Active clinical trials for "Carotid Artery Diseases"

Background: Atherosclerotic carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) may be associated with alterations in the sensitivity of carotid and subclavian baroreceptors. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate if carotid IMT is associated with changes in the autonomic modulation of the heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study. The carotid IMT is determined by B-mode and duplex ultrasonography. The cardiovagal function was determined through linear and nonlinear measures of HRV. Linear regression models, adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, body mass index, waist-hip-ratio, and left ventricular ejection fraction will be used to evaluate the association between HRV parameters and carotid IMT.

In the proposed method of sensing the vital health sign related to cardiovascular diseases, thermal heat transfer performance of the skin will be evaluated using a non-contact based Infra-Red temperature sensor. The temperature of the skin is significantly dependent upon the heat source as blood vessels (veins and capillaries) in the vicinity of the skin. However, there are several locations in the human body, where arteries are also at a relatively less depth from the outer skin surface (radial or ulnar arteries at the wrist and carotid artery in the neck). If it is possible to track the flow of blood from the thermal performance of the skin, then it could be useful in predicting various states of the human health related to cardiovascular activities. Subjects will undergo Existing Procedure EP- Passive Thermography PT for Phase I and Existing Procedure EP- Active Thermography ATLIC/ATPC for Phase II, with Duplex Ultrasound being the existing procedure that is considered as more reliable in clinical practice. Existing Passive Thermography will be used to setup the baseline data for Phase I. The currently under-development temperature mapping method (Active Thermography) that involves application of cooling (either pulsed or lock-in cooling) over the skin will be utilized for Phase II.

BACKGROUND: In 30-40% the cause of ischemic stroke remains undetermined. Most likely, this category hides an additional number of strokes caused by artery-to-artery embolisms due to unidentified atherosclerotic disease, or caused by cardioembolism. Both types are associated with a high risk of recurrent ischemic events and multiple cerebral infarctions. Large-artery atherosclerosis of the brain-supplying arteries is the assumed underlying cause in 10 to 15% of ischemic stroke, mostly deriving from the extracranial carotid artery. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) measured by 2-dimensional (2D) B-mode ultrasonography and estimation of the overall atherosclerotic plaque burden aids future risk prediction. Arterial wall changes, artery caliber variations, degree of stenosis, local hemodynamic alterations and certain plaque characteristics are important for the evaluation of plaque vulnerability and vascular risk stratification. Transcranial Doppler monitoring (TCDM) is a non-invasive bedside examination eligible for detection of microemboli in the human cerebral circulation. HYPOTHESIS: Atherosclerotic stenosis and plaque characteristics can be more accurately assessed by the combination of routine 2D ultrasound, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. TCDM, CEUS and 3D visualization of the carotid plaque improve the differentiation of stroke etiology and quantification of plaque vulnerability, and aid the prediction of future risk for cerebrovascular events in the individual patient. AIMS: Assessment of prevalence and frequency of Microemboli signals (MES) in unselected patients with cerebral ischemia, the influence of antithrombotic drugs on MES, and the relationship between MES and recurrent stroke or Transient ischemic attack (TIA). Categorization of atherosclerotic carotid artery disease by use of routine and advanced neurosonographic techniques combined with anamnestic and clinical data. Development of a visualization solution tailored for 3D visualization of carotid arteries and semi-automatic plaque segmentation.

This is a prospective, multi-center imaging study expecting to enroll approximately 1350 patients scheduled for clinically-indicated coronary angiography. Following informed consent, patient will undergo baseline coronary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging and non-invasive ultrasound imaging of their carotid arteries. Following a 2-year follow-up period, patients will undergo repeat coronary IVUS and standard invasive coronary angiography as well as carotid ultrasound examination. Additionally, patients will be contacted by phone on an annual basis for 5 years to collect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular clinical endpoints. Evaluations of plaque burden will be made using invasive and non invasive imaging tools in order to assess correlations between vascular beds, imaging technologies and main cardiovascular events.

Background: During the first half of the 20th century, scalp irradiation was a standard treatment for induction of epilation in children suffering from Tinea Capitis. These children are now more than 50 years old and the aim was to investigate the possible association between their childhood low dose irradiation exposure and development of carotid atherosclerotic disease in adulthood. Methods: The study included 145 individuals treated by irradiation in their childhood, and 150 matched control subjects with no history of irradiation. B-mode ultrasound imaging and US Doppler were used to measure carotid and femoral stenosis and Intima-Media Thickness (IMT). Blood samples were taken for lipid profile and homocysteine evaluation.

Despite aortic coarctation (CoA) repair these patients have cardiovascular complications and coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death.

The goal of this evaluation is to document the incidence of post procedure DW-MRI lesions (relative to baseline) in patients treated with the transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedure.

To determine cardiovascular risk factors and the change in risk factors during and following the menopause.

Iron has been proposed to contribute to atherogenesis in humans by facilitating the oxidation of lipoproteins. This observational study will evaluate the association between frequency of blood donation - expected to be associated with relatively reduced body iron stores in frequent donors - and carotid atherosclerosis. The primary outcome variable will be whether the presence and extent of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis as measured by ultrasound is greater in infrequent (less than or equal to 1 donations/year greater than or equal to 5 years) vs. frequent (greater than or equal to 4 donations/year greater than or equal to 5 years) blood donors. Body iron stores, lipid and hemostatic parameters, nitric oxide formation, inflammatory parameters, and markers of vascular oxidative stress will be analyzed as secondary outcome measures. Laboratory analysis and ultrasound testing will be performed blinded to the patient's phlebotomy and iron status. Sixty frequent (n=40 males greater than 40 y/o, n=20 females greater than 50 y/o) and 60 infrequent (n=40 males greater than 40 y/o, n=20 females greater than 50 y/o) blood donors will be recruited for this study from the Department of Transfusion Medicine, W. G. Magnuson Clinical Center. All donors will be assessed for study eligibility and cardiovascular risks during the screening visit. The presence of atherosclerotic lesions by carotid ultrasound and secondary outcome parameters will be assessed during a second visit.

A retrospective analysis of all patients that underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for stenotic disease - diagnosed at pre-operative investigation - prior to CABG as staged operation within 6- months. The rate of postoperative stroke and complications was compared between CEA performed under Local anaesthetic (LA) to those performed under General anaesthetic (GA).