3 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: Pyrimidine and purine metabolism disorders (DPPMs) affect how the body metabolizes chemicals called pyrimidines and purines. DPPMs can cause dysfunctions throughout the body, especially in the brain, blood, kidneys, and immune system. People with DPPMs might have no symptoms, mild symptoms, or they may have severe, chronic symptoms, that can be fatal. DPPMs are not well understood, and researchers want to learn more about what causes them and how to treat them. Objective: To learn more about factors that affect DPPMs by comparing test results from affected, uaffected family members, and healthy people. Eligibility: Three types of participants are needed: people aged 1 month and older with DPPMs; their family members who do not have DPPMs; and healthy volunteers. Design: Participants with DPPMs will come to the clinic once a year; some may be asked to come more often. At each visit, all affected participants will have a physical exam and give samples of blood, urine, saliva, and stool. Depending on their symptoms, they may also have other procedures, such as: Swabs of their skin and inside the mouth. Tests of their heart, kidney, brain, and nerve function. Questionnaires about what they eat. Dental exams, and exams of their hearing and vision. Tests of their learning ability. Monitoring of their physical activity. Imaging scans. Photographs of their face and body. These tests may be spread over up to 7 days. Affected participants may remain in the study indefinitely if they wish to. Healthy volunteers and family members will have 1 study visit. They will have a physical exam and may be asked to give blood, urine, saliva, and stool samples.
The purpose of this study is to determine the natural history of the hereditary forms of nephrolithiasis and chronic kidney disease (CKD), primary hyperoxaluria (PH), cystinuria, Dent disease and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency (APRTd) and acquired enteric hyperoxaluria (EH). The investigator will measure blood and urinary markers of inflammation and determine relationship to the disease course. Cross-comparisons among the disorders will allow us to better evaluate mechanisms of renal dysfunction in these disorders.
Early Check provides voluntary screening of newborns for a selected panel of conditions. The study has three main objectives: 1) develop and implement an approach to identify affected infants, 2) address the impact on infants and families who screen positive, and 3) evaluate the Early Check program. The Early Check screening will lead to earlier identification of newborns with rare health conditions in addition to providing important data on the implementation of this model program. Early diagnosis may result in health and development benefits for the newborns. Infants who have newborn screening in North Carolina will be eligible to participate, equating to over 120,000 eligible infants a year. Over 95% of participants are expected to screen negative. Newborns who screen positive and their parents are invited to additional research activities and services. Parents can enroll eligible newborns on the Early Check electronic Research Portal. Screening tests are conducted on residual blood from existing newborn screening dried blood spots. Confirmatory testing is provided free-of-charge for infants who screen positive, and carrier testing is provided to mothers of infants with fragile X. Affected newborns have a physical and developmental evaluation. Their parents have genetic counseling and are invited to participate in surveys and interviews. Ongoing evaluation of the program includes additional parent interviews.