NEWS AND CLINICAL TRIALS

All studies will be conducted in Los Angeles, CA

1. 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 for more information or to enroll.

• Women ages 18 to 55.
  
• Hypopituitarism with documented central adrenal and gonadal deficiencies, 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 testosterone replacement

3. WOMEN WITH PITUITARY PROBLEMS

Women with pituitary problems, Ages 18-55, to undergo baseline studies to evaluate consequences of low testosterone and to receive testosterone replacement for 1 week. Volunteers will be compensated. Please call Dr. Friedman or Dr. Zuckerbraun at 323-563-9385 or email study@goodhormonehealth.com for more information or to enroll.

4. NORMAL FEMALE VOLUNTEERS

Normal female volunteers, ages 18-55, to undergo blood testing, muscle, cognitive and sexual function testing. 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 for more information or to enroll.

5.SMOKING CESSATION

Do you want to quit smoking? Smoking not only increases your risk of heart disease, but also diabetes and cholesterol problems. Quitting will reduce these risks. Researchers at Charles Drew University are conducting a study of how your body changes when you quit smoking. Eligible participants will receive counseling on how to quit with the medication bupropion (Zyban).

To qualify, you must be:

Between 25 and 70 years old
Smoking between 1 and 2 packs per day

If you qualify, you will be compensated for your time.

For more information call Juan Ortega: (323) 563-9385 or email: nicotine@goodhormonehealth.com

7. 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:
1. Research subjects meeting the CDC definition of CFS.
2. All races, ethnicites, socioeconomic status (SES), and gender
3. Age 18-50
4. Able to provide informed consent.
5. Willingness to be off all medicines effecting the brain and supplements for 3 weeks prior to the study.
6. 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 R. Drew University  of Medicine and Sciences
1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles CA 90059