Active clinical trials for "Inflammation"

The investigators are hoping to discover the cause of chest pain in patients with a normal coronary arteriogram. For patients with chest pain coronary angiography is the standard method by which the blood vessels of the heart can be visualized and any narrowing can be assessed. In some cases the investigators find totally normal coronary blood vessels or only minor disease. Such a finding is associated with an excellent long term prognosis. However, as a large proportion of patients with normal coronary arteries or mild coronary narrowings often continue to experience recurrent chest pains the investigators are interested in understanding the mechanisms responsible for this. The investigators hypothesise that in many cases, coronary artery spasms are responsible for the recurrent chest pains. These spasms usually respond to treatment with drugs known as vasodilators. The acetylcholine test (ACH-test) has been recommended by the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology as a diagnostic test. This test can reveal whether the coronary blood vessels have a tendency to go into spasm. The investigators plan in this study to carry out the test in patients who have chest pains suggestive of coronary narrowings but are found to have normal or only mildly narrowed coronary arteries on angiography. A positive test -indicating a tendency for spasm- may help guiding therapy with vasodilators, which are often very effective to prevent coronary spasms. The investigators would also like to take blood samples during the test (before and after) from every patient to measure blood markers and see if there is a relation between these markers and the result of the ACH-test.

The aim of this case-control study is the characterization of the bronchial and systemic inflammation of children and young adults with bronchiolitis obliterans. On the first visit subjects are asked to perform a lung function test (spirometry, body plethysmography with helium). Further levels of eNO and eCO are determined. A blood sample is drawn to describe the inflammatory status. Bronchial inflammation will be measured in induced sputum. At the second visit, a non-specific bronchial provocation testing (PD20 FEV1 methacholine) is performed.

The investigators investigate the impact of an encapsulated fruit, berry and vegetable juice powder concentrate on oxidative stress, inflammation and blood flow before and post exercise in overweight, middle-aged, women. Main hypotheses (H1): The nutraceutical has an impact on oxidative stress reduction. The nutraceutical has an impact on inflammation. The nutraceutical has an impact on blood flow and microcirculation. Walking exercise for 30 minutes has an impact on oxidative stress- and inflammation markers. Walking exercise for 30 minutes has an impact on blood flow and microcirculation The combination of nutraceutical supplementation + walking exercise for 30 minutes has an impact on oxidative stress- and inflammation markers, and on blood flow/microcirculation.

The aim of the study is to measure Pentraxin-3 levels in patients on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and those in the pre-dialysis period; and to compare these groups with the control group; so as to investigate the eligibility of it as a reliable marker of inflammation; relationship with other inflammatory markers and carotis intima media thickness.

CD163 is a membrane bound receptor primary expressed in monocytes and macrophages. A soluble variant of CD163 (sCD163) is present in plasma and is elevated in pathological condition activating the monocyte-macrophage system. Recently sCD163 is associated with various inflammatory conditions, ex. adipose tissue inflammation and very recently to be a rather strong predictor of the development of type 2-diabetes. Only a subset of obese individuals develops insulin resistance, type 2-diabetes and related diseases. These healthy obese subjects are characterized of less adipose tissue inflammation and less insulin resistance as compared to unhealthy obese individuals. Consequently it would be of great importance to develop markers that could discriminate between healthy and unhealthy obese subjects. Aim: To investigate whether macrophage CD163 is involved in adipose tissue inflammation in obesity and thereby to the metabolic complications of metabolic syndrome. To investigate how sCD163 is regulated by metabolic factors such as obesity, fat distribution, weight loss and diet. Methods: Intervention study. 45 morbidly obese subject approved to gastric by-pass. Blood samples, MR-spectroscopy, DXA, weight control and fat biopsy are taken before and 12 month after surgery. Correlations studies: to investigate the influence of diet and weight loss on CD163 and sCD163. Perspective: To study the role of macrophages infiltration and activation for adipose tissue inflammation and to determine whether the macrophage marker, s-CD163, together with other markers will be able better to identify obese individuals who are at increased risk for developing complications such as diabetes

Patients with kidney failure on dialysis have a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease as compared to the general population. Recently, two large studies have shown that increasing the amount of dialysis does not decrease cardiovascular disease. It is known that retaining too much fluid leads to high blood pressure and thickening of the heart wall. Peritoneal dialysis is a method of home dialysis which allows dialysis patients autonomy and independence. This study will measure blood levels of a protein called N-BNP and measure the extent of body fluid by a machine called a bioimpedance analyzer. This device administers an undetectible electric current which distributes throughout total body water. The relationship between these tests and the clinical presence of volume expansion will be assessed. In addition, the extent of total body fluid and it's impact on heart attacks, heart failure and stroke will be determined.

The purpose of this research study is to test whether certain compounds in tomatoes will help reduce factors in the subject's blood associated with disease risk. The investigators want to know if the tomato-associated compounds will lower or improve the status of these factors, like cholesterol and inflammation. In this research study, the subject will be asked to consume high fat test meals on two separate occasions. The investigators want to see how the subject's body responds to a standard high fat meal, one meal with tomato products and one meal without tomato products. The investigators will measure the subject's blood throughout the study period to determine if consumption of tomato products reduces factors in their blood associated with disease risk.

Inflammatory reaction in different compartments of the body may have a negative effect on outcome. This study assesses the inflammatory reaction systemically, intrapulmonary and intrapleural by measuring different cytokines. Patients with lung cancer undergoing lobectomy or segmentectomy are included in the study. Hypothesis: The inflammatory reaction in the pleural space is high compared to the systemic and intrapulmonary ones.

A database analysis and review of histological slides (retrospective) and a patient questionnaire analysis (prospective) will be conducted in Bern (Switzerland) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of esophageal dilation and its effect on the underlying eosinophilic inflammation in patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. This trial is investigator driven.

Metabolic syndrome and thereby obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation and it is likely that this is also the case in children (Ley et al., 2005). It has also been shown that the gut microbiota is different in obese individuals compared to normal weight individuals and that the microbiota seems to have a role in fat storage (Backhead et al, 2004). Intervention study with overweight and normal weight school age children. The children will be randomised to receive selected probiotics or a placebo. Fecal and blood samples will be collected, and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, skin folds) will be recorded before and after the intervention. The dynamic of the microbiota of the GI will be monitored by molecular methods. Markers of intestinal inflammation (calprotectin) and permeability will be analysed. Blood samples will be analysed to evaluate how the intervention influence the systemic polarization of the immune response by means of cytokine analyses. Furthermore, blood pressure, blood lipid profile and early markers of metabolic syndrome will be evaluated. Hypotheses This study will examine if overweight in children is associated with a different intestinal microbiota and if a change in microbiota caused by probiotics can modify inflammation and risk factors for the metabolic syndrome.