Clinical Trials

Pneumonia is a major public health problem for the elderly and is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death for this population, particularly for elderly nursing home residents. This planning grants seeks to establish a safe and effective dose of zinc supplementation with the goal to conduct a larger randomized clinical trial to study the effect of zinc supplementation in nursing home elderly with low serum zinc levels on the risk, antibiotic use, and duration of sick days with pneumonia. This project has significant potential to positively impact the health and quality of life in the elderly and to reduce the economic costs associated with their care.

DIVA is a pragmatic randomized clinical trial (RCT) to determine: among (P) preterm infants born 24-27 6/7 weeks gestation undergoing extubation from mechanical ventilation, whether (I) Non-invasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NIV-NAVA) (C) compared with Non-synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NS-NIPPV), will reduce the incidence of (O) extubation failure within (T) 5 days (120 hours) of extubation.

This observational trial studies whether respiratory viruses are the cause of lung disease (bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome [BOS] or graft-versus-host disease of the lung) and changes in lung function in patients who have received a donor stem cell transplant. Patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) are at higher risk of developing BOS. Studies have also shown that patients who had a respiratory viral illness early after their transplant are at higher risk of developing lung problems later on. Patients who are at risk and who already have BOS might benefit from being monitored more closely. Spirometry is a way of assessing a patient's lung function and is often used to diagnose lung disease. Spirometry measured at home with a simple handheld device may reduce the burden of performing pulmonary function testing at a facility and potentially help patients get their lung disease diagnosed and treated sooner.

The purpose of this study is to see if adding a drug called Regadenoson to the EVLP circulation reservoir during perfusion of marginal donor lungs will help increase the likelihood that the donor lungs will become usable for transplantation.

Are you in need of a heart or lung transplant or have you had one in the past 3 months? Have you undergone a lung or heart transplant in the past 3 months or are you a candidate for heart or lung transplant? Some people with advanced heart and lung disease have heart and lung transplants but these new organs are often rejected. When this happens, patients must have repeated biopsies, which are invasive and expensive. Researchers in this clinical study want to see if a blood test can predict organ rejection and take the place of biopsies. To participate, you must be 18 to 80 years old and be a candidate for heart or lung transplant or have had a heart or lung transplant no more than three months ago. The study is taking place in Bethesda, Maryland, at the NIH Clinical Center, as well as in Baltimore, Maryland, and Falls Church, Virginia.

Does your infant have a low platelet count? This study is investigating the safety and efficacy of platelet transfusion as a treatment for infants with thrombocytopenia. Researchers are looking at the positive effects of platelet transfusion against the negative effects, such as the release of inflammatory molecules and the formation of blood clots. To participate in this study, your child must be younger than 6 months old and have a low platelet count (less than 100 × 109/L). This study takes place in Boston, Massachusetts.

Does your infant have a low platelet count? This study investigates immature platelet counts as a marker for bleeding risk in newborns with thrombocytopenia, compared with platelet counts alone. Immature platelets are the most recently produced platelets and may be a better marker of platelet production. To participate in this study, you must have a newborn who is less than 32 weeks’ gestational age, has a birth weight greater than 500 grams, and has a platelet count less than 100 × 109/L. This study takes place in multiple locations in the United States, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Are you an adult with carotid artery stenosis (CAS)? Researchers in this study want to learn more about the plaque that causes atherosclerosis in patients with carotid artery stenosis. To be in the study, you must be at least 18 years old and will undergo a carotid positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging exam so researchers can lean more on the new PET imaging approach for risk prediction in these patients. The study is taking place Saint Louis, Missouri, and in Los Angeles, California.

Did you develop atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery? Did you develop atrial fibrillation after a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery? This study is looking at how well oral anticoagulation medicines work to prevent complications, such as blood clots and heart attack, for patients who experience post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF). This study is in multiple locations around the country.