Acanthosis Nigricans

Researchers are evaluating whether Chitosan mouthwash can reduce the recurrence of black stains on teeth in children aged 6 to 12 years. The study aims to find out if using Chitosan mouthwash daily lowers the need for professional cleaning sessions and improves the appearance of teeth by decreasing black stain recurrence. This clinical trial is sponsored by Al-Azhar University and focuses on pediatric patients with black stains on their teeth. Participants will first undergo scaling and polishing dental cleaning, followed by a 3-month observation period. After this, scaling and polishing will be repeated, and the children will use Chitosan mouthwash daily for an additional 3 months. The study uses a crossover design where each participant serves as their own control before and after using the mouthwash. During the study, participants will visit the clinic every 6 weeks for checkups and data collection over a total of 36 weeks. Researchers will measure the recurrence of black stains as the primary outcome. The study will monitor participant adherence to the mouthwash and assess teeth appearance and stain recurrence during these visits to evaluate the mouthwash's effects.

Researchers are evaluating Autologous Adipose Cell Therapy to improve skin rejuvenation and hair restoration. This therapy aims to overcome the limitations of traditional fat grafting and dermal fillers by isolating early-stage fat cells for better distribution and longer-lasting effects. The study focuses on assessing the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of this therapy for conditions like wrinkles, fine lines, skin elasticity loss, pigmentation, hair thinning, and hair loss. Participants will receive the Autologous Adipose Cells therapy treatment, which involves processing fat cells from their own body to enhance skin and hair appearance. The therapy is monitored by the primary investigator for up to 25 weeks to evaluate outcomes. This study includes only one treatment group receiving this biological intervention. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including imaging, satisfaction surveys, and evaluation reports from the first visit before treatment through the last follow-up visit between weeks 16 and 25. The plastic surgeon will monitor treatment effects and safety over a six-month period. The total involvement spans from initial treatment to multiple follow-ups to track skin and hair improvements and participant satisfaction.

Researchers are investigating how breaking up long periods of sitting with short bouts of physical activity affects blood sugar control in adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study focuses on adults with prediabetes, aiming to see if interrupting sedentary time with frequent activity improves glucose levels more than a single continuous exercise session. This research addresses gaps about the lasting effects and underlying mechanisms of such activity patterns in this population. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups for a 3-month period. One group (BREAK) will do 5-minute brisk walking sessions every hour for 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. The other group (ONE) will perform a single 45-minute brisk walk daily, 5 days a week. Both interventions match the total active time but differ in how activity is spread across the day. During the study, participants will wear activity monitors and follow controlled diets before certain clinic visits. Researchers will measure blood glucose levels using fasting tests and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance tests, along with other metabolic markers and muscle protein content. Outcomes will be assessed before, during, and after the intervention periods, with monitoring of exercise adherence, safety, and other health parameters throughout the trial.

Researchers are studying patients referred for sleep studies at Jordan University Hospital and Jordan Hospital, including those using at-home sleep study kits. This study aims to collect demographic and clinical data to evaluate the connection between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), facial discoloration, vasovagal symptoms, and smoking habits. It also investigates how treatment for OSA affects these factors and the timing of symptom appearance related to smoking initiation. Participants will undergo a physical exam to assess facial discoloration, which will be graded by severity and photographed with consent. Sleep studies will be performed either in-lab using polysomnography or at home with a sleep study device. OSA severity will be classified by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Those with positive sleep study results will be followed up at 3 weeks and 6 months to monitor treatment, symptom improvement, smoking habits, and vasovagal symptoms. Participants with negative results will also be followed for changes in smoking and vasovagal symptoms. Participants will be interviewed at their initial visit to collect medical history and smoking information, and their faces examined and photographed for discoloration. Follow-up will occur in clinic or by phone and email at 3 weeks and 6 months. Data analysis will assess the relationships between OSA, facial discoloration, vasovagal symptoms, smoking tendency, and treatment effects. Confidentiality and consent are ensured, and participants' treatment plans will not be altered during the study.

Researchers are studying adults with metabolic syndrome and/or pre-diabetes to compare how two different healthy diets affect inflammation and other measures of metabolic health. The study aims to evaluate whether a beef-focused diet influences blood sugar control, inflammation, cholesterol levels, and quality of life compared to a healthy U.S.-style dietary pattern based on USDA guidelines. This is a randomized trial involving adults between 18 and 74 years old with metabolic risk factors. Participants will follow one of two diets for five weeks. One group will eat a healthy U.S.-style diet that includes balanced portions of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy following USDA MyPlate guidelines. The other group will follow a healthy beef-centric diet where 70% of daily calories come from beef, with the rest from other proteins, fats, and low-carbohydrate fruits and vegetables, excluding grains. Both diets are designed to be nutritious but differ in protein sources and carbohydrate content. During the study, participants will be assessed for inflammation levels, blood pressure, body weight, glucose control, lipid profiles, and quality of life. Evaluations will take place from the start to the end of the five-week diet period. The study also monitors participants' adherence to the diets and collects data on metabolic health outcomes to understand the effects of these dietary patterns on pre-diabetic and metabolic syndrome adults.

