Active clinical trials for "Death"

The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the defibrillation threshold (DFT) estimates in cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) patients. The hypothesis of the study is that defibrillation threshold (DFT) will decrease with 6 months of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

The purpose of the study is to determine the myocardial function and vascular adaptation after strenuous exercise in association with consumption of polyphenols. The investigators aim to investigate the effects of extreme endurance exercise on the inflammatory system. Furthermore, the role of the cardiovascular response and adaptive mechanisms of the vasculature are examined. Subclinical injuries to the myocardium and vascular wall are being investigated.

This clinical trial examines a web-based tool, in partnership with Peacefully, Inc, designed to improve end-of-life planning among patients with advanced cancers. This program helps users prepare comprehensively for end-of-life (e.g., medical wishes, legal estate planning, financial planning and transfer of accounts, legacy building, and emotional support). It is expected that this web-based end-of-life planning program may reduce distress and improve end-of-life preparation among advanced cancer patients.

This study's objective is to obtain preliminary data to test the hypotheses that percutaneous liver biopsy in brain death donors is safe and provides reliable histological information. Furthermore, that information when disseminated fully and widely many hours before organ recovery would not only decrease economic costs of wasteful recovery of livers that are not ultimately transplanted but also increase transplantation and decrease cold ischemia times of recovered livers.

Design: Prospective, non-randomized single center study at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate a specific analgesia protocol designed to allow for same day discharge following implantation of the subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) Enrollment: Up to 40 subjects will be enrolled. Subject Population: Consecutive patients undergoing S-ICD implantation under general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care. Endpoints: Rate of successful completion of the protocol; Procedural complications; Serial assessment of patient perception of pain.

More than 300,000 Americans experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually, with overall survival rates averaging less than 5%. Low survival rates persist, in part, because manual chest compressions and ventilation, termed standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (S-CPR), is an inherently inefficient process, providing less than 25% of normal blood flow to the heart and the brain. Hemodynamics are often compromised further by poor S-CPR techniques, especially inadequate chest compression and incomplete chest recoil. Active Compression Decompression CPR (ACD-CPR) is performed with a hand-held device that is attached to the patient's chest, and also includes a handle containing a metronome and force gauge to guide proper compression rate, depth and complete chest wall recoil. The impedance threshold device (ITD) is designed for rapid connection to an airway adjunct (e.g. facemask or endotracheal tube) and allows for positive pressure ventilation, while also impeding passive inspiratory gas exchange during chest wall decompression. Prior studies have shown that the combination of ACD-CPR + ITD enhances refilling of the heart after each compression by augmenting negative intrathoracic pressure during the decompression phase of CPR, resulting in improved cardiac and cerebral perfusion. The intrathoracic pressure regulator (ITPR) is a next generation inspiratory impedance therapy. The ITPR uses a regulated external vacuum source to lower the negative intrathoracic pressure and is therefore less dependent on the quality of CPR (e.g., completeness of chest wall recoil). The ITPR generates a pre-set continuous and controlled expiratory phase negative intrathoracic pressure that is interrupted only when positive pressure ventilation is needed to maintain oxygenation and provide gas exchange. The purpose of the study is to compare the early safety and hemodynamic effects of S-CPR, ACD- CPR + ITD, and S-CPR + ITPR in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Every year in the US, there is a shortage of many thousands of kidneys needed for transplant. Furthermore, kidneys that are available and are transplanted often exhibit delayed or slow graft function (DGF and SGF, respectively), which lowers quality of life for patients and their families and requires significant additional medical care. These needs result in significant but preventable human suffering and health care spending. To address these needs, the investigators' project will test the use of intensive insulin therapy (IIT) in donors after neurological determination of death (DNDDs) as an intervention that will decrease acute kidney injury and improve renal function at the time of organ recovery. This should translate into a decreased incidence of DGF and SFG in recipients receiving organs from the IIT group. The investigators also expect to find a trend toward an increase in the number of organs available for transplant due to better organ protection in the DNDD. Taken together, these data can provide the requisite justification for a larger study that can be powered to evaluate the effect of IIT on increasing the number of kidneys available for transplantation. There is evidence that brain death often leads to hyperglycemia that may negatively impacts the organs of DNDDs. These observations led us to conduct a retrospective study, in which the investigators found that hyperglycemia in DNDDs is indeed associated with decreased terminal renal function. Because it has been reported that intensive insulin therapy (ITT) is renoprotective in the ICU more than conventional insulin therapy (CIT), the investigators propose to evaluate the use of IIT on DNDDs to: (1) improve organ function, (2) reduce DGF in recipients, and (3) possibly increase the number of kidney available for transplant. Methods: This is a prospective observational study to document the impact of IIT on acute kidney injury in DNDDS and on allograft function in recipients. DNDDs will be divided into two groups: CIT and IIT. In the first study, the investigators will evaluate the effect of ITT on biochemical parameters in blood samples that predict kidney health and function in DNDDs. All methods used in this proposal are well documented in the literature and established in the applicant's laboratory. In the investigators' second study, they will compare the effects of ITT in DNDDs on graft function in allograft recipients in terms of number of patients showing either DGF or SGF. Additionally, there is currently no established set of advanced biochemical criteria in DNDDs for predicting kidney function in recipients. The investigators will correlate the evaluated biochemical markers of kidney function and health in order to possibly develop more refined methods of predicting transplant success. Such a set of criteria would be useful for designing studies to systematically test additional interventions in DNDDs to further improve organ function before recovery and further increase the number of available organs. Taken together, the results of this study may lead to new therapies that significantly improve patient outcomes while significantly reducing disease associated costs. These results can also set the stage for a follow on study for increasing the number of kidneys available for transplant.

