Protocol Number: 03-N-0004
Healthy volunteers and patients with primary CAF 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo some of the following tests: -Blood studies, including arterial catheter insertion to measure blood pressure and collect arterial blood samples, blood flow studies using sensors applied to the skin and a pressure cuff around a limb, and blood draw for genetic studies. -Bladder motility: Ultrasound test of bladder function. -Electrocardiogram and heart ultrasound. -Responses to changes in temperature: Warm water and then room temperature water are passed through watertight pads applied to the back and front of the body and body temperatures are measured. -Gastrointestinal motility: Bowel sounds are recorded using a microphone placed on the abdomen. -Lower body negative pressure: The lower body is placed into an airtight barrel-like chamber. Some air is sucked out of the barrel, causing blood to pool in the legs, as occurs during standing. -Lumbar puncture: A needle is inserted in the space between the bones in the lower back to collect a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid. -Microdialysis to measures levels of chemicals in the body fluid of certain tissues. A solution is passed through a thin tube inserted into the skin. Chemicals in the body tissues enter the solution. The solution is collected and the chemical levels are measured. -PET scanning: A nuclear medicine test to produce images of body organs. For patients with urinary problems, a catheter is inserted into the bladder before starting the scan. -Pupillometry: The pupil of the eye is measured using a special camera in a light-controlled room. -QSART. A small amount of a brain chemical is applied to the skin with a tiny amount of electricity, and the sweat in a nearby patch of skin is measured. -Measurement of saliva production, using a cotton-like material placed between the teeth and gums to absorb saliva. -Skin electrical conduction test, using sensors on the skin to measure sweat production. -Skin and core temperature measurements using sensors on the skin and in the ear canal. -Speech and swallowing assessment for patients with speech and swallowing difficulties. -Stress echocardiogram: A catheter is placed in the subject's arm for sampling blood or giving a drug while the subject exercises. During the test, blood pressure, pulse rate, and EKG are continuously monitored.
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 01/30/2009
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