Active clinical trials for "Atherosclerosis"

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone treatment on insulin secretion, insulin resistance, and progression of atherosclerosis in renal allograft recipients without preoperative history of diabetes.

In this study the investigators will investigate whether a short pretreatment (3-7 days) with dipyridamole 200mg twice daily will protect patients against myocardial injury sustained during an elective dotter operation of the coronary arteries (PCI). The investigators hypothesize that dipyridamole can reduce myocardial injury sustained during elective PCI.

The investigators hypothesized that circulating EMP is a useful surrogate marker of early stage of endothelial damage. To determine the effects of chronic smoking on circulating EMP, from healthy volunteers who have habit of chronic smoking, peripheral blood is drawn at the time of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) examination. Spot urine is also collected. Circulating EMPs are counted using flow-cytometry. After 2-week smoking cessation, the measurements were repeated.

The researchers propose a pilot study of the effect of long-term tea intake on atherosclerosis. Thirty patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease will be recruited and randomized to a six-month period of consumption of 3 cups per day of either tea, supplied as black tea solids readily dissolved in hot or cold liquid, or water. At baseline and after 6 months, atherosclerosis in the aorta will be assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. The primary outcomes of this pilot study will be compliance with tea intake and 2 MRI examinations. As secondary outcomes, standard and novel cardiovascular risk markers, including inflammatory, prothrombotic, fibrinolytic, vascular and metabolic factors will be measured. If successful, this pilot study will form the basis for a larger, long-term randomized trial to determine the effect of tea consumption on progression of atherosclerosis.

To assess the effectiveness of school-based risk reduction interventions involving three components: environmental changes related to food consumption, physical activity, and smoking policy in the school; classroom curriculum; and family and home-based education.

Atherosclerosis and diabetes are related to coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. The mechanisms are related to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. However, simply using antioxidant or anti-inflammatory therapies has no optimal outcomes. On the other hand, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects could effectively attenuate ROS production and reduce vascular inflammation. Hence, we will investigate the effect of NAC treatment on the outcomes in patients with advanced atherosclerotic heart diseases and patients with diabetes combined with significant peripheral artery disease.

This clinical study aims to assess the efficacy of TOTUM-070, a mix of 5 plant extracts, on lipid metabolism in moderate hypercholesterolemic subjects. The hypothesis is that TOTUM-070, daily consumed, is superior to placebo for decrease of fasting blood LDL-cholesterol concentration (determined by ultracentrifugation method) after 24 weeks of consumption.

Pioglitazone, a medication of thiazolidinedione group, is capable of triggering the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-γ). Activation of receptor PPAR-γ regulates carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, immune and inflammatory responses in heart tissues. Our aim will to study the effect of pioglitazone on insulin resistance, the clinical course of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). The study will include 43 patients with coronary artery disease. Patients will be divided into the study group - 20 patients, in whom pioglitazone will be included in the combined therapy at a dose of 15 mg 1 time per day in the morning, and the control group - 23 patients receiving standard complex drug therapy over 6 months. Patients will be underwent clinical examination, ultrasound of neck vessels, study of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The end primary points of the study will be the onset of death due to myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization procedures (coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)), or hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or unstable angina (UA). Predefined secondary end points included carotic atherosclerotic leisure (carotic intima-media thickness, diameter of stenosis, presents of atherosclerotic plaque), systemic inflammation level (the level of C reactive protein), lipid metabolism (levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipoproteins), level of insulin resistance ( oral glucose tolerance test, blood glucose).

Blood donation has been proposed to be associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but the effects of phlebotomy on vascular function in human subjects have not been well characterized. A prospective randomized double-blind study was undertaken to determine the effects of iron loss and red blood cell loss induced by serial phlebotomy on vascular endothelial function in the brachial artery.

This study is designed to assess the safety, biodistribution and dosimetry of the novel atherosclerotic imaging PET radiotracer, Cu[64]-25%-CANF-Comb.