15 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of chickenpox and shingles, but it also infects, becomes latent, and reactivates in nerve cells of the bowel to cause a gastrointestinal disorder ("enteric shingles"). The Investigators recently found that a chronic active VZV infection, a form of enteric shingles, is associated with achalasia, a severe disease in which the passage of food from esophagus to stomach is impaired. We now propose to eradicate VZV to determine whether its association with achalasia is causal, to identify the genetic basis behind VZV reactivation in the esophagus, and the relationship of mast cells to enteric shingles and abdominal pain.
To evaluate the effect of intramuscular RZV vaccine on VZV-specific skin TRM and circulating T-cells
Background: People who have cancer tend to get sick more often. This is in part because of the cancer treatments they get. Because of this, they may get shingles. Scientists had thought people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) should not get the shingles vaccine. Now there is a new shingles vaccine that is not live and cannot cause shingles. The new shingles vaccine may protect people with weak immune systems from getting shingles. This is currently shown to be safe to give people 50 years and older to prevent shingles. Researchers want to test how safe the vaccine is and how it works in people with CLL. Objective: To learn how a new shingles vaccine works in people who have chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Eligibility: Adults ages 18 years and older with CLL or SLL who are not being treated for CLL or who are getting certain treatments. Design: Participants will be screened with a chart review or through another protocol. Visit 1 At visit 1, participants may have a pregnancy test, blood test, or physical exam. Pregnant participants cannot be in the study. Eligible participants will get the shingles vaccine as an injection. Participants will receive a diary and write down any symptoms they have for 7 days after the vaccines. Visit 2 Visit 2 will be 3 months later. Participants will have blood taken and get another dose of the vaccine. Participants will receive a diary and write down any symptoms they have for 7 days after the vaccines. Visit 3 Visit 3 will be 3 months after visit 2. Participants will have blood taken. Participants may be able to get an additional vaccine the same day as the shingles vaccine.
The purpose of this study is to find the largest safe dose of GD2-T cells (also called iC9-GD2-CAR-VZV-CTLs) in combination with a varicella zoster vaccine and lymohodepleting chemotherapy. Additionally, we will learn what the side effects of this treatment are and to see whether this therapy might help patients with advanced osteosarcoma and neuroblastoma. Because there is no standard treatment for recurrent/refractory osteosarcoma and neuroblastoma at this time or because the currently used treatments do not work fully in all cases, patients are being asked to volunteer to take part in a gene transfer research study using special immune cells. The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way seems perfect for fighting cancers. This research study combines two different ways of fighting cancer: antibodies and T cells. Antibodies are types of proteins that protect the body from infectious diseases and possibly cancer. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill other cells, including cells infected with viruses and tumor cells. Both antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers. They have shown promise, but have not been strong enough to cure most patients. Investigators have found from previous research that a new gene can be put into T cells that will make them recognize cancer cells and kill them. Investigators now want to see if a new gene can be put in these cells that will let the T cells recognize and kill sarcoma and neuroblastoma cells. The new gene is called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and consists of an antibody called 14g2a that recognizes GD2, a protein that is found on sarcoma and neuroblastoma cells (GD2-CAR). In addition, it contains parts of the CD28 and OX40 genes which can stimulate T cells to make them live longer. Investigators have found that CAR-T cells can kill some of the tumor, but they don't last very long in the body and so the tumor eventually comes back. T cells that recognize the virus that causes chicken pox, varicella zoster virus (VZV), remain in the bloodstream for many years especially if they are stimulated or boosted by the VZV vaccine. Investigators will therefore insert the GD2-CAR gene into T cells that recognize VZV. These cells are called iC9-GD2-CAR-VZV-specific T cells but are referred to as GD2-T cells for simplicity.
In this study the investigators are trying to identify immune signatures that are associated with effective or poor vaccine responses to naturally-acquired herpes zoster virus and the zoster (shingles) vaccine, Zostavax.
After immunization, particularly in older persons, some people are protected from disease by a vaccine and others are not. The investigators believe that this variable response may be due to overproduction of molecules that suppress development of immunity (antibodies and cell mediated immunity). Normally, these molecules are produced to make sure that immunity is regulated in just the right way for the body as a whole, and to prevent autoimmune disease. However, with aging, the immune system may have difficulty in proper immune regulation. Over production of immunosuppressive molecules after vaccination may interfere with the effects of a vaccine. For example when elderly individuals are immunized against zoster with a licensed vaccine, Zostavax, the vaccine is effective in only about 50 to 60%. The investigators will compare blood levels of antibodies, cellular immunity, and immunosuppressive molecules in recipients of Zostavax to see if there is a correlation between development low immunity and high levels of immunosuppressive molecules.
