8 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This proposal puts forward a research plan to initiate a genetic databank, henceforth referred to as The Genebank at Scripps Clinic Registry. This database will usher in genomic research at Scripps as we strive to stay at the forefront of cardiovascular research in the new century. Human subject donation allows for the creation of the proposed genebank.
The purpose of the present prospective, randomized study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of standardized left ventricular reconstruction surgery (LVR). In order to standardize the procedure, the operation will be performed with the Blue Egg, manufactured by BioVentrix, a subsidiary of CHF Technologies, Inc.
This study will investigate the effects of rosiglitazone, a medicine commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, on the utilization of glucose by the heart in patients with heart failure which is not due to heart attacks. The primary purpose of the study is to determine whether treatment with an insulin-sensitizing medication will improve the heart's ability to metabolize glucose (sugar).
The aims of the DCM Precision Medicine Study are to test the hypothesis that DCM has substantial genetic basis and to evaluate the effectiveness of a family communication intervention in improving the uptake and impact of family member clinical screening.
Heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) is the most common form of chronic heart failure in subjects ≤ 75 years of age. Beta-blocker therapy greatly reduces mortality and improves ventricular function in HFrEF patients, but 30-40% of patients do not show improvement in ventricular function with beta blockade. An extensive gene signaling network downstream from the beta1-adrenergic receptor, the primary target of beta-blocker therapy is likely important for development and progression HFrEF. Pathologic changes in this gene signaling network are only reversed towards normal levels when ventricular function improves. One potential mechanism for failure to improve ventricular function in HFrEF patients unresponsive to beta blocker therapy is a lack of heart rate reduction. Ivabradine is an FDA-approved medication believed to have therapeutic benefit in HFrEF patients through reduction in heart rate independent of beta-blockade. Ivabradine has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening HF in patients with stable, symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced EF (≤ 35%)in sinus rhythm with resting heart rate ≥ 70 bpm and who are on maximally tolerated doses of beta blockers or who have a contraindication to beta blockers. Given the high rate of mortality and hospitalization of HFrEF patients even with current therapies, there is a large unmet need for improving HFrEF therapy. The goals of this study are to test the hypothesis that heart rate reduction is an important antecedent for improvement in ventricular function, and to identify components of the beta1-adrenergic receptor gene signaling network responsible for improvement in ventricular function caused by heart rate reduction.
The primary goal of the study is to measure in the intact human heart, the alterations in gene expression over time that are associated with reverse remodeling in response to β-blockade. The second goal is to investigate the signaling mechanisms which in turn are responsible for these changes in gene expression, and the third goal is to determine the relationship between intrinsic systolic dysfunction and remodeling of the left ventricle. This will be accomplished by measuring ventricular size, function, and gene expression in myocardial tissue samples obtained by percutaneous biopsy prior to initiation of β-blockade and at 3 and 12 months after start of therapy. The specific Aims and Hypotheses to be tested are: 1. Aim: Determine the changes in gene expression associated with changes in intrinsic systolic function and with functional decompensation in the intact, failing human heart. a. Hypothesis: Changes in the expression of select genes precede or accompany changes in left ventricular systolic function in humans with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). 2. Aim: Identify signaling mechanisms responsible for alterations in expression of key genes involved in mediation of ventricular hypertrophy or contractile dysfunction. a. Hypothesis: Myocardial-failure-associated regulation of select messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins are related to left ventricular wall stress and neurohormonal signaling. 3. Aim: In the relationship between contractile dysfunction and dilatation/remodeling, determine the relationship between contractile dysfunction and structural remodeling. b. Hypothesis: the contractile dysfunction is primary and structural remodeling secondary.
The purpose of this study is to: 1) Remodel and restore left ventricular geometry and function. 2) Avoid the need for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and/or cardiac transplantation (CT). 3) Confirm the outcomes of a pilot study completed in Germany and reported in The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation in May 2013.
The primary purpose of this study is to compare the number of participants with reversible pulmonary hypertension (vasoreactivity) due to nitric oxide for inhalation and oxygen as compared to 100% oxygen.