3-Hydroxy 3-Methyl Glutaric Aciduria

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a new herbal formulation called Melats P for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common metabolic disorder affecting women of childbearing age. PCOS causes problems such as hormonal imbalance, irregular ovulation, infertility, obesity, excessive hair growth, acne, and metabolic issues like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. This study aims to compare the herbal formulation against conventional treatment and their combination in improving infertility and menstrual cycle regulation in women with PCOS. Participants will be divided into three groups: one receiving the herbal formulation Melats P at 500 mg twice daily, another receiving Metformin XR 750 mg twice daily, and a third group receiving both treatments together. Each treatment is given for 4 months. The herbal formulation contains plant-based ingredients chosen for their potential to restore hormonal balance and improve ovulation with fewer side effects compared to standard drugs. The study includes a phase 1 clinical trial design with randomized assignment and no masking. During the study, participants will have their menstrual cycle regulation monitored from baseline to 4 months. Additional assessments include blood tests for hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone, as well as metabolic measures like glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin levels, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and body weight. These evaluations will occur at the start and after 4 months of treatment to assess safety and effectiveness. The total participation duration is approximately 4 months, with the study scheduled to start in February 2025 and end by March 2026.

Researchers are evaluating a new family health communication tool called Let's Get REAL designed to increase youth involvement in real-time decisions about stem cell transplant and cellular therapy (SCTCT). This pilot trial focuses on pediatric patients aged 8 to 17 years who are referred for SCTCT due to malignant or nonmalignant disorders. The study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of this communication tool in helping families discuss treatment decisions. Participants, including youth in two age groups (8-12 and 13-17 years) and their parents, will receive the Let's Get REAL tool to use up to one month before their SCTCT consultation visit. They will complete surveys before using the tool, up to one month after the consultation, and up to one month post-discharge from SCTCT. The consultation visits will be audio-recorded, and participants may opt to take part in a semi-structured interview within eight weeks after the consultation. During the study, participants will provide demographic and baseline information and complete several questionnaires measuring decision-making involvement, anxiety, communication, and satisfaction. Researchers will analyze both quantitative survey data and qualitative feedback to evaluate the tool's impact. The total study participation spans from before the consultation through up to eight weeks after, with ongoing monitoring of youth-parent communication and decision-making processes.

Calciphylaxis, also called uremic calcifying arteriolopathy (UCA), is a rare condition causing painful skin lesions due to small blood vessel calcification and clotting. This disease mainly affects patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who require hemodialysis. Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of adding rheopheresis, a special blood filtration treatment, to the standard care for calciphylaxis in these patients through a prospective randomized controlled trial. In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group will receive rheopheresis in addition to standard care, involving an induction phase of 3 sessions in the first week followed by 2 sessions weekly for 3 weeks, then a maintenance phase with 1 session per week up to week 11. The comparator group will receive sham-apheresis sessions on the same schedule, which mimics the procedure without actual filtration. Rheopheresis uses a machine to remove certain high molecular weight proteins from plasma to help treat microcirculation problems. Participants will be followed for 12 weeks during treatment with regular assessments of wound healing, pain levels, quality of life, antibiotic usage, hospital discharge days, survival, and inflammatory protein changes. The primary outcome is the percentage of patients achieving complete healing of calciphylaxis lesions after 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include partial healing, new lesion occurrence, pain and analgesic use, and overall survival at 12 weeks and one year. Safety and efficacy data will help determine the added value of rheopheresis in calciphylaxis care.