Active clinical trials for "Heart and Blood Diseases"

This study was initiated on the preliminary premise that a thrombus whose formation was triggered by a thrombogenic substrate, such as within an atherosclerotic plaque (Tissue factor initiated thrombus), may evolve differently than the one evolving at the site of a recently implanted stent (foreign body triggered). Consequently, the thrombus composition of a de novo clot could differ from the other one, extracted during the occurrence of a subacute thrombosis, regarding the number of various cells, the amount of fibrin and platelet aggregates and the relationship among these components. In addition, it seems relevant to evaluate the numbers and the distribution of the local monocytes, once these cells may interact with platelets (via cell -adhesion mechanisms e.g., by CD31 [PECAM-1]) and by the extrinsic coagulation pathway (via TF/FVII elaborated by plaque-resident macrophages). Such a distinction, if eventually found, may reveal the mechanisms of thrombosis within coronary arteries, and may have clinical implications.

The PRESTIGE-registry is a joint effort at 9 European heart centers to collect data regarding patients presenting with stent thrombosis in a dedicated database. There will be extensive clinical and procedural characterization, furthermore blood platelet function testing, intracoronary imaging, DNA-sampling and analysis of thrombus aspiration will be performed.

This is a retrospective study. The investigators shall review the angiography data of 1200 consecutive cardiac catheterizations of children and babies with CHD (Congenital Heart Disease) since 1998 till now. Coronary artery origin and course will be evaluated in relation to the morphologic cardiac anomalies. Coronary artery anomalies will be described and statistical analysis will be performed.

Canadians fear loss of vision more than any other disability. Vision loss has an enormous impact on quality-of-life and is extremely costly from a societal and economic perspective. In 2001, more than 600,000 Canadians were estimated to have severe vision loss, accounting for 17% of total disability in Canada. One in 9 individuals experience severe vision loss by 65 years of age; however, this increases to 1 in 4 individuals by 75 years. The financial cost of vision loss in Canada is $15.8 billion per year. There is a general perception that vision loss is "normal with aging" but 75% of vision loss is estimated to be preventable. The major causes of severe vision loss are age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), glaucoma, particularly primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Canada is headed for an epidemic of age-related eye disease and, unless something is done to prepare for this, severe vision loss will have significant consequences in terms of societal and economic costs. Through this proposed Research Program, and in conjunction with the investigators international academic and private sector partners, the investigators will build and develop unique quantitative imaging technologies to permit non-invasive assessment of visual changes, structural changes in the thickness of the retina at the back of the eye and also changes in the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessels that feed the retina with oxygen. This research will add to the investigators basic knowledge in predicting the development of sight-threatening change in patients with the three diseases, and facilitate earlier detection of the problem to help us discover earlier treatments for people with these conditions. The reliability of each imaging technology will be assessed by determining its ability to differentiate between diseased and healthy eyes. Cross-sectional analyses at yearly intervals, as well as change over time analyses, will be undertaken.

Primary hypothesis: Catheter-based renal denervation reduces central sympathetic activation in patients with refractory hypertension. Secondary hypotheses: The magnitude of the individual depressor response after catheter-based renal denervation depends on the extent of sympathoinhibition. Both, the reduction in arterial pressure and in central sympathetic activation are sustained over time up to 24±3 months after catheter-based renal denervation. Catheter-based renal denervation resets the sympathetic baroreflex to lower blood pressure values.

Susac Syndrome is a rare disease and the establishment of the diagnosis is often difficult. The aim of this investigation is to identify relevant biomarkers and to elucidate the pathogenesis of Susac syndrome

The primary aim of the study is to derive and validate risk scores for vascular endpoints (recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and other complications of stroke) and for death following an incident stroke. For this purpose patients with an incident stroke will be followed for 36 months with additional assessments at 12, 24 and 36 months.

To access the clinical usefulness of F1+2 in the diagnosis of PE in patients with AECOPD who require hospitalization. Specifically, to determine whether F1+2 may have an additional value in the subgroup of patients with an abnormal D-dimer,to determine whether it may increase the proportion of patients in whom PE can be safely ruled out and to determine the sensitivity, specificity and NPV of F1+2 at various cut-off values.

The aim of this study is to determine on preliminary basis weather an elevated pro-calcitonin level can be used to assess ischemia as a result of coronary artery complications during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

The study hypothesizes that an assumed cardiovascular performance reserve is physiologically detectable. High reserve at rest characterizes a healthy person while low reserve at rest characterizes low functional capacity e.g. heart failure. The lower the reserve the severer the morbidity. The reserve may be estimated through CVRI (cardiovascular reserve index) which is computed by an algorithm composed of physiological measurements taken during the patient visit. In this study the investigators evaluate CVRI capability in prediction of functional capacity in comparison with the clinical evaluation during the same visit.