Active clinical trials for "Heart Diseases"

This study is being performed to evaluate what variants of lipid-lowering therapy are used in Russian clinical practice in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with hypercholesterolemia in whom the initial statin therapy did not achieve low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Additionally, the efficacy and safety of all variants of modified lipid-lowering therapy are to be evaluated.

At the time of hysterectomy for benign disease, the overall health benefits of preserving ovarian function in a large population of women have not been established.

Heart attacks are usually caused by a blood clot blocking an artery supplying blood to the heart. Current treatments are designed at relieving this blockage as quickly as possible to minimize damage to the heart muscle. However in restoring the supply of blood local damage known as "ischaemia-reperfusion injury" may occur. The aim of this study is to assess how clot forming and clot dissolving pathways are affected during this process, and examine the role of a natural inflammatory hormone, bradykinin. This will help the investigators to understand the mechanism by which ischaemia-reperfusion injury may occur and to devise new treatments for heart attacks.

This study will determine the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the developing cardiovascular system, the evolution of HAART-associated cardiovascular changes over time, and the association between cardiovascular measurements with HAART exposure.

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether eating a fast food meal (high in saturated fat) will result in greater increases in inflammatory markers than eating a meal with low levels of saturated fat and higher levels of mono-unsaturated fat. This study is a first step in learning about how dietary fat intake can directly impact risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a form of congenital heart disease (the person is born with it). With BAV, the heart valves in the aorta (the blood vessel that takes blood away from the heart to the body) are not formed right. A person with BAV has only 2 leaflets instead of three and the valve leaflets are often thickened. This can result in the block of blood flow across the valve (aortic stenosis) and/or valve leakage (aortic valve regurgitation). From our experience at least 1/3 of patients with BAV will eventually develop complications. Many patients with BAV do not develop significant problems until well into adulthood. The most common problem in BAV patients is aortic dilatation and/or dissection. At this point, we do not know on who or why aortic dilatation or dissection occurs.It is unclear whether the enlargement is because of abnormal blood flow patterns, as a result of the shape of the bicuspid valve, or whether it is because the way the aortic valve and/or vessel is formed. In other words, the abnormal shape of the aortic valve may cause blood to flow in a different way than it normally would, causing damage to the aorta as blood leaves the heart. There may be a problem with the way the aortic valve connects to the aorta, which causes the aorta to get larger or break down over time. It is also possible that the wall of the aorta in patients with BAV is weaker than it would be in patients without BAV. At this point, we do not know. It is believed by the investigators that if we can determine why the aorta gets larger or tears, we can minimize the effects or prevent them altogether. This study will collect blood and cardiac MRI images from forty-five (45) patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston. There will be a study group (patients with BAV) and a control group of patients (patients scheduled for a cardiac MRI but without BAV). All enrolled patients will have blood drawn by nursing staff from a peripheral vein and collected in tubes for testing the day of their MRI scan. This test is called a plasma matrix metalloproteinase level. It is believed that patients who have bicuspid aortic valves and dilated aortas have high plasma levels of this protein. This study will compare the MRI images and plasma matrix protein levels of all the patients participating in the study.

In this study the effect of the switch to rosuvastatin from another statin (fluvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin) was evaluated in high-risk patients with and without evident CHD and LDL-C ≥ 3.2 mmol/l. This was done in a large observational study (TARGET) representing daily practice. Primary end points analysis was the percentage of patients reaching the target of LDL-C < 3.2 mmol/l. Secondary outcomes were the changes of LDL-C, HDL-C, TC, Triglycerides (TG) and TC/HDL-C-ratio from baseline.

This study will examine genetic material obtained from blood and tissue samples of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and heterotaxy (an abnormality in the left-right positioning of organs in the body, also called situs inversus) to gain a better understanding of these disorders and of a lung disease called primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). CHD is prevalent in patients with heterotaxy. It is believed that certain forms of CHD or heterotaxy may have the same genetic origin as PCD. Individuals 2 years of age or older who have a CHD or heterotaxy or both may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo some or all of the following tests and procedures: Blood tests, electrocardiogram (EGC) and chest x-ray. Saliva collection: Subjects rinse their mouth with water, and then spit approximately 1.5 cc of saliva into a sterile container. Buccal swabs: A small soft, toothbrush-like swab is rubbed on the inside lining of the cheek to collect tissue samples. Nasal tests to measure nasal nitric oxide levels and to obtain tissue samples from the inside of the nostrils: For the nitric oxide level test, a rubber probe is inserted into one of the nostrils until it fits snugly and comfortably. The subject then takes a deep breath and then exhales all the way out through the mouth through a plastic device. During exhalation, gas measurements are recorded on a computer. To obtain tissue samples, a device is inserted in a nostril and scraped gently against the inside of the nose. Echocardiography: This ultrasound test of the heart uses sound waves to obtain pictures of the heart. A small wand with a warm clear gel is moved around the chest to obtain the images. Abdominal ultrasound: This ultrasound test of the heart uses sound waves to obtain pictures of the abdominal organs. A small wand with a warm clear gel is moved around the abdomen to obtain the images....

Dosing of medications is based on the plasma level achieved with a given dose and how long the medicine remains in the body. This study is called pharmacokinetics-that is, what the body does to the medication. Ketamine is an intravenous medication used for anesthesia and sedation in children. However the pharmacokinetics of Ketamine has not been systematically studied. We propose to study the pharmacokinetics of ketamine in different age groups of children ranging from infants to teenagers.

Aim of this study is to define the possible detrimental effect of a lack of growth hormone, on the well-being and life expectation of patients affected by heart failure.