10 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The main hypothesis of this study is that there will be a significant increase of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12) in the stool of healthy humans following daily consumption of a probiotic supplement containing these specific strains of probiotic bacteria.
This study is aimed at understanding the impact of gut microbiota on efficacy of cancer therapies, in particular checkpoint inhibitors, and using the resulting information to design microbial immunotherapies. Although animal models are of use to determine the influences of gut and other microbiota on cancer treatment modalities, they are limited due to differences between mouse and human physiology and immunology, as well as the inherent differences in gut microbial populations between the two mammalian organisms. Therefore, samples obtained as donations from human subjects undergoing cancer treatment are of great value for the identification and determination of bacteria and their metabolic processes that are involved in the successful cure and remission of cancer by checkpoint inhibitor therapies. The objective of this study is to collect 3 samples each of blood, urine, and stool in subjects with cancer. This is a non-interventional, 2 site study in 100 people who are undergoing any type of cancer immunotherapy. Subjects who meet the entry criteria will provide 5 samples each of blood, urine, and stool over a 12-month period.
This is an open-label, one-arm, one-time-point pilot assessing the intra- and inter-group variation of gut microbiome collection methods and storage conditions using metagenomic sequencing for analysis. This study recruited 6 adult volunteers collecting 12 fecal samples from one bowel movement. Subjects were given detailed instructions as to collect and store feces samples into the 4 different collection and preservation methods and return samples for metagenomic analysis.
Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are disorders of blood stem cells that can develop into blood cancers. Treatment options are limited. To find better treatments, researchers need to better understand how MDS develops. To do that, they must be able to compare biospecimens from people with the disease to those of healthy people. Objective: This study will create a database of biospecimens collected from healthy volunteers. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 and older. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood and urine tests. Up to 5 types of samples will be collected on 1 or more days within 1 month of screening: Blood: Blood will be drawn by inserting a needle into a vein. Saliva: Participants will scrape the insides of their cheeks with a brush. Stool: Participants will be given a container to collect stool at home. They will use a prepaid envelope to mail in the sample. Bone marrow: A sample of the soft tissue inside the bones will be drawn out. The area to be biopsied, usually the lower back, will be numbed. A needle will be inserted through a small cut to remove the sample. Participants' pain will be monitored; additional numbing medicine may be used. Skin: A piece of skin about 1/6 of an inch across will be cut away. Stitches may be used to close the wound. Participants will return to the clinic to have the stitches removed. Participants do not have to provide all of the samples listed. They will give each sample only once.
Background: - Bacteria and other micro-organisms in the intestines play important roles in immunity and other health conditions. As a result, these micro-organisms are likely to affect many health conditions, including several types of cancer. Because cancer and other diseases may affect the digestive system and the bacteria within it, fecal samples that are taken both before and after the onset of a disease may show important changes in the body and provide information about possible treatments. However, unlike repositories of blood and tissue samples, researchers do not have a repository of fecal specimens. Researchers are interested in determining whether standard collection procedures used for fecal occult blood testing can provide accurate information on micro-organisms in the intestine. Objectives: - To determine whether standard fecal occult blood testing procedures can provide accurate collections of fecal micro-organisms for research purposes. Eligibility: - Healthy volunteers at least 18 years of age. Design: * At the clinical center, participants will be provided with written and illustrated instructions for the collection procedures and a self-administered risk questionnaire. The questionnaire will assess the challenges of collecting fecal specimens and will collect data on major dietary restrictions (e.g., vegan, vegetarian, food allergies), medication use and major illnesses, knowledge of and past experience with fecal occult blood testing, colonoscopy and colon cancer, and the fecal collection devices. * Participants will be provided with a collection bag for the sample, 16 sample collection tubes, and a box with frozen gel packs. * On the morning of collection, participants will collect the fecal sample in the bag and use the collection tubes to obtain material from different parts of the stool. * The tubes will be sealed and placed in the box with the gel packs, and the participant will hand deliver the entire box to the clinical center. * Characteristics of the bacteria in the material will be measured by laboratories at the University of Maryland. * Statistical comparisons will determine how well the procedures worked.
