21 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: - Central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are primary targets for the action of nicotine. In addition to being involved in tobacco dependence, they are also involved in a variety of brain disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Researchers are interested in developing better ways to study the action of nAChRs to improve treatments for smoking cessation and other problems affected by these receptors. These new study methods may involve different approaches to positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, which can show brain activity related to nAChRs. Objectives: - To evaluate appropriate and useful doses of radiotracers used in PET scanning of nAChRs in the brains of nonsmokers/former smokers, light smokers, and heavy smokers. Eligibility: - Individuals between 18 and 50 years of age who fall into one of the following groups: (1) nonsmokers or former smokers who have not smoked for the past 2 years, (2) light/situational smokers, or (3) heavy smokers (at least 15 cigarettes/day for the past 2 years). Design: * Each participant will undergo up to three PET studies, given approximately1 month apart. Each study will take approximately 8 hours to complete. * Participants will provide urine and breath samples before the study and at the start of the study, which will be tested for chemicals that may interfere with the study. * Depending on the study, some of the smoking participants may receive a nicotine patch to wear during the PET scan. * On the day of the study, participants will receive a dose of a radiotracer (a drug used in PET scanning) given either as a single injection or as an injection followed by a continuous infusion, and will have a series of PET scans over the next 7 hours and provide blood samples during that time. * Participants will return for a follow-up visit 1 month after the end of the study.
This study compares the health effects of dermal and inhalational exposure to thirdhand cigarette smoke to those of inhalational exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke in healthy, adult nonsmokers. Our hypothesis is that dermal exposure increases exposure to the tobacco specific carcinogen, NNK and may affect both endothelial function and epidermal integrity.
Primary objective is to evaluate the influence of matrix on the bioavailability of key phytochemical constituents in fruits and their subsequent effect on chronic disease risk factors.
The purpose of this study is to see how adding avocado to a breakfast meal affects blood sugar control and signals of hunger and fullness after eating. The investigators will test the effects of 3 breakfast meals on blood sugar control and signals of hunger and fullness after eating: 1. Whole-wheat bread and strawberry jam 2. Whole-wheat bread, strawberry jam, and avocado 3. Whole-wheat bread and strawberry jam (meal enriched with fat and fiber to mimic that of an avocado) Participants will undergo 3 test periods, each separated by a week. Each test period consists of one day with set meals that the investigators will provide (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and then the next morning, participants will eat a breakfast meal and have blood drawn several times over 4 hours.
A research study designed to examine amphetamine-induced dopamine release using the PET imaging agent \[11C\]PHNO in tobacco smokers while currently smoking and during acute withdrawal and in nonsmokers. Twenty healthy men and women tobacco smokers and twenty healthy nonsmokers will be recruited. Each subject will participate in 1 MRI and up to 2 \[11C\]PHNO PET scans. On the study day subjects will participate in two \[11C\]PHNO scans (ideally, the two PET scans will be carried out in the same day). Three hours before the second PET scan, amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg, PO) will be administered. In smokers, the scan will occur at 10-21 days of smoking abstinence.
The purpose of this research study is to test the ability of Mucinex, an oral, over-the-counter, FDA approved expectorant) to stimulate the clearance of inhaled particles from the subject's lungs (called "mucociliary clearance"). The study will also monitor the metabolism of the drug by the subject's body.
This aim will examine the acute and subacute exposures to electronic cigarette (EC) vapor generated from e-liquids without nicotine (NFEC) on life-time non smokers subjects by measuring changes in nasal ion transport and TGF-β levels. Nasal ion transport will be assessed by nasal potential difference (NPD). Tumor growth factor (TGF)-β levels (mRNA and protein by ELISA) will be assessed on nasal cells and lavages.
This is an open-label, non-randomized, single dose, pharmacokinetic study in 36 healthy adult male and female volunteers, including 18 smokers and 18 non-smokers. All subjects will be administered a single inhaled dose of Staccato alprazolam 1 mg via hand-held inhaler. Blood samples will be drawn for pharmacokinetic analysis. Eligible subjects are admitted to Phase 1 unit for up to 48 hours. Subjects will receive a post-study safety phone call 14 days(± 2 days) after dosing.
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate allergen-induced nasal airway inflammation following nasal application of Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), or house dust mite, extract in e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers.
