Active clinical trials for "Calcinosis"

objectives Evaluate the performance of Venus MedTech aortic valve prosthesis intervention by femoral artery Evaluate safety and clinical benefit of percutaneous implantation of the Venue MedTech aortic valve prosthesis. Continuous observe 12 months of safety and efficacy. Approximately 80 patients presenting with native aortic valve stenosis necessitating valve replacement which are considered unsuitable for Surgical Valve Replacement, with a high surgical risk, as attested to by both the surgeon and the cardiologist are recruited in the study. Safety and performance will be evaluated at discharge and at 30 days post procedure. Valve safety, performance and placement will be followed up at 6 and 12 months post-procedure.

We planned to evaluate the effects of melatonin on progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with moderate calcified coronary atherosclerosis.

Both Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC)and its annual progression are a strong predictors of cardiovascular events. The development of arterial calcification results from imbalance between calcification promoting and inhibiting factors. An important inhibitor of calcification is Matrix Gla Protein (MGP): a protein present in the vascular wall where it is synthesized by Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC). MGP requires Vitamin K-mediated carboxylation to function properly. Deficiency of Vitamin K has been demonstrated to cause arterial calcification and a diet containing large amounts of Vitamin K2 was associated with lower CAC and cardiovascular risk. In animal studies, active supplementation of Vitamin K2 caused regression of existing arterial calcification. Therefore, the aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is to investigate whether daily supplementation of Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7) to patients with established CAC will lead to a decreased progression-rate of CAC after 24 months of follow-up in comparison to placebo.

This study examines patients on chronic hemodialysis with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, who have a CHA2DS2-VASc Score of ≥ 2 and therefore are candidates for or already receive a vitamin K antagonist. The first question is whether replacement of the vitamin K antagonist by rivaroxaban is able to slow progression of vascular calcification. The second question is whether addition of vitamin K2 to rivaroxaban can further slow down or even halt the progression of vascular calcification.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of mortality in the UK with an estimated 80,000 fatalities in 2010. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden and cardiovascular mortality. Mechanisms underlying isolated CAC have not been as yet been fully explained. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), known to act as regulators of gene expression, have also emerged as powerful biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disorders and may be used in the detection of CAC. We aim to investigate the potential for a "microRNA-signature" in patients with CAC by performing a prospective, case-controlled study to identify pathways associated with CAC in humans. Previous research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between CAC and bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting that these processes may be linked. In a further substudy we plan to define the relationship between CAC and BMD as well as a number of markers of bone metabolism.

This study aims at finding the optimal dose of Vitamin K2 supplementation in hemodialysis patients.

The investigators hypothesize that the chronic kidney disease patients who suffer from vitamin D deficiency will be benefit from given Vitamin D2 because coronary artery calcification and hyperparathyroidism will be improved.

This clinical trial studies a new type of ultrasound technique, MicroPure, in detecting breast microcalcifications in patients undergoing biopsy for a breast abnormality. Ultrasound sends sound waves into the body, and the sound waves reflected back are interpreted by the machine into a grayscale image. MicroPure uses a filter that adjusts the brightness and gives color to the ultrasound images, which may allow doctors to better identify microcalcifications. Microcalcifications are tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that cannot be felt but can be detected by imaging. A group of microcalcifications may indicate that cancer is present.

Prospective study with an echography of the 2 knees and radiography of the 2 knees (front and profile) for each patient. If found calcification on ultrasound further examination with ultrasound wrists, hips and shoulders.

Patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are known to present an increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular calcification. It has also been suggested that bone remodelling and cardiovascular calcification are regulated by the same mechanisms, but inversely in terms of calcium deposition, as osteoporosis is often associated with cardiovascular calcification. Inflammatory and immune factors have been implicated in these two processes. The role of the RANKL/OPG system in osteoclast differentiation has been elucidated over the last ten years. RANKL induces differentiation of monocytes-macrophages into osteoclasts, while, inversely, OPG exerts an inhibitory role by inactivating RANKL. Differentiation of smooth muscle cells into osteoblasts in the vessel wall induces calcification, and this phenomenon is counterbalanced by differentiation of monocytes into osteoclasts. Although the role of the RANKL/OPG ratio in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis has now been clearly established, its role in vascular calcification is only hypothetical at the present time. This study will focus on patients with SLE diagnosed and followed in the Amiens University Hospital Internal Medicine and Nephrology departments