Clinical trials

This is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving emergency medicine and internal medicine healthcare providers as participants. The intervention involves the administration of the seasonal influenza vaccine or a saline placebo; this protocol is used in psychoneuro-immunology to simulate a state of mild illness. The primary aim is to examine whether acute inflammation induced by receiving the vaccine affects decision-making on standardized psychological reaction time tasks and questionnaires. Participants attend two laboratory sessions on consecutive days, receive either a seasonal influenza vaccine or a saline placebo at the first session, provide blood samples to measure inflammatory cytokines, and complete a series of standardized assessments of medical decision-making and social attitudes. Participants who received the placebo during the first session will receive the vaccine during the second session. Overall, the study is designed to examine how adverse provider conditions particularly acute inflammation, burnout, and concerns about one's own health affect provider judgments and healthcare-related decision-making. The primary hypothesis is that providers experiencing greater adverse conditions at the time of research participation would have altered decision-making compared to those experiencing fewer adverse conditions.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of Cannabigerol (CBG) on indicators of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a sample of participants indicating/reporting symptoms associated with ADHD. The main question it aims to answer is: Does CBG reduce ADHD-related indicators relative to placebo? Participants will administer an acute dose of placebo or 80mg CBG and complete outcome measures at 45 minutes and 75 minutes. Daily surveys to monitor safety will be administered for one week following administration.

Prior to each trial, you will be provided with urine jugs and food/fluid logs to record food and drink intake for 24hr. You will be asked to log food/fluid intake 24hr leading into trials. We ask that you match your diet for both trials, as much as possible. Also, we ask that you match caffeine consumption prior to trials. Lastly, we ask that you refrain from strenuous exercise and alcohol consumption for at least 12hrs leading into trials. Either of these exclude your participation in the study for safety reasons. You will be asked to provide a small urine sample upon arrival to the lab before trials. The purpose of this is to verify hydration prior to exercise in the heat. If you are not hydrated upon arrival, you will be provided and asked to drink 16oz (a bottle) of water prior to the trial. Just prior to, and following each long trial, you will be asked to provide a small saliva sample. To do this, you will be asked to actively produce saliva and guide it into a small container. This process takes \<5min. Next, you will have your nude body mass measured and you will be instrumented with a labbased sweat collection patch (large band-aid on the forearm), and the Hdrop sweat detection device on your left upper arm. The Hdrop will be synced with electronic applications (phone apps) to assure data collection. You will then self-insert a rectal thermistor \~15 cm past the anal sphincter to monitor core temperature throughout exercise (for safety purposes). You will also be fitted with a heart rate strap that goes around your chest. You will then be asked to enter the environmental chamber and exercise for 30min. This will serve as the short exercise trial aiming to assure comfort with the 120min exercise trials. Data will be collected during the short trial and comparisons will be made for the longer, 120min trials. The environmental chamber will maintain a consistent temperature (80-100 degrees F) and humidity (40 to 60 % relative humidity). You will be monitored for safety throughout exercise in all 3 trials, and you will be allowed to cycle (stationary bike) or run or walk (treadmill) at your own pace/intensity. Pace and intensity will be recorded during the first trial and attempts will be made to match exercise intensity for subsequent trials. Fluid consumption will be allowed during trials and will be matched between trials. In both trials, you will be allowed to drink for a 5min period at each 30min interval (30-35min, 60-65min and 90-95min). We will provide a sport drink of your flavor choice during exercise.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a significant public health problem and is one of the most common hormonal disturbances affecting women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS are often insulin resistant, increasing their risk for cardiometabolic health problems (e.g., type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, and stroke) especially if they are overweight. Lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes and regular physical activity, may alleviate metabolic dysfunction in women with PCOS and are often the first line of management for patients with PCOS. Several studies have identified protein as a key nutrient for regulation of energy balance, maintenance of skeletal muscle mass, and improving cardiometabolic health across the lifespan. However, the effect of increased protein intake (30% of total energy intake) on cardiometabolic health in women with PCOS has not been well-defined and mechanisms for these effects have not been identified. There is an evident need for well-designed, randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of increased protein intake in women with PCOS on markers of cardiometabolic health. Preliminary data from collaborative projects with the investigators on this proposal suggest that increasing protein in the diet has the potential to improve markers of cardiometabolic health, potentially through improvements in body composition and/or changes in cortisol, energy metabolism, inflammation, and neurological regulators

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and reproductive dysfunction. Dietary strategies that improve postprandial insulin and glucose responses are central to managing metabolic symptoms in PCOS. Meals higher in protein can attenuate postprandial glycemia and enhance satiety, but the effects may vary by protein source. Animal sources of protein typically have higher essential amino acid content and insulinogenic potential, whereas plant proteins offer fiber and phytochemicals that may influence glycemic dynamics differently. Few studies have directly compared the acute metabolic effects of plant versus animal protein in women with PCOS. Given the distinct pathophysiology of PCOS, extrapolating findings from healthy populations may be misleading. Understanding protein-specific effects on postprandial insulin, glucose, and appetite-regulating hormones in this group is essential for targeted nutrition guidance. Additionally, plant-based diets are increasingly promoted for cardiometabolic health, but their acute effects in insulin-resistant women remain underexplored. This study will assess whether plant and animal protein meals elicit differential postprandial responses in women with PCOS. Findings may inform dietary recommendations aimed at improving metabolic outcomes in this high-risk population.

Effective nutrition strategies for combatting and/or preventing obesity still need to be identified. This has been the case despite the numerous and different approaches that have been taken. Potential targets for combatting/preventing obesity have been identified, but long-term solutions have not emerged. This study uses time restricted feeding to study the role of dietary protein in obesity prevention and/or treatment. The objectives are to determine the role of skeletal muscle mass as a driver of energy-sensing mechanisms and peripheral signals that regulate appetite and energy intake in overweight and obese adults and to determine the effects of protein timing on muscle mass to regulate appetite and energy intake in overweight and obese adults.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which aspects of distress intolerance (i.e., difficulties withstanding upsetting emotional states) are the most important for improving effective emotion regulation and associated mental health symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are: How are willingness to feel upset and self-efficacy for withstanding distress associated with different emotion regulation strategies used in daily life? Does targeting willingness to feel upset and/or self-efficacy for withstanding distress help people use more effective emotion regulation strategies in daily life when they feel upset? Are improvements in emotion regulation strategies in daily life associated with fewer symptoms of mental health problems over time? Participants will: Answer questions about their moods, willingness to feel upset, self-efficacy for withstanding distress and emotion regulation strategies for three weeks using a cell phone app Undergo a willingness, self-efficacy, combined or psychoeducational control intervention in the lab Be prompted to use the intervention skill via the cell phone app during the second week, after the intervention Complete weekly reports of mental health symptoms

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if consuming a higher protein diet that includes one serving of beef each day, in combination with resistance exercise, improves wellbeing in postmenopausal women. It will also tell us about how higher protein intake changes body composition and blood values related to health. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does higher protein intake combined with resistance training improve mood and sleep in postmenopausal women? * What other health benefits to postmenopausal women experience when the follow a higher protein diet and participate in resistance exercise? Researchers will compare three groups 1) postmenopausal women living their daily lives as usual, 2) postmenopausal women consuming a higher protein diet, and 2) postmenopausal women consuming a higher protein diet and participating in resistance training. Participants will: * Consume a higher protein diet for 16 weeks * Participate in an at-home resistance training for 16 weeks * Keep a diary of their food intake, sleep habits, and mood * Have health assessments every 4 weeks