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Discover 23,284 clinical trials near Maryland. Find research studies in your area.
Showing 22621-22640 of 23,284 trials
NCT00001889
This study is designed to compare two different echocardiographic techniques in the evaluation of heart disease (coronary artery disease). Both tests called Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography with Pharmacologic Stress and Stress Echocardiography with Dobutamine, are performed using a standard echocardiographic machine. Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography (MCE) does not use radioactivity. It uses sound waves like standard echocardiography. However, with MCE patients receive an injection of a "contrast agent" directly into the blood stream through a vein. The contrast agent, called Optison, is made of tiny microbubbles smaller than red blood cells. The echocardiogram can detect these microbubbles in the small blood vessels of the heart muscle and allow researchers to find areas of the heart receiving less blood flow than others. It is important to observe the heart during exercise because there are changes in blood flow. Since MCE cannot be performed when the patient is exercising, researchers give medication (adenosine) that stimulates the heart and creates a situation similar to exercise. Stress Echocardiography with Dobutamine does not use radioactivity. It uses sound waves like standard echocardiography. During this echocardiogram patients receive doses of a medication called dobutamine that stimulates the heart to beat stronger and faster. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of MCE compared to stress echocardiography at detecting coronary artery disease (CAD).
NCT00040508
This study will determine the safety and effectiveness of sirolimus (Rapamune® (Registered Trademark)) in treating focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a disease involving kidney scarring and increased protein in the urine. About one-half of patients with FSGS go on to develop end-stage kidney disease within 6 years, requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. Therapies to reduce urine protein are likely to stop the progression of renal scarring and reduce the chance of developing kidney failure. However, current treatments for FSGS, such as prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine, are not effective in many patients and can cause serious side effects. This study will see if sirolimus, a drug with both anti-scarring and immune suppressing properties, can lower the amount of protein in the urine and slow or stop the kidney disease. Patients 13 years of age and older with FSGS who have had at least one standard treatment for FSGS may be eligible for this 24-month study. Pregnant and nursing women may not participate. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, review of medical records and kidney biopsy, 24-hour urine collection, and blood tests. Participants will take sirolimus tablets once a day for 1 year. Three 24-hour urine collections will be done before starting treatment. Blood will be drawn to measure drug levels every week for the first month after starting treatment, then every other week for 1 month, and then every 2 months until treatment stops. Patients who do not have a complete response to the drug at low levels will have their dose increased. Patients will be seen at the NIH clinic in Bethesda, Md., for the screening visit and then at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 15 months for blood and urine tests. Additional urine collections and blood tests will be done periodically throughout the 24-month study period by the patient's local physician. Patients whose urine protein decreases on therapy will be asked to wait 3 months before starting another treatment and will monitored during that time to determine if the response is sustained. Patients whose urine protein levels do not decrease with sirolimus will not be asked to wait 3 months before starting another therapy. Follow-up with the local physician will continue at 18 and 24 months after starting the study. Patients whose urine protein levels increase with sirolimus treatment will be taken off the study and may seek other treatment at any time.