Background: Injury or diseases of the heart and lung can sometimes cause scar tissue (fibrosis) to build up in those organs. Current imaging scans can see this scar tissue once it has formed, but researchers want to find a way to detect the fibrosis in its earliest stages, while there might still be time to prevent serious damage. A new tracer (a radioactive substance injected during imaging scans) may be able to help. Objective: To test a new tracer (18F-FAPI-74) during imaging scans in people with heart or lung disease. Eligibility: People aged 18 years and older with lung or heart disease that may cause scarring in those organs. Design: Participants will have 6 clinic visits over 2 years. Participants will be screened: They will have blood tests and tests of their heart and lung function. Those with heart disease will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the heart. The study tracer will be used with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans. The study tracer will be injected into a vein in the arm. Participants will lie on a padded bed that slides through a donut-shaped machine. Participants will have scans with the study tracer 2 times, 8 to 12 months apart. They will also have standard CT scans and blood tests during these visits. They will also have blood tests at 3 and 6 months between these visits. Participants will have a follow-up visit after 18 to 24 months. The study scans, MRI and standard CT scans, and lung function tests may be repeated....

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2026

open study

Background: Allergic and inflammatory conditions have been increasing over the years. Many factors may play a role in this. Every day, people are exposed to pollution and chemicals in our foods, clothing, and all of the cleaning, hygiene, and other products we use. Studies have suggested there may be links between these environmental exposures and allergic and inflammatory illnesses. Researchers want to know more about how these exposures affect our health. Objective: To learn how everyday exposure to common substances affects people's health. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 to 80 years. Design: Participants will have 2 stays in the hospital. Each stay will last 7 days, and the stays will be spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. During both stays, participants will remain confined to their room. They will eat only food from the menu, and they will use only provided products for personal care. (They may bring their own electronic devices, such as their phone and computer.) One stay will be in a pure room. Participants will breathe filtered air, eat unprocessed foods, and use personal care products with fewer chemicals. One stay will be in a room that allows exposure to common environmental chemicals. Some participants will be limited to only 1 type of exposure: chemicals thought to affect only skin, gut, or respiratory health. Some participants will be exposed to all 3 types. Participants will undergo testing. Blood, skin cell, urine, mouth swabs, and stool samples will be taken. They will have lung tests, smell tests, and tests that measure the health of their skin. These tests will be repeated in outpatient visits 2 weeks after each hospital stay....

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2026

open study

Background: Each year, more than 32,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has returned or progressed after treatment and spread to other organs. This is called metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Most people with mCRC survive only about 2 years. Objective: To test the ability of a combination of up to 4 experimental anti-cancer drugs treat mCRC. The names of these drugs are retifanlimab, TriAdeno vaccine, N-803, and SX-682. They are described below. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older with mCRC. Participants must have Design: Participants will be screened. This includes having a physical exam, blood tests, urine tests, and imaging tests. If signed on to the study, participants will have 2 tumor biopsies. One when starting the study and once about 8 weeks after bring on the study. Participants will receive $500 for each biopsy. Participants will be treated with either 3 or 4 drugs and will receive a detailed calendar explaining when each drug is given. Retifanlimab is given every 4 weeks through an IV (an IV is tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm). N-803 is injected under the skin on the abdomen every 4 weeks. TriAdeno vaccine is injected under the skin of the upper arm or thigh once a month for 3 doses and then once every 3 months. Some participants will also receive a 4th drug. SX-682 is a pill taken by mouth. Participants will take this drug 2 times a day at home for about 3 weeks of each month. Study treatment will continue up to 2 years. Follow-up phone calls/emails may continue for 3 more years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