This randomized clinical trial studies the effects of black raspberry compounds (phytochemicals) on the bacteria in the mouth (oral microbiome) of current smokers and non-smokers. The oral microbiome protects the body from pathogenic bacteria. Smoking alters the oral microbiome and may increase the susceptibility to cancer by modulating normal host-bacteria interactions. Black raspberry phytochemicals may protect the oral microbiome of smokers and may lower their risk of developing oral cancer.
This study is designed as a 2-part, open-label study to assess the effect of pracinostat with itraconazole (part 1) and pracinostat with ciprofloxacin (part 2) on the bioavailability of pracinostat. Secondarily to evaluate the safety and tolerability of pracinostat administered with itraconazole or ciprofloxacin.
Open label study of Pracinostat will be tested to assess the effect of food on the single-dose pharmacokinetics in healthy non-smoking and smoking adult subjects under fasted and fed conditions.
Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, commonly known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema). Despite this clear link, only 15-20% of smokers develop COPD suggesting that genetic factors affect the lung's susceptibility to the stress of cigarette smoke. The cells lining the airways (epithelium) and cells that help defend the lung (alveolar macrophages) of smokers develop gene expression changes that are different from that of nonsmokers. In the investigators' previous studies they have demonstrated that there are greater than 200 genes that are responsive to cigarette smoke in these cells. But the investigators do not know whether the gene expression is static or changes as a function of time. Genes that show significant changes over time may be relevant to the progression of the disease. Even though quitting smoking reduces the rate at which the lungs decline, many-smokers still go on to develop COPD. This study will provide insights into the natural history of smoking-related gene expression of the lung cells in health and disease.
This study will investigate the effect of smoking on the metabolism of a single oral dose of GW876008.
The purpose of this study is to obtain a database of brain function from a sample of non-smokers while they do tasks in an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine. Our hypothesis is that among nonsmokers, reactivity to smoking cues will be highly similar to control cues but may vary as a function of attitudes toward smoking and/or family history of smoking. We also hypothesize that brain activity during the n-back task will be more similar to data collected during this task when smokers are not abstinent.
This is an unblinded pilot study of an environmental exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke in one group of healthy nonsmokers.
Early changes associated with the development of smoking-induced diseases, e.g., COPD and lung cancer (the two commonest causes of death in U.S.) are often characterized by abnormal airway epithelial differentiation. Airway basal cells (BC) are stem/progenitor cells necessary for generation of differentiated airway epithelium. Based on our preliminary observations that epidermal growth factor receptor, known to regulate airway epithelial differentiation, is enriched in BC and its ligand EGF is induced by smoking, we hypothesized that smoking-induced EGF alters the ability of BC to form normally differentiated airway epithelium. To test this, airway BC will be purified using a cell-culture method established in our laboratory and responses to EGF will be analyzed using genome-wide microarrays and an in vitro air-liquid interface model of airway epithelial differentiation.
Cigarette smoking evokes major changes in the biology of the airway epithelium, the cell population that takes the brunt of the stress of cigarette smoke and the cell population central to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. The focus of this study is to identify the differences that two popular alternative nicotine delivery strategies, shisha and electronic cigarettes, have on the airway epithelium compared to cigarette smoking. We hypothesize that both alternative nicotine delivery strategies disorder airway epithelial biology, but in different ways than does cigarette smoking.
The purpose of this study is to obtain biologic materials from the blood, airways and/or urine of normal individuals and individuals with lung disease. The normal are used to establish a set of normal ranges for various parameters. These provide control information when compared to individuals with various pulmonary diseases, and will help in understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of various lung diseases. The underlying hypothesis is that the pathologic morphological changes in the airway epithelium must be preceded by changes in the gene expression pattern of the airway epithelium and potentially in macrophages.
The purpose of this study is to see how the brain differs between smoking regularly and after not smoking for 24 hours. The investigators will be using an MRI machine to get the information from adult smokers and non-smokers while they lie in the scanner with their eyes closed. Smokers will be scanned when they have not smoked for 24 hrs and shortly after smoking. It is our hypothesis that brain activity will be altered after not smoking for 24 hours.
The purpose of this study is to obtain biologic materials from the blood and lungs of normal individuals to establish a set of normal range for various parameters. These will provide important information when applied to individuals with various pulmonary diseases, and will help in understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of various lung diseases.