Active clinical trials for "Constriction, Pathologic"

Background and Study Aims: Biliary strictures are a major cause of morbidity following liver transplantation with an overall incidence between 10 and 30 %. Up to now biliary strictures were dilated subsequently one to three plastic stents with a diameter of eight to ten F were inserted. In general, stents were exchanged in two to three months intervals over one year. In the present prospective controlled study, efficacy and complication rates of balloon dilation have been compared with dilation plus stenting. Patients and Methods: XY patients with high-grade biliary strictures (anastomotic and non-anastomotic) were enrolled in this prospective study in random order. X patients were treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation and Y by balloon dilatation plus plastic stent placement in six to eight weeks intervals. The primary end point was permanent opening of the biliary obstruction of 12 months. Number of endoscopic interventions and complications of the procedures were monitored.

This study tests the effectiveness of different treatments for the three most commonly diagnosed conditions of the lower backbone (lumbar spine). The purpose is to learn which of two commonly prescribed treatments (surgery and nonsurgical therapy) works better for specific types of low back pain. Low back pain is one of the most widely experienced health problems in the United States and the world. It is the second most frequent condition, after the common cold, for which people see a doctor or lose days from work. In this part of the study, we will treat patients with spinal stenosis (a narrowing of spaces in the backbone that results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots) with a type of surgery known as posterior decompressive laminectomy or with nonsurgical methods. This study does not cover the cost of treatment.

Biomarkers and mechanisms in the progression of aortic valve stenosis are sometimes not sufficiently understood. The current project will take into account image morphological and immunological aspects that predict the development of hemodynamically relevant aortic valve stenosis in order to identify high-risk patients and to develop further therapeutic options.

This multi-center, prospective, cluster-randomized controlled trial will evaluate Mpirik automated notifications as an intervention to support identification and evaluation of patients possibly indicated for Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR). This study will evaluate the impact of Mpirik automated notifications on: (1) AVR utilization (including time to AVR); and (2) multidisciplinary heart team clinic evaluation (including time to evaluation) for patients with definitive or possible severe AS on echocardiogram. These endpoints will also be examined within and between assigned groups according to race, ethnicity, sex, and geography. The primary question that will be answered: Do automated alerts sent to clinical providers decrease under-treatment of severe aortic stenosis? The study will compare the rate of clinical follow-up and aortic valve surgery in a control group (no alerts sent) to a treatment group (alerts sent to an appropriate care provider).

This study will investigate changes right ventricular function and functional recovery metrics after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Primary objective: To identify older adults with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) early in the course of the illness, at a time when disease modifying therapies are most effective. The specific aims of this epidemiologic investigation include: To identify subjects with previous lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) Surgery who have evidence of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid deposits in spinal specimens and could be at risk for ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. To evaluate for ATTR-CA among those with localized TTR in the spinal tissue. The study will also explore the following: The prevalence of amyloid in lumbar spinal stenosis specimens by Congo Red staining. The prevalence of TTR deposits among subjects with amyloid as determined by mass spectrometry. Evaluation of a novel artificial intelligence technique for that can identify amyloid histologically with standard H&E staining. Difference in ATTR-CA prevalence between subjects with TTR and indeterminate amyloid deposits in subject's spine by myocardial uptake of technetium pyrophosphate scan (Tc99-PYP).

Calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) is a disease characterized by progressive calcification of the aortic valve, obstructing the passage of blood from the left ventricle into the general circulation. It is the most frequent cause of valve disease in the elderly. To date, no means of preventing the disease has been discovered, and the only treatment available is valve replacement during cardiac surgery, or percutaneous implantation of a valve prosthesis when the narrowing becomes severe and causes symptoms. The intestinal flora or microbiota, the reservoir of all the microorganisms in the gut, is implicated in numerous diseases, particularly of the intestine. But to date, no study has established a link between CAS and microbiota. The intestinal microbiota acts through molecules produced by itself or the host and passing into the bloodstream. In the pathophysiology of CAS, the valve leaflets are breached and do not heal. These molecules can enter and have beneficial or deleterious effects, in particular promoting calcification of aortic valve cells. Concrete objectives: Improve understanding of calcific aortic stenosis in humans Study the composition of intestinal flora in patients with aortic stenosis and compare it with healthy subjects Study the molecules in the intestinal flora likely to be involved in the development of aortic stenosis in humans.

When clinical doctors cannot diagnose the cause of biliary stricture after comprehensive laboratory and imaging examinations, it is collectively referred to as unexplained bile duct stenosis. This study intends to analyze the diagnostic value of the biliary endoscopy system for unknown cause biliary strictures , and compare the diagnostic efficacy of biopsy under biliary endoscopy guidance with brushing cytology under ERCP.

This study compare the results of 2 methods in surgical treatment of Lumbar spine stenosis.These are microdecompresssion and open decompression with posterior stabilization. 100 patients are involved in this study who divided in 2 groups.Each group was treated with one method and follow up done which showed both method are effective with better results in those patients treated with microdecomppression.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a spinal disorder that affects mainly people over the age of 60. LSS is the most common reason to perform spinal surgery for people aged >65 years and have been shown to be superior to conservative treatment. Hitherto, studies on lumbar spinal stenosis are sparse with only 3 trials including approximately 300 patients. There is also a paucity in studies investigating if people with lumbar spinal stenosis improve their outcome following surgery undergoing a pre-surgery rehabilitation programme including physical fitness exercises, abdominal and back muscle strengthening and a core control approach.