17 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The goal of this study is to determine whether hemodialysis with citrate slows the progression of vascular calcification. Participants will be dialyzed with one of two standard dialysis solutions, one with and one without citrate, for 12 months and then switched to the other solution for 12 months. Vascular calcification will be measured on mammograms that will be performed at 6-month intervals and additional blood samples will be obtained at 6-month intervals.
The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a link between calcium build up in the veins or arteries (including the veins/arteries of the heart) and deterioration of the bone. This will help understand if there is a connection between heart disease and bone disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in the hemodialysis population and calcification of the major arteries (coronary, aorta, and carotid) are a play a central role in this process. The major causes of the calcification are many, including high levels of phosphorus, low levels of inhibitors of calcification, positive calcium balance, and oxidative stress. Once vascular calcification is present, it is usually progressive. There is no known treatment to reverse established vascular calcification. Sodium thiosulfate has been used extensively and safely to treat calcific uremic arteriopathy (a disease, in part due to calcification of small arteries) in dialysis patients. It increases the solubility of calcium by up to 100,000 fold and is also a potent anti-oxidant. It therefore has