GWICTIC: NAC Mechanistic Study in Gulf War Veterans

Exclusion Criteria

• •Self-report of current treated or untreated major depression with psychotic or melancholic features (as determined by self-report and Hamilton Depression Inventory (Ham-D)), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, delusional disorders, dementias of any type, or a history of central nervous system (CNS) disorders that may affect cognitive function (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's disease), or alcoholism or drug abuse
• •Severe claustrophobia or serious difficulty being in an MRI scanner or other enclosed space (MRS substudy only)
• •Presence of ferrous implanted medical devices or metal fragments or objects that are embedded under the skin (MRS substudy only)
• •Current heavy alcohol or tobacco use (self-report). Alcohol consumption not to exceed approximately 15 drinks per week (with a drink defined as 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits) and tobacco use not to exceed 20 cigarettes (or equivalent) per day.
• •Chronic active infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) (self-report or antibody titer)
• •Renal disease (self-report or laboratory results: renal insufficiency with serum creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL)
• •Liver disease (self-report or laboratory results: hepatic insufficiency (bilirubin \>2.5mg/dL or transaminases \> 3 times the upper limits of normal)
• •Uncontrolled diabetes (HgbA1c \> 7.5) without adequate medical care. Individuals with HgbA1c \> 7.5 will be reviewed and judged by the PI or delegate; if potential participant has adequate medical care to manage diabetes, enrollment is allowed; otherwise HgbA1c \> 7.5 is exclusionary
• •Diagnosed vascular disease (including congestive heart failure)
• •Diagnosed bleeding disorders or use of blood-thinning medications
• •Receipt of stavudine or didanosine for more than 7 days within 30 days prior to screening
• •Currently have exclusionary diagnoses that could reasonably explain the symptoms of their fatiguing illness and their severity
• •Are scheduled for a surgery during the period of study participation or had surgery within 6 weeks prior to screening
• •Pregnant (women only)
• •Prohibited Concomitant or Prior Therapies
• •Currently on dialysis
• •Previous or current receipt of any antiviral medication, such as pegylated interferon, ribavirin, entecavir, tenofovir, or didanosine for more than 7 days within 30 days prior to screening
• •Participating in another interventional (including social-behavioral therapy) clinical trial of an investigational therapy within 6 weeks prior to consent, or planning to participate in another interventional clinical trial of an investigational therapy during the course of this study
• •Any herbal medicine within 30 days prior to consent and screening blood draw