Clinical trials

This study will examine how three commonly used pre-run nutritional supplements-caffeine, L-citrulline, and an exogenous ketone supplement-affect physiological and perceptual responses during a fixed-pace 5 km treadmill run in healthy, physically active runners. Participants will complete one screening and baseline visit followed by four experimental visits in a randomized order. At each experimental visit, participants will receive caffeine, L-citrulline, an exogenous ketone supplement, or placebo before completing a fixed-pace 5 km treadmill run. Each participant will receive all four conditions and will therefore serve as their own control. The study will evaluate measures including running economy, heart-rate responses, oxygen consumption, respiratory measures, blood lactate and ketone concentrations, perceived exertion, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, energy, and focus. A randomly selected subgroup will also wear a continuous glucose monitor to explore glucose responses during the experimental visits. The study will also assess the feasibility and tolerability of completing repeated treadmill trials under the four supplement conditions.

This randomized controlled crossover study will examine the acute effects of pistachio consumption on postprandial metabolic responses in adults with overweight or obesity. Participants will complete two experimental conditions in randomized order. In one condition, participants will consume 30 g of pistachios with a standardized meal, and in the other condition they will receive an isocaloric refined-carbohydrate control condition with the standardized meal. The study will evaluate postprandial insulin and glucose responses over approximately 3 hours after meal consumption. Additional outcomes will include continuous glucose monitoring measures, blood lipid responses, appetite and satiety ratings, and exploratory measures related to insulin sensitivity and gastrointestinal hormone responses. The study is designed to determine whether pistachio consumption alters acute metabolic responses compared with an isocaloric refined-carbohydrate control in adults with overweight or obesity.

This study will examine whether caffeine improves cognitive and competitive performance in professional chess players during tournament-style games. In a randomized double-blind crossover design, participants will complete two experimental sessions in which they consume either caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated coffee before playing a standardized chess match. Cognitive performance will be assessed using attention and reaction-time tests, including the Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Puzzle Rush task. Chess performance outcomes such as move accuracy, time management, and error rates will also be evaluated. The study aims to determine whether moderate caffeine intake enhances focus, alertness, and decision-making during prolonged competitive chess play.

This pilot study will evaluate whether brief bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day for two weeks can improve metabolic health, cardiovascular fitness, and other health-related outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity who do not regularly exercise. Participants will complete approximately 6-8 brief stair-climbing "exercise snacks" per day for 14 days, with each bout consisting of approximately 60 total stair steps performed at a challenging but safe self-selected pace. Participants will complete baseline and post-intervention assessments at Saint Louis University. These assessments will include continuous glucose monitoring and standardized meal testing to evaluate glucose responses, as well as measures of aerobic fitness, anaerobic power, body composition, waist circumference, and muscular strength. The study will also evaluate adherence, perceived exercise intensity, and the feasibility of incorporating brief stair-climbing bouts into daily life.

This study will examine whether very short bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day can improve blood sugar control and cardiovascular health in adults with prediabetes. Participants will complete three separate study visits in random order: uninterrupted sitting, sitting interrupted by 3-minute light walking breaks each hour, and sitting interrupted by brief stair-climbing exercise "snacks" each hour. During each visit, the research team will measure glucose, insulin, blood lipids, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and blood-vessel function. Continuous glucose monitors, blood samples, heart-rate and blood-pressure measurements, vascular ultrasound, and questionnaires will be used to assess the participants' responses. The goal of the study is to determine whether brief stair-climbing breaks may be a practical way to reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting and improve metabolic health in adults with prediabetes.

The goal of this pilot trial is to test the feasibility and acceptability as well as efficacy of the adapted intervention, CHOICES-PLEAS (Pregnancy Liberated from Exposure to Alcohol and Substances) among women will illicit polysubstance use participating in a court-mandated jail-based 90-day substance use disorder treatment program. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What is the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the CHOICES-PLEAS intervention in a court-mandated jail-based substance use disorder treatment program? 2. Does participation in CHOICES-PLEAS lower the risk of a substance exposed pregnancy at 1 and 3 months after release compared to a control condition? 3. Does participation in CHOICES-PLEAS increase motivation to change substance use and reduce risky sexual behaviors at 1 and 3 months after release compared to a control condition? Participants will receive three one-on-one motivational interviewing sessions and one family planning referral visit during incarceration and one booster session at 1 month after release from jail. Researchers will compare the CHOICES-PLEAS intervention to a control condition to see if participation in the intervention reduces risk of substance exposed pregnancy, increases motivation to change substance use, and reduces risk of risky sexual behaviors.

This study in being conducted in men who have low testosterone and chronic kidney disease. The investigators will evaluate the effects of an oral testosterone preparation, JATENZO, on testosterone levels and hemoglobin (red blood cells).

