Intestinal Bacteria and Breast Cancer Study

The Section of Gastroenterology and Nutrition is conducting a study about the effect of intestinal bacteria on breast cancer. Researchers are looking for both recently diagnosed breast cancer patients and women who don’t have breast cancer to provide clinical data and stool and blood samples, as well as to undergo colonic biopsies.
Participants must meet the following criteria:
• Be a woman between 50 and 70 years of age
• Not have had menstrual periods for 12 months or longer
• Not be positive for the BRCA or Li Fraumeni gene mutations

This is a partial list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. For more information, call Andrew Walker at (312) 942-9203.

First Heart Attack Study

The Section of Interventional Cardiology is participating in a study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of Prochymal, an investigational therapy, to preserve or improve cardiac function when given within the seven days following a first heart attack.

The active ingredient in Prochymal is mesenchymal stem cells taken from healthy adult volunteers (not embryonic stem cells). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Prochymal or a placebo as a one-time intravenous infusion and will be followed for two years after treatment.

Participants must meet the following criteria:
• Be 21 to 85 years old
• Have had a first heart attack within the past seven days
• Not be allergic to pork or beef products or MRI dye

This is a partial list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. For more information, call Amy Graf, CCRC, RD, at (312) 942-8144.