Clinical Research Directory

Adherence to Vaginal Estrogen Therapy in Hypoestrogenic Women With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

* The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about medication adherence to difference types of vaginal estrogen in women with low levels of estrogen (for example, post-menopausal women) who have recurrent urinary tract infections. Medication adherence means whether patients take their medicine as prescribed. * Another goal of the study is to learn about changes to the skin of the vagina before and after estrogen treatment, using a specialized imaging modality called optical coherence tomography, which is similar to receiving an ultrasound. * A third goal of the study is to learn about changes to the microbiome (all the bacteria that naturally live in our bodies) before and after treatment with vaginal estrogen. The researchers will be looking specifically at the microbiome in the urine and the vagina. Participants will be assigned by chance (like the flip of a coin) to receive one of three possible vaginal estrogen treatments - cream, tablets, or drug-eluting ring. * The main study tests and procedures include an initial visit in which the researchers will collect baseline information about participants and have participants complete a series of questionnaires. * There will then be 3 and 6 month follow-ups in which the researchers will have participants complete additional questionnaires and the researchers also assess whether participants are using the vaginal estrogen treatment that you were prescribed. If a participant is part of the microbiome cohort, they will also be asked to do the following: * a baseline visit in which urinary and vaginal specimens are collected to assess their baseline microbiome. The vaginal specimen collection will involve a q-tip swab inside the vagina; it is similar to a pap smear. * Finally, participants will have an imaging modality performed on their vagina called optical coherence tomography, which allows the researchers to assess the thickness of the vaginal walls and the blood vessel density. This imaging modality involves the insertion of a thin probe into the vagina to obtain the images of the vaginal wall. * These tests will then be repeated at 6 months to assess if vaginal estrogen treatment causes changes to the vagina.

Estrogen Supplementation and Bone Health in Women With CF

The goal of this study is to learn about the role of estrogen and other hormones in bone development in adolescent and young adult women with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study has two main components, an observational study and a feasibility sub-study. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How do different forms of hormonal contraception (e.g. birth control pill or other progesterone only methods) impact bone health? * Is a study of transdermal estradiol (estrogen skin patches) feasible in this group? * How does transdermal estradiol impact bone health and quality of life? Participants in the observational study will have three study visits (baseline, 6 months, and 12 months). At all visits, participants will have blood drawn and will complete questionnaires. At the baseline and 12 month visits, participants will additionally have x-rays and DXAs (bone density assessment). Between visits, participants will complete brief questionnaires. Researchers will compare various measurements over time to assess the impact of different forms of hormonal contraception. Participants in the feasibility sub-study will apply transdermal estradiol patches once weekly for 12 months, fill out brief quality-of-life surveys in between study visits, and complete blood draws and questionnaires at four study visits (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months). The participants will also have x-rays and DXAs performed at the baseline and 12 month visits. Researchers will examine changes in various measurements to determine the impact of transdermal estradiol.

ENDO-BRAIN: Effects of Endocrine Adjuvant Therapy with Aromatase Inhibitors on the Cognitive Function of Breast Cancer Patients

The principal aim of this prospective observational study is to investigate the cognitive function of breast cancer patients that use AI, comparing it with age-matched healthy controls, utilizing cognitive assessments and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Additionally, the project seeks to establish correlations between cognitive function and other estrogen deprivation symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms, and to evaluate a possible correlation with endothelial damage studied through Angio Optical Coherent Tomography (angio OCT). Patients will be recruited during follow up visits at the iatrogenic menopause outpatient clinic. After informed consent, the will be asked for detailed demographic data, medical, oncological and gynecological history. Hypoestrogenism symptoms will be collected through validated questionnaires. The cognitive assessment will be performed on the same day, by trained staff. The fMRI and angioOCT will be booked and performed depending on patient and clinic availability.