Active clinical trials for "Atherosclerosis"

To assess the mode of inheritance of familial combined hyperlipidemia and familial primary hypoalphalipoproteinemia and to resolve genetic and familial environmental effects on several phenotypes of importance to coronary heart disease.

To determine the role of dyslipidemia, markers of endothelial dysfunction genetic susceptibility, and dietary fat intake on the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications in Type II diabetes mellitus.

To locate and identify genes contributing to the genetic component of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Type 2 diabetes and to evaluate the impact of lifestyle and environment on the expression of these genetic components of subclinical CVD.

Black Americans tend to die more often from and have more diseases associated with heart disease than White Americans. The exact cause of this is unknown, but it is likely a combination of genetics, behavior, risk factors, strategies for education and prevention, and socioeconomic factors. Recent studies have suggested that faster biological processes in blood vessels of Black Americans may be the cause of increased amounts of heart disease. In addition, small blood vessels in Black Americans seem to be less responsive to substances that relax blood vessels, which may explain increased blood pressure levels. In this study researchers plan to study artery relaxation (dilation) in response substances affecting the cells lining blood vessels (endothelin). Researchers will compare the results of this study in black and white people to find out whether racial differences may contribute to increases in heart disease and heart related deaths in blacks.

This study intends to build a model through deep learning that can automatically and accurately detect plaques, calculate the lumen stenosis rate and evaluate the stability of plaques based on the carotid transverse axis dynamic ultrasound images and contrast-enhanced ultrasound images, so as to comprehensively evaluate the possibility of carotid plaques. cardiovascular risk. The successful development of this study will automatically simulate and reproduce the whole process of carotid plaque assessment by clinical sonographers. Solve the problem of ultrasonic inspection equipment and experience dependence. It is expected to carry out large-scale population intelligent screening, providing new ideas for early prevention and treatment. Especially in medically underdeveloped remote areas and the lack of experienced sonographers, it has great practical value in clinical health care and can bring greater social and economic benefits.

The overall objective of the current proposal is to strengthen the putative link between FFA induced insulin resistance and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD). To this end, the investigators will test the following hypotheses: 1) that FFA induced activation of protein kinase C βII (PKC β II) and δ and other serine kinases such as IκB kinase (IKK) in human muscle is associated with a decrease in insulin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and of IRS-1 associated phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase; 2) that these changes precede the development of insulin resistance; 3) that the decrease in IκB-α results in activation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and the expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines; 4) that PKC and IKK are involved in producing insulin resistance and activation of the IκB/ NFκB pathway and lastly 5) that the same mechanisms operative in healthy volunteers are also operative in patients with T2DM.The investigators will test these hypotheses in normal (current) and diabetic volunteers (previously completed) . Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps will be performed with and without co-infusion of lipid plus heparin (to raise FFAs) and by obtaining serial muscle and fat biopsies and blood samples will be obtained for measurement of substrates, hormones, enzymes and metabolites.

The investigators' hypothesis is that local activation of the endogenous Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) plays an integral role in early atherosclerosis, and contributes to the mechanism of coronary endothelial dysfunction and to the structural and mechanical properties that characterize plaque vulnerability. Thus, this study will characterize prospectively the correlation between the functional and structural vascular wall properties, and the activity of the Lp-PLA2 pathway.

The aim of this study is to prospectively investigate the relationship of circulating endothelial progenitor cells at time of percutaneous coronary intervention to the subsequent development of in-stent restenosis or progression of coronary atherosclerosis.

The aim of this study is to describe technique, efficiency, safety and satisfaction of ultrasound guided intermediate cervical plexus block for carotid endarterectomy. The investigators present a simple approach for carotid regional anaesthesia by an anterior way that has not been published yet.

Multiple risk factors contribute to atherosclerosis, which ultimately results in clinical manifestation of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis results in both functional and morphological changes in the vessel wall, which can be measured by ultrasonography. The current study has been designed to To evaluate whether non-invasive measurements of atherosclerosis are independent predictors of cardiovascular disease and to delineate new biochemical parameters and genetic variations, allowing earlier and more effective preventive therapy The investigators intend to set guidelines for use of NIMA in an outpatient setting to facilitate early detection of increased cardiovascular risk and monitor life-style and pharmaceutical interventions. In both the general population and in Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia.