9 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this research study is to investigate how and why the loss of muscle mass occurs with aging. Tissue collected from young subjects will be compared to previously collected tissue from elderly subjects, as well as previously collected data on muscle function/mass to further investigate cellular and molecular pathways that have recently been shown to be important for the aging process in muscle. The Principal Investigator (PI) and the study team will look for specific proteins (called biomarkers) that can be present in the muscle tissue in various amounts in different individuals. This study will increase the investigators understanding of the processes of muscle atrophy (loss of mass) and functional loss at older age and will help to find new treatments and interventions aimed at improving the quality of life and independence of America's rapidly expanding elderly population.
The purpose of this study is to determine the benefits of negative work progressive resistance exercise (PRE) for the conservative management of sarcopenia in older male Veterans at the DC VAMC. Efficacy will be assessed by examining post-exercise changes in metabolic and inflammatory markers, muscle morphology, strength, and functional status.
This study will examine differences in a 12 week high-intensity interval training regimen. The Total Body HIIT program incorporates a resistance (circuit) and an anaerobic (bike) component in older adults. The specific objectives focus on examining cardiovascular endurance, neuromuscular function, and muscle architecture.
The central hypothesis is that higher protein intake and a neutralizing alkaline salt supplement will improve muscle performance and mass, compared to their respective placebos, in older men and postmenopausal women.
Frailty is a health state related to the aging process in which multiple body systems gradually lose their built-in reserves. It is a medical condition of reduced function in older adults which is associated with increased risks of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, admission to hospital, or need for long-term care. Currently, there is no specific medical treatment of frailty. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated cells that self-replicated, and some may change into a particular cell type. These cells go to areas of injury due to signals released by injured cells. Upon reaching, the target tissue, MSCs repair injury by releasing growth factors and immune modulators to assist in the body's repair process. This initial study will assess the practicability of using MSCs for age-related frailty and provide information for planning a future full study of MSCs for maximizing Veteran's functional independence.
This study is designed to evaluate specific factors in mitochondria that may precipitate premature aging and physical weakness in HIV patients. Angiotensin receptors 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R) are found in virtually every cell type. This study will evaluate how the relationships among these receptors in immune and skeletal muscle cells change with HIV, and how these changes might trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, declines in muscle strength, and cellular decline in people living with HIV.
This pilot study will aid the development of a sonographic screening method used to obtain proxy measures of LBM and estimates of muscle composition that relate to Intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance. Typically, age-related muscle loss is not assessed in older adults until they began to show signs of trouble managing their own lives independently. In addition to the loss of independence that is typically seen with diminished muscle mass and function (sarcopenia), age-related changes in lean body mass can have negative effects on insulin sensitivity. The investigators central hypothesis is that the muscle characteristics derived from ultrasound (US) will be significantly associated with estimates of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) LBM, CT scan measures of IMAT, estimates of insulin homeostasis, and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Men and women lose muscle mass and strength with age. Loss of muscle mass and strength is accompanied by a loss of muscle function which can lead to diminished quality of life and more importantly can lead to serious fall requiring medical treatment. The investigators hypothesize that the combined supplements of Calcium-HMB and Vitamin D will lead to decreased falls and to improved quality of life (QOL) for older adults. The investigators further hypothesize that the addition of a modest exercise regimen to these supplements will enhance the synergistic effects of both Calcium-HMB and Vitamin D. Subjects will consume the dietary supplement 2 times per day for 12 months. Tests will consist of the following: a) strength of subjects' legs and elbow by Isokinetic Dynamometer; b) body composition; c) hand-grip strength by hand-grip dynamometer; d) functional mobility, balance and agility (Get-Up and Get-Up-and-Go tests); e) filling out questionnaires; and g) having blood drawn for biochemical measurements. Testing will be performed at the baseline (0 months) and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
The purpose of the study is to * Test the effect of a dietary supplement beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) with and without Vitamin D to prevent and reverse the losses of muscular strength and functionality in older adults. The second aim of the study is to determine if HMB and Vitamin D improves markers of bone turnover in adults aged 60 plus years. HMB is a dietary supplement that comes from the amino acid leucine. HMB is found in foods and is made in your body after you eat protein (meat). Subjects will be randomized to one of four dietary supplement groups and will participate in a 3-day per week exercise program for 12 weeks. Each exercise day will be about 60 minutes long consisting of strength training exercises utilizing Theraband® stretch cords and jumping. Subjects will consume the dietary supplement 2 times per day for 12 weeks. Tests will consist of the following: * Measuring the strength of subjects' legs by using a Isokinetic Dynamometer * Measuring body composition * Measuring hand-grip strength using a hand-grip dynamometer * Measuring functional mobility, balance and agility by the time it takes for you to rise from a chair, walk around a cone 8 feet in front of the chair and return to the chair (Up-\&-Go Test * Filling out questionnaires and having blood drawn for biochemical measurements. Testing will be performed at the beginning and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.