Study Description: Despite the availability of pharmacotherapy for some substance use disorders, relapse vulnerability is still a significant issue. This suggests medications with alternative mechanisms of action should be explored to address this unmet need. Substantial preclinical research indicates that orexin antagonism blunts the internally and externally triggered motivation to attain abused substances. This research project will translate these preclinical findings into the clinical domain by administering the FDA approved orexin antagonist, suvorexant, to those with a substance use disorder. Suvorexant s ability to blunt neurobiological correlates of substance misuse will be assessed. This will be assessed following acute and repeated drug administration. Baseline individual differences will be considered to determine whether neurobiological variance influences suvorexant s impact in those with nicotine dependence. In an independent arm, the interaction between suvorexant and a dopamine agonist (methylphenidate) on cognitive function will be assessed in non-smoking individuals. Objectives: The objective is to determine the acute and chronic impact of the orexin antagonist, suvorexant, on neurobiological and behavioral factors linked with substance use disorders. Whether such effects are mediated by baseline characteristics will be tested. Given suvorexant is an FDA approved treatment for insomnia, sleep will be evaluated as well in the nicotine dependent arm. Endpoints: In nicotine-dependent individuals, suvorexant s impact on brain function will be assessed several ways by evaluating: 1) resting function, 2) reactivity to drug cues, 3) reactivity to non-drug related cognitive tasks. Sleep and nicotine use will be measured throughout the study period. In those without nicotine-dependence, the impact of suvorexant and the interaction of acute methylphenidate and suvorexant on brain function will be assessed. This arm will provide insight into how suvorexant impacts reward/cognition as well as impacts the pharmacological influence of methylphenidate on those same measures. Study Population:<TAB> Nicotine dependence arm:140 subjects; Volunteers who are between the ages of 18-60 and are daily smokers/vapers. Control arm: 80 subjects; Volunteers who are between the ages of 18-60 and are non-smokers/vapers This study will be conducted at the NIDA-IRP, Biomedical Research Center, in Baltimore, MD. Description of Study Intervention: Nicotine dependence arm: Suvorexant at 10 mg single dose, and Suvorexant at 10 mg daily for approximately 7 days. Control arm: 1. Tolerability visit with one MRI scan post-20mg methylphenidate, 4 acute drug administration (6-14 days in randomized order: 1. Placebo + placebo; 2. 20mg suvorexant + Placebo; 3. Placebo + 40mg methylphenidate; 4. 20 mg suvorexant + 40mg methylphenidate max) Study Duration: 5 years Participant Duration: 1-2 months

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2023

open study

This study will evaluate subjects with adult- and childhood-onset myositis to learn more about their cause and the immune system changes and medical problems associated with them. Myositis is an inflammatory muscle disease that can damage muscles and other organs, resulting in significant disability. Children or adults with polymyositis or dermatomyositis or a related condition may be evaluated under this study. Healthy children or adults will also be enrolled as "controls," for comparison of test results. All patients will undergo a complete history (including completing some questionnaires) and physical examination, review of medical records, and blood and urine tests. Patients may then choose to participate in an additional 1- to 5-day evaluation, which will include some or all of the following diagnostic, treatment or research procedures: 1. Standardized muscle strength testing, range of motion of joints and walking (gait) analysis by a physiotherapist; completion of a questionnaire regarding ability to perform daily tasks 2. Skin assessment, possibly including photographs of lesions and a skin biopsy (removal of a small skin sample under local anesthetic) 3. Magnetic resonance imaging (scans that use magnetic fields to visualize tissues) of leg muscles 4. Swallowing studies, including a physical examination and questionnaire on swallowing ability, studies of tongue strength, and ultrasound imaging during swallowing, and possibly, a modified barium swallow 5. Voice and speech assessment, possibly including computerized voice analysis and laryngoscopy-analysis of the larynx (voice box) using a small rigid scope with a camera placed in the mouth to view and record vocal cord function 6. Pulmonary function tests (measurement of air moved into and out of the lungs, using a breathing machine) to evaluate lung function and, possibly, chest X-ray 7. Electrocardiogram (measurement of the electrical activity of the heart) and, possibly, echocardiogram (ultrasound imaging of the heart) 8. Endocrine evaluation 9. Eye examination, in patients with vision loss or other eye symptoms 10. Nutrition assessment to evaluate muscle mass and muscle wasting, including tape measurements or bioelectric impedance testing, a painless procedure in which wires are attached to the extremities with a sticky paste. 11. Muscle ultrasound. 12. Electromyography (record of the electrical activity of muscles) 13. Muscle or skin biopsy (removal of a small piece of muscle tissue for microscopic examination) All patients may have only a one-time evaluation or may return for one follow-up evaluations (either the 1-day or 3- to 5-day evaluation) over a 1-year period. Healthy children will undergo a medical history and brief physical examination; blood and urine tests; speech and swallowing studies including questionnaires and physical examination, tongue strength, and ultrasound study; and bioelectric impedance testing. Children 8 to 18 years old may also have exercise testing....

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 1995

open study

Background: People who have lung transplants often survive 6 or 7 years. But some people develop donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after their transplants; antibodies are proteins that attack foreign invaders in the body. Antibodies typically kill viruses and other agents that can cause disease. But when the antibodies attack a transplanted organ, they can cause the body to reject the new tissues. People who develop DSA after a transplant have a higher risk of death within 1 year. Objective: To test a drug called fostamatinib in people who develop DSA after a lung transplant. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 and older who developed DSA after a lung transplant. Design: Participants will continue with their standard care after a transplant. Fostamatinib is a pill taken by mouth. Some participants will take the study drug along with their standard care; others will take a placebo. A placebo is a pill that looks just like the real drug but contains no medicine. All participants will take 1 pill per day for 2 weeks. Then they will take 2 pills per day for the next 6 weeks. Participants will have clinic visits every 2 weeks while taking their pills. They will have a physical exam, with blood and urine tests, during each visit. If participants have fluid samples collected from their airways during their standard treatment, some extra fluid may be collected for this study. Participants will have a follow-up visit 4 weeks after they stop taking their pills.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2026

open study

Background: During the first few decades of life, the brain changes dramatically in shape and function. Sleep lets researchers measure these changes. Researchers want to create a database of sleep and neurodevelopmental data in a group of infants and children to learn more. Objective: To address a knowledge and data gap in the field of sleep and neurodevelopment in infants and children. Eligibility: Children ages 6 months to 76 months who may or may not be at risk for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Also, children ages 6 months to 8 years who have a referral for a sleep study. Design: Participants will have neurodevelopmental testing. They will have a medical, psychiatric, and family history. They will have a physical and neurological exam. They will be interviewed and complete surveys. They will give a cheek swab and/or blood sample. Some participants will have 1 study visit that lasts 2 days. Other participants will have up to 4 study visits. Each visit will last 2 days. Visits occur every 8 months to 1 year, for a total participation time of 2 years. Participants will have a 20-minute daytime electroencephalogram (EEG), if possible. This EEG session will be used to calibrate the machine for the overnight study. Participants will take part in an inpatient overnight sleep study. Electrodes will be placed on the participants. For young children, parents will help place the EEG leads. Other sensors may also be placed. A gauze cap will be placed on participants head to protect the leads and keep the participants from moving them. 'Lights out' will occur as close to participants bedtime as possible.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Nov 2021

open study

Without an explanation for severe and sometimes life-threatening symptoms, patients and their families are left in a state of unknown. Many individuals find themselves being passed from physician to physician, undergoing countless and often repetitive tests in the hopes of finding answers and insight about what the future may hold. This long and arduous journey to find a diagnosis does not end for many patients- the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR) notes that 6% of individuals seeking their assistance have an undiagnosed disorder. In 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) was established with the goal of providing care and answers for these individuals with mysterious conditions who have long eluded diagnosis. The NIH UDP is a joint venture of the NIH ORDR, the National Human Genome Research Institute Intramural Research Program (NHGRI-IRP), and the NIH Clinical Research Center (CRC) (1-3). The goals of the NIH UDP are to: (1) provide answers for patients with undiagnosed diseases; (2) generate new knowledge about disease mechanisms; (3) assess the application of new approaches to phenotyping and the use of genomic technologies; and (4) identify potential therapeutic targets, if possible. To date, the UDP has evaluated 3300 medical records and admitted 750 individuals with rare and undiagnosed conditions to the NIH Clinical Center. The NIH UDP has identified more than 70 rare disease diagnoses and several new conditions. The success of the NIH UDP prompted the NIH Common Fund to support the establishment of a network of medical research centers, the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), for fiscal years 2013-2020. The clinical sites will perform extensive phenotyping, genetic analyses, and functional studies of potential disease-causing variants. The testing performed on patients involves medically indicated studies intended to help reach a diagnosis, as well as research investigations that include a skin biopsy, blood draws, and DNA analysis. In addition, the UDN will further the goals of the UDP by permitting the sharing of personally identifiable phenotypic and genotypic information within the network. By sharing participant information and encouraging collaboration, the UDN hopes to improve the understanding of rare conditions and advance the diagnostic process and care for individuals with undiagnosed diseases.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2015

