4 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the brain in males. CTD causes intellectual disability that can be mild to severe. People with CTD may have seizures and behavioral issues. They may have slow growth and tire easily. CTD may sometimes be confused with autism or other disorders. Better diagnostics are needed. The study team in an NIH study noted that the faces of children with CTD can look similar. For this natural history study, an expert will examine photos of children with CTD. Any shared traits found might help to diagnose CTD. Objective: To look for shared facial features of children with CTD. Eligibility: Males aged 2 to 40 years old with CTD who were in study 17-CH-0020. Design: Some participants in study 17-CH-0020 had pictures taken of their faces. The NIH study team wants to share these photos with a colleague in Canada. This person is an expert at evaluating how genetic disorders affect people s bodies. Participant data collected during the study may also be sent to this expert. This data may include diagnostic images and results from lab tests. Some children did not have their pictures taken during study 17-CH-0020. Parents are asked to take pictures of these children and send them to the study team. These photos can be sent to a secure portal. The photos can also be taken in-person during a clinic visit. The photos may be printed in clinical study journals. But this is not required. Parents will be asked to sign a separate consent before the photos are published....
The objectives of this study are to illustrate the clinical, neuro/electrophysiologic, biochemical, and developmental status and progression of patients with Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD) and to evaluate the utility of performance-based and other measures in the CTD population.
Background: Neurocognitive disorders affect how the brain uses oxygen. They may affect mental development in children. These disorders can be studied with imaging scans that use radiation; however, these methods are not ideal for research on children. Two technologies-functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS)-use light to detect changes in brain activity. These methods are safer, and they can be used in a more relaxed setting. In this natural history study, researchers want to find out whether fNIRS and DCS can be a good way to study people with neurocognitive disorders. Objective: To find out whether fNIRS and DCS can be useful in measuring brain activity in people with neurocognitive disorders. Eligibility: People aged 6 months or older with neurocognitive disorders. These can include Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1); creatine transporter deficiency (CTD); Smith Lemli Opitz syndrome (SLOS); juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN3 disease); and Pheland-McDermid (PMS) syndrome. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants will have a physical exam. They will have tests of their memory and thinking. Participants will sit in a quiet room for the fNIRS and DCS tests. A snug cap (like a cloth swim cap) will be placed on their head. The cap has lights and sensors. Another sensor will be placed on their forehead. Participants will perform tasks on a computer. This testing will take 45 to 60 minutes. The tests will be repeated within 1 to 4 weeks. Participants will be asked to return for repeat tests 1 year later.
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.