Active clinical trials for "Atherosclerosis"

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of multiple oral doses of BMS-779788 in healthy subjects

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced in the body when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D is essential for promoting calcium absorption and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and bone growth. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis. Many people have low levels of Vitamin D. Replacing Vitamin D is thought to help lower the risk of heart disease. Vitamin D may be helpful, but it could also be harmful. The investigators are studying the effect of Vitamin D on the level of a harmful kind of cholesterol. Participants will have their cholesterol levels measured and then receive either Vitamin D or a placebo. After 2 months of treatment, the investigators will measure their cholesterol levels again.

The present study constitutes a study examining the effect of atorvastatin on vascular function in high cardiovascular risk patients. For this purpose the investigators will record atorvastatin effects on statin-naïve patients (patients that start statins treatment for first time). More specifically the investigators will study atorvastatin effects on: Endothelial function Arterial elastic properties Systemic Inflammatory/thrombotic mechanisms Vascular and myocardial redox state

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of 40 mg dose of rosuvastatin on carotid plaque inflammation measured with MRI and PET scanning, to evaluate whether these techniques are promising for future proof of principle studies. A number of patients will receive placebo as a control.

Multiple clinical trials, using 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins), have shown benefit in the primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic complications. However, till now, there is an incomplete understanding of all the mechanisms of the biologic effects of statins beyond LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction, but there is accumulating evidence that the Rho-GTP/Rho-Kinase pathway (Rho/Rho-K) plays an important role and may be a strategic therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases. With similar LDL-C reduction ability, the availability of Ezetimibe offers the potential to begin to address the question whether some of the benefits conferred by statins may accrue independently of their effects on LDL-C lowering. A better understanding of the role of the Rho/Rho-kinase signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in human is essential. Inhibition of Rho/Rho-kinase by statins may explain some of the biological beneficial effects of statins observed in clinical trials. This study aims to translate into patients important experimental discoveries regarding the initiation of inflammation in atherosclerosis in an attempt to improve upon the present treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

This will be an exploratory, open-label, single sequence, two part study (Part A and an optional Part B). The aim of this study will be to assess whether systemic inhibition of Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in humans, effected by 11 days of once daily dosing to steady state with 160 milligrams (mg) of enteric coated (EC) darapladib, will specifically reduce the number of macrophages and/or result in a higher proportion of M2 macrophages in skin blisters induced by cantharidin (a chemical agent that causes blisters). In Part A of the study, a cohort of 8 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus will be recruited. In Part B of the study, a cohort of 8 additional healthy subjects with matching age (+/- 24 months) and gender to Part A may be recruited.

The aim of this prospective, randomised, controlled study is to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical block to superficial block for carotid endarterectomy. Patients scheduled for carotide endarterectomy under regional anaesthesia (ropivacaine 4.75 mg/ml) are randomised into 2 groups according to the technique of anaesthesia performed: superficial cervical block (Control group) or, ultrasound guided intermediate cervical block (Echo group). Main outcome is cervical block success, defined by surgery performed under regional anaesthesia without supplemental topical lidocaine. Secondary outcomes are rate of conversion to general anaesthesia, total dose of supplemental topical lidocaine and block-related complications.

Background: preliminary data have shown that erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B (ery-apoB) may be protective against atherosclerosis. However, statins may have an effect on ery-apoB. Objective: to investigate the effect of statins on ery-apoB levels. Study design: a non-randomized intervention study. Ery-apoB will be measured twice in volunteers who are on statin therapy for medical reasons. After a baseline measurement of ery-apoB volunteers will discontinue their statin use for a period of six weeks followed by a second measurement of ery-apoB. Consecutively subjects will start with their original statin therapy again. Study population: patients on statin therapy aged 18 years or older. Intervention: temporary discontinuation of statin therapy for a period of six weeks. Main study endpoints: changes in ery-apoB levels. Risks, burden and benefits on participation: volunteers will visit the outpatient clinic twice, the second visit will be exactly six weeks after the first visit. The volunteers' general practitioner and medical specialist (internist or cardiologist) will be informed about their participation. Subjects have to fast for 10 hours before every visit and venous blood samples will be drawn on both visits (a total of 36ml of blood). Subjects will discontinue their usual statin therapy for a period of six weeks. No major risks are involved with temporary discontinuation of statin therapy in stable chronic cardiovascular disease. Volunteers will receive 25 euro's in total for participation. Participation serves to further investigate the relation of statins and potentially beneficial binding of apoB on erythrocytes.

The purpose of the study is to assess the importance of a substance called endothelin. Endothelin is produced by coronary arteries. This study examines this substance to determine whether it has an effect on controlling blood flow in coronary arteries. When these arteries release too much endothelin, the blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced and this may be important in heart conditions. This protocol examines an investigational drug called BQ-123 to see if it blocks the effect of endothelin. We assess the blood flow in the coronaries and evaluate the effects of BQ-123. It is anticipated that this endothelin blocker will open up coronary arteries and increase the blood flow to the heart.

This is a 2-year, open-label, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of Rosuvastatin dosing adjustment by LDL-C level compared to that of 5mg maintenance dose in chinese patients with Carotid Atherosclerosis.