Reactive Arthritis (Reiter's Syndrome)

Researchers are evaluating a new MRI pulse sequence called 3D DL oZTEo to detect bone erosions in the hands of patients with inflammatory arthritis. The study aims to validate this technique against current standard methods like radiography and conventional MRI, as these structural changes are important for diagnosis and treatment decisions in rheumatic conditions. This is an interventional study conducted at Mayo Clinic. Participants will have the FDA-approved oZTEo MRI pulse sequence added to their routine hand MRI scan. The oZTEo images will be anonymized and processed using a deep learning algorithm developed by GE Healthcare. This additional sequence is assessed alongside the standard MRI to compare its ability to detect bone erosions. During the study, researchers will analyze MRI scans with and without the 3D DL oZTEo sequence to determine the presence and number of bone erosions in the hand. Participants must have recent hand radiographs confirming erosions and are scheduled for hand MRI as part of their clinical care. The study measures outcomes on the day of imaging and monitors the accuracy of erosion detection.

Researchers are conducting the GENESIS clinical study to map the HLA genomic region in the Greek population and explore its possible links with various underlying diseases. This non-interventional, multicenter study aims to provide a pilot map of genetic variation in HLA that may be useful in medical research and clinical applications related to selected diseases. The study plans to include 12,000 participants over a total duration of 36 months. Each participant will attend one visit at a participating site during which they will provide demographic data, lifestyle information such as smoking and alcohol use, blood pressure measurements, details on diagnosed diseases and treatments, and recent laboratory test results if available. Buccal swab samples will be collected from each participant to extract DNA for HLA genotyping analysis. Selected samples will undergo further whole genome sequencing to investigate associations with autoimmune diseases. Participants will receive a personalized ancestry report after analysis completion. During the study visit, data collection includes demographic and health information, as well as laboratory and clinical test results from the past year. The genetic material from buccal swabs will be stored and processed for genetic analysis. Researchers will measure allele frequency of HLA alleles in the Greek population and assess the prevalence and risk associations of selected HLA-related diseases. The study's total duration is 36 months with results available at the end of this period.

Researchers are evaluating a digital, personalized exercise program designed to reduce disease activity in adults recently diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). This controlled trial assesses whether remote exercise supervision through the SPARK app, combined with patient education videos, can improve health outcomes. The study compares this approach to usual care in patients who have not used biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and who have active disease. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving a personalized exercise program with remote coaching and another receiving usual care. The exercise program includes high intensity interval training (HIIT), muscular strength exercises, and moderate aerobic activity spread over three days per week, with the goal of 20 minutes of HIIT weekly at 85-95% of maximal heart rate. The program is remotely delivered via the SPARK application, with weekly coaching sessions and exercise data tracked by a sports watch. Throughout the 6-month trial, participants undergo assessments including disease activity measures like ASDAS and BASDAI, physical fitness tests, psychological wellbeing scales, and safety evaluations with physical exams and MRI scans. Medication use and adverse events are also monitored. The primary outcome is disease activity at 3 months, with further evaluations at 6 months to measure the effects of the exercise intervention on health, wellbeing, and physical function.

Researchers are studying the experiences of people who develop rheumatic immune-related adverse events (irAEs) after receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. This study aims to understand how severe these events are, how they affect daily function, and the attitudes of patients towards different aspects of these side effects. The research focuses on conditions like arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica that arise following this cancer treatment. This observational study does not involve any drug or treatment interventions. Instead, it gathers information through qualitative assessments from patients diagnosed by rheumatologists with inflammatory arthritis or polymyalgia rheumatica as irAEs after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The study is sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and will collect data over about one year. Participants will engage in interviews to share their experiences, which will help researchers evaluate the safety and adverse events associated with these immune-related conditions. The study includes monitoring adverse events throughout the study period. The total involvement duration averages one year, allowing for comprehensive understanding of the impact and progression of these rheumatic irAEs.

Researchers are studying the human microbiome, which consists of bacteria and other microorganisms living on and inside the body, to understand how it affects health and disease. This observational study aims to build a repository of microbiome samples that can be used for future research. The study focuses on collecting biological specimens to improve testing methods and identify targets for new clinical trials related to microbiome-associated diseases. Participants of all ages, including healthy volunteers and those with various health conditions, are invited to provide samples such as stool, urine, saliva, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and cells from areas like the cheek, nose, mouth, skin, rectum, and vagina. Some samples can be collected at home using swabs, while blood samples may be drawn at a clinic or collected by finger or heel prick for young children. Intestinal and skin tissue samples may also be collected if participants undergo related medical procedures. During the study, participants will complete questionnaires about their medical history and diet. Researchers will collect and store various biological specimens to analyze the host microbiome response. These samples will help validate assays, optimize collection and processing techniques, and serve as controls for other studies. The study will continue until 2032, with ongoing monitoring of sample collection and analysis to support future microbiome research.