This is a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind study to assess the effects of a postbiotic blend on exercise induced oxidative stress markers and exercise performance in healthy adult.
This study aims to investigate the impact of various healthy diets, specifically a modified plant-based Mediterranean diet, on the gut microbiome and overall well-being post-colonoscopy. The investigators hypothesize that certain diets can positively influence gut bacteria, reducing inflammation and enhancing metabolic signals. To explore this, they will utilize metagenomic testing on stool samples to analyze the DNA of gut microorganisms. Additionally, they will conduct immune profiling on serum samples and perform metabolomic analysis to comprehensively evaluate the diet-induced changes in immune response and metabolic pathways. This multi-faceted approach will help them understand how dietary changes affect the composition and function of the gut microbiome, immune function, and overall metabolism.
This study aims to test the hypothesis that a unique blend of resistant starches and fiber will promote gastrointestinal health, as measured by an increase in short-chain fatty acids and improvement in quality of life measures in conjunction with microbial community changes. This study specifically evaluates the impact on short-chain fatty acids and gut microbiota and the impact on quality of life from a resistant starch blend in healthy adult humans with occasional gastrointestinal distress.
Background: The Laboratory of Immune System Biology (LISB) works with other labs at the National Institutes of Health. They study how parts of living things come together to make a whole. LISB designs and improves research tests on human samples like blood and cells. In order to do its work, LISB needs to have a lot of these samples available. Objective: To collect biological specimens to use for designing and improving research tests. Specimens include blood, stool, saliva, and skin/mucosal swabs. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 3-80 Design: Participants will be screened with an interview about their general health and their medical history. They will have a physical exam and blood tests. If the results of the screening are normal, participants will be asked to give one or more of these samples: Blood will be drawn from an arm vein with a needle and syringe. Mucus and skin will be collected by rubbing the area with a cotton swab. The areas may include the top of the tongue, inside the cheek, nostrils, behind the ear, elbow pit, or vagina. Participants will spit into a tube to collect saliva. Participants will pass stool into a plastic container that fits in the toilet under the seat. They will get sampling kits and instructions. Over the next 5 years, if more samples are needed, participants will be contacted to set up another visit to the NIH. These visits will each take about 1 hour. About every 2 years, when participants come to NIH for a visit, extra blood will be collected. It will be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C.
Recent improvements in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, mortality, stage at diagnosis, and survival in the general U.S. population have been attributed to routine screening with prompt removal of polyps, early detection, and timely and appropriate treatment. American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) have not experienced improvements in CRC related outcomes and are significantly less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to receive recommended CRC screening. The purpose of this three-arm randomized controlled trial is to determine the efficacy of interventions designed to enhance CRC screening. The study also uses mixed methods to finalize the intervention and to determine promoters and barriers of screening. The study also conducts process evaluation to determine cost-effectiveness of the interventions, fidelity of study implementation, and to develop plans to sustain and scale-up the intervention model. The study will determine the efficacy of serially implemented interventions of graded intensity for increasing CRC screening using the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in accordance to recommended guidelines among average risk American Indians (AIs) aged 45-75 residing on reservations in rural Southwestern U.S. Serial implementation refers to offering routine screening, irrespective of response to an earlier invitation, in concordance with guidelines which recommend annual FIT testing between ages 45-75. The FIT is most appropriate because it is an approved, high sensitivity fecal occult blood test and is available at Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal health facilities where resources to provide screening colonoscopy are limited. The study is a collaborative effort between the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board (100% Indian-owned and operated), six Pueblo Tribes in rural Southwestern U.S., and the University of New Mexico. Findings from this research could lead to an immediate increase in CRC screening and ultimately reduce CRC burden among AIs, thus addressing national and tribal priorities of reducing CRC disparities among AIs.