Active clinical trials for "Atherosclerosis"

Endovascular treatment with stenting is currently used in the treatment of femoro-popliteal lesions. This technique tends to extend to lesions for which the gold standard remains until now the open surgery treatment (lesions TASC C and D). The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy at 12 months of the SuperA stent (Abbott) in the treatment of long de novo atherosclerotic lesions TASC C and D in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the SuperA stent at 24 months, according to clinical, morphological and haemodynamic criteria, the possible influence of calcifications and the quality of life of patients. The SuperA stent treatment is not specifically provided for by the Protocol but is carried out within the framework of the care. This study is an observationnal study.

This prospective, randomized, single-center clinical trial is designed to figure out the most optimal algorithm of remote ischemic conditioning on patients with chronic cerebral ischemia.

Background: Extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) send genetic data from cell to cell. This is how they affect the way cells communicate with each other. There are many types of exRNA, and they each serve different roles. But they have also been linked to some diseases. Researchers want to measure exRNAs to see how they relate to certain traits over time. They will use blood samples that were taken as part of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Objectives: To identify cross-sectional associations of exRNAs with age, sex, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Eligibility: People ages 30-70 who had blood taken as part of the FHS Third Generation cohort. Design: Researchers will study samples that have already been collected in the FHS. There will be no active participant contact for this project, only use of data that are collected as part of planned follow up from other studies. As part of the FHS, participants gave blood samples. They gave permission for the blood to be used for research. The exRNAs from the blood samples will be studied to see how they relate to certain traits. These include age, sex, and body mass index. The exRNAs will also be studied for their usefulness as biomarkers of risk for subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. No study participants will be contacted for this study....

Recent evidence indicates that Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a pro-atherosclerotic, phosphatidylcholine-dependent metabolite of diet and intestinal flora. Food substrates derive from carnitine and phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), present mainly in eggs, red meat, liver and pork. The intestinal flora pattern that favors the formation of TMAO is very similar to that which predisposes to insulin resistance and obesity: a high proportion between phylum Firmicutes over Bacteroidetes. The intestinal microbiota is sensitive and variable; the use of prebiotics and probiotics can change the relationship between Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes phyla. Red wine (RW), for its composition with polyphenols and possible bactericidal role, may play a role in the intestinal flora modification and could promote proliferation of beneficial bacteria. However, the influence of RW on TMAO is not known. This is the hypothesis to be tested in this trial. METHODS: This is a prospective, crossover, randomized, controlled trial with patients from Heart Institute (InCor), FMUSP and volunteers recruited through press releases. We will evaluate 42 patients, all men, with established atherosclerotic disease. Patients will be evaluated in a crossed manner: each subject receives both treatments, intervention and control (in random order), and they will be divided into 2 groups: A and B. In the first intervention stage, after 2 weeks of washout for all patients , group A receives Red Wine (RW) and group B is the control, abstemious. In the 2nd stage of intervention, after 2 weeks of washout for all patients the groups are inverted: group B receives RW; and group A will be abstemious. In the period with wine intervention, patients will receive 250 mL/day of red wine per day, for 5 days of the week, for 3 weeks. Patients will maintain their usual diet without the use of prebiotics or probiotics, or other polyphenolic derivatives. At the beginning and at the end of each stage, patients will be submitted to serum TMAO and intestinal microbiota evaluation. For the intestinal microbiota evaluation, the new generation sequencing will be used in the highly preserved portion of the 16S subunit of the rRNA gene. The determination of TMAO in plasma will be by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Expected results: It is expected to determine if RW acts on the intestinal flora to the point of influencing plasma TMAO concentration.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether remote ischemic conditioning(RIC) would reduce the stroke risk of patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar lesion of atherosclerosis,then we would observe the haemodynamics and plasma biomarkers changes.

The purpose of the study is to assess short and long term outcomes of acute coronary syndrome in patients with non obstructive coronary atherosclerosis, to optimize the algorithm for diagnosis and to evaluate its effectiveness

The purpose of this study is to study the effects of polyarginine treated vein grafts on graft patency for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI and positron emission tomography (PET)/MR techniques for the detection and risk stratification of patients with atherosclerosis.

The investigators are hoping to discover the cause of chest pain in patients with a normal coronary arteriogram. For patients with chest pain coronary angiography is the standard method by which the blood vessels of the heart can be visualized and any narrowing can be assessed. In some cases the investigators find totally normal coronary blood vessels or only minor disease. Such a finding is associated with an excellent long term prognosis. However, as a large proportion of patients with normal coronary arteries or mild coronary narrowings often continue to experience recurrent chest pains the investigators are interested in understanding the mechanisms responsible for this. The investigators hypothesise that in many cases, coronary artery spasms are responsible for the recurrent chest pains. These spasms usually respond to treatment with drugs known as vasodilators. The acetylcholine test (ACH-test) has been recommended by the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology as a diagnostic test. This test can reveal whether the coronary blood vessels have a tendency to go into spasm. The investigators plan in this study to carry out the test in patients who have chest pains suggestive of coronary narrowings but are found to have normal or only mildly narrowed coronary arteries on angiography. A positive test -indicating a tendency for spasm- may help guiding therapy with vasodilators, which are often very effective to prevent coronary spasms. The investigators would also like to take blood samples during the test (before and after) from every patient to measure blood markers and see if there is a relation between these markers and the result of the ACH-test.

This study will examine the effects of treatment for hepatitis C on atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by a virus that can cause permanent damage to that organ. Treatment can clear the virus in at least half of patients and reduce the risk of serious complications of the disease. Atherosclerosis is an accumulation of cholesterol and fat in the arteries that can narrow blood vessels, leading to chest pain, heart attack or stroke. Because the liver controls cholesterol and fat levels in the blood, hepatitis C infection may be a risk factor for atherosclerosis by increasing cholesterol and fat in blood vessels. Treatment of the hepatitis C may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and its consequences. This study will determine what effect hepatitis C treatment has on the rate of atherosclerosis and narrowing of blood vessels and on the risk of heart attack or stroke. Patients 30 years of age and older with current or past infection with hepatitis C may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Questionnaires regarding risk factors for heart disease and stroke Measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, weight, height, waist and hips Blood tests CT scans and ultrasound tests to measure the degree of blood vessel hardening and narrowing in the heart and neck region