open study

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), one of the most common inborn errors of organic acid metabolism, is heterogeneous in etiology and clinical manifestations. Affected patients with cblA, cblB and mut classes of MMA are medically fragile and can suffer from complications such as metabolic stroke or infarction of the basal ganglia, pancreatitis, end stage renal failure, growth impairment, osteoporosis, and developmental delay. The frequency of these complications and their precipitants remain undefined. Furthermore, current treatment protocol outcomes have continued to demonstrate substantial morbidity and mortality in the patient population. Increasingly, solid organ transplantation (liver, and/or kidney) has been used to treat patients. Disordered transport and intracellular metabolism of vitamin B12 produces a distinct group of disorders that feature methylmalonic acidemia as well as (hyper)homocysteinemia. These conditions are named after the corresponding cellular complementation class - (cblC, cblD, cblF, cblJ and cblX) - and are also heterogenous, clinically and biochemically. The genetic disorders underlying cblE and cblG feature an isolated impairment of the activity of methionine synthase, a critical enzyme involved in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine and these disorders feature (hyper)homocysteinemia. Lastly, a group of patients can have increased methylmalonic acid and/or homocysteine in the blood or urine caused by variant(s) in recently identified (ACSF3) and unknown genes. In this protocol, we will clinically evaluate patients with methylmalonic acidemia and cobalamin metabolic defects. Routine inpatient admissions will last up to 4-5 days and involve urine collection, blood drawing, ophthalmological examination, radiological procedures, MRI/MRS, skin biopsies in some, and developmental testing. In a subset of patients who have or will receive renal, hepato- or hepato-renal transplants or have an unusual variant or clinical course and have MMA, a lumbar puncture to examine CSF metabolites will be performed. In this small group of patients, CSF metabolite monitoring may be used to adjust therapy. The study objectives will be to further delineate the spectrum of phenotypes and characterize the natural history of these enzymopathies, query for genotype/enzymatic/phenotype correlations, search for new genetic causes of methylmalonic acidemia and/or homocysteinemia, identify new disease biomarkers and define clinical outcome parameters for future clinical trials. The population will consist of participants previously evaluated at NIH, physician referrals, and families directed to the study from clinicaltrials.gov as well as the Organic Acidemia Association, Homocystinuria Network America and other national and international support groups. Most participants will be evaluated only at the NIH Clinical Center. However, if the NIH team decides that a patient under the age of 2 years is a candidate subject for this research protocol, that patient may enroll at the Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) site, pending approval by Dr Chapman, the Principal Investigator of the CNMC location Individuals may also enroll in the tissue collection only part of the study at the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh or share medical history and clinical data via telemedicine visits remotely. Outcome measures will largely be descriptive and encompass correlations between clinical, biochemical and molecular parameters.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2004

open study

This study is designed to evaluate the genetics involved in the development of lung disease by surveying genes involved in the process of breathing and examining the genes in lung cells of patients with lung disease. The study will focus on defining the distribution of abnormal genes responsible for processes directly involved in different diseases affecting the lungs of patients and healthy volunteers. Optional CT Sub-study The standard CT scan will be compared to the low dose radiation CT scan for the 150 subjects enrolled in the sub-study to assess the variation between the two techniques. Specifically, the quantitative computer aided detection of lung CT abnormalities from LAM can be compared to assess whether low radiation dose CT exams is an alternative to conventional CT to monitor disease status. This optional sub-study will be offered to up to 100 adult subjects with lung disease and up to 50 children age 9 and older with CF. Children will not be enrolled in the optional CT sub-study unless they have had a standard CT scan for medical purposes to use in comparison. One additional low dose radiation CT scan of the chest may be done as part of this sub-study when these subjects have their next annual CT scan.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 1996

open study

This study will examine rare congenital disorders that involve malformations and abnormal growth. It will focus on patients with Proteus syndrome, whose physical features are characterized by overgrowth, benign tumors of fatty tissue or blood vessels, asymmetric arms or legs, and large feet with very thick soles. The study will explore the genetic and biochemical cause and course of the disease, the changes in symptoms over time, and the effects of the disease on patients. Patients with Proteus syndrome may be eligible for this study. Study candidates will have a medical history and physical examination, including X-rays and possibly other imaging tests, such as computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. Other tests and examinations may be done if needed. Those enrolled in the study may be interviewed or complete questionnaires, or both, about how their disease affects them. Patients will provide a small blood sample for research....

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 1994

open study

Background: Blood cancers (such as leukemias or lymphomas) often do not respond to standard treatments. A transplant of blood stem cells from a healthy donor can help people with these cancers. Sometimes these transplants cause serious side effects, including a common immunologic problem called graft-versus-host disease. A drug called cyclophosphamide given early after the transplant (post-transplantation cyclophosphamide, PTCy) can reduce these complications. But sometimes this drug has its own negative effects. Furthermore, studies in mice suggest that an intermediate, rather than very high, dose of this drug may best protect against graft-versus-host disease. Objective: To find out if a lower dose of PTCy is more helpful for people who undergo blood stem cell transplants. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older who have a blood cancer and are eligible for a transplant of blood stem cells from another person. Healthy donors are also needed but must be related to the individual needing the transplant. Design: Participants will undergo screening. Transplant recipients will have imaging scans and tests of their heart and lung function. They will be assessed for the status of their cancer, including bone marrow taken from their pelvis and possibly also scans and/or fluid drawn from the spine depending on the disease type. Donors will be screened for general health. They will give several tubes of blood. They will give an oral swab and saliva and stool samples for research. Recipients will be in the hospital at least 4 to 6 weeks. They will have a temporary catheter inserted into a vein in the chest or neck. Medications will be given and blood will be drawn through the catheter. The transplanted stem cells will be given through the catheter. Participants will receive medications both before and after the transplant. Participants will return to the clinic at least once a week for 3 months after leaving the hospital. Follow-up visits will continue periodically for 5 years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

