Inflammatory Disease

Background: \- Researchers are interested in studying individuals who have known or suspected metabolic, inflammatory or genetic diseases that may put them at a high risk for heart diseases or diseases of their blood vessels. Depending on the condition being studied, both affected and nonaffected individuals may be asked to provide blood and other samples and may undergo tests to evaluate the heart, blood vessels and lung function. The testing is tailored to the individual and/or condition being studied. Nonaffected individuals may include relatives of affected individuals and healthy nonrelated volunteers. Objectives: \- To study individuals who have or are at risk for cardiovascular diseases, and in some cases their unaffected relatives and healthy volunteers. Eligibility: \- Individuals between 1 and 100 years of age. Participants may be healthy volunteers, individuals with cardiovascular diseases, or unaffected relatives of individuals with cardiovascular diseases. Design: * Participants will have some or all of the following tests, as directed by the study researchers: * Photography of the face and full body * Body measurements * Radiography, including chest or limb x-rays * Metabolic stress testing to study heart and muscle function * Echocardiography to study heart function * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, including cardiovascular MRI, angiography, and contrast MRI, to study heart function and performance * Computed tomography (CT) angiogram to obtain images of the heart and lungs * Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to study possible fat infiltration of the heart * Six-minute walk test to study heart, lung, and muscle function and performance * Vascular ultrasound to study blood vessel walls * Blood, tissue, and other specimens will be collected for research and testing, and will be taken either as part of the clinical study or during surgical procedures. * Follow-up studies may be performed under separate research protocols.

This single-center pilot study is designed to explore the preliminary utility of the \[68Ga\] Ga-FAPI imaging agent in positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) for a range of chronic inflammatory and fibrosing diseases. The study focuses on the potential of \[68Ga\] Ga-FAPI, a novel radiotracer targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), to improve diagnostic accuracy in various medical conditions. Thirteen distinct clinical situations have been selected for this investigation, including rheumatoid arthritis, liver fibrosis, and systemic lupus, among others. This approach aims to ascertain the value of further clinical development in each area and refine the use of this imaging modality in routine care for both initial evaluation and ongoing monitoring of these diseases.

Through a systematic observational study, the intrinsic connections and patterns between the occurrence and development of common blinding retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, pathological myopia, and age-related macular degeneration and the changes in fine parameters of the anterior structure of the eye are deeply explored. To achieve this goal, investigators will adopt cutting-edge multimodal imaging technology to simultaneously collect precise data from ocular surface and fundus of participants. By integrating and analyzing these multi-dimensional information from different parts of the same eye, investigators will build a high-quality and standardized ocular surface-fundus associated image database. This database not only aims to reveal potential ocular surface biomarkers that can be used for early warning or auxiliary diagnosis, but also lays a solid data foundation for the future development of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic tools and the establishment of a brand-new ocular surface-fundus integrated diagnosis and treatment assessment model.

This is a pilot study to investigate serum prednisolone profiles in: * Patients on high doses of prednisolone for any inflammatory disorder, both in the acute and chronic setting. * Patients stepping up from or down to prednisolone therapy in association with a course of high dose methyl-prednisolone or dexamethasone. The study will comprise 3 groups, including those started on high doses of prednisolone acutely in an inpatient or outpatient setting, participants on chronically high doses, and those receiving a several week course of high dose methylprednisolone or dexamethasone. The study aims to measure prednisolone levels at a number of time points to investigate serum profile differences in those receiving prednisolone acutely compared with longer term steroid use. Further samples will be taken to characterise additional metabolic changes.

Systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs) are a set of rare clinically and genetically heterogeneous conditions. The project proposes to identify novel genes and specific signatures in subgroups of patients with SAIDs.

The purpose of this study is to collect DNA samples from patients undergoing routine care at the University of Chicago. These samples will be tested for differences in genes that may suggest greater risk of side effects or chance of increased benefit from certain medications. The results will be made available to the patient's treating physician and the researchers will track whether or not this information is used in routine health care.

Inflammation is the way that the body reacts against infection, injury or illness. An uncontrolled inflammatory response can lead to the development of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular conditions. Recent studies have shown that inflammation is a regulated process coordinated by a group of molecules known as specialized pro-resolving mediator (SPM). These molecules are produced by enzymes via the enzymatic conversion of essential fatty acids; whereas their biological actions are mediated by proteins expressed on the surface of cells known as receptors. Given the central role that pro-resolving mediators play in regulating the immune response, the aim of this study is to investigate whether there are genetic variants (mutations) in genes encoding for enzymes and receptors involved in the biology of these molecules and to determine how these mutations affect SPM's activity or function. Findings made as part of these studies will help shed light into mechanism influencing disease onset and/or progression and potentially enhance the discovery of new and more effective treatments.

This is a cohort study to investigate the clinical features, current treatment and clinical outcomes in patients with inflammation-associated non-rapidly-progressive coronary artery disease (INR-CAD).

The present case-control study is designed to investigate the disease characteristics of IR-CAD by comparing the demographics, clinical features, lab results, imaging findings, and prior treatment between 20 patients with IR-CAD and 10 patients with AS-CAD.

This is a self-controlled cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of comprehensive treatment in patients with inflammation-associated rapidly-progressive coronary artery disease (IR-CAD) by comparing the study endpoints before treatment with those after treatment in the same group of patients.

This is an experimental medicine, single-centre, observational test-retest study to evaluate Filgotinib's mechanism of analgesic action in RA patients. The investigators hypothesize that Filgotinib's mechanism of analgesic action is determined by at least two factors. The first is related to those CNS sensitization pathways seen in fibromyalgia, specifically DMN-insula brain functional connectivity and insular glutamate. The second is related to peripheral inflammation, specifically joint synovitis, blood cytokines/chemokines and DAN-LIPL functional brain connectivity. The CNS sensitization pain pathways related to fibromyalgia are more quickly modified compared to those related to peripheral inflammation and help explain Filgotinib's rapid onset of effect.

Study Design: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled, Open-label Non-inferiority Study to Investigate the Efficacy of Subcutaneous (SC) Infliximab (IFX) with and without Immunomodulators during Induction treatment in Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease. Primary endpoint: The proportion of patients in corticosteroid-free clinical remission (as defined by a Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI)\<150) and endoscopic response (as defined by a simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD) drop of at least 50%) at week 26. Accrual and feasibility: This study will enroll 158 subjects at approximately 20 sites in the Netherlands (peripheral and academic hospitals). The estimated enrollment is 0.5 patient/centre/month leading to an inclusion duration of 16 months once all centres are open. The first enrolment is anticipated in Q1 2021. Treatment, dosage and administration: Eligible patients will be randomized to receive SC IFX monotherapy (240mg at week 0 and week 2 and then 120mg every other week (EOW) OR SC IFX (240mg at week 0 and week 2 and then 120mg EOW) in combination with immunosuppression.

The LOOK-UP is an investigator-initiated clinical study with the aim of monitoring the post-marketing safety of the medicine Rinvoq™ (upadacitinib), which is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. The Marketing Authorisation Holder is AbbVie Deutschland GmbH \& Co. KG.