Active clinical trials for "Inflammation"

Stroke and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are common and highly lethal vascular diseases. Angiogenesis and infiltration of inflammatory cells such as macrophages may cause stroke and AAAs. The purpose of this study is to test PET/CT and PET/MRI imaging to specifically detect those diseases using a new developed agent (18F-FPPRGD2) that can target angiogenesis and macrophages.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating form of acute lung inflammation, that may be caused by a variety of insults with pulmonary and systemic infectious disease being the most common predisposing factor. Sepsis, on the other hand, represents the systemic inflammatory response to an invading pathogen, which may inflict damage upon the host through organ dysfunction. ARDS and sepsis are heterogenous clinical conditions that have a high mortality, and both diseases involve a complex interplay of different inflammatory mediators and cell types. It has been suggested that locally released inflammatory mediators pass from the lungs into the bloodstream following ARDS, triggering systemic inflammation. Conversely, it is possible that severe systemic inflammation may lead to ARDS by an influx of inflammatory mediators from the bloodstream to the lungs. However, the time course and the possible pathways for this transmission of disease have yet to be established. Investigators hypothesize that: Primary systemic inflammation is followed by a secondary pulmonary inflammatory response Primary pulmonary inflammation is followed by a secondary systemic inflammatory response Both primary and secondary inflammatory responses are characterized by the appearance of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory cells and production of collagen-like proteins (termed 'lectins') The inflammatory response is most pronounced in the primary afflicted compartment.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) visualization of the adventitial vasa vasorum. Late phase CEUS detect inflammation by visualizing microbubbles phagocytosed by monocytes. The inflammatory process of the vessel wall associated with perivascular angiogenesis at the time of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombophlebitis (SVT) may important in the development of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Therefore the investigators will test the value of CEUS to detect venous perivascular vascularization and inflammation in patients with acute DVT or SVT. Aims: To determine the presence and degree of venous perivascular vascularization and inflammation assessed with CEUS in patients with acute DVT or SVT, and compare this to controls without thrombosis. Expected results: The investigators hypothesize that venous perivascular vascularization and inflammation assessed by contrast agent enhancement can be quantified and will be significantly more pronounced in the perivascular tissue of the thrombotic vein than in the non affected vein and in controls, and will correlate with level of inflammatory markers and leg volume. Significance: These results would provide new information on the pathophysiological concept of thrombosis and thrombus resolution. It might help to better understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms that promote the development of chronic venous insufficiency and PTS.

Patients enrolled will need treated with an IVUS- VH (intravascular ultrasound-derived virtual histology) which is an arterial stent procedure, that involves threading a tiny wire into the artery, followed by a balloon, a stent, or other device to treat a blocked artery, and often (though not always), a special ultrasound catheter to take pictures of the inside of the artery. Participants in the study, will have an additional procedure performed: a tiny tube will be advanced into the heart artery to collect a blood sample for research purposes, and a blood sample will be collected from the femoral (thigh) artery through the tube that will be placed there as a standard part of having this procedure. The blood that is collected will be analyzed for markers of inflammation or irritation in the blood (c-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, Monocyte chemotactic protein-1), as well and a gene called Matrix Metallopeptidase 3, which is believe to influence the progression of plaque on the walls of arteries and the progression of coronary artery disease. .

The aim of the study is identify biological parameters reflecting proteolytic activity in the exhaled condenstaes which might be useful to follow up pulmonary inflammation in various conditions including cystic fibrosis, COPD, asthma, tobacco exposure. Three proteases will be analyzed, i.e. elastase, proteinase 3 and cathepsin G. Results in the condensates will be compared to those obtained in sputum.

The purpose of this protocol is to obtain biologic materials from the mediastinal lymph nodes from patients with lung disease and mediastinal lymph node involvement in order to: (1) develop a better understanding of the cause and development of lung disorders involving the mediastinal lymph nodes; (2) identify biologic parameters that help diagnose and predict the behavior of human lung diseases; and (3) identify individuals who will be suitable candidates for other protocols such as those involving investigational new drugs.

There is much evidence that localized low grade inflammatory processes may contribute to the microvascular complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus including sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Some biomarkers for inflammation have been found to be elevated in diabetes patients and correlations between those biomarkers and the severity of diabetic complications have been found in the last years. The relation between this low grade inflammation and the microvascular changes observed in diabetic retinopathy is, however, not well characterized. In the present study patients with different stages of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy will be included. Several markers of inflammation will be measured from blood samples. These markers will be related to vascular factors including flicker-induced vasodilatation as a marker of endothelial dysfunction and perifoveal leukocyte velocity and density as measured with the blue field entoptic phenomenon. In addition, the ophthalmologic status of the patients will be assessed according to the Modified Airlie House classification. A multiple regression model will be employed to study the association between the different methods.

The study aims to determine the degree of plasma volume expansion and the half-life of the plasma volume expansion when 3 mL/kg of hyperoncotic (20%) albumin if infused over 30 minutes in conscious healthy volunteers, in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, and on the day after major surgery when the patient is in a post surgical inflammatory state. The study also examines the increase in the plasma colloid osmotic pressure as a result of this infusion and its possible influence on markers of kidney damage.

Investigate the in vivo effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on inflammation, gene expression and epigenetic signatures. Ex vivo stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected pre and post n-3 supplementation and measurement of it's effect on inflammation, gene expression and epigenetic signatures.

The study will examine the association between omega-3 status and the effects of omega-3 supplementation on changes in tendon structure and recovery from tendon injuries and inflammatory markers in competitive athletes. Half of the participants will receive omega-3 in combination with vitamin E, while the other half will receive a placebo and vitamin E.