Background: People who get COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms. They also recover from COVID-19 in different ways. In this study, researchers will use survey data to describe the different ways people experience and recover from COVID-19. They will also use the data to help create future studies to understand why some people do not fully recover. Objective: To learn more about the range and timing of symptoms that people have before, during, and after COVID-19 infection. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older who can give documentation of a positive COVID-19 or antibody test. Design: Participants will be screened with a telephone interview. It will take 15 minutes. They will provide their COVID-19 test results and medical records. Participants will complete a second telephone interview. It will take 30 60 minutes. They will also take online surveys every 3 months for 3 years. The interview and surveys will ask participants about their health before they got COVID-19, what happened while they had COVID-19, and what their recovery has been like. Participants will get log-in data to take the online surveys. Completing all of the surveys the first time may take up to 3 hours. Follow-up surveys will take up to 30 minutes. Participants do not have to complete the surveys in one sitting. They will be able to save their progress and finish the surveys later. Participants may be contacted to take part in other research studies.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2022

open study

Background: The Laboratory of Immune System Biology (LISB) works with other labs at the National Institutes of Health. They study how parts of living things come together to make a whole. LISB designs and improves research tests on human samples like blood and cells. In order to do its work, LISB needs to have a lot of these samples available. Objective: To collect biological specimens to use for designing and improving research tests. Specimens include blood, stool, saliva, and skin/mucosal swabs. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 3-80 Design: Participants will be screened with an interview about their general health and their medical history. They will have a physical exam and blood tests. If the results of the screening are normal, participants will be asked to give one or more of these samples: Blood will be drawn from an arm vein with a needle and syringe. Mucus and skin will be collected by rubbing the area with a cotton swab. The areas may include the top of the tongue, inside the cheek, nostrils, behind the ear, elbow pit, or vagina. Participants will spit into a tube to collect saliva. Participants will pass stool into a plastic container that fits in the toilet under the seat. They will get sampling kits and instructions. Over the next 5 years, if more samples are needed, participants will be contacted to set up another visit to the NIH. These visits will each take about 1 hour. About every 2 years, when participants come to NIH for a visit, extra blood will be collected. It will be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2018

open study

Background Obesity and physical inactivity contribute substantially to cardiovascular disease risk, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. African American women experience disproportionately high rates of obesity and have among the lowest levels of physical activity and greatest sedentary time in the United States. Resource-limited neighborhoods may further constrain physical activity through limited access to safe parks, recreation facilities, walking routes, and other health-promoting resources. This protocol builds on prior community-based work in Washington, D.C., which demonstrated the feasibility of wearable activity monitoring among predominantly African American women in faith-based, lower-resource communities. It uses community-based participatory research principles and mobile health technology to deliver physical-activity coaching tailored either to individual factors or to available neighborhood resources. Objectives Primary objective To determine whether initiating an adaptive physical-activity intervention with remote, mobile-app coaching tailored to neighborhood physical-activity resources "tailored-to-place" coaching-produces a greater increase in steps per day over approximately three months than standard remote coaching. Secondary objectives The study will also: Compare four embedded adaptive intervention strategies over approximately six months. Assess the feasibility of remotely measuring weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose using connected devices. Evaluate effects on cardiometabolic measures, including BMI, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, dietary intake, self-reported physical activity, and smoking. Examine inflammatory, lipid, immunometabolic, psychosocial, behavioral, and social-determinants-of-health pathways related to physical-activity change. Evaluate changes in cardiac structure and function and body composition using optional cardiovascular and body-composition MRI. Assess relationships among sleep, ambulatory blood pressure, menopause-related factors, and immunometabolic markers in a postmenopausal sleep sub-study. Conduct user-centered testing of the mobile application and wearable/mobile health technologies. Explore COVID-19 exposure and pandemic-related psychosocial stress as potential confounders of immunologic and psychosocial outcomes. Eligibility: Inclusion Criteria Participants must: Be African American women aged 21-75 years. Have overweight or obesity, defined as BMI >=25 kg/m^2 Live in Washington, D.C., Wards 5, 7, or 8, or in neighboring areas of Prince George's County, Maryland. Have access to a smartphone compatible with the study application. Be able to provide informed consent independently. Speak and read English at approximately an eighth-grade level. Participants enter a two-week run-in period. Those averaging 7,500 steps per day or fewer and who complete the run-in are eligible for randomization into the intervention. Main study exclusion criteria Potential participants are excluded for conditions that could make increased physical activity unsafe or interfere with study assessments, including: Medical conditions or physical limitations that prohibit safe participation in physical activity. Recent myocardial infarction, documented obstructive coronary artery disease, recent coronary stenting, or significant decompensated structural heart disease. Pregnancy; pregnancy status is assessed as applicable during study visits. Other conditions determined by the investigator to make participation unsafe. Sleep sub-study eligibility The optional sleep sub-study is limited to postmenopausal women who are enrolled in or have completed the main study. Additional exclusions include night-shift work, conditions that interfere with overnight polysomnography, recent initiation of sleep-modifying medications, inability to tolerate ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring, and certain arm, vascular, skin, bleeding, or neurologic conditions. MRI participation is optional and requires separate screening for MRI-incompatible implanted devices or metal and, when applicable, eligibility for gadolinium contrast. Study design A six-month adaptive randomized trial will enroll overweight or obese African American women. After a two-week run-in, participants averaging <=7,500 steps/day will receive either standard mobile-app coaching or coaching tailored to neighborhood physical-activity resources. At three months, nonresponders will be reassigned to intensified coaching. Steps will be measured with a wearable device, with assessments at baseline, three months, and six months. Optional monitoring and MRI/sleep sub-studies will assess cardiometabolic outcomes.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2018

