81 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this study is to use multi-omics testing on samples collected from Mayo Clinic patients to build and expand on what has been learned about genomic data.
The purpose of this study is to build on our equitable, eight-year Tribal-academic partnership with the Ramapough Nation of northern NJ to advance tradition-centered farming practices and management strategies supporting sustainable food systems to relieve local food insecurity and nutritional deficiency, prevent disease and promote health. Furthermore, assessing the extent of environmental contamination, individual toxicant burdens and micronutrient levels and health disorders in Ramapough Tribal members of both sexes as outlined in the following: * Collect in-person/online survey information on demographics, health and food intake, nutrition, food security, and psychosocial stressors, and perform core anthropometric measurements (i.e., height, weight, body mass index, body circumference and blood pressure) at enrollment on Tribal members to inform health promotion strategies and community actions. * Determine individual-level contaminant burdens and micronutrient concentrations (e.g., iron, calcium, folate, vitamins) in urine and blood from surveyed (sub-aim 1a) Ramapough Turtle Clan volunteers. * Test soil, plants and surface water where Turtle Clan residents live, recreate and attend church in Ringwood, NJ using a community-based, citizen scientist approach.
The goal of this clinical trial is to test a prototype of a new educational game about environmental health literacy with middle school age youth. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does playing the game increase knowledge about environmental health? * Does playing the game improve environmental health literacy? * Does playing the game increase interest and confidence in science? Participants will be asked to: * Take a survey at the beginning of the study * Play the game for a minimum of 50 minutes * Take a survey at the end of the study
Observational, within subject study design with 1 pre and 2 post-fire exposure biomarker samples collected to assess exposure to toxicants from combustion emissions related to fighting a structural fire.
The goal of this study is to examine what effect real-time feedback on particulate matter (PM) air pollution levels has on risk recognition and behavior. The hypothesis is that real-time exposure feedback will change perceptions of risk and increase behaviors that avoid exposure to environmental risks. At least one representative household member in participating households will complete a questionnaire to fully understand environmental concerns, risk perceptions, and related behaviors. Half of the households will have PM monitors that continuously display real-time concentrations and an indication of the hazard level. The other participants will have the same device but it will only display the date and time. All participants will then be surveyed again: (a) immediately after sampling is complete (i.e., when the devices are removed from the home), (b) after 3 months and, (c) after 6 months. The goal of repeated surveys is to determine changing understanding of risks, how participating in research and/or receiving real-time exposure data may have changed participant behavior, and what concerns they continue to have. The questionnaire will include questions with categorical and/or quantitative answers (e.g., frequency of specific behaviors) so that changes in risk perception and behavior can be effectively analyzed.
Background: Environmental exposures like pollution, diet, and stress can help cause human diseases, or make them worse. Researchers want to better understand how injury and inflammation are caused by these exposures. They want to collect biological and environmental samples and other data. They may use the samples to measure a range of factors, like hormones, toxins, and chemicals. This will help them improve their studies. Objective: To identify and understand how environmental exposures contribute to human disease. Eligibility: Healthy adults ages 18 and older Design: Participants will be screened with questions about their health history, demographics, and medicines they take. Participants may give blood, hair, stool, saliva, and/or urine samples. They may have a skin punch biopsy to collect skin cells. They may give fingernail or toenail clippings. They may give a sample of exhaled breath. Participants may give a sputum sample. They will inhale a saline mist and cough mucus into a cup. Participants may have their nasal passages brushed, scraped, or washed. Participants may give cheek cell samples. They will swish mouthwash and spit it into a cup. Participants who produce sperm may give samples. Participants may have bronchoscopy to collect fluid. A saline solution will be put into their lung and then suctioned out, washing areas of the lung. Participants may have a pelvic or transvaginal ultrasound. They may have lung function tests. Participants may collect household dust, urine, or stool at home. Participants will complete surveys about their health, diet, and exposures. Participation will last for one or more study visits. Participants may be contacted in the future to take part in other studies.
This research study is being conducted to find out whether changes in household and personal behavior aimed at reducing exposure to environmental chemicals in dust (increased house dust removal efforts/cleaning and hand washing) and consumer products (increased us of personal care and beauty products that are free of chemicals including phthalates, parabens, and phenols) results in lower exposure to environmental chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals including phthalates, parabens and phenols. These chemicals may have harmful health effects, as they can interfere with normal functions of the body. This study will also assess changes in breast tissue composition to understand the role of environmental exposures in breast cancer risk.
The proposed research is particularly relevant to the National ALS Registry and public environmental health issues because it addresses the potential environmental causes of sporadic ALS. The research will develop an ALS surveillance program in Ohio that can be compared with the national and State-Metro Surveillance Programs of the National ALS Registry, and novel methodologies to determine the role of the cyanobacterial toxin, BMAA (beta-methylamino-L-alanine), and other environmental toxins/toxicants as risk factors for ALS. This work will advance the mission of the Centers for Disease Control Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC ATSDR) National ALS Registry by offering data on ALS cases in Ohio that address public health concerns over the effects of chronic exposure to cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie.
Metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes are modern day epidemics. Early life exposure to an adverse developmental environment, including environmental toxins, are linked to increased susceptibility to obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Although the mechanisms underlying the fetal origins of metabolic disease are poorly understood, strong evidence suggests that alterations in the epigenome play a critical role in this process. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that intrauterine exposure to benzo\[a\]pyrene leads to epigenetic changes which will have functional consequences and may be a marker for, or may contribute to, increased susceptibility to adverse outcomes in childhood including increased adiposity and the subsequent development of obesity, metabolic syndrome or diabetes. The goals of this proposal are to: 1) determine benzo\[a\]pyrene levels in umbilical cord blood of newborns, 2) determine whether benzo\[a\]pyrene exposure during pregnancy correlates with early onset of obesity and metabolic disease by examining the children at 12 and 24 months of age, 3) determine whether in utero benzo\[a\]pyrene exposure programs metabolic disease through alterations in DNA methylation and gene expression, and 4) determine the plasticity of the DNA methylation patterns in the same offspring at 12 months of age. The long-term goal of this project is to define biomarkers that identify neonates at "high-risk" for diminished attainment of full health potential, who can then be targeted for preventative measures.
This laboratory study is looking at genetic mutations and environmental exposure in young patients with retinoblastoma and in their parents and young healthy unrelated volunteers. Gathering information about gene mutations and environmental exposure may help doctors learn more about the causes of retinoblastoma in young patients.
The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized that organophosphorus pesticides require close regulation and continued monitoring for human health effects and some (e.g chlorpyrifos) have been phased-out from the consumer market due to the special risk that it posed for children. There is growing evidence in support of the association between pesticide exposure and childhood leukemia. Studies of pesticides and their association with childhood cancer have been limited by study designs, self-reporting and lack of biological measurements. While several large studies in California found little evidence of an association between agricultural pesticide use and childhood leukemia, these results are in contrast with the associations observed with household exposures to pesticides. The real association may depend on timing of exposure, type of pesticide, dose and pathway of exposure. Furthermore, some persons may be more susceptible to the effects of specific pesticides due to inherited mutations in their detoxification pathways. We are conducting a pilot study to test the hypothesis that environmental exposure to pesticides in pregnancy or during the neonatal period, together with genetic susceptibility may lead to childhood ALL or brain cancer. The study is a multicenter, case-control study, based on collaboration between clinical researchers and basic science research to evaluate the risk for childhood cancer in relation to measured levels of pesticides (and their metabolites) and genetic polymorphisms. Biomarkers will be used to examine the risks of chronic low-dose exposures, and to characterize relationships between specific pesticides, childhood cancer and genetic susceptibility. Hypothesis: Interaction between environmental factors (pesticides) and maternal or child genetic polymorphisms may lead to childhood cancer.
Asthma is one of the most common childhood diseases. It is chronic and often severely disabling. The amount of nitric oxide that is exhaled while breathing increases with airway inflammation, a symptom of asthma. This study will examine the results from a previous study, the Cincinnati Asthma Prevention (CAP) study, to evaluate the effects of environmental and genetic factors on exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels and to determine the relationship between eNO and asthma severity.
Our data indicate that environmental exposure to the heavy metal lead are more widespread than currently appreciated and that such exposures are associated with the production of human male subfertility. Lead's effects are observed in male partners of infertile couples attending an IVF clinical, in men acting as semen donors in an artificial insemination program and in men representative of the general public. Our goal is to identify the mechanism(s) underlying lead's anti-fertility action.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a personalized biomonitoring report-back and educational intervention in child-bearing aged men and women can reduce endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) measured in urine, increase participants' understanding of environmental health (environmental health literacy; EHL), increase their readiness and behaviors to reduce exposures, and improve their well-being. The intervention includes EDC testing and exposure report-back, a self-directed online interactive curriculum with access to live coaches, and an online forum. The investigators hypothesize that the intervention will be more effective than EDC testing and report-back alone at reducing EDC exposures (behavior change and metabolite concentrations), as well as increasing EHL, readiness to reduce exposures, and well-being.
This project will evaluate new approaches to quantify and reduce chemical exposures from common building materials, with an emphasis on plastic additives, pesticides, flame retardants and lead in addition to other environmental contaminants. The objective of this project is to develop methods to quantify and reduce chemical exposures from the home environment using approaches that are adaptable and customizable to individuals and households. To achieve this goal investigators will: 1) Identify the types of building materials and housing characteristics associated with higher levels of exposure to different classes of contaminants; 2) Assess the effectiveness of a simple robotic vacuuming intervention for reducing exposure to a range of indoor contaminants; and 3) Evaluate a new wearable silicone wristband for monitoring exposure to lead and other metals.
The overall goal of this study is to understand how common conditions in childhood develop and if by providing specific health education and resources to parents/caregivers we can promote healthy development. This study will provide information and instruction on several aspects of infant care including, sleep, nutrition, building a healthy relationship with your baby, and healthy screen time use.
