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  DIVISION OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
 
  Clinical Trials
 
 
Normal Volunteers Ages 18-55

Normal volunteers of both genders, ages 18-55, to undergo blood testing, brain SPECT scans and blood pressure measurements. Applicants must be healthy and off medications. Volunteers will be compensated. Please call Dr. Friedman or Dr. Zuckerbraun at 323-563-9385 or email study@goodhormonehealth.com study@goodhormonehealth.com  for more information or to enroll.
 
 
Women with Pituitary Problems wanted for a Testosterone Study

Purpose: Testosterone is the principal male sex hormone but is also present in smaller amounts and may be important in women. Among its likely actions in women are the building of bone and muscle mass, increase in interest in sex (libido) and effects on the mood. The role of testosterone replacement in women with low testosterone levels is currently being studied. In this study, you will be given an experimental preparation of a testosterone gel which will be applied on the skin of your outer thigh for seven days. It is anticipated that this experimental gel application will produce levels of the drug in the normal range for women. A further aim of this study is to assess whether female patients with dysfunction of the pituitary gland have abnormalities in body composition, muscle strength, thinking and sexual function.
 
Criteria for subjects:
  • Women ages 18 to 55.
  • Hypopituitarism with documented central adrenal and gonadaldeficiencies, on conjugated equine estrogen replacement
  • Serum testosterone level of < 20 ng/dl or free testosterone<1.5 pg/ml
    (can be tested at study site)
  • Written informed consent
  • No other significant medical condition
  • Patients must discontinue their current testosteronereplacement

Number of patients-80

Location: King/Drew Medical Center in Willowbrook and UCLA in West Los Angeles. Patient Compensation: $800

For more information or subject referrals contact:

Please call Dr. Friedman or Dr. Zuckerbraun at 323-563-9385 or email study@goodhormonehealth.com study@goodhormonehealth.com  for more information or to enroll.

We have an additional site at OHSU in Portland. Contact Elease at rumbaugh@ohsu.edu rumbaugh@ohsu.edu  or (503) 494-1517 for more information.
 

Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH between 4 and 10 uU/mL and normal T4), ages 18-65, to undergo hormonal, exercise and quality of life testing. Subjects will then receive either low dose L-thyroxine, full-dose L-thyroxine or placebo for 6 months. Volunteers will be compensated. Please contact Dr. Sahasranam at premsahasranam@yahoo.com premsahasranam@yahoo.com  -phone number 323-563-9353 for more information or to enroll.)

 
Recruiting Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) for Clinical Study
 
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is due to inadequate blood flow to the brain and to test a medication which may help increase blood flow to the brain and improve the symptoms of CFS. We propose that in a subset of patients with CFS, there is inadequate blood flow to the brain, resulting in some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. To determine if this is the case, you will have brain scans called SPECT scans, which measure blood flow to your brain. We will also do a test to measure your blood pressure in different positions, called a tilt-table test.
 

You will then receive drug or placebo (sugar-pill) in a blinded (such that neither you nor your doctors know if you are taking drug or

placebo) manner as a possible treatment for CFS. We will test the idea that this drug will increase blood flow to the brain and improve symptoms related to CFS.  We will also test if this drug improves your thinking process. It is expected that these tests will help allow doctors to understand what causes chronic fatigue syndrome.

 
Criteria for subjects:
A. Research subjects meeting the CDC definition of CFS.
B. All races, ethnicities, socio-economic status (SES), and gender
C. Age 18-50.
D. Able to provide informed consent.
E. Willingness to be off all medicines effecting the brain and supplements for 3 weeks prior to the study.
F. Research subjects with psychiatric disorders or concurrent fibromyalgia will be included, if they could be off their medications
 

Number of patients-30

Location: King/Drew Medical Center in Willowbrook and Harbor-UCLA in Torrance. Both of these locations are in Los Angeles, CA.

Enrollment Period: on going

Patient Compensation: $200

For more information or subject referrals contact: Erik Zuckerbraun, M.D. Telephone (323) 563-9385 Email: study@goodhormonehealth.com

Fax: (323) 563-9324 Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science 1731 E. 120th Street, Los Angeles, California 90059
 
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