Rationale: Despite spontaneous cardiac activity recovery, a shock occurs in more than half of patients after resuscitation for cardiac arrest. This acute circulatory insufficiency presents similar characteristics with septic shock and is responsible of most early deaths. Most frequently, usual treatments are unable to control this shock and to avoid the appearance of multiple organ failure. Aim of the study: In addition to conventional therapeutics, an early plasma epuration of inflammatory mediators (HDHP) could be able to improve hemodynamic parameters and to reduce the shock duration. This improvement could have an impact on multiple organ dysfunctions and also on early mortality.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether massage therapy is effective in reducing pain and distress and improving quality of life among cancer patients at life's end.

This project aims to identify factors linked to pregnancy losses occurring between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy that can be modified by changing mother's behaviour or healthcare provision. The death of a child before birth (also called stillbirth or miscarriage) has enduring psychological, social and economic effects for women, their families and wider society. In 2015, the stillbirth rate in the UK was higher than comparable countries. The UK government has committed to reduce stillbirths by 50% by 2025. Presently, stillbirths after 28 weeks of pregnancy have reduced by 16% but there has been no change in losses between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy with 1,600 losses estimated to occur at this stage of pregnancy each year. Identification of modifiable causes of stillbirth was identified as a research priority by the Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership which involved over 1,000 participants, one third of whom were bereaved parents. The investigators previously completed a study of 291 women who had a late stillbirth (after 28 weeks of pregnancy) and 733 women who had a live baby in 41 maternity units in the UK. This study identified factors linked to stillbirth which can be changed including the position women go to sleep in, cigarette smoking and caffeine consumption. In addition, the investigators previously found changes in mother's perception of baby's movements, whether women had tests for diabetes or whether women were exposed to domestic violence or stressful situations. These factors can be addressed by different care in pregnancy. Information from this study has been included in national and international guidelines that aim to reduce stillbirth. The investigators will use the same study type to identify factors associated with pregnancy loss between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy (early stillbirth). The investigators have asked parents who have experienced the death of a baby at these stages of pregnancy about the design of the study, the questions that would be asked and how best to approach bereaved parents. This led us to include miscarriages from 20-22 weeks of pregnancy that are not usually "counted" in UK stillbirth statistics. The investigators will need 316 women with stillbirth between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy and 632 women with an ongoing live pregnancy to participate in the study. All women will complete a questionnaire about themselves, their diet, behaviours and sleep, their baby's movements and pregnancy care. The investigators will compare information between women who have early stillbirth and those who have a live birth to identify factors associated with stillbirth at less than 28 weeks of pregnancy. The study findings will be disseminated in collaboration with patient organisations using effective ways to reach pregnant women. The investigators anticipate the findings from this study will be included in clinical practice guidelines and rapidly translated into antenatal care.