Researchers are evaluating the long-term outcomes of the ACE Acetabular Cup System, a device used in total hip replacement surgery. This procedure replaces both the hip ball and socket to relieve pain and help patients return to normal activities. The study aims to monitor the safety and performance of this CE-marked device over 10 years by assessing clinical, functional, and radiological results in patients with hip disease. The ACE Acetabular Cup System offers three options for socket liners: ceramic, polymer, or dual mobility, allowing surgeons to choose the best fit for each patient. Participants in the study have received a primary elective total hip replacement using this system combined with a JRI femoral stem and head. The study is observational and follows patients over a decade to gather data on device function and patient health. Participants will be followed through questionnaires, reviews of X-rays, and monitoring of any complications. Key measurements include the Oxford Hip Score at 3 years post-operation, along with implant survivorship and other hip function assessments at multiple time points up to 10 years. Radiological assessments will also be conducted at 1, 5, and 10 years. This comprehensive follow-up helps researchers understand how well the device performs long-term and supports patient safety.

Influenza infection poses a significant public health challenge due to seasonal outbreaks and pandemics causing widespread illness and death. This study focuses on hospitalized neonates and infants under 6 months of age with complicated influenza infection, a group with limited treatment options because their immune systems are immature and no licensed vaccines exist for this age. The study aims to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of intravenous (IV) zanamivir in this vulnerable population as part of a Pediatric Investigation Plan by GlaxoSmithKline. Participants who are hospitalized neonates and infants under 6 months, including preterm infants with at least 28 weeks post-menstrual age, will receive daily IV zanamivir infusions for up to 5 days. Depending on clinical symptoms, participant condition, or virological tests, this initial treatment may be extended for up to 5 additional days. The dosing is individually determined based on corrected age, body weight, and renal function, with the initial dose followed by twice-daily maintenance doses as guided by the principal investigator. Each participant will be involved in the study for up to 24 days, including a treatment period of up to 10 days and a 14-day post-treatment follow-up. Researchers will collect blood samples to measure zanamivir levels at various time points, monitor viral load changes, and assess safety by tracking adverse events and vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, and body temperature. The study also monitors for any emergence of resistance to zanamivir during the follow-up period to better understand treatment outcomes and safety in this young population.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases that cause pain mainly in the spine, pelvis, and sometimes limbs. This research aims to confirm whether the makeup of the gut microbiota before starting treatment can predict how patients with SpA respond to biotherapy treatments like anti-TNFα or anti-IL-17. Earlier studies suggested a link between gut microbiota changes and treatment response, but this study focuses on verifying those findings. Participants in the study include patients diagnosed with SpA or axial psoriatic rheumatism who need biotherapy treatment and healthy volunteers without chronic diseases. Patients will provide stool samples twice: once at the start and again four months after beginning treatment with anti-TNFα or anti-IL-17. Healthy volunteers will provide one stool sample at inclusion. The study is non-randomized and does not use blinding. During the 18-month study period, researchers will analyze the gut microbiota composition qualitatively and quantitatively to compare patients who respond to biotherapy with those who do not, as well as with healthy controls. Participants will provide stool samples and undergo evaluations to track changes in their intestinal microbiota. The main outcome is the variability in gut microbiota composition related to treatment response, monitored over 18 months.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of antigravity treadmill training and body weight-supported treadmill training for rehabilitation in elderly patients aged 60 to 75 years who have recently undergone hip or knee replacement surgery. The study compares these two methods to conventional gait training to see which approach may better support recovery and walking ability after surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: antigravity treadmill training, body weight-supported treadmill training, or conventional rehabilitation. Each group will undergo a 6-week program with five sessions per week. The antigravity treadmill uses air pressure to reduce weight on joints with gradually decreasing support, while the body weight-supported treadmill uses a harness to partially offload weight with a steady level of support. The conventional group receives standard postoperative therapy including gait training and physical therapy techniques. During the study, participants will receive comprehensive daily therapy including kinesitherapy, ergotherapy, and individualized physical therapy procedures. Researchers will assess outcomes such as pain and function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, balance, mental health, stress, and walking parameters both before and after the 6-week intervention. The total participation period includes baseline assessments and the 6-week therapy program under professional supervision.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Aptis PRUJ prosthesis, a device designed to treat patients with disorders of the proximal radial ulna joint. This prospective, multi-center, single-arm clinical trial plans to enroll 84 patients with conditions such as arthritis, unstable radial head, and decreased motion in the affected joints. The study is conducted at 9 centers across the US to better understand outcomes for this patient population. Participants will receive the Aptis PRUJ prosthesis as the investigational treatment. The study includes an enrollment period of 12 months followed by a 24-month follow-up period, totaling approximately 36 months. During this time, patients will have annual visits until the last participant reaches 2 years after surgery, allowing for ongoing monitoring of the device's performance and safety. Throughout the trial, participants will undergo evaluations focusing on success at 24 months as the primary outcome. Additional assessments include effectiveness measures, radiographic imaging, and health economic evaluations at multiple time points: 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. The study also tracks patient adherence to rehabilitation and follow-up visits to ensure comprehensive data collection over the course of the trial.