Alrex

The goal of this study is to investigate inflammation as the biological mechanism by which mindfulness based cognitive therapy for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) administered during pregnancy improves women's emotional well-being and whole person health index during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Secondarily the investigative team will determine if MBCT-PD administered during pregnancy improves the physical health and emotional well-being of the developing child.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if using pancreatic stone protein (PSP) test results helps doctors find and treat sepsis earlier in adults with serious burn injuries. The study will also look at whether using PSP is safe and practical in the burn intensive care unit. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does seeing PSP test results help doctors start the right antibiotics sooner? * Does using PSP reduce unnecessary antibiotic use? * Does using PSP improve recovery and other health outcomes? Researchers will compare two groups of patients. One group will receive standard care, and their PSP test results will be hidden from their care team. The other group will receive standard care, but their care team will be able to see the PSP test results and use them to help make treatment decisions. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups. * Have a small blood sample taken within 24 hours after being admitted to the burn ICU and then once each weekday while they are in the ICU. * Receive the usual care for burn injuries and sepsis throughout the study.

Dietary patterns and physical inactivity common in Western societies have been associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and an increased risk of non-communicable health conditions. Fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols and other bioactive compounds that may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may influence inflammatory biomarkers. This study will evaluate the effects of increased consumption of a fruit juice on inflammatory biomarkers and exercise capacity in adults with mildly elevated inflammation. Approximately 40 participants will be randomly assigned to consume one of two fruit juice interventions daily for approximately 2 weeks. Changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) and exercise capacity, assessed using a 6-minute walk test, will be evaluated before and after the intervention and compared between the two groups.

This study examines whether two continuous weeks of overnight active temperature regulation (via the Eight Sleep Pod) use affects gut microbiome composition, inflammation, and the body's daily temperature and blood pressure rhythms in postmenopausal women and age-matched men with self-reported poor sleep.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how consistently 3 different manufacturing lots of the GSK's investigational measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRVNS) vaccine will produce an immune response. It will also compare the overall immune response to the MMRVNS vaccine with that of the Merck licensed measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The vaccines will be given as a second dose to children aged 4 to 6 years who have previously received a first dose of any combination of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-containing vaccine(s). The study will also assess the immune response and safety of the MMRVNS and MMRV vaccines when given at the same time as a diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated poliovirus (DTaP-IPV) vaccine. The DTaP-IPV vaccine used is licensed as Kinrix in the United States.

The purpose of this research study is to determine if Metformin taken after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery can decrease muscle fibrosis, cellular senescence and improve leg strength. ACL injury and surgery increase muscle collagen content and inflammation which slows the recovery of muscle and function and ultimately impacts the quality of life. Individuals enrolled in the study will be randomized to receive metformin (or placebo) for 4 months after surgery. The investigators will measure muscle strength and inflammatory markers in muscle biopsy samples after the intervention period. Investigators will also follow up with participants 8 months later to determine the lasting effects of the intervention.

The study consist of 3 interventional periods which will be completed by each consenting participant in a randomized, crossover fashion. The interventional periods will be separated by a minimum 1 week washout period. One of the interventions consists of 4 days of daily supplementation with the commercially available broccoli sprout extract capsules (BrocElite). Another intervention will consist of 4 days of daily supervised treadmill running. The exercise protocol consists of 4 minutes of high-intensity running running followed by a 3 minute recovery period, repeated for a total of 4 repetitions. The last intervention combines the above two and consists of 4 days of daily supplementation and daily supervised exercise training. Before and after each intervention, basic anthropometrics (weight, heart rate, and blood pressure) will be recorded, and a venous blood sample will be collected. Blood samples will be analyzed for metabolic and inflammatory markers. Participants will be asked to refrain from structured exercise, alcohol consumption, and broccoli consumption during each of the experimental periods. Before any testing, willing participants will provide informed consent, and fill out a few demographic, and lifestyle questionnaires. The study will be conducted at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

Hypertension is the leading cause of preventable deaths globally, driven by complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. Recent updates in hypertension classification by the American Heart Association (AHA) place nearly half of the U.S. population in the hypertensive category. Excess dietary salt is a major risk factor for hypertension, with 50% of hypertensive individuals exhibiting salt-sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP). SSBP is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and death. While kidney mechanisms in salt-sensing have been extensively studied, emerging evidence suggests that immune cells can also sense sodium (Na+). This trial hypothesizes that myeloid cell-derived isolevuglandins (IsoLGs) drive endothelial dysfunction, perpetuating the salt-sensitive phenotype. Preliminary data indicate that targeting IsoLGs with the IsoLG scavenger 2-hydroxybenzylamine (2-HOBA) may interrupt this immune-vascular axis, reducing salt sensitivity and associated cardiovascular risks. This phase 2 clinical trial aims to investigate the role of 2-HOBA in modulating immune cell function within blood vessels in hypertensive patients. The study will explore the impact of immunity on salt sensitivity and assess 2-HOBA's potential to reduce endothelial dysfunction, improve immune cell activation, and alleviate SSBP.

A single arm, pilot study among individuals with rosacea and at least moderate flushing or rednesss will be enrolled in a 4-week trial of taVNS. The particicpants will be followed for an additional 4-weeks following the intervention period to evaluate the durability of the results

The goal of the proposed project is to evaluate a mechanical intervention (sports bras designed specifically for full busted women) to alleviate neck, shoulder, arm, and back pain in full-busted women and investigate the contribution of non-mechanical pathways associated with this type of pain in women. Specifically, the investigators will investigate how sex-hormones, inflammation, and remapping of specific regions of the brain contribute to the manifestation of neck, shoulder, arm, and back pain in full-busted women across the lifespan.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation and systemic immune activation. Obesity is common among individuals with RA and is associated with increased disease activity, reduced treatment response, and worse functional outcomes. Inflammation in adipose tissue, driven in part by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and downstream gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pathways, may contribute to systemic inflammation and RA disease severity. Disulfiram (DSF), an FDA-approved medication for alcohol use disorder, has recently been identified as an inhibitor of GSDMD-mediated inflammatory signaling and pyroptosis. Preclinical studies suggest that DSF reduces inflammasome activation, inflammatory cytokine release, and metabolic dysfunction. This study is a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of DSF in overweight and obese adults with active RA despite stable disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Participants will be randomized to receive either DSF (250 mg daily) or placebo. The primary objective is to assess safety and tolerability. Secondary and exploratory objectives include evaluating the effects of DSF on systemic inflammation, RA disease activity, metabolic parameters, and adipose tissue inflammasome activation. Findings from this study will inform the feasibility and design of larger clinical trials targeting GSDMD-mediated inflammation in RA.

High altitude travel can lead to inflammation in the body and activation of innate immune cells. The investigators' prior research demonstrates that 1 to 3 days at 3800 m elevation leads to increased expression of genes in blood cells that code for proteins that signal cell damage (damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)), cell receptors involved in innate immune responses, as well as increases in monocyte and neutrophil cells which promote inflammation. This study will investigate the potential mechanisms underlying these effects using the drug Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor which is known to reduce symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness.