
Influence of Periodontal Treatment on Systemic Inflammatory Mediators
Periodontal DiseaseCoronary Heart DiseaseCurrently the research issue in establishing the role of periodontal disease (PD) in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is to define the pathways that lead to cause-effect relationship between PD and CHD. There is no consensus on definition of a periodontal disease case or the threshold level that may give clear indication for this relationship. Periodontal therapy has been used in different studies with the hope that a change in periodontal disease status may modify the factors associated with CHD risk. Many of these studies, on role of periodontal therapy in the reduction of CHD associated risk-factors, were based on small study samples, and very few studies were randomized controlled trials. So a need for large prospective studies is warranted in literature.----------- A single-blind parallel-arm randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to observe the influence of periodontal treatment on serum inflammatory mediators of hsC-reactive protein, white blood cells and fibrinogen in CHD patients. Hypothesis: Periodontal therapy in CHD patients, by reducing periodontal inflammation, may decrease the host systemic inflammatory burden associated with atherogenic processes.

Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease With Amiloride
Coronary Heart DiseaseTreatment of coronary artery disease is a major health care problem across the entire word, and the United States. Unfortunately, despite a number of medical advances, diagnostic procedure, or epidemiological studies, the treatment of these patients remain complex, and and at times frustrating. In fact, the COURAGE trial conducted in 50 centers across United States and Canada documented that drug treatment, coronary interventions or both were not effective solution in coronary artery diseases. A novel approach has recently been developed, based on the critical role of the potassium (K) content in red-blood-cell in myocardial oxygenation, since oxygen and K binding by hemoglobin (red-blood-cell) occurs simultaneously in blood passing through the lungs, whereas in the organs as the heart, the hemoglobin release both Oxygen and K ions. This apparently simple mechanisms occurs in human blood in all individuals but could be altered in subjects with acquired or hereditable defect in red-blood-cell K content. The purpose of this trial, thus, will be to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Amiloride on RBC K-uptake and transport and its impact on reversion of angina, electrocardiographic changes of myocardial ischemia and electrical regeneration of the heart in subjects with coronary artery diseases.

Intracardiac CrYoablation for AtrioVentricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia
AtrioVentricular Nodal Reentrant TachycardiaSupraventricular Tachycardia1 moreICY-AVNRT (Intracardiac CrYoablation for AtrioVentricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia) is a prospective multi-center, nonrandomized, single arm, controlled, unblinded, investigational clinical study. The purpose of this clinical study is to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Freezor® Xtra Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter for the cryoablation of the conducting tissues of the heart in the treatment of patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) using an endocardial approach.

Lipid Biomarkers for Diabetic Heart Disease
Type II Diabetes MellitusDiabetes ComplicationsThis study will test whether lowering the delivery of excess fats to the heart in persons with type-2 diabetes mellitus improves heart muscle function. The investigators will also test whether specific lipid molecular species in plasma can serve as biomarkers for diabetic heart disease.

Treatment of Bifurcation Lesions by SINGLE STENT and KISSing Balloon Trial
Ischemic Heart DiseaseRestenosisThe use of DES have not diminished the need of improved treatment strategies , especially the treatment of bifurcation lesions still leave much to be clarified. Particularly, for bifurcation lesions where stenting the main branch could result in an obstruction of a vital side branch, many reports have been about using 2 drug-eluting stents. Resulting in less than favorable, target lesion revascularization (TLR) rates, with 10-15% for main branch and 11-40% for side branch. In Japan, the PERFECT multi-center registry evaluated outcomes of single stenting plus kissing balloon technique after Directional Coronary Atherectomy (DCA) removal of tissue plaques. TLR rates for both main branch and side branch were a satisfactory 1.3%. However, the DCA technique is mainly suitable for proximal coronary artery lesions, and takes skilled operators. For the treatment of relatively distal bifurcation lesions, where first POBA is performed, then the lesion is stented, followed by kissing balloon technique to fully expand the side branch, is considered a viable treatment. The Toyohashi Heart Center outcomes from August 2004 for this single stent and kissing ballooning technique, using the sirolimus-eluting stent on bifurcation lesions, achieved a satisfactory 5.2% TLR for both main and side branches, suggesting that using two stents may not be necessarily the ideal treatment. The paclitaxel-eluting stent is expected to become available in Japan from June 2007. This stent's cells can be expanded to a maximum of 3.5mm, which should provide a larger lumen access for side-branch treatment. As such, we developed this study to compare the outcomes of paclitaxel-eluting and sirolimus-eluting stents in bifurcation lesions that require side branch dilatation using the kissing ballooning technique.

Reducing Risk in Cardiac Rehabilitation: Partners Together in Health (PaTH) Intervention Study
Coronary Heart DiseaseCardiac RehabilitationThe objective of the proposed study, using an experimental, two-group (n = 30 couples in each group) repeated measures design, was to pilot test the effects of the PaTH Intervention versus a usual care group in improving the following outcomes: a) physical activity and healthy eating behaviors, and b) functional capacity. The primary outcomes will be physical activity behavior (minutes per week) and eating behavior (percent saturated fat) at the 6 month time point in both the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patient and his/her partner. Secondary outcome includes functional capacity in patients and partners at 6 months.

EndocardialVascularEndothelialGrowth Factor D(VEGF-D)Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Coronary...
Angina PectorisMyocardial InfarctionThe purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of catheter mediated endocardial adenovirus VEGF-D gene therapy in patients with severe coronary heart disease.

Preoperative Corticosteroid Therapy in Neonates Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Congenital Heart DiseaseDisorder of Fetus or NewbornRandomized controlled trial of the use of glucocorticoids to improve the clinical course of neonates post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Effect of Fish Oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acids) on Arteries
Metabolic DiseasesEndocrine System Diseases6 moreThe overall objective of LUCHAR Specific Aims 4.1 and 4.2 is to assess the additional contribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers to traditional biomedical risk factors in the prediction of pre-clinical CVD. Specific Aim 4.3 will test the impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on risk markers and pre-clinical markers of CVD in Hispanic patients. Specific Aim 4.3: Conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on vascular function as measured by brachial artery reactivity (BAR) and on circulating inflammatory markers. Hypotheses: Daily omega-3 fatty acid supplementation will improve vascular function in subjects at high risk for CVD. Daily omega-3 fatty acid supplementation will reduce inflammatory protein panel scores in subjects at high risk for CVD.

A Study of the Effect of RO4607381 on Atherosclerotic Plaque in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease...
Coronary Heart DiseaseThis study will assess the effect of RO4607381, compared to placebo, on atherosclerotic plaque in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) including patients with other CHD risk factors. After a pre-randomisation period during which positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) and MRI will be conducted, patients will be randomized to receive either RO4607381 600mg po daily, or placebo po daily. PET/CT and MRI scans will be taken at intervals during the study. The anticipated time on study treatment is 2 years, and the target sample size is 100 individuals.