2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: Diabetes is common among American Indian people and diabetic kidney disease is a common complication. Kidney disease caused by diabetes can lead to the need for kidney replacement, by dialysis or kidney transplant, and is also associated with higher risk of early death. A new diabetes medicine called empagliflozin may slow kidney disease from type 2 diabetes. Researchers want to learn if it protects the kidneys when used in very early stages of diabetic kidney disease. Objectives: To see if empaglifozin delays kidney disease development. Eligibility: Adults 18-64 years old who are at least half American Indian and have had type 2 diabetes at least 5 years Design: Participants will be screened with health questions, blood pressure, and blood and urine tests. Participants will have: * Medical history * Physical exam * Blood, urine, and stool samples taken * Scan of the kidneys and liver. Participants will lie on a table that slides into an MRI machine. They will hold their breath for up to 20 seconds and the MRI machine will take images of their kidneys and liver. They will then repeat this with a small device that vibrates on their side. * Kidney tests. A needle will be placed in a vein in each arm for 4 hours. Blood pressure will be taken. Participants will drink several quarts of water and urinate every 20 minutes. Urine and blood samples will be collected. Two liquids will be injected into their veins to measure kidney function. * Photos of the back of the eyes * Kidney biopsy. Participants will have a scan and get drugs to make them sleepy. Up to four very small pieces of kidney will be removed by needle. After the biopsy participants will be monitored for at least 4 hours. * Nerve tests Participants will take the study drug or placebo pill once a day. Participants will attend for tests every twelve weeks and have more extensive kidney function tests once a year. After 3 years, participants will have another kidney biopsy and then stop taking the study drug. They will have a final kidney function test 2 months later.
Background: The drug empagliflozin treats diabetes. It lowers blood sugar by increasing glucose the kidneys excrete. This increases levels of ketones formed in the blood. The body makes ketones when it does not have enough glucose for fuel. The brains of many people with age-related diseases like Alzheimer's do not use glucose well. Brain use of ketones might improve mental ability. We investigated how empagliflozin affects ketone levels, which could lead to ways to improve brain health as people age. Objectives: To study how taking empagliflozin affects systemic and brain metabolism including ketone levels in people without diabetes. Eligibility: Adults at least 55 years old without diabetes Design: After a screening Visit, eligible participants were admitted to the NIA Clinical Unit during Visits 1 (baseline), 2 (first dose) and 3 (last/14th dose). On each Visit, blood draws were performed and circulating metabolites and hormones were repeatedly measured over 34-hour periods. Using plasma from fasting state only, we isolated total and neuronal-origin extracellular vesicles to measure proteins of the IGF-1 and insulin signaling cascades. Furthermore, on each Visit, we performed magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure concentrations of a plethora of metabolites in the brain. Between Visits 2 and 3, participants were taking the drug at home. A continuous glucose monitoring device was placed to detect potential glucose fluctuations while at home. The study was concluded for participants after the end of Visit 3.