied to their chest. Scans: They will lie on a bed that slides into a tube; the machine will take pictures of the inside of their body. Energy: They will wear a hood over their head to measure the air they breathe. Social stress: They will give a speech for 10 minutes to show their body s response to stress. Glucose: They will drink a sweet drink to see how their blood sugar changes. Biological parents will have 1 study visit. They will have blood tests. They will fill in questionnaires about their lifestyle and stress. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects 292 million people worldwide; 887,000 die each year from cirrhosis, liver cancer, and related issues. Treatment options are limited. Objective: To test 2 drugs (VIR-2218 and peginterferon) in people with mild or inactive HBV infection. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 65 years with mild or inactive HBV infection. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have blood tests and an eye exam. They will have imaging scans of the liver to check the health of the liver. Participants will be in the study for over 2 years. VIR-2218 is an injection given under the skin of the stomach, upper arm, or thigh. Participants will come to the clinic to receive this injection once a month for 6 months. Peginterferon is also injected under the skin. Participants will have this shot once a week for 6 months. They may either inject themselves at home or come to the clinic to get the injections. Participants will get just the VIR-2218 for 3 months, then both shots for 3 months, then just the peginterferon for 3 months. Participants will have two 3-day stays in the hospital. Tests will include: Liver biopsy. A sample of tissue will be taken from their liver. After the procedure, participants will lie on their right side for 2 hours and then on their back for 4 hours. Fine needle aspiration. A small needle will be used to collect cells from the liver. After the last injection of peginterferon, follow-up visits will continue in the outpatient clinic every 4 to 12 weeks.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a problematic pattern of alcohol use accompanied by clinically significant medical consequences. Medications can help most people reduce their drinking, but the number is limited, and additional treatment options are needed. Objective: To test if a medication named Semaglutide may reduce alcohol drinking in people with AUD. Who can participate? All Adults aged 18 or older with AUD might be eligible to participate in the study. What will happen during the study? Participants will visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in Baltimore once a week for about 20 weeks (5 months). Each visit will last between 2 and 6 hours depending on the tasks scheduled for that visit. Participants will be assigned by chance (like flipping a coin) to receive either Semaglutide or placebo. A placebo looks just like a real drug but contains no medicine. The study medication is given as a shot under the skin each week. Participants will undergo different tests throughout the study: They will give blood, urine, and saliva samples. They will engage in self-paced behavioral therapy on a computer. They will answer questions about their mood, diet, alcohol drinking and craving, tobacco use, etc. They will taste several sweet liquids and tell their preferences. They will sit in a bar-like room and be exposed to cues that might make them feel the urge to eat food or drink alcohol. They will wear a virtual reality headset that creates a cafeteria setting. They will walk the virtual cafeteria and choose food and drinks from a buffet. They will have a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan to take pictures of their brain. During the scans, participants will be shown pictures of alcohol-containing drinks, food, and other items.They will perform tasks on a computer screen. Participants will have a follow-up visit about 7 weeks after their last shot.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2023

open study

Background: Lipodystrophy is a health problem in which the body does not have enough fat tissue. People with lipodystrophy may not make enough of the hormone leptin. Leptin regulates hunger. Low leptin levels trigger hunger. People with lipodystrophy can have many health problems. They may take a drug (metreleptin) that mimics leptin. Little is known about how taking metreleptin may affect a pregnancy. Metreleptin may be helpful or harmful to pregnant women. It may also affect the health of the child who is born. Objective: This natural history study will collect data about the effects of taking metreleptin while pregnant. Eligibility: Women aged 18 years or older with lipodystrophy who have been pregnant. Women who did and who did not take metreleptin during their pregnancies are needed. Children of women with lipodystrophy who took this drug during pregnancy are also needed. Design: Participants will have 1 study visit. This visit may be by phone, by telehealth, or in-person. Participants will answer questions about their pregnancies. They will discuss any health problems they had. They will be asked about any medicines they took before and during their pregnancies. They will be asked about the health of their children. Participants medical records will be reviewed. Participants may need to provide a blood sample. They may also be asked to provide a sample of breastmilk. Participants children may also be asked to provide a blood sample....

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

Background: In Fontan Associated Liver Disease (FALD), congestion of blood in the liver causes cirrhosis. This condition can cause death. Researchers want to understand what triggers this process and find new treatments for it. Objective: To understand how long-term congestion of blood in the liver causes liver scarring that eventually leads to cirrhosis. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older who are at risk of developing FALD from the Fontan procedure. Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Liver ultrasound. This uses sound waves to take pictures of the body. Participants will have an outpatient visit within 12 weeks after screening. Within 24 weeks later, they will have a 3-day hospital stay. About 2 weeks later, they will have a follow-up visit. Visits will include repeats of the screening tests and: Heart tests Stool collection Questionnaires MRI of the liver. Participants will lie on a bed that slides in and out of the scanner. They will receive a contrast agent injected into a vein. While in the scanner, they will also have an MRCP to view the bile ducts and the pancreatic duct. Fibroscan exam. This is an ultrasound that uses a special probe to look at the toughness of the liver. Upper endoscopy. This uses a thin scope to look inside the upper digestive tract. Liver biopsy. This will be taken through large vein in the neck or through the chest. Just before the biopsy, participants will have pressure measurements inside their liver. For this, a catheter will be inserted into a neck vein and guided into the liver.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study