Active clinical trials for "Calcinosis"

This study examines the relationship between the SCOUT DM device and coronary artery calcification as determined by rapid computed tomography in patients at risk for coronary heart disease.

Both Kidney transplantation (KT) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients have reduced kidney function. Low serum magnesium is more prevalent in KT recipients. The present study examines the difference in vascular calcification between KT and CKD and its association with serum magnesium.

This study seeks to compare aortic dimension changes during cardiac cycle in patients with and without aortic valve calcification and to evaluate its correlation with aortic valve calcium score in former group.

Objective: To investigate whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and its adipokines contribute to early signs of cardiovascular disease, meaning coronary artery calcifications (CAC) and diastolic dysfunction in type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Research Design & Methods: A cross-sectional study of T1DM patients without a history of cardiovascular disease. CAC and VAT are measured using a CT scan. CAC is scored using the Agatston method. Echocardiography is performed to assess contractile abnormalities. Serum levels of adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin, IL-6 and TNF-a) are measured using ELISA assays.

The study will be conducted at Assiut University Hospital. Eligible subjects will be screened for vascular calcification by Doppler ultrasound examination. A correation between the level of serum Osteopontin (OPN) level and the extent of vascular calcification will be evaluated.

Evaluation of the calcifying effect of phosphorus on vascular smooth muscle and detect the association between serum phosphorus and valvular and vascular calcification in end stage renal disease patients

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which means that it is important to find out risk factors of CVD in order to prevent or treat it. In recent years, there has been more and more recognition of a very high prevalence of CV calcification in the ESRD population. Many observational cohort studies have shown that CV calcification in these patients can predict mortality, CV mortality and morbidity. Electrolyte imbalance is easily found in the ESRD patients which may result in vessel calcification. Calcification leads to arterial stenosis and increasing arterial stiffness and then heart afterload, both contribute to the development of CVD. Besides, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia pave the way for a chronic, immune-mediated vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease. These factors are prevalent in ESRD patients, which would also cause arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness and stenosis would increase the risk of CV events and mortality. Aortic pulse wave velocity is strongly associated with the presence and extent of atherosclerosis and constitutes a forceful marker and predictor of cardiovascular risk. At the same time, high prevalence of peripheral artery occlusion disease (PAOD) should also be found while arterial stiffness and stenosis, which would increase the condition of infection and gangrene. Thus, life safety and quality would be influenced severely and early detection might prevent future amputation. Uremic patients also have a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Therefore, more studies to evaluate the condition of arterial stiffness and PAOD, especially in HD patients, are needed for future management and preventions of CV related morbidity and mortality.

The vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are necessary drugs of prevention and treatment of thrombo-embolic disease. The AVKAL study assesses the impact of VKA treatment on the aortic calcifications development. This is a biomedical research without health product, transversal and monocentric study which compares the aortic calcifications levels of two populations : one treated by VKA and the other which has never been treated by VKA.

the aim of the research is to determine the degree of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease and post-transplant and whether there is a correlation with the level of serum sclerostin.

Background CREST is an acronym for the cardinal clinical features of the syndrome (Calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasia) and part of the heterogeneous group of sclerodermas. Calcinosis is the pathologic calcification of soft tissues. When symptomatic, they can be tender and painful, ulcerate, and drain a white chalky substance. With time, heterotopic bone formation may occur. Inflammatory reactions also intermittently occur at the site of calcinosis. It has been suggested that TGF-beta3 plays a major role in the pathogenesis of calcinosis. A variety of medical therapies have been used to try to alleviate patient symptoms. These include pharmacological approaches (e..g., warfarin), surgical curettage or excision, as well as carbon dioxide laser treatments. No consistently reliable pharmacological treatment seems to be available to prevent or eliminate calcinosis. Curettage and excision and carbon dioxide laser of localized painful large deposits can relieve symptoms but recurrence is common. In addition, aggressive curettage or excision can damage deeper neurovascular structures. While calcinosis is associated with significant morbidity its treatment remains a challenge. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been shown to promote wound healing, suppress inflammatory reactions and regulate collagen synthesis in a number of in vitro and in vivo studies. Human skin contains photolabile nitric oxide (NO) derivatives which decompose after UVA irradiation and release vasoactive NO. However, aside from blue light, barely nothing has been reported about the effects of red and NIR wavelengths. Method A custom-built air tight sleeve which envelopes the forearm of a subject will be used to measure the NO emanating from the skin under photobiomodulation conditions (red & NIR) and quantified by chemiluminescence detection. Simultaneously, CREST patient's hands exhibiting calcinosis and/or Raynaud phenomenon will be exposed to exogenous gaseous nitric oxide (INOMAX) to determine the vascular impact of this approach. This case series will assess Light Emitting Diode (LED) based PBM therapy as a treatment alternative for cutaneous calcinosis and the effects of gaseous NO on calcinosis and/or Raynaud phenomenon in CREST patients.