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Endocrine Testing of L.A

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For Cushing's, Growth Hormone Deficient and Hypopituitary Patients


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.

2. 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 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

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 for more information or to enroll.

We have an additional site at OHSU in  Portland. Contact Dr. Cook at cookd@ohsu.edu or (503) 494-9000,Extension 1977 for  more information.

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

6.EXERCISE and HEART DISEASE

Is there diabetes in your family? Is your waist size too large? Do you have high cholesterol? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you at risk for heart disease? If so, exercise may help reduce your risk for heart disease.

We are conducting a research study of how different kinds of exercise reduce risk for heart disease.

To qualify, you must:
Be at risk for heart disease
Not have diabetes
Be able to exercise 3 to 5 times every week

If you qualify, you will be compensated for your time

For more information call: (323) 249-5723

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

8. POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH STREES URINARY INCONTINENCE FOR TESTOSTERONE SUPPLEMENT STUDY

Purpose:
Stress urinary incontinence is the leakage of urine with physical activity such as walking, running, coughing, or sneezing. It becomes a common condition as women age and is a result of weakening of the pelvic muscles that support the bladder. Although it is not a life-threatening condition, it generally interferes with the quality of life in those affected.

The purpose of this study is to learn if testosterone, given to postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence, will improve pelvic muscle strength and therefore lessen urine leakage and improve quality of life. Approximately 60 women will take part in this study which is being conducted at Charles Drew University in Los Angeles. This study is approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Criteria for subjects:

Postmenopausal women ages 45-75 with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Location:

Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science
Hawkins Building Second Floor
1720 E. 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059

Patient Compensation: $725

For more information, to sign up, or for subject referrals, please contact Connie Dzekov B.A., CCRP, Clinical Research Manager at:

Tel: (323)357-3697
Fax:(323)357-3670

Email: testosterone@goodhormonehealth.com

9. POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH HYSTERECTOMY (WITH OR WITHOUT OVARIES REMOVED) FOR TESTOSTERONE SUPPLEMENT STUDY

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of testosterone in women. Women who are post-menopause often have low testosterone levels in their blood. This research study may find out whether it is beneficial to replace testosterone in women who are post-menopause. It may also find out the most appropriate dose of testosterone that shows beneficial effects on women's sex life, muscle and fat mass, physical function, and ability to solve some types of problems without side effects.

Criteria for subjects:

Postmenopausal women (with or without ovaries removed) ages 21-60

  • Have had hysterectomy.
  • Do NOT have any type of cancer.

Location:

Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science
Hawkins Building Second Floor
1720 E. 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059

Patient Compensation: $1500

For more information, to sign up, or for subject referrals, please contact Connie Dzekov B.A., CCRP, Clinical Research Manager at:

Tel: (323)357-3697
Fax:(323)357-3670

Email: testosterone@goodhormonehealth.com



 
 


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Dr. Friedman's web site does not offer medical advice. These materials are offered for information purposes only. Do not act or rely upon information from goodhormonehealth.com without seeking professional medical advice. Additionally, the transmission of information from the web site, goodhormonehealth.com to you, is not intended to create nor does create a physician-patient relationship between you and Dr. Friedman.