Active clinical trials for "Reperfusion Injury"

This study is designed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of UDCA on liver graft recovery early after adult liver transplantation.

Oxygen treatment is widely used in acutely ill patients. In particular, oxygen treatment is routinely used in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction and variably recommended in ACS-guidelines, despite very limited data supporting a beneficial effect. Immediate re-opening of the acutely occluded infarct-related bloodvessel via primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment of choice to limit ischemic injury in the setting of ST-elevation ACS (STE-ACS). However, the sudden re-initiation of blood flow achieved with primary PCI can give rise to further damage, so-called reperfusion injury. Ischemia and reperfusion associated myocardial injury (IR-injury) involves a wide range of pathological processes. Vascular leakage, activation of cell death programs, transcriptional reprogramming, no reflow phenomenon and innate and adaptive immune activation all contribute to tissue damage, thereby determining the infarct size. The effect of oxygen treatment on these pathological processes, on the extent of IR-injury and the final infarct size in STE-ACS patients has not previously been studied. ACS is characterized by a systemic inflammation with typical elevations of soluble inflammatory markers as well as changes in white blood cells. The inflammatory reaction might be considered helpful in restoring myocardial tissue structure and function, but on the other hand it might worsen IR-injury by activating various pathological processes. In human experimental studies, Salmonella typhi vaccine has been used to create a standardized model of systemic inflammation and when administered to healthy volunteers the vaccination has not been associated with any adverse events. In an ongoing register randomized multicentre clinical trial, the DETO2X (Determination of role of oxygen in suspected acute myocardial infarction) study, the effect of oxygen on morbidity and mortality in ACS patients is being investigated. In a substudy of the DETO2X-trial, the investigators have planned to evaluate the effect of oxygen treatment on IR-injury in STE-ACS as assessed by biomarkers reflecting various aspects of the pathological processes involved. The presented study is an experimental pilot study performed in healthy volunteers with a Salmonella typhi vaccine-induced inflammation with the purpose of studying effects of oxygen treatment on biological systems involved in the pathogenesis of IR- injury.

Despite advances in the treatment of heart attacks the complications and death rates from failure of the heart to pump properly after treatment remain high. A heart attack occurs when one or more of the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked, causing the heart to be starved of oxygen and nutrients. This results in damage to the heart and so the the heart pumps less well. The main treatment for a heart attack is balloon treatment to open the blocked artery (called primary angioplasty). Whilst re-opening the artery is essential and allows blood to flow to the area of the heart starved of oxygen, this process also causes damage itself (called reperfusion injury) and increases the size of the heart attack further. Currently there are no treatments available that reduce this reperfusion injury. The investigators and others have shown that a substance called sodium nitrite reduces reperfusion injury in experimental models of a heart attack. The aim of this research is to perform a trial to investigate whether during a heart attack, an infusion of sodium nitrite into the damaged artery protects against reperfusion injury and reduces heart attack size in patients.

The on-going randomized clinical trial TTM2 (Target Hypothermia Versus Targeted Normothermia After Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest, NCT02908308) investigates if there is a difference in mortality, neurological function or quality of life in comatose survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest if treated (Group A) at target temperature of 33 oC or (Group B) by avoiding fever during the first 24 h. In this sub study, the effect of different target temperatures on cardiac and circulatory physiology is evaluated by echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheter. Tissue damage after cardiac arrest in part is caused by an activation of different parts of the inflammatory system (reperfusion injury). This study investigates the effect of temperature management on inflammation and the link to the circulatory effects.

In Denmark, 12.000 people a year, is struck by acute myocardial infarction. A third of these cannot be saved before treatment is possible. Despite quick and effective reperfusion of the coronary arteries using PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) after an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, substantial morbidity and mortality remain. Infarct size is an important determinant of the short-and long-term outcome after acute myocardial infarction. The most widely used and most effective proven therapy to limit infarct size is the early reperfusion induced by or PCI. Although beneficial in terms of myocardial salvage, reperfusion itself may contribute to additional damage of the myocardium; the damage due to the combined processes is known as "ischemia-reperfusion injury". The pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is a multifactorial process involving the interaction of multiple mechanisms. Numerous studies indicate that there are three pivotal factors in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury: elevated oxidative damage, depressed energy metabolism, and altered calcium homeostasis. Partially reduced species of oxygen, including the superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide, are generated intracellularly as by-product of oxygen metabolism. These reactive oxygen species cause peroxidation af membrane lipids, denaturation of proteins, and modification of DNA, all of which ultimately can lead to cell death. In mammals, cell damage induced by partially reduced oxygen species can also initiate local inflammatory responses, which then lead to further oxidant-mediated tissue injury. Melatonin is mainly known for its role as an endogenously produced circadian hormone. For the last twenty years, increasing evidence has proven melatonin to be a very potent direct and indirect antioxidant. Recent experimental studies have documented the beneficial effects of melatonin in reducing tissue damage and limiting cardiac pathophysiology in models of experimental ischemia-reperfusion. Primary hypothesis: Melatonin given to patients undergoing PCI can reduce the myocardial damage sustained by ischemia-reperfusion.

Rationale Currently, hepatic resection is often the only curative treatment for primary or secondary hepatic malignancies and is also frequently performed in patients with benign liver tumors to prevent malignant transformation and/or alleviate symptoms. Liver resections are nowadays associated with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. As result of that, an increasing number of patients is currently under consideration for resection of more complex or large tumors, thus requiring extensive resection procedures. Application of vascular exclusion (i.e., clamping of the portal vein and hepatic artery) during such procedures reduces blood loss, which is one of the most important factors affecting peri-operative outcomes. However, vascular exclusion leads to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury as an inevitable side-effect, which adversely impacts postoperative liver function and regeneration. Additional cooling of the liver by means of hypothermic perfusion is expected to further reduce intraoperative blood loss, as well as to protect the liver from I/R injury. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study is to cool the future remnant liver (FRL) in situ during right hemihepatectomy under vascular exclusion. Consequently, an overall improvement in postoperative outcomes is expected due to a decrease in intraoperative blood loss, reduced parenchymal damage, and a better ability of the liver remnant to regenerate. Objective To reduce intraoperative blood loss and enhance tolerance of the FRL to I/R injury during right hemihepatectomy under vascular exclusion by means of in situ hypothermic perfusion with retrograde outflow (R-IHP) of the FRL. Study design The study is designed as a prospective randomized pilot study in 18 patients (9 interventions and 9 controls) to assess the effects of the proposed intervention. Additionally, 4 patients will be included separately for assessment of the intervention's feasibility prior to randomized inclusion. Study population Eligible patients for participation in this study are those planned to undergo right hemihepatectomy under vascular inflow occlusion because of a malignant or benign liver tumor, and who do not suffer from any hepatic co-morbidity that might influence postoperative outcomes (i.e., severe steatosis, cholestasis, cirrhosis, or hepatitis B/C infection). Intervention During right hemihepatectomy, the FRL of patients allocated to the intervention group will be perfused with a chilled perfusion solution (i.e., lactated Ringer's solution).

Early reperfusion therapy has improved the clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but these benefits are limited in some patients by reperfusion injuries. There is now increasing evidence that reactive oxygen species cause reperfusion injury. This study was designed to examine the effects of edaravone, a novel free radical scavenger, in patients with AMI.

The evaluation of the efficacy of an intraportal infusion with Tacrolimus, at the time of liver graft implantation, compared to a control group without immunosuppressive intraportal infusion (Placebo: Saline solution 0.9%) with respect to the initial liver function measured by the parameters of the liver function (LFP): AST (U/L), ALT (U/L), total Bilirubin (mg/dL) and the coagulation factors: NT (%), PTT (s), INR.

Open-heart surgery causes injury of the heart muscle. Although this is usually mild, temporary and reversible, if it is severe it can endanger life and require additional high cost care. During surgery, techniques are used to protect the heart from injury, but these remain imperfect. This study assesses the effect of facilitating sugar metabolism (a more efficient fuel) by the heart muscle using the drug Perhexiline given before the operation. This treatment has a sound experimental basis for improving outcome. If this improvement is confirmed surgical results could be improved. The investigators will be studying heart function, heart muscle energy stores and chemicals which quantify the amount of heart muscle injury. The investigators' hypothesis is that Perhexiline will improve the protection of the heart by decreasing damage that may occur during heart surgery.

Inhaled sevoflurane during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reduces postoperative Troponin levels and may be associated with improved outcome. A dose-response effect has been demonstrated by de Hert et al, with greatest reductions of Troponin when Sevoflurane was used during the entire operation, as compared to Sevoflurane during parts of the operation. Sevoflurane, as other inhaled anesthetic agents, is sedative in low doses. Postoperative sedation after CABG is currently achieved with intravenous propofol. A new simplified method of administration of isoflurane or sevoflurane has been developed and tested by members of the research group. The Anesthetic Conserving Device is a modified heat-moisture exchanger (HME) that permits direct infusion of sevoflurane to the airway, where it is vaporized in an evaporator rod in the device. The primary aim (and primary hypothesis)of the current trial is to examine if postoperative sedation with sevoflurane after CABG is associated with improved cardiac outcome, measured as reduced levels of Troponin, BNP and reduced incidence of cardiac events, such as atrial fibrillation, need for inotropic drugs and myocardial infarction, compared with conventional propofol sedation. Other end-points of the trial are potential renal (protective) effects measured with cystatin C levels, need for dialysis but also measurements of inorganic fluorides in serum, as well as environmental aspects of sevoflurane sedation in a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. Furthermore, potential differences in ICU memories and well-being during stay in the intensive Care Unit will be investigated via patient questionnaires. Besides routine blood sampling, plasma will be saved for later analysis of inflammatory mediators (biobank).