Clinical Research Directory

Fastomics: Metabolic and Therapeutic Effects of Prolonged Fasting

This is an observational study investigating how the metabolic and cell marker changes in Prolonged Fasting in the serum may be used against a cell-based model of disease for therapeutic purposes.

Trial of the Combination of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Mirabegron in Women and in Men With Obesity

Background: Obesity and related illnesses cause at least 2.8 million deaths each year worldwide. Few treatments exist for obesity that are safe and widely available. A study drug (mirabegron \[MG\]) combined with a supplement (alpha-lipoic acid \[ALA\]) may help. Objective: To learn how MG and ALA can help the body process food. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 65 years with a body mass index between 30 and 45 kg/m2. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam. They will have blood and urine tests and a test of their heart function. They will speak with a dietician. The study has two phases. Each phase begins with a 2-day stay in the clinic; then the participant will take the study drugs at home for about 4 weeks, followed by another 2-day stay in the clinic. They will also have outpatient visits about 2 weeks after each clinic stay. During the clinic stays, participants will undergo many tests: They will have a plastic tube (catheter) inserted into a vein in each arm. These will be used to draw blood and to infuse glucose (sugar) and insulin. They will have imaging scans. They will have a clear hard plastic shield placed over their head to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide as they breathe. Participants will take the study drugs at home. Both MG and ALA are taken by mouth with water. During one phase, participants will take MG plus a placebo. A placebo looks like the study drug but doesn t contain medicine....

Glucose Evaluation Through Continuous Glucose Monitors in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder of reproductive aged women. In addition to menstrual and endocrine abnormalities, PCOS is characterized by insulin resistance and glycemic dysregulation. The pattern of glycemic abnormalities among patients with PCOS may be different than the general population, as evidenced by invasive, time consuming, and costly procedures such as the euglycemic clamp or oral glucose tolerance test. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers an opportunity to evaluate glycemic status in real world conditions. Furthermore, use of a CGM has been found to improve glycemic status among those with prediabetes and diabetes, but little is known about utility among patients with PCOS. The investigators thus seek to 1) characterize glycemic status using CGM among patients with PCOS and 2) assess the impact of CGM use on metabolic and reproductive health in patients with PCOS.

DIabetes GLycemic Assessment in Newly Confirmed Episodes

This is a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial involving 80 adult patients with newly diagnosed T2DM (diagnosed within the last 3 months) recruited at the Bogomolets National Medical University. Participants may be lifestyle-controlled or receiving stable non-insulin anti-diabetic medications. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring group (CGM group) or the control group (standard Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose \[SMBG\] using conventional glucometers). The gathered data will help determine whether the real-time visual feedback provided by CGM systems superiorly improves glycemic variability, optimizes metabolic parameters, and enhances patient adherence to lifestyle interventions and pharmacological treatment compared to conventional SMBG methods in the early stages of T2D.

Role of Aging and Individual Variation in Exercise Training Responsiveness

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the effects of aging on markers of physical reserve and exercise-induced adaptations in resilience in older adults who completed a structured exercise program within the last 15 years (Parent trial: STRRIDE-PD; NCT00962962). This feasibility pilot study will enroll up to 26 participants to complete a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention.

Understanding Metabolism and Inflammation Risks for Diabetes in Adolescents

This research study collects health-related information and blood samples to better understand how body composition, lifestyle habits, and diet influence meta-inflammatory monocytes (MiMos) in adolescents. The hypothesis of this study is that adolescents at risk for metabolic disease have enhanced MiMo related activities leading to insulin resistance.

The Effects of Fresh Mango Consumption on Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Free-living Individuals With Prediabetes

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effect of 12 weeks of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango on glucose control, insulin resistance, lipids, inflammation, oxidation and body composition in individuals with prediabetes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the effect of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango over 12 weeks on indicators of glycemic control including fasting glucose and HgbA1c? * What is the effect of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango over 12 weeks on fasting blood insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)? * What is the effect of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango over 12 weeks on lipids including LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides? * What is the effect of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango over 12 weeks on oxidative stress including oxidized LDL-cholesterol and 8-iso-PGF2-alpha? * What is the effect of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango over 12 weeks on markers of inflammation including c-reactive protein, e-selectin, ICAM, VCAM, TNF-alpha and IL-beta? * What is the effect of 1.5 cups per day of fresh mango over 12 weeks on percent body fat, fat mass, and lean mass? Participants will be asked to: * Consume 1.5 cups of mango per day for 12 weeks, take a 4 to 8 week break, and then avoid consuming mangos for 12 weeks * Attend a prerandomization clinic prior to study * Attend three (3) clinics where blood will be drawn during weeks 0, and 12 of the first phase and last week of the second phase of the study * Attend eight (8) clinics where anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body composition) will be conducted and interaction with study clinicians will occur during weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 of each phase of the study * Complete questionnaires and surveys in person and remotely, including six (6) 24-hour dietary recalls. Researchers will compare the 12 weeks participants consume mango to the 12 weeks the participants are not consuming mango to see if there are differences in glycemic indicators, insulin resistance, lipids, inflammation, oxidation and body composition between the two time periods.