Nationally, the opioid crisis has become a major epidemic with increasing mortality rates each year. Orthopedic surgeons routinely prescribe narcotics instead of NSAIDs for post-op pain control because of risk of delayed healing and nonunion due to NSAID use. Orthopedic oncology, however, has a unique subset of patients that undergo prophylactic placement of intramedullary femoral nails. Because no fracture is present, these patients do not rely on inflammatory healing factors, allowing for post-op NSAID use. This study sets out to determine the effect of post-op toradol use in addition to opioids compared to solely opioids in patients undergoing prophylactic nailing of the femur.

The purpose of the clinical study is to investigate whether the local delivery of bisphosphonate as a surgical adjuvant can decrease the chance of a giant cell tumor of bone coming back to the same location. The hypothesis is that the local administration of bisphosphonate will decrease the rate of the tumor returning compared to traditional aggressive surgical removal of the tumor.

The purpose of this study is to compare the growth of intra-operative tissue cultures of Cutibacterium Acnes after primary shoulder replacement when using a no-prep control group versus Prontosan wound gel applied to the skin layer after the skin incision has been made.

Opioids are commonly used after orthopedic surgery for pain control but have been shown to increase complications, surgeries, readmissions, and risk for opioid use disorder. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of adding a methylprednisolone taper to the pain regimen after ACL repair surgery to determine if this results in decreased postoperative pain and opioid use without increasing complications.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of the MAP for Coaches, a web-based Musculoskeletal Athletic injury Prevention training course, in youth sport coaches. The main question it aims to answer are: * Is the MAP for Coaches effective in increasing coaches' sport-specific knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries (types, incidence, risk factors, mechanisms, and best prevention practices, with focus on neuromuscular training warm-up exercise programs)? * Is the MAP for Coaches effective in increasing coaches' motivation (self-efficacy and intention) to use sport-specific neuromuscular training warm-up exercise programs? The additional questions it aims to answer are: * Are the effects of the MAP for Coaches sustained in the short- and long-term? * Is the MAP for Coaches effective in promoting the use of sport-specific neuromuscular training warm-up exercise programs in youth sport coaches? Regardless of group, participants will receive the MAP for Coaches eLearning training course; however, the participants allocated to the control group will have their post-test survey completed right after they review the sport-specific 2-page injury prevention e-book containing an overview of the MAP for Coaches training course, including an infographic summary (Summarized MAP for Coaches eLearning Training Course). The intervention group will complete the post-test survey after the full training including both the course summary and the detailed course modules (the full training). The investigators will compare the two groups to see if an exposure to the (Full) MAP for Coaches eLearning Training Course improves study outcomes compared with the control group.

Patients with endometrial cancer who will be undergoing surgery or patients with cervical cancer who will be treated with chemoradiation will be randomized to utilize the Headspace smartphone application or not prior to their anticipated treatment.

This study will investigate the feasibility of a 6-month community walking program for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their care partners in greater Saint Louis, Missouri region. The walking program will consist of weekly, organized walking groups at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Participants in the program will use Nordic walking poles during the walks. The walking group(s) will meet once per week and will be supervised by walking group leaders from Saint Louis University. Participants will be given a smart watch to wear that will help step counts will be tracked in real-time. The program is designed to get people with Parkinson's disease out of their homes, cultivate a culture of connection with others with Parkinson's disease, and to be collectively accountable for a common goal toward increasing their physical and social engagement in their communities.

Recent breakthroughs in medical genetics have discovered that a portion of kidney failure affecting the Black community is mediated by coding variants in a gene called apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) - and that genetic variants, not race - account for increased risk. For APOL1 genetic testing to be applied in a manner that improves patient care and outcomes, more information is needed regarding associations of genotype with clinical parameters related to kidney health. Further, understanding patient perceptions about knowledge of the results of APOL1 genetic testing, and how that impacts patient engagement with management of hypertension and other renal risk factors, is urgently needed. * In a Phase 1 pilot study, we offered APOL1 genetic testing to Black patients seen in our Hypertension and Nephrology clinics at Saint Louis University, an academic medical center that serves the local urban community, and surveyed patients on attitudes and concerns about APOL1 genetic testing. 144 participants were enrolled in Phase 1. * In the Phase 2 study, we will advance this important work in our community by offering participation to a broader patient base, including patients seen in Internal and Family Medicine clinics, SLU Hospital, as well as to first-degree relatives and spouses of SLUCare participants. This expansion seeks to advance understanding of environment-gene interactions, improve risk prediction, and target management of potentially modifiable risk factors.

A retrospective and prospective registry of patients admitted for stroke and evidence of Vertebral Artery Origin Stenosis (VAOS).