Researchers are evaluating the outcomes of a community healthy lifestyle program called Get Up & Go, designed for children aged 6 to 14 years with overweight or obesity. This program aims to teach families healthy habits through interactive lessons and physical activities. The study uses an unblinded, randomized, waitlist control design to compare immediate participation versus delayed participation in the program. The Get Up & Go program includes 10 weekly sessions lasting 90 minutes each, involving both children and their parents. Each session features a lesson on healthy living, a game or physical activity, a healthy snack, and goal-setting for lifestyle changes. Virtual components provide over 26 hours of total content exposure. Participants are randomly assigned to start the program immediately or wait approximately 3 months before beginning. Participants will complete baseline measurements including height, weight, BMI percentile, endurance via the PACER test, and surveys on family nutrition and behavior. Optional parental measurements may also be collected. Follow-up assessments occur after the intervention period of 3 months to evaluate changes in BMI and other health behaviors. The study will enroll about 40 families each quarter over several quarters, with monitoring and data collection throughout the study period ending in mid-2027.

Researchers are evaluating the impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) on adults with prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. This study aims to see if wearing a CGM device can help guide behavior changes and health management better than traditional health coaching. It also explores the experiences of both patients and healthcare providers using CGM in prediabetes care. The study involves a randomized controlled trial where participants are assigned to either wear the Abbott Freestyle Libre CGM sensor along with receiving health coaching or to receive health coaching alone. The CGM sensor is worn on the back of the arm for two weeks and linked to a smartphone app for glucose monitoring. The study includes three main visits over about six months, with baseline measurements, follow-up questionnaires, and final assessments. In-depth interviews will be conducted with some participants and healthcare providers to gather feedback on using CGM. Participants will attend three scheduled visits to complete questionnaires about diet and physical activity, have their weight, body mass index, and waist circumference measured, and receive health coaching. Those in the CGM group will be taught how to use the device and app and encouraged to make lifestyle changes based on glucose data. The study will measure changes in diet, physical activity, and body measurements over 24 to 28 weeks while monitoring adherence to the device and gathering qualitative feedback. Healthcare providers will also share their perspectives on CGM integration in prediabetes care.

Researchers are investigating how the amount of structured summer programming affects body mass index (BMI) gain in children aged 5 to 12 years. This study focuses on the idea that structured environments, like adult-supervised summer day camps, can reduce unhealthy behaviors that lead to weight gain during summer breaks. The study aims to find the optimal "dose" or duration of summer programming needed to mitigate accelerated BMI gain and improve children's health. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: no summer program, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or 8 weeks of attendance at existing summer day camps. These camps offer a mix of physical activities, enrichment, academic programming, and meals each day. The study includes comprehensive monitoring of how the programs are implemented and how they relate to children's BMI gain and behaviors. Children will be assessed at the start and end of summer and again after the following school year to track changes in BMI. Researchers will also evaluate factors influencing summer BMI gain and the cost-effectiveness of different program lengths. The total participation spans 14 months, including follow-ups to understand long-term effects and ensure thorough data collection and safety monitoring.

Researchers are studying how children's food preferences, physical activity, and decision-making develop over time and how these behaviors relate to body weight and health. This observational study focuses on children aged 8.5 to 11 years, aiming to understand how the development of food and activity reinforcement and delay discounting may contribute to childhood obesity between ages 9 and 14. Two groups of children are followed over three years: one enrolled at ages 8.5 to 9 years 11 months, and another at ages 10.5 to 11 years 11 months. The study tracks changes in these behaviors and their impact on weight and health without assigning any treatments or interventions. Participants will be evaluated at the start and then at 12, 24, and 36 months for measures including standardized body mass index (zBMI), body fat, and percent change over the overweight BMI. The study collects data on activity and food reinforcement and delay discounting. Families can expect regular assessments over the three-year period to monitor these changes and understand developmental trajectories related to obesity.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a coordinated program called Dyad Plus designed to help families engage in self-monitoring, positive communication, joint problem solving, and social support to increase physical activity, healthy eating, and weight loss. The study involves participants from the Brenner FIT pediatric weight management program who are youth aged 2 to 18 years old referred for overweight or obesity, along with their parent or guardian. The goal is to improve weight loss outcomes by involving both adolescents and their caregivers in related weight loss programs. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: Brenner FIT standard care, Brenner FIT plus By Design Essentials for caregivers, or Dyad Plus which combines both programs with added strategies like group sessions, one-on-one communication, joint goal setting, tracking, and home environment assessments. Brenner FIT includes orientation, monthly visits with a pediatrician and specialists, group classes, and behavioral counseling over 6 months. By Design Essentials provides tailored diet and exercise plans with behavioral counseling for adults, delivered in 20 group sessions over 6 months. Dyad Plus adds extra parent-child interaction and support sessions. During the study, youth and caregivers attend various sessions, classes, and counseling appointments to support lifestyle changes. Researchers will assess body mass index (BMI) z-scores at baseline and after 6 months, along with physical activity levels, dietary habits, fasting glucose, insulin, liver enzymes, cholesterol, and economic costs. Feasibility and acceptability of the programs will be evaluated at 6 months. The study lasts 6 months with multiple assessments to monitor progress and outcomes related to weight management and healthy behaviors.