8 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The goal of this study is to understand the impact on the human immune system's response to the four strain flu vaccine in individuals who have "imprinted" on specific influenza strains. It will also consider the effects of repeated prior annual influenza vaccination on the immune system.
Our data suggest that modulating the characteristics of light carries the potential to modify the host response to injury and critical illness and thus, improve outcome. The ability to modify the host response to the stress of major operations and sepsis carries immense potential to improve patient care. The primary purpose of this study is to determine if exposure to bright blue (442nm) enriched light, by comparison to ambient white fluorescent light, reduces the inflammatory response or organ dysfunction in patients undergoing 1) medical treatment for pneumonia, 2) a 2-stage arthroplasty for surgical management of a septic joint, 3) surgery for a necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI), and 4) surgery for an intraabdominal infection (e.g., diverticulitis). We will expose participants to one of two (2) lighting conditions: 1) high illuminance (\~1700 lux,), blue (442nm) spectrum enriched light and 2) ambient white fluorescent light that provides the standard environmental lighting (\~300-400 lux, no predominant spectrum) of the hospital. Both cohorts will be exposed to a 12 hours:12 hours light:dark cycle photoperiod. Those subjects assigned to blue light will be asked to shine this small portable blue enriched light on themselves from 0800 to 2000 for 3 days. At the transition from light to dark, the blue-enriched light is turned off, and additional blue wavelength light removed with an amber filter. Thus, the total period of intervention is 72 hours. The outcome of interest is change in the inflammatory response after surgery for appendicitis or diverticulitis as measured by the following parameters: white blood cell count, heart rate, the development of abdominal abscess, serum cytokine concentrations. The outcome of interest is change in the inflammatory response during pneumonia as measured by the following parameters: white blood cell count, heart rate, and serum cytokine concentrations.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a statistical association between the changes from baseline in the levels of two cytokines interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-6 in the sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the severity of acute exacerbations of COPD (AE-COPD). These sputum cytokine levels are taken as measures of the adaptive immune response (IL-17A) and the innate immune response (IL-6), respectively. Sputum will be collected either spontaneously or will be obtained by induction; cytokine levels will be measured by ELISA. The primary analysis, comparisons of sputum cytokine levels between clinical states, will be done using random effects modeling.
Background: The primary focus of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the NIH is to develop vaccines for HIV/AIDS. The main purpose of this study is to look in detail at the body s immune response to two experimental HIV vaccines currently in development at the VRC. One is known as the rAd5 vaccine and the other is known as the DNA vaccine. These vaccines are made with pieces of manufactured DNA. They do not contain live or killed HIV. It is impossible for study vaccines to give you HIV and they cannot cause you to give HIV to someone else. Both of these experimental vaccines have been given to people before in other research studies. They have not been approved for treating or preventing HIV infection. Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to look in detail at the body s immune responses after the experimental HIV vaccines are given and to assess safety of the study vaccines. Eligibility: Healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50 who are not infected with HIV and who meet the eligibility requirements. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history (including questions about sexual history and drug use), physical exam, and blood tests. The study will have two groups: \<TAB\>One group will receive one injection of the rAd5 vaccine, and have 8 clinic visits over 3 months. \<TAB\>The second group will have three injections of the DNA vaccine, one injection of the rAd5 vaccine, and have 12 clinic visits over 6 months. All participants will be asked to provide blood and body fluid samples for testing during the study. Payment for participation will be provided....
This clinical trial aims to investigate how exposure to Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), affects the immune response to the standard tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine. The study focuses on participants from a community with known prior PFNA exposure through contaminated drinking water. The main question it aims to answer is: * Does exposure to PFNA weaken the body's initial immune response, leading to lower levels of protective antibodies after vaccination? Participants will: * Receive Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) booster vaccination * Visit the study office 7 times over a 30-day period * Have blood and saliva collected at each study visit
SARS-CoV-2 transmission was expected to have a devastating impact in sub-Saharan African countries. Instead, morbidity and mortality rates in nearly the whole region are an order of magnitude lower than in Europe and the Americas. To identify what is different requires a better understanding of the underlying immunological substrate of the population, and how these factors affect susceptibility to infection, progression of symptoms, transmission, and responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Study objectives 1. Determine the risk and predictors of infection and disease among contacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection subjects in Malawi 2. Determine whether innate immune responses lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease, and acquisition and duration of vaccine responses. 3. Assess whether alterations in innate immune responses relevant to SARS-CoV-2 are associated with malaria or intestinal parasite infections. 4. Assess the acquisition and longevity of antibodies (Ab) and cellular adaptive responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. 5. Assess whether malaria and intestinal parasite infections, chronic/mild undernutrition, and anemia mediate alterations in Ab and other adaptive cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 through innate immune responses or a different unknown mechanism.
Background: The immune system defends the body against disease and infection. Immune deficiencies are health conditions that decrease the strength of this response. Vaccines stimulate the immune system to create a defense against a specific type of germ. Researchers want to compare immune system responses to COVID-19 vaccines in people with and without immune deficiencies. Objective: To learn about how people with immune deficiencies respond to COVID-19 vaccines. Eligibility: People age 3 and older with an immune deficiency who plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants will be pre-screened for eligibility, including COVID-19 vaccination history and immune status. Participants will give a blood sample before they get their first COVID-19 vaccine. Blood will be drawn from an arm vein using a needle. Blood can be drawn at the NIH, at a local doctor's office, or at a laboratory. It may also be drawn through a fingerstick at home. Participants will also complete 2 online surveys about their health and COVID-19 history. Additional surveys are optional. Participants will give a second blood sample 2 to 4 weeks after they get the vaccine. They will complete 2 surveys about changes in their health and side effects from the vaccine. If participants get another COVID-19 vaccine dose, they will repeat the blood draw and surveys 3 to 4 weeks later. Participants may give 3 optional blood samples in the 24 months after their last vaccine. They may also give saliva samples every 2 weeks while they are in the study for 6 months following their last vaccine. Participation will last from 1 month to 2 years after the participant's last vaccine.
Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing infectious diseases. Despite the success of vaccines in general, vaccines induce diminished antibody responses and lower protection in the elderly in particular. This could be explained by a defect in the early responses of an ageing immune system. A better understanding of the basic immunological mechanisms that mediate vaccine efficacy is incomplete. Such information is critical and could greatly decrease both the cost and the time to new vaccine development particularly for the geriatric population. In this trial, the investigators will study the immunologic differences of an FDA approved licensed influenza vaccine between a younger and an older group. Twenty two healthy volunteers between the age of 25-40 and forty four healthy volunteers above the age of 65 will be enrolled in the study. Each participant in the study will be given one flu shot. Blood work will be obtained prior to vaccination, one day, three days, seven days, fourteen days, as well as one month and six months after vaccination. Throughout the duration of the study, the participants will be monitored for safety.