open study

Background: The vagus nerve runs from the brain to many organs. Stimulating it can affect the experience of pain. The nerve can be stimulated on the surface of the left ear. Researchers want to study how this stimulation affects the perception of pain. They also want to study how mood affects the experience of pain. Objective: To study the effects of mood and vagus nerve stimulation on the experience of pain. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 18 and older who are fluent in English Design: Participants will be pre-screened with a 15-minute phone call. Participants will have three 2-hour visits. At the screening visit, participants will be screened with: Medical and psychiatric history Physical and psychological exams Questionnaires about physical and psychiatric health and mood Urine tests A heat probe on the forearm. The temperature will be increased until it is painful but tolerable. Participants will have 2 testing sessions within 7 days. Before the testing, they cannot do the following: Eat, use nicotine, or exercise for at least 2 hours Drink alcohol for 24 hours Take certain medicines for 3 days Testing includes: Urine drug screening Left ear stimulation: In one session, the vagus nerve will be stimulated. In the other, an area of the ear away from the vagus nerve will be stimulated. This will be done with mild electric shocks that cause a tingling, pricking, or itchy feeling. Heat applied to the forearm until it is painful but tolerable Completing several forms on a computer or on paper about how they are feeling Monitors on the chest and a finger clip to monitor heart, breathing, and blood pressure

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2016

open study

Human phagocytic cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are readily mobilized to sites of infection and ingest microorganisms by a process known as phagocytosis. The combined effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proteolytic peptides and enzymes released into forming bacterial phagosomes kill most ingested bacteria. However, many human bacterial pathogens have devised means to subvert normal phagocyte responses and the innate immune response and cause severe disease. The overall objective of this study is to elucidate specific features of pathogen-phagocyte interactions that underlie evasion of the innate immune response or contribute to the pathophysiology of disease or inflammatory disorders. Therefore, specific projects will: 1. Identify and characterize specific mechanisms used by pathogenic microorganisms to evade or subvert normal phagocyte responses and therefore cause disease. 2. Investigate phagocyte response mechanisms to specific pathogenic microorganisms. 3. Identify specific bacterial structures and/or (gene) products that dictate differences in phagocyte responses among a range of pathogens so that generalized statements can be made about the pathophysiology of disease states. The studies will be performed using multiple techniques including state-of-the-art equipment for genomics and proteomics strategies to identify target bacterial genes/proteins of interest or those up-regulated in phagocytes. Phagocyte-pathogen interactions will be examined using fluorescence-based real-time assays and video microscopy, confocal and electron microscopy in combination with enzymatic assays for ROS production, routine biochemistry, immunology and cell biology. Implementing these studies will require isolation of phagocytic leukocytes from venous blood of healthy human volunteers. The study population will be all-inclusive except in certain instances where individuals possess genetic defects that impair phagocyte function (e.g., myeloperoxidase-deficiency) or have altered phagocyte function due to outside influences such as recent bacterial or viral infection. The proposed studies will likely provide new information pertinent to understanding host cell-pathogen interactions and the pathophysiology of inflammatory conditions.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2001

