Active clinical trials for "Inflammation"

Hypothesis: The investigators propose that obese parturients will have an increased inflammatory response and a decreased anti-inflammatory response to the surgical and anesthetic insult of caesarean section and that this will be associated with a higher rate of perioperative complications, as compared to non-obese parturients.2 Background: Obese patients exhibit higher levels of inflammatory markers than non-obese patients. Furthermore, obese patients have a higher incidence of perioperative complications, especially wound infections, and this is well documented in the caesarean section population. The pregnant population is unique as a result of the immunologic changes that occur at baseline, and an increase in pro-inflammatory markers is seen in serum and in placental tissue of obese subjects, and has been demonstrated to correlate with adverse fetal outcomes. Specific Objectives: To determine the baseline levels of three established markers of inflammation in term pregnant obese and non-obese patients (defined by a BMI > and < 35 kg/M2 respectively), and examine how they change in response to the stress of surgery/anesthesia. The investigators will correlate the inflammatory response with the incidence of postoperative wound infections. Methods: Patients will be recruited to the study prior to the planned caesarean section. Blood samples for inflammatory marker levels will be performed preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at 24 hours postoperatively. Samples will be analyzed for pentraxin-3 (a relatively novel inflammatory marker), C reactive protein (CRP) (a well-known and clinically relevant inflammatory marker), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) (an established anti-inflammatory marker). Plasma will be analyzed by ELISA to determine levels of each biomarker. Patient charts will be reviewed to determine which patients have experienced surgical complications in the 30 days postoperatively. Surgical complications will then be correlated with the measured levels of inflammatory markers. Assuming that the levels of inflammatory cytokines in obese patients will be 15% higher in obese parturients and assuming an alpha error level of 5% and a beta error level of 20%, the investigators would need to study 18 patients per group to prove our hypothesis that inflammatory cytokine levels are correlated with postoperative infections. The investigators plan to study 20 patients per group to account for a potential patient attrition rate of 10% during the study. Significance/Importance: The connection between obesity and dysregulation of the perioperative inflammatory response has not been well established nor has perioperative inflammation in the obese population been linked to the observed increased in perioperative morbidity. The investigators hope to demonstrate these connections and hopefully will be able to identify at risk patients earlier, and in a subsequent study intervene to reduce the risk of postoperative wound infections with pharmacokinetically targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis.

hypothesis: sleep restriction in healthy subject trigger alteration of decision making associated with immuno-inflammatory changes inclusion criterias: healthy subjects, men, under 35 years, BMI<26, no sleep troubles, intermediate chronotype design: 12 subjects, longitudinal study 2 days of baseline, 7 night of sleep restriction (4h sleep/night), recovery (1, 2, 3 and 9 normal sleep nights). parameters: decision making tests, reaction time, wakefulness test, biological parameters (cathecholamines, pro-inflammatory cytokines...), heart rate, blood pressure control of sleep restriction: continuous polysomnographic survey

This VISION study aims to investigate the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis using 68Ga- DOTATATE PET, and to validate 68Ga-DOTATATE PET imaging for the detection and quantification of vascular inflammation in the aorta, coronary and carotid arteries. This study will test the hypothesis that in subjects undergoing carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic plaques, there will be a positive correlation between carotid artery 68Ga-DOTATATE PET signal and the underlying degree of carotid inflammation measured by immunohistochemical analysis.

The aim of the study is to determine whether fish oil (specifically omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [EPA-DHA]) supplementation can enhance eccentric resistance exercise performance when combined with a resistance exercise training study. The investigators aim to establish the potential mechanisms that might mediate performance changes at a cellular level.

The investigators aim to investigate inflammation of cranial and meningeal arteries during pharmacologically induced migraine attacks, using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles and black blood imaging (BBI) MRI.

A molecular study of follicular fluid aspirated from ovarian follicles during routine in vitro fertilization treatment, after the eggs were identified and separated.

Both pelvic masses and preoperative diagnosis of them have still continued as an important investigation subject. It is important to discriminate the diagnoses of leiomyoma and adenomyosis before operation especially among infertile patients. Neoplasms can alter systemic or local immune response in their originating area.Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can be readily determined by using of complete blood counter test (CBC). A high NLR has been shown in systemic inflammation, some gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancers and some cardiovascular diseases. The investigators aim to investigate using new inflammation markers, NLR and PLR, whether they are useful to discriminate between adenomyosis and leiomyoma. As far as is known, there have been no previous reports about the association among NLR, PLR, adenomyosis and leiomyoma.

The investigator's main objective is to analyze the effects of a routine prenatal care screening tool (glucola test for gestational diabetes) on maternal inflammation through assessment of maternal circulatory biomarkers and blood pressure. Improving knowledge about routine prenatal care and how a variety of screening factors affect maternal physiology allows the investigators to be educated and informed when caring for mothers with medical co-morbidities. Determine if an acute glucose load (50g) is associated with an in-vivo and in-vitro increase in the concentration of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEP's) that, in turn, can impact vascular endothelial reactivity and induce an acute increase in blood pressure. Previous studies generated in the investigators' laboratory showed that circulating soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (sRAGE) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-a (mediator of acute inflammation) are considered markers of the extent of maternal RAGE activation and/or systemic inflammation, respectively. Determine how an acute glucose load (50g) at the time of normal screening for gestational diabetes induces an acute increase in the level of sRAGE and TNF-a. If the investigators' hypothesis is confirmed, the investigators will have strong confirmation of the involvement of glycation products and TNF-a in generating the acute negative clinical symptoms of women experiencing a glucose tolerance test, such as headache, nausea, sweating, and bloating.

The invesigators propose a clinical study on patients undergoing carotid surgery (endarterectomy). The invesigators will determine carotid artery imaging features associated with (1) vessel wall inflammation, (2) downstream brain inflammation, and (3) cognitive benefit from surgery. This project will uncover links between inflamed carotid plaque and downstream brain inflammation. The invesigators will also determine carotid plaque imaging features predicting cognitive benefit from carotid surgery.

Our multi-disciplinary research group works closely with people who have obstructive sleep apnoea. This is a life-long illness that causes breathing to stop during sleep, which leads to low-oxygen in the blood. Breathing restarts when the airway at the back of the throat reopens, usually during arousal from sleep. In some people the repeated arousals from sleep cause daytime sleepiness. Our research has shown that the low blood oxygen levels affect thinking and feeling, and in some cases we think it damages the brain cells involved with memory, attention, emotions and decision-making. This study will investigate the relationship between the amount of oxygen in the blood and the loss (if any) of brain cells. Also how the ability to perform complex tasks is affected in patients that suffer from sleep apnoea. The results will show whether the brain damage in patients with sleep apnoea can be reversed with treatment. These findings will guide doctors in the treatment for sleep apnoea and they will cast light onto the process of memory decline with the aim to preserve brain function.