Clinical Trials

The investigators propose to study the relationship between right ventricle (RV) steatosis and RV function, exercise capacity, and outcomes in humans with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to identify potential drivers of lipid accumulation.

The study is to investigate that the worsening orthostatic tachycardia and symptoms after glucose ingestion in POTS patients are due to a greater increase in splanchnic venous capacitance and excessive blood pooling during an orthostatic challenge.

Do you have a family history of high cholesterol? Researchers are studying whether a particular medication can lower cholesterol in people with a family history of high cholesterol. You may be able to participate if you are 18 to 69 years old, have not had a heart attack or stroke recently, and do not have uncontrolled high blood pressure. This study will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Investigators propose a randomized trial of smart texts versus usual care for 6 months. The Investigators will randomize 100 PAH patients to the mHealth intervention or usual care. The Investigators will test the effect of a text-based mHealth intervention on HRQOL in PAH using the PAH-specific emPHasis-10 questionnaire. The Investigators will also test the effect of an mHealth intervention on exercise capacity, measured by a supervised home-based 6MWD test. Finally, the Investigators will examine the effect of the intervention on time to clinical worsening (composite of PAH therapy escalation, PAH hospitalization, and death) one year after randomization.

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.

The purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence of scarring of the heart (cardiac fibrosis) and inflammation in those with perinatally acquired Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection compared to people not infected with HIV. The information learned from this research may help the investigator to better understand the link between cardiac fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction and inflammation in those with perinatally acquired HIV infection compared to the uninfected.

This is an observational - data and specimen collection study. There have been increasing reports of vaping-induced lung injury, including severe lung injury and rare cases of death. The mechanism by which vaping contributes to lung injury in susceptible persons is unknown, as is impact on chronic lung disease. The investigators aim to identify individuals with chronic electronic nicotine delivery device (ENDD) exposure and matched controls within our ongoing cohort of HIV+ and HIV-uninfected individuals, collect PFT data, bank respiratory and stool samples and collect clinical data for studies of clinical risk, inflammation, biomarkers, and the microbiome in the identification and modification of risk of progression to lung injury or chronic pulmonary disease.

Are you an adult who gets little exercise and sits a lot every day? If you sit for more than 8 hours a day and exercise less than 90 minutes per week, this study may interest you. Researchers want to see if walking or standing breaks during long sitting periods can make your heart healthier. To take part in this study, you must be 36 to 55 years old. You also should be able to walk four blocks and go up two flights of stairs. The study is taking place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The purpose of this study is to non-invasively characterize the fibrotic consequences of single ventricle physiology, its possible solution and effect on lymphatics. This project investigates the response to acute imposition of Fontan hemodynamics by examining the interrelationship between liver and cardiac fibrosis/dysfunction and lymphatic congestion along with a pilot trial of the antifibrotic agent, spironolactone, to prevent these consequences and to determine if MRI can discern these differences. The combination of serum biomarkers and MRI form a powerful non-invasive tool in putting together this complicated web of dysfunction.

The purpose of this study is to compare reintubation rates and outcomes of patients treated with high-flow nasal canula oxygen therapy (HFNC) and patients treated with provider choice of standard care.