Clinical Research Directory

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.

Pilot Study of "Bottarga" Supplementation: A Little-known, Sustainable "Blue" Food

This pilot study aims to explore the potential benefits of consuming Greek bottarga (grey mullet fish roe) in individuals with at least one metabolic abnormality (low HDL cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, obesity, or HbA1c ≥ 5.7%) or a diagnosis of diabetes. Before initiating the crossover randomized controlled trial (RCT), the investigators will conduct a preliminary dose-testing study in five adults with at least one metabolic abnormality. Participants will undergo clinical assessments before and after the dietary intervention to evaluate changes in metabolic health markers. Following this phase, the investigators will proceed with a randomized, controlled crossover trial involving 20 eligible adult participants. This main study phase will compare the metabolic effects of daily bottarga supplementation with those of a calorically matched dairy product over an 8-week intervention period, with a 2-week washout period between interventions. The investigators anticipate that bottarga supplementation will improve lipid profiles, inflammation markers, and insulin resistance, thereby supporting the potential use of sustainable blue foods as part of a healthy diet.

Curcumin & Astaxanthin for Lowering Triglyceride Readings and Inflammation

Two dietary supplements are each being compared to a placebo for the ability to help maintain triglycerides in the normal range. The subjects will be adult men and women with moderately high TG values. Serum triglycerides will be measured before and after 6 weeks of taking 1 capsule per day of either Longvida Curcumin, astaxanthin, or a placebo. A few side blood analysis will also be done. These measures are relevant to low level inflammation.

Clinical Profile of Skin Aging Based on Dermoscopy Photoaging Scale and Glogau Scale - Study of Leucocyte Telomere Length, Biomarker P16, and Body Mass Index

To determine the relationship between clinical appearance, dermoscopic examination results of photoaging profiles based on clinical examination, DPAS score and leucocyte telomere length, to analyze the relationship between BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, and cellular senescence biomarker p16 levels with a population experiencing skin aging and having Fitzpatrick III-V skin types. The questions which is aim to be answered are: 1. What is the photoaging profile based on clinical examination results in skin aging cases? 2. What is the photoaging profile based on DPAS scores in skin aging cases? 3. What is the leucocyte telomere length profile in skin aging cases? 4. What is the relationship between leucocyte telomere length and clinical examination in skin aging cases? 5. What is the relationship between leucocyte telomere length and DPAS degree in skin aging cases? 6. What is the profile of cellular senescence p16 biomarker levels in a population that has experienced clinical skin aging with Fitzpatrick III-V skin types? 7. What is the skin aging profile based on the Glogau and DPAS scales in a population with Fitzpatrick III-V skin types? 8. Is there a relationship between the results of the cellular senescence p16 biomarker examination and clinical skin aging assessed based on the Glogau and DPAS scales in a population with Fitzpatrick III-V skin types? 9. Is there a relationship between the results of BMI, waist circumference, and triglyceride examinations with clinical skin aging assessed using the Glogau and DPAS scales with Fitzpatrick III-V skin types?