Personal exposure to air pollution results from the interaction of individual time-activity patterns with levels of air pollution that vary over time and space. The increasing use of personal monitors capable of measuring geo-located and real-time air pollution in epidemiologic studies requires novel human subject considerations. Reporting individual exposure data back to participants is considered best practice in environmental health research using biomonitoring data and is beneficial to both study participants and researchers. The investigators believe that providing individual results of personal air monitoring may be more informative than biomonitoring data given the potential to increase participants' awareness of their exposure, identify specific locations and times of elevated exposures, and inform behavioral changes to decrease exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes.
The investigators pilot test two intervention strategies to increase green space use- place-based and person-based, as well as evaluate the dose-response relationship between green space use and health.
Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics for \[14C\]-benzo\[a\]pyrene (\[14C\]-BaP) and metabolites in plasma and urine over 48 hours following a 50 ng dose (5.4 nCi) alone, following 7 days' consumption of Brussels sprouts, and following 7 days' consumption of a supplement containing 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM).
Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics for \[14C\]-benzo\[a\]pyrene (\[14C\]-BaP) and metabolites in plasma and urine over 48 hours following a 50 ng dose (5.4 nCi) alone or with 1250 ng phenanthrene.
The National Institutes of Health has encouraged research examining effects of BPA, yet evidence in humans evaluating the effects of BPA on insulin and glucose concentrations remains exclusively associative in nature. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to determine whether an acute oral ingestion of BPA impacts insulin and glucose concentrations, and other endocrine factors (Pro-insulin, C-Peptide, Estrogen, triglycerides). Findings from this pilot study will inform public health recommendations for food packaging and provide much needed experimental evidence as to whether BPA poses any public health risk.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a 3-week intervention reduces urinary Bisphenol A (BPA) in women with obesity
To assess the efficacy of the two SunSmart intervention videos to change sun protection attitudes and behaviors
Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics for \[14C\]-benzo\[a\]pyrene (\[14C\]-BaP) and metabolites in plasma and urine over 48 hours following 4 oral doses of 25, 50, 10 and 250 ng (2.7-27 nCi).
To investigate if low level ozone exposure will cause measurable inflammation in nasal cells.
Dermal transfer efficiency has been defined as the amount of material that moves from one surface to another following contact. The investigators propose to measure dermal transfer efficiency for the following pathways: (1) object to skin, (2) skin to skin, (3) skin to mouth, (4) clothing to skin, (5) gloves to skin, and (6) air to skin. First, the quantitative dermal transfer will be measured for the two selected test substances (lead, Tinopal) for each of these six pathways. The relative quantities of dermal transfer will also then be compared between the different transfer pathways (e.g., is skin to skin transfer greater or less than clothing to skin transfer?). And second, the pattern of transfer will be characterized semi-quantitatively (e.g., does dermal transfer occur consistently and evenly to the skin from different reservoirs?).
The purpose of this protocol is to assess whether epigenetic factors in healthy individuals make a person more or less responsive to lung inflammation following ozone exposures.
Purpose: The purpose of this protocol is to understand how social factors such as psychosocial stress may modify how people respond to air pollution. Ultimately this will help us understand health disparities from poor air quality. Participants: Up to 40 healthy adults,18-33 years old with different perception of stress will participate and complete this study. Procedures (methods): Subjects will be exposed to clean air and to ozone ( 300ppb) for 2 hours in a controlled environment chamber. Cardiac, vascular, pulmonary and cognitive function will be evaluated pre, immediately post and 18 hr post exposure. The primary endpoint will be Heart Rate Variability . Secondary endpoints will include pulmonary function, analysis of blood clotting/coagulation factors, biomarkers of stress, cognitive function, radial artery pulse wave measurements and analysis of soluble factors present in plasma.
Purpose: The purpose of this protocol is to understand how individuals respond to the air pollutant ozone at elevated temperatures. Ultimately, this will help us understand what the risks from poor air quality are during a heat wave. Participants: We will recruit up to 30 healthy adults, 18-55 years old, to participate in this study. Procedures (methods): Subjects will be exposed to clean air and to 0.3 ppm of ozone for 2 hours with intermittent exercise in a controlled environment chamber. For each exposure the temperature in the chamber will be between 31-34oC (88-93 oF). Because the aim of the study is to mimic high exposure during a heat wave, we will perform exposures only on days when mean ambient temperatures was less than 24 oC in Chapel Hill on the previous day. Primary endpoints will include spirometry and Heart Rate Variability monitoring. Secondary endpoints will include analysis of blood clotting/coagulation factors, and analysis of soluble factors present in plasma.
The research plan proposes translational studies in relevant animal models and human subjects in order to identify host (genetic) susceptibility factors that confer vulnerability to the prototypal air pollutant, ozone. The results will have significant impact upon, and aid in, understanding mechanisms regulating pro-oxidant lung injury, production and secretion of airway mucins, and clearance of respiratory mucus, and adverse health effects, that occur during and following exposure to airborne respiratory irritants.