Active clinical trials for "Ischemia"

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in ventilated critically ill patients specially in intensive care unit (ICU). It is associated with an increased duration of mechanical ventilation, high death rates and increased healthcare costs in China. However, VAP is preventable and many practices have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of this disease, but the morbidity is still so high. So much more methods of prevention should be needed to reduce the incidence of VAP. Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) present anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects besides their ability to regulate cholesterol composition. So it is hypothesized that early use of statin may prevent some of the infection disease such as VAP. Actually, Two studies have showed that statin treatment is associated with reduced risk of pneumonia. However, the relationship between statins and reduced risk of pneumonia is not consistent. After reviewing some of the guidelines,meta analyses and system reviews, the investigator find that advanced age,immune suppression from disease or medication and specially depressed level of consciousness are the risk factors of VAP. So the investigator assumes that early use of statin may give us a favorable outcome in the patients with coma or in the patients with severe disease (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score > 15 or Glasgow coma score < 7). In addition there is no prospective study to investigate the role of statins in VAP in the patients with ischemic stroke. The investigator hopes that this study can approve the relationship between statins and reduced risk of VAP in the patients with ischemic stroke. And it can improve the processes,outcomes and costs of critical care as well.

Despite remarkable gains in treatment over the last decade short-term mortality for those who survive to hospital with AT-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains high (5%-10%). Different studies have pointed out that reperfusion (intravenous fibrinolysis or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and its timing are critical in decreasing STEMI patients' mortality. Studies of prehospital 12 lead electrocardiograms (12 lead PHECG) with advance emergency department (ED) notification suggest that there is a time to treatment advantage with this intervention. The use of 12 lead PHECG is not currently universal and part of standard treatment throughout the province. The purpose of the study is to follow STEMI study subjects during standard treatments and to compare the outcomes of subjects that received 12 lead PHECG with advanced ED notification in mixed rural/urban areas with outcomes of subjects treated in areas with only 3 lead PHECG monitoring and indirect ED notification. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a survival benefit for study subjects with 12 lead PHECG and advance ED notification in rural and urban environments through a reduction in door-to-reperfusion time and that 12 lead PHECG will be a cost-saving technology for the province of Ontario.

XIENCE V USA is a prospective, multi-center, multi-cohort post-approval study. The objectives of this study are To evaluate XIENCE V EECSS continued safety and effectiveness during commercial use in real world settings, and To support the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) initiative. This initiative is designed to evaluate the composite of all death, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (MACCE) and the survival of patients that are free from Academic Research Consortium (ARC) definite or probable stent thrombosis (ST) and that have been treated with drug eluting stents (DES) and extended dual antiplatelet therapy.

The objectives of this post-marketing surveillance, conducted in Japan, is to know the frequency, type and degree of device malfunction, to assure the safety of the medical device, and to collect information on evaluation of the efficacy and safety.

The study is designed to assess the feasibility of evaluating YSPSL for the amelioration of ischemia reperfusion injury following liver transplantation by administering YSPSL into the liver graft directly ex vivo via the portal vein and to the recipient intravenously prior to reperfusion. This study is an extension of the recent pilot study YSPSL-0002 with an almost identical study protocol. The rationale of this and the previous study is based on the recent observation that P-selectin expression has been associated in liver grafts with prolonged cold storage times and rejection. By examining biomarkers of IRI including P-selectin by immunohistochemistry and/or quantitative PCR, liver histology and hepatic blood flow using established techniques, the goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using these modalities for future studies of safety and efficacy.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac cause of ischemic stroke. Detecting atrial fibrillation after a stroke or TIA is critical because highly effective secondary stroke prevention therapy is available for individuals who are recognized to have atrial fibrillation. However, atrial fibrillation is likely under-diagnosed after stroke and TIA because atrial fibrillation is often difficult to detect as it is frequently paroxysmal and asymptomatic, and patients do not routinely undergo prolonged screening. The purpose of this study is to determine the diagnostic yield of a novel 30-day cardiac event monitor compared to a repeat 24-hour Holter monitor for detecting occult paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with a recent ischemic stroke or TIA of undetermined etiology after completion of a standard clinical stroke work-up (including an initial negative Holter monitor.)

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in Europe and United States and the second leading cause of death worldwide and affects more than 10,000 Danes each year. Studies in a late and stationary phase after stroke have shown that physical rehabilitation is of great importance for survival and physical ability of these patients, however many studies show that patients lie or sit next to their bed under hospitalization for more than 88.5 % of the daily hours. Physical activity in stroke patients has never previously been measured immediately after debut of symptoms; furthermore there is no knowledge about the optimal dose of physical rehabilitation for these patients. Accelerometers, small measuring devices, are a relatively new way to measure physical activity precisely, and hence it is possible to obtain an objective measure of how active stroke patients are in the first week after admission. The accelerometers measure a variable voltage, depending on the range and intensity of movement. They can measure movement dependent of the placement of the accelerometer, for instance over the hip, arm or leg. Studies confirm their reliability, even in patients with abnormal gait, such as stroke patients. Another approach of studying the effects of physical activity and rehabilitation is through the examination of biomarkers. Studies have shown that biomarkers released during physical activity can inhibit biomarkers released after tissue injury in the brain, as seen after stroke. These brain biomarkers cause further damage and studies show that the higher the levels, the higher the damage. It is therefore obvious to examine whether physical activity rehabilitation can down regulate this destructive process in patients with stroke. Clarification of physical activity in stroke patients immediately after debut of symptoms and examination of both the biochemical aspects of physical rehabilitation as well as the optimal dose of physical rehabilitation is of great importance for many patients, their relatives as well as of a great socioeconomic importance. The purpose of the project is to describe the amount and pattern of physical activity in stroke patients in the first week after admission. The investigators hypothesis is that patients are inactive for most of the time during hospitalization, activity being correlated with severity of stroke, but not with age, BMI and sex.

The primary objective of the present randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of three anti-smoking interventions of different intensities. It has been hypothesised that early follow-up visits facilitate post-stroke smoking cessation in patients hospitalized because of first-ever ischemic stroke.

Assess whether serum levels of MMP 2 and or MMP 9 correlate with episodes of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation in patients who have implantable cardioverter defibrillator devices.

This study will validate the sensitivity of a purine biosensor (SMARTChip) in detecting acute cerebral ischaemia in a group of patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy. The study will also investigate whether blood purine levels are indicative of future risk of stroke by comparing pre-operative blood purine levels in carotid endarterectomy patients (high risk group) and blood purine levels in a group of age and sex-matched controls.