To provide oral sorivudine ( BV-araU ) to pediatric HIV-infected patients with varicella-zoster viral disease who have failed or are intolerant of alternative therapy.
The purpose of this study is to see if the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine will be safe and if it can help prevent shingles in HIV-infected children who have already had chickenpox. VZV is the virus that causes chickenpox. If this virus is reactivated in the body, it can also cause shingles. Shingles is common in children with HIV who have had chickenpox, although it is usually not life-threatening. The VZV vaccine used in this study may be able to prevent HIV-positive children who have had chickenpox from developing shingles.
The objective of this study is to prevent reactivation of herpes zoster during the first year after transplant.
Background: * Infections caused by viruses are common causes of illnesses: the common cold, many ear infections, sore throats, chicken pox, and the flu are caused by different viruses. Usually, these illnesses last only few days or, at most, a few weeks. Some virus infections like influenza are cleared from the body, and others such as the chicken pox virus remain in the body in an inactive state. However, some people may become quite ill when they are infected with a particular virus, possibly because part of their immune system does not respond properly to fight the virus. * Researchers have discovered some reasons why a person may not be able to clear an infection caused by a virus. Some persons have changes in the genes that involve the immune system that result in the inability to properly control infection with a particular virus. Identifying changes in genes that involve the immune system should help scientists better understand how the immune system works to protect people from infection and may help develop new therapies. Objectives: * To study possible immune defects that may be linked to a particular severe viral infection. * To determine if identified immune defects are genetic in origin. Eligibility: * Individuals of any age who have or have had a diagnosis of a virus infection that physicians consider to be unusually severe, prolonged, or difficult to treat. * Relatives of the participants with a severe viral infection may also participate in the study. We will use their blood and/or skin specimens to try to determine if identified immune defects are hereditary. Design: * Prior to the study, the participant's doctor will give researchers the details of the infection, along with medical records for review. Eligible participants will be invited to the NIH Clinical Center for a full evaluation as an outpatient or inpatient. * At the Clinical Center, participants will be treated with the best available therapy for the particular viral infection, and researchers will monitor how the infection responds to the treatment. * Researchers will take intermittent blood samples and conduct other tests (such as skin biopsies) to evaluate the immune system. - During and after the illness, researchers will conduct follow-up visits to determine the course of infection and response to therapy.
The purpose of this observational research study is to study if patients with herpes zoster, also known as Shingles, have a higher risk of vascular dysfunction (problems with blood vessels, including stroke) and vascular dementia (problems with mental decline as a result of decreased blood flow to the brain) compared to patients without herpes zoster. Patients are evaluated based on the group they are assigned too: 1. Herpes Zoster (HZ) Group: individuals presenting with untreated herpes zoster. These participants will have 6 visits: * Day 1 = 1st day presenting to clinic with acute zoster * 7 days post zoster * 1 month after Day 1 * 3 months after Day 1 * 6 months after Day 1 * 12 months after Day 1 2. Control Group: individuals without herpes zoster o Day 1 (only 1 visit will be completed) This study does not have a study medication/device. Standard of care for all patients will be followed.
The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity (your immune system's reaction) of the study vaccine called Herpes Zoster IN001 mRNA Vaccine (IN001) in healthy participants who are between 50 and 69 years of age
The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of vaccine candidate CRV-101, investigational vaccine in healthy adult subjects in the United States.
The goal of this randomized observer-blind trial is to further refine the formulation of vaccines containing GSK1437173A in older adults by comparing the cellular and humoral immune responses and the safety profiles of the different formulations.
The purpose of this study is to find out whether Varivax is safe for use in children with kidney transplants and whether it protects children from serious infection. Varivax is a vaccine against varicella zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster). Healthy children are already receiving Varivax shots to protect them from chickenpox. Few children with kidney transplants have received Varivax because doctors have been concerned that Varivax might cause serious reactions in them. On the other hand, VZV infection can be a life-threatening disease in these children. For this reason, doctors ultimately want to learn whether Varivax might safely prevent VZV infections in children who have had kidney transplants.