Study of the Effect of Innate on the Inflammatory Response to Endotoxin

Background: \- Innate immunity is the process by which white blood cells and other parts of the immune system sense and respond to potential infections by causing an inflammation. Researchers are interested in studying how the body responds to certain environmental factors, and whether the body s response can contribute to chronic illnesses or diseases such as asthma and certain types of cancers. Objectives: \- To examine how specific genes and proteins in blood cells respond to environmental exposures. Eligibility: \- Healthy volunteers between 18 and 45 years of age. Design: * The study will involve one visit of 45 to 60 minutes. * Participants will be screened with a brief physical examination and finger stick to determine if they are eligible to donate blood for the study, and will complete a questionnaire about any medications or other drugs (e.g., cigarettes) they may be taking. * Participants will provide a blood sample for research purposes.

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies of "Pre-Diabetes" in the Pima Indians

Insulin resistance and a defect in early insulin secretion are risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A recent longitudinal analysis which tracked the development of diabetes demonstrated that both insulin action and early insulin secretion deteriorate as individuals progress from normal to impaired glucose tolerance and then to diabetes. These results suggest that both inherent (apparent in normal glucose tolerant subjects who progress to diabetes and likely to have a genetic basis) and acquired (evident as individuals progress from NGT to IGT to diabetes and possibly environmental in origin) defects in insulin action and secretion contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. To identify the genetic and environmental determinants of diabetes we are continuing to determine: (1) if there are genes that segregate with metabolic risk factors for diabetes which might therefore be genetic markers for type 2 diabetes and (2) the mechanisms mediating genetic and environmental determinants of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. \<TAB\> Volunteers for this study will be admitted to the clinical research ward where they will undergo several tests to determine body composition, oral and intravenous glucose tolerance and in vivo insulin action. In addition, in selected subjects, adipose and/or skeletal muscle tissue will be obtained by percutaneous biopsy for in vitro studies of gene expression and insulin action in these tissues. A transformed lymphocyte cell line will be established for each subject as a permanent source of DNA for genetic studies. Genetic markers for type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance will be sought by typing each individual at positional and functional candidate loci in the hopes of finding an association between these loci and obesity, insulin secretion, insulin resistance and/or type 2 diabetes. ...

Small Extracellular Vesicles and Insulin Action

The goals of this research study are to: 1) understand why some people with obesity are protected from developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease while others are more likely to develop obesity-related conditions; 2) assess the effect of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs also called exosomes), obtained from human participants, on metabolic function in cultured cells and in mice.

Precision Nutrition and Metabolic Function

The purposes of this study are: 1) to determine the mechanisms responsible for the development of cardiometabolic complications in some, but not all people with obesity; 2) determine the best dietary approach for cardiometabolic health; and 3) understand why some people have a stable metabolic phenotype over time whereas cardiometabolic health improves or worsens in others.

Effect of Insulin Lowering on Lipogenesis

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a one-week course of diazoxide (2 mg/kg per dose x 14 doses) and placebo in people with obesity and insulin resistance (IR) with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The main question it aims to answer are how mitigation of compensatory hyperinsulinemia with diazoxide affects hepatic de novo lipogenesis, a major contributor to MASLD pathophysiology. Participants will: * Take 14 doses of placebo over 7 days, followed 4-12 weeks later by either 14 doses of diazoxide (at 2 mg per kg of body weight per dose \[mpk\]) or another 14 doses of placebo, over 7 days * Take 18 doses of heavy (deuterated) water (50 mL each) over 7 days, twice * Have blood drawn and saliva collected after an overnight fast on four mornings over the course of the study * Undergo insulin suppression tests (IST) to assess the degree of insulin resistance at the end of each 1-week study period * Consume their total calculated daily caloric needs as divided into three meals per day Researchers will compare blood tests at the beginning and end of each 1-week study period in participants randomized (like the flip of a coin) to receive either placebo followed by diazoxide or placebo followed by placebo, to see how the drug treatment affects de novo lipogenesis, serum insulin, plasma glucose, and other serum lipid parameters (triglycerides, free fatty acids), among others.

