The Psoriasis Echo Study
PsoriasisCardiovascular Diseases24 moreIn a prospective cohort study (n = 1.000), the investigators aim to investigate the correlation between cardiac biomarkers and advanced echocardiography and determine whether these are prognostic markers of heart disease in patients suffering from psoriasis.
Sex Differences in Myocardial Steatosis Induced Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Heart DiseasesLeft Ventricular DysfunctionTo test the specific research questions, healthy men and age-matched healthy premenopausal females will be enrolled. Subjects will undergo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) to evaluate cardiac morphology/function and fat metabolism. To acutely elevate myocardial triglyceride content, subjects will be asked to abstain from eating for 2 days (reproducibly causes a significant and physiological increase in myocardial fat deposition, transiently). Subjects will be allowed water and/or an isotonic saline solution in order to maintain hydration status. After screening, subjects will meet with the research coordinator or an investigator for a discussion, with opportunity for questions, before applicable consent forms are obtained. The subject will be screened for metal in or on their body and claustrophobia using a standard MR screening form. A venous blood sample will be taken for measurement of metabolic health, circulating hormones, and systemic inflammation. Imaging will include cine imaging for global morphology and function, tissue tagging for regional tissue deformation, spectroscopy for fat quantification. After baseline images of the heart are obtained, the subject will be asked to squeeze a MR-safe handgrip dynamometer at 30% of their maximum while images of the heart are obtained. Blood pressure will also be measured at rest and during stress. Each MRI will take approximately 90-120 minutes. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that cardiac steatosis induced left ventricular dysfunction is sexually dimorphic, by comparing age-matched men and premenopausal women before and after 48 of fasting. Subjects will complete the MRI/MRS protocol described above before and after the fasting intervention. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that estrogen is protective against cardiac steatosis-induced dysfunction, by suppressing ovarian sex hormones with a GnRH antagonist and repeating the fasting studies with and without estrogen add-back. 30 female subjects will be treated with GnRH antagonist and repeat the 48 hour fasting intervention and cardiac MRI/MRS protocol. 15 of the subjects will receive estrogen add-back using a transdermal patch, the other 15 subjects will receive a placebo patch. Aim 3 will test whether plasma and myocardial fatty acid composition is sexually dimorphic, by performing comprehensive plasma and myocardial lipidomics assessment.
The SMART-LV Pilot Study
Left Ventricular Systolic DysfunctionThe goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the prospective performance of an image-based, smartphone-adaptable artificial intelligence electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) strategy to predict and detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in a real-world setting.
Conventional Biventricular Versus Left Bundle Branch Pacing on Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients...
Heart FailureLeft Bundle-Branch Block5 moreHeart failure (HF) is the most common nosology encountered in clinical practice. Its incidence and prevalence increase exponentially with increasing age and it is associated with increased mortality, more frequent hospitalization and decreased quality of life. An initial approach to the treatment of HF patients with reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic function and left bundle branch block (LBBB) was implantation of cardioresynchronization device using biventricular pacing. This has resulted in long-term clinical benefits such as improved quality of life, increased functional capacity, reduced HF hospitalizations and overall mortality. However, conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective in only 70% of patients. And the remaining 30% of patients are non-responders to conventional CRT. Subsequently, His bundle pacing (HBP) has been developed to achieve the same results. According to other studies HBP has showed greater improvement in hemodynamic parameters than with conventional biventricular CRT. But, nevertheless, there are significant clinical troubles with HBP. In this regard, in 2017, the left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) was developed, which demonstrated clinical advantages compared to biventricular CRT. This method has become an alternative to HBP due to the stimulation of LBB outside the blocking site, a stable pacing threshold and a narrow QRS duration. A series of case reports and observational studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of LBBP in patients with CRT indications. However, it is not enough data about CRT with LBBP effectiveness in LV remodeling, reducing mortality and complications. According to our hypothesis, CRT with LBBP compared with conventional biventricular CRT will significantly improve the clinical outcomes and reverse LV remodeling in patients with chronic HF with reduced LV ejection fraction and reduce the number of non-responders to conventional CRT.
Pediatric Hypertension and the Renin-Angiotensin SystEm (PHRASE)
HypertensionLeft Ventricular Hypertrophy16 moreStudying the causal roles of components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (including angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Ang II, and ACE), uric acid, and klotho in pediatric hypertension and related target organ injury, including in the heart, kidneys, vasculature, and brain. Recruiting children with a new hypertension diagnosis over a 2-year period from the Hypertension and Pediatric Nephrology Clinics affiliated with Brenner Children's Hospital at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital. Healthy control participants will be recruited from local general primary care practices. Collecting blood and urine samples to analyze components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (Ang-(1-7), ACE2, Ang II, ACE), uric acid, and klotho, and measuring blood pressure, heart structure and function, autonomic function, vascular function, and kidney function at baseline, year 1, and year 2. Objectives are to investigate phenotypic and treatment response variability and to causally infer if Ang-(1-7), ACE2, Ang II, ACE, uric acid, and klotho contribute to target organ injury due to hypertension.
HIDRAdenitis Suppurativa and HEART Disease
HidradenitisHidradenitis Suppurativa12 moreIn a prospective observational cohort study (n = 250) the investigators aim to assess the correlation between cardiac biomarkers, advanced echocardiography and HS severity and determine whether these are prognostic markers of heart disease in patients suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
Preoperative Maltodextrin's Effect on Cardiac Function in Cardiac Surgery
Left Ventricular DysfunctionQuality of Recovery1 moreA randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial evaluating the effect of the administration of a Maltodextrin solution on cardiac function in patients presenting for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.
Physiologic Cardiac Pacing to Prevent Left Ventricular Dysfunction Post TAVI
Atrioventricular BlockSecond and Third DegreeThe study aims to compare permanent Conduction System Pacing (CSP) with the standard therapy - Right Ventricular Pacing (RVP) or Biventricular Pacing (BVP) - in preventing the development and progression of symptomatic Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) and improving survival in patients after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).
Reducing Cognitive Impairment by Management of Heart Failure as a Modifiable Risk Factor
Heart FailureCognitive Impairment4 moreThis study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of an innovative model of care for cognitively impaired patients with heart failure. This program aims to improve cognition, reduce dementia risk and cardiovascular events, and will be supported by innovative digital technology for wide scale rollout and implementation. Findings from this research will transform the way healthcare is delivered to cognitively impaired patients with heart disease who have a very high risk of developing dementia.
Early Assessment of Impaired Cardiac Function in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes MellitusLeft Ventricular DysfunctionThis is a single-center, prospective, observational study to explore the clinical features and risk factors of impaired cardiac function detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with diabetes mellitus. The risk factors include traditional cardiovascular risk factors, bone metabolism hormones, sex hormones, adrenal and pituitary hormones, and novel serum biomarkers.