Active clinical trials for "Vascular Diseases"

Spontaneous myogenic oscillations will be studied under general anesthesia using finger photoplethysmography. This pilot study will explore potential physiological conditions that will effect the amplitude and/or frequency of myogenic oscillations.

Experimental models have linked lipid lowering therapies with systemic inflammation; however, relatively little is known about this network in clinical populations and specifically how it changes with PCSK9 inhibition. The eligible subjects will have 6 visits in 13 to 16 weeks and will have Repatha/placebo 140mg subcutaneous every 4 weeks for 3 times since randomization visit, blood tests will be done in each visit to evaluate the effects of evolocumab upon biocellular markers potentially altered by PCSK9 inhibition in a population of type 2 diabetes patients with microvascular dysfunction. Primary Aims: Determine the ACUTE and SHORT-TERM effects of PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab on biocellular markers of inflammation, immune mediated thrombosis and rheology. The data from this trial will be used to support a clinical trial to assess the role of PCSK9 inhibition in type 2 diabetes patients with cardiac microvascular dysfunction. Secondary Aims: To define the association between PCSK 9 concentrations and immune-related phenotype. To define the association between Lp(a) concentrations, oxidized phospholipids (OxPL), ApoB, biocellular markers of inflammation, tissue factor and immunothrombosis.

Many patients with end-stage heart failure, a condition in which the heart fails to pump enough blood to support the body's other organs, are fortunate enough to receive a heart transplant. However, despite taking medicines aimed at blunting the immune system's response to the donor heart, some of them will develop transplant-related disease in the coronary arteries supplying their hearts. Fifty years after the first human-to-human heart transplant, this disorder-cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV)-remains a leading cause of long-term death and has been coined the 'Achilles' Heel' of heart transplantation. Indeed, a better understanding of how CAV occurs and improved therapies to prevent and/or slow its development are desperately needed to meaningfully impact patient outcomes. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a key molecular regulator of arterial health, and our prior data suggests that it is associated with accelerated CAV. In this particular study of recent heart transplant recipients, we are asking: Does ET-1 contribute to the coronary artery's capacity to dilate/constrict? To answer this question, during the cardiac catheterization at 1 year post-transplant (standard of care), we will measure blood levels of ET-1 and perform an invasive evaluation of coronary vasomotor function inn a consecutive subset of patients who will have received a 1-week course of the oral endothelin receptor antagonist (macitentan) prior this catheterization, which will allow us to test how much ET-1 contributes to coronary responsiveness. The findings from this study may provide the necessary foundation to study whether endothelin receptor antagonists are able to effectively reduce the rate of accelerated CAV.

The purpose of this study is to understand the effects of fish oil supplement (containing parts of omega-3 fatty acids) on inflammation. The investigators are aiming to identify which dose of the fish oil supplement is the most effective. The name of the fish oil supplement is "SPM Emulsion."

Although most patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome or acute ischemic stroke in South Asian countries receive these evidence-based treatments, their overall continuation in the outpatient phase of care remains low. Patient from Pakistan are uniquely challenged in this respect because the overall literacy rates remain one of the lowest in Pakistan among South Asian Countries. In addition, a great majority of Pakistani patients often do not understand or follow health prescriptions (which are still written in English). Additionally, due to an unregulated health industry, they frequently take multiple opinions and prescriptions from different physicians. The investigators propose to develop a "talking prescription" for patients with stroke or myocardial infarction for secondary prevention. This will enable them to understand their medications better, improve health literacy and adherence. This is an IT enabled health literacy intervention. Physicians will prescribe statin and/or antiplatelet to the selected patients and enter the necessary details on an Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet.Patients will be assigned to either of the 2 arms--either regular care or talking prescriptions. Follow-up will be done at 3 months post recruitment for behavioral knowledge assessment and adherence assessment.

The purpose of this trial is to assess the effects of colchicine on vascular inflammation measured by (FDG)-PET imaging in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease. This effect will also be measured by soluble plasma biomarkers. Finally, an optional pharmacogenomic investigation will be performed to identify genetic biomarkers of patient response.

Little is known about chronic wound microenvironments, especially in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and diabetic patients. At the demarcation line, the percentage of viable cells and tissue is unclear. A means to determine cell viability, particularly discerning an apoptotic or necrotic cell pathway would indicate where the line of demarcation should be drawn. The information generated would better predict clinical outcome using SPY Imaging. Cellular studies are needed to successfully confirm a clear line of demarcation to eliminate surgeon subjectivity.

The main aim of the study is to investigate, in humans, the effect of plant sterols on vascular function by measuring flow-mediated dilation (FMD). This study also aims to study the effect of plant sterols on pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic augmentation index (Aix), central blood pressure (CBP), office blood pressure (BP), blood lipids and plasma plant sterol concentration. At last, the effects of plant sterols on z-scores of circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation will be assessed. For all study outcomes, effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals will be estimated. Hypothesis: Based on available evidence, it is hypothesized that plant sterols modestly increase FMD.

Hypothesis - Rotigaptide will improve endothelial function in the context of endothelial dysfunction. The lining of blood vessels (endothelium) can react to hormones in the blood stream causing the blood vessel muscle to relax (vasodilatation) and allow more blood to flow. The nitric oxide and prostacyclin pathways are well documented in this process. However, evidence points to the existence of a third powerful relaxant called endothelium derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF) but its identity and mechanism of action have proved elusive. As well as causing blood vessels to relax and more blood to flow, EDHF may be involved in the endothelium signaling, triggering release of a specialised clot dissolving factor called tissue plasminogen activator (t PA). t PA is important to ensure small clots, which are constantly being formed in the circulation, are rapidly dissolved and do not grow large enough to cause heart attacks and strokes. Evidence points towards the requirement for 'gap junctions' in the mediation of EDHF responses. Gap junctions are specialised pores which allow small molecules and charge to pass between cells. They are found between endothelial cells and the underlying muscle of the blood vessel. A drug called Rotigaptide has been developed to cause gap junctions to open. It has been safely administered in healthy volunteers and is now in a Phase II drug trial. By opening gap junctions the investigators hypothesise that it could increase EDHF mediated activity and vasodilatation. It represents a useful tool with which to examine the role of gap junctions in EDHF activity in vivo. Previously the investigators have demonstrated that rotigaptide does not contribute to endothelial function in healthy volunteers. The investigators now wish to examine the effect of rotigaptide in conditions of endothelial dysfunction. By limiting the blood flow to the arm for 20mins the ability of the blood vessel to vasodilate is impaired. By administering an intra-arterial rotigaptide infusion the investigators want to assess any functional preservation.

This is an open label pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the Flowaid device in increasing local circulation in the legs. 15 patients with a diagnosis of Peripheral Vascular Disease will be enrolled in this study. They will recieve tratment with the Flowaid device and monitored continuously by means of Laser Doppler Flowmetry as well as by tcPO2 and Digital Thermography. Subjective data will also be collected.