Antecedent Metabolic Health and Metformin Aging Study

Aging is the number one risk factor for the majority of chronic diseases. There are no pharmaceutical treatments to slow aging and prolong healthspan. The anti-diabetic drug metformin is considered a likely pharmaceutical candidate to slow aging. In this study, the investigators hypothesize that metformin treatment in subjects free of type 2 diabetes will improve insulin sensitivity and glucoregulation in insulin resistant individuals, but will decrease insulin sensitivity and glucoregulation in insulin sensitive subjects. Further, the investigators hypothesize that long-term metformin treatment will remodel mitochondria in a way that decreases mitochondrial function in subjects that are insulin sensitive, but improves mitochondrial function in subjects that are insulin resistant. The investigators will use a dual-site, 12- week drug intervention trial performed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled manner on 148 subjects recruited from two separate sites (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM)). After consent and initial subject screening for chronic disease, subjects will be stratified to insulin sensitive (IS) or insulin resistant (IR) groups. Over a 12- week intervention, half of each group will take metformin and half will take a placebo. Pre- and post--intervention, subjects will complete a series of procedures to assess insulin sensitivity, glucose regulation, and biomarkers of aging. The same subjects will provide a skeletal muscle biopsy pre-- and post-intervention to assess the change in mitochondrial function and mitochondrial remodeling with and without metformin treatment. By completion of this project, the investigators expect to provide evidence that helps further delineate who may benefit from metformin treatment to slow aging.

The Muscle Monitor: Early Skeletal Muscle Indicators of Insulin Resistance and Cardiometabolic Risk

Insulin resistance is an early etiological factor in the development of type-2 diabetes (T2D), which constitutes a large societal health burden with an expected additional rise in the years to come. Skeletal muscle is the body's largest lean tissue mass and the major site of glucose disposal in response to insulin stimulation. Prior studies have suggested that a fast skeletal muscle phenotype, including a predominant fast muscle fiber composition, reduced capillary density, low fat oxidation and muscle oxidative capacity may be implicated in insulin resistance and TD2 development. However, key questions pertain in relation to the cause and effect of these relationships as well as the interaction with potential confounders and effect-modifiers including life-style factors (e.g. diet and physical activity levels) and general participant characteristics (e.g. body composition and training status). In the present project, we therefore aim to derive muscle fiber type and extensively map the proteomic signature of the early stages of insulin resistance in a large cross-sectional study using a young and apparently healthy cohort prior to T2D development, including a thorough participant characterization. We will recruit \~250 participants (men and women) in the age of 20-30 years and conduct extensive phenotyping and tissue sampling across one laboratory-based test day and a scan visit, as well as measurements of physical activity level and glucose handling in free-living conditions with wearable sensors. The study has a longitudinal aspect as participants will be re-invited at 5-year intervals for up to 20 years to delineate the trajectory of metabolic health in relation to muscle phenotype measures. The results of the project are expected to lead to significant advancements in our understanding of the importance of muscle phenotype for early-stage insulin resistance and metabolic health trajectories. Such understanding has potentially important clinical implications, as it can open new avenues for targeted interventions and individualized early preventive strategies to counter or delay the progression of insulin resistance and associated metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.

Food and Metabolism Study

In this study, Investigators are interested in looking at the influence of eating avocados regularly, which are rich in healthy fats, fibers, and unique carbohydrates, on triglyceride and glucose metabolism in people with prediabetes and insulin resistance.

FMT in Obesity: RYGB vs. LEAN vs. Autologous FMT

This double-blinded proof-of-concept study is proposed to explore the effects of fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) in human subjects. Here we perform FMTs into obese recipients using stool from lean unoperated donors and from previously obese patients after successfull treatment with bariatric Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery. Obese patients treated with their own material (autologous FMT) serve as controls. After FMT treatment the functional impact of post-surgery microbiome changes on host energy consumption and regulation of blood glucose levels will be analysed. Additionally the variations on the microbiota and metabolite composition will be profiled using extensive sequencing analyses. The major aim of the study is to explore the scientific rationale for targeted gut microbiota modulation in management of obesity and related metabolic diseases.We estimate the transfer of microbiota from RYGB donors is superior to the transfer of lean microbiota at inducing reduced adiposity and improving high blood glucose levels in obese recipients. Each is better than a sham procedure (autologous FMT), which itself can also induce considerable short-term effects.

Effect of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty in Patients With Obesity and MASH: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease globally. While weight loss through lifestyle modification is the standard treatment, most patients regain weight limiting ultimate improvement in liver disease. On the other end of the spectrum, bariatric surgery has shown promise in the treatment of MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) due to its efficacy in inducing weight loss. Nevertheless, its adoption has been hindered by the perceived invasiveness of surgery. Over the past decade, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has gained recognition as a promising minimally-invasive approach to weight loss. The procedure involves utilizing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized endoscopic suturing device to reduce the gastric volume by 70%. Studies reveal that ESG is associated with approximately 18.2% weight loss at one year after the procedure, with sustained results for at least 10 years. Nevertheless, the effect of ESG on MASH remains unknown. In this study, the investigators will compare ESG + lifestyle modification versus lifestyle modification alone in treating histologic MASH. The study will randomize patients to one of two different treatment options: ESG + lifestyle modification or lifestyle modification alone.