open study

Background: Endocrine disorders involve changes to glands that produce hormones. Hormones are released by these glands into the blood so they can direct the function of other tissues in the body. Researchers want to study people who may have endocrine disorders. They want to learn more about the conditions that affect endocrine glands. Objective: To study adults with a variety of endocrine disorders for research and physician education. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who have an endocrine or metabolic-related disorder Healthy volunteers 18 and older Design: Participants will be screened with a review of their medical records. Participants will have a physical exam and medical history. The length of the study and the schedule will vary by participant. Tests may include: Blood and urine tests Stool and saliva samples Imaging studies: Participants will lie on a table while a machine takes pictures of the body. They may be injected with a substance to make their organs more visible in the pictures. Tests of endocrine tissue function Consultation with other specialists Sleep study Medical photographs Participants may be treated for their endocrine disorder. This could include: Surgery. If tissue is removed during surgery, it may be studied. Radiation Medicine Participants may have genetic testing. This will be done with a small amount of blood, cells from a cheek swab, or saliva. Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes and Kidney Disease ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2019

open study

Background: - To understand diseases of the retina and the eye, information is needed about people with and without such diseases. Researchers want to study these people and follow them over time. They also want to study body tissues and blood to understand the nature of eye disease. Studying genes, cells, and tissues may help them understand why some people get eye problems and others do not, or why some people respond to treatment while others do not. Researchers want to collect physical samples and personal data to develop a National Eye Institute database. Objectives: - To collect health information and blood and tissue samples from people with and without eye diseases, to be used in research studies. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 2 years of age with different types of eye disease. - Healthy volunteers with no history of eye disease. Design: - Participants may be recruited from National Eye Institute studies or may be referred from other sources. - Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will also have a full eye exam. Questions will be asked about family medical history, especially about eye disease. - Blood samples will be collected. Other samples, such as saliva, tears, hair, stool, and urine, may be collected as needed. Adult participants may also provide a skin sample. - Tissue or fluid from eye collected as part of eye care or treatment may also be added to the database. - No treatment will be provided as part of this study.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2012

open study

Background: Trisomy 8 mosaicism is a genetic disorder that can increase inflammation in the body. Symptoms include fevers; sores or ulcers in the mouth, digestive tract, or genital area; skin rashes; problems in organs or tissues; and changes in bone marrow cells. Researchers want to conduct a natural history study to learn more about these symptoms and what causes them. Objective: To gather data and samples from people with and without the trisomy 8 mosaicism. Eligibility: People of any age with the trisomy 8 gene mosaicism. Their healthy relatives are also needed. Design: Affected participants will have visits every 1 to 2 years for 30 years at NIH. Each visit will take 1 to 5 days and may be in-person or remote. With remote visits, participants may have a video call with the study team and samples may be sent to researchers by mail. Participants may have these procedures: Physical exam, with blood tests. Tests of brain function and motor skills. Sensory tests. Researchers will see how participants respond to sensations such as pinpricks, heat, cold, and pressure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and/or spine. X-ray of the spine. Ultrasound test of heart function (echocardiogram). Tissues samples (biopsies) collected from the skin, inside of the mouth, and bone marrow. Swabs to collect cells from the mouth, skin, and vagina. Collection of blood, stool, urine, saliva, hair, and fingernail samples. X-rays, MRI, and heart tests will be done only once. Other procedures may be repeated at each visit. All tests and procedures are voluntary. Healthy relatives who enroll will have a baseline visit and then follow-up visits as needed. They will have a physical exam. The inside of their mouth may be swabbed. Samples of blood, stool, urine, and saliva may be taken.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2026

open study

Background: Irritability can be defined as an unusually strong response to frustration; these responses may include severe temper outbursts and a constant grumpy mood. Irritability is a common symptom of many mental health disorders. Little is known about how the brain responds to frustration, and few treatments are available for this problem. Researchers want to know more about how the brain responds to frustration. Objective: To learn how the brain responds to frustration. Eligibility: Healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years. They must have been screened through studies 01-M-0254 or 17-M-0181. Design: Participants will have up to 3 study visits in 2 months. Each visit will last up to 4 hours. Visit 1: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam. They will complete questionnaires about how often and how easily they get angry or grumpy. They will be trained to use a device that measures hand grip. Visit 2: Participants will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. They will lie on a table that slides into a tube. Padding will hold their head still. Visit 3: Participants will undergo magnetoencephalography (MEG). A cone with detectors will be lowered over their head while they are seated. The MEG will measure the magnetic fields in the participant s brain both while they are resting and while they are doing the frustration task. For the task, they will hold a grip device in each hand. They will use the devices to pick 1 of 2 doors on a computer screen. The task has 3 parts. The participant s face will be filmed during this task.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2025

open study

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a disease caused by disrupted immune function. People with HLH are prone to fevers and illnesses, which can be fatal. Some people develop a genetic form of this disease (pHLH), but researchers do not understand why some other people develop a nongenetic form (sHLH). They also do not have good ways to diagnose and treat sHLH. Objective: To learn about sHLH and why some people get it and others do not. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years and older with sHLH. Design: Participants will be admitted to the study based on a review of their medical records. Those who join will have at least 3 clinical evaluations over 9 to 12 months. These may occur during an inpatient hospitalization if they require medical care or in the outpatient clinic. Participants will also have a physical exam at each visit. Up to half a cup of blood will be drawn at each visit. Participants may also have their blood drawn by their own doctors, who will send the samples to the researchers. Researchers may also contact these participants by telephone or video calls. The blood will be used for clinical tests as well as research. No new treatments will be administered as part of this study; however, standard medications and treatments may be recommended. Participants may opt to continue their visits once a year for 3 more years. Participants may also opt for an extra clinial evaluation 1 week after starting a new treatment. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2024

open study

Background: At least 30% of Americans have fatty liver disease. This means that they store too much fat in the liver. At the moment lifestyle changes are the only way to treat this problem. Objective: To test how (1) a low-carbohydrate diet and (2) a supplement called nicotinamide riboside (NR) affect how a person s body uses dietary fat. Eligibility: Men aged 18 to 65 and women aged 18 to 50 who are healthy volunteers with a body mass index (height to weight ratio) of 25 or more. Adults with maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2) are also needed. Design: Participants with diabetes will have 1 screening visit and a 9-day clinic stay. Healthy volunteers will have 1 screening visit and 2 clinic stays of 1 to 2 weeks each. During screening, all participants will have a physical exam with blood and urine tests. They will have their heart rhythm measured while riding a gym bike. NR is a pill taken by mouth. Only healthy volunteers will take the NR, for 14 days at a time, during 1 clinic stay. During their other stay, they will take placebos; these are pills that look like the study supplement but contain no NR. During each clinic stay, all participants will eat a normal American diet. Then they will eat a ketogenic "low-carb" diet for 5 days. Participants will have many tests, including: Sleeping every night and having two 24-hour stays in a special room that measures the gases their body uses and produces. Drinking a high-fat shake, then remaining seated for 5 hours while their blood and breath are monitored. Having a substance injected into the arm and remaining seated for 3 hours while their blood is measured. Wearing monitors to measure their activity levels. Another monitor will measure their blood glucose levels. Having imaging scans. ...

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

This study will investigate how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, and related conditions. Individuals >=4 weeks with a personal or family history of melanoma or atypical spitzoid/Spitz tumor may be eligible for this study. Participants will: - Fill out one or two questionnaires about their personal and family medical history. - Provide written consent for researchers to review their medical records and pathology materials related to their care and those of deceased relatives with melanomas, tumors, cancer, or other related illnesses for whom they are the next-of-kin or legally authorized representative. - Donate a blood or cheek cell sample to be used for genetic studies. (The blood sample is collected through a needle in an arm vein. The cheek cell sample is obtained either by gently brushing the inside of the mouth with a soft brush or by swishing a tablespoon of mouthwash and then spitting it into a container.) - Undergo a skin biopsy (removal of a small piece of skin tissue) for genetic study. For this procedure, the area of skin to be removed is numbed with a local anesthetic and a 1/4-inch piece of skin is excised with a cookie cutter-like instrument. The wound is then covered with a band-aid. Participants may be asked to travel to the NIH Clinical Center for evaluation, including a medical history, physical examination, and some of the following procedures: - Full body skin examination to evaluate the type and number of moles and document any evidence of sun damage to the skin. The examination involves all the skin from the scalp to the bottoms of the feet. After the examination, a medical photographer will photograph the skin, with close-ups of skin lesions marked by the examiner. If there are parts of the skin the participant does not want examined or photographed, he or she can tell the examiner. - Blood draw of about 120 milliliters (4 ounces) or less - Skin biopsy - Cheek cell sample - X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies to detect tumors or changes in tumors or other types of changes in specific tissues. MRI is a diagnostic test that uses strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to examine body tissues. The subject lies on a table that is moved into a large tunnel-like machine (the scanner) for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the tests are finished, a doctor will discuss the results with the participant and the need, if any, for clinical follow-up.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2002

open study

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Inhaled Mosliciguat in Participants with Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2026

open study