The Simplified Total-body Resistance Exercise for Muscular Hypertrophy for Diabetic Population (D-STORM)

Type 2 diabetes is associated with progressive loss of muscle mass, which worsens blood sugar control and increases the risk of heart disease and disability. Resistance training (weight training) has been shown to build muscle and improve blood sugar levels, but most existing programmes use high intensities that are difficult for older or inactive people with diabetes to sustain. This study tests a new resistance training programme called D-STORM (Simplified Total-body Resistance Exercise for Muscular Hypertrophy for Diabetic Population), which uses a lower, more manageable training load designed to be safe, tolerable, and effective for adults with Type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin. Participants will be randomly assigned to either twice-weekly D-STORM training plus their usual diabetes care, or usual care alone, for 12 weeks. The main outcome measured is change in HbA1c (a blood test reflecting average blood sugar over 3 months). Body composition, walking capacity, blood pressure, heart rate, and quality of life will also be measured.

Everolimus Aging Study

The objective of this project is to determine if mTORC1 inhibition by 24 weeks of daily (0.5 mg/day) or weekly (5 mg/week) everolimus can safely improve physiological and molecular hallmarks of aging in humans. Participants who are 55-80 years old and insulin resistant or prediabetic will be randomized to treatment and can expect to be on study for up to approximately 38 weeks. Participants aged 18-35 will not receive the intervention and can expect to be on study for up to approximately 8 weeks.

Reversal of Lipid-Induced Insulin Resistance

The purpose of this study is to examine whether weight reduction decreases intramyocellular (IMCL) and hepatic lipid content, and improves insulin sensitivity of muscle and fat tissue in people who are insulin resistant and have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Hepatic mitochondrial oxidation will be assesses using a 3 hour triple tracer study (D7 glucose, 3-13C lactate and 13C4 beta-hydroxybutyrate).

Tolerability, Acceptance, and Utility of Intermittent CGM Use in Youth With Prediabetes

We are evaluating whether intermittent use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in addition to standard nutritional counseling and physical activity counseling is associated with improved metabolic health for youth with pre-diabetes (PD).

Interplay of Central and Peripheral Vascular Effects of Insulin in Obesity

In the present study, we seek to determine the impact of obesity with insulin resistance on the neurovascular response to brain insulin stimulation.

Exercise Effects on Adipose Tissue Structure and Function

Participants will be randomized into one of two different experimental groups: 1) Exercise group and 2) No exercise (control group). Subject participation in the study will involve a series of metabolic tests before and after participants undergo a 10% weight loss program (with or without exercise training depending on group randomization). After completing this weight loss portion of the study, participants will then be required to adhere to a high calorie diet program to regain half of the weight the participant lost - followed by the same series of metabolic tests.

Identifying Risk for Diabetes and Heart Disease in Women

Background: \- Rates of diabetes and heart disease in women are increasing. Early recognition of risk could help women live longer and healthier lives. Race and ethnicity may affect the best kinds of tests to use to screen for these conditions. Researchers want to compare risk factors for diabetes and heart disease in African, African-American, and white women. Doing so may help identify the most effective screening test for each group. This study will look at healthy African, African-American, and white women who are federal employees and contractors. Objectives: \- To study risk factors for diabetes and heart disease in African, African-American, and white women. Eligibility: * Healthy African, African-American, and white women between 30 and 65 years of age who are federal employees or contractors. * For this study, African women must be born in Africa and have immigrated to the United States, and report that both parents are Africans. African-American women must self-identify as African-Americans, born in the United States, and have parents who both self-identify as African-American born in the United States. White women must self-identify as white and have parents who also self-identify as white. Design: * Participants will have four visits to study their risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. * The first visit is a screening visit. Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. They will also have an EKG test. Participants will also be shown how to fill out a 3-Day Food Record and wear an activity monitor called an accelerometer. The food record will keep track of how much participants eat for 3 consecutive days, including 1 non-working day. The accelerometer device will be worn for 3 days to monitor movement. * At the second visit, participants will have blood tests, an oral glucose tolerance test, and body fat measurements. They will also fill out questionnaires, review the food record, and have two imaging studies. * At the third visit, participants will have a longer glucose tolerance test. During the test, participants will receive both glucose and insulin and blood samples will be collected over several hours. Participants will receive lunch at the clinical center after the test. * At the fourth visit, participants will have a meal test. They will fast for 12 hours before the test. Participants will eat a specific meal and have blood samples taken during and after they eat. * Participants will discuss the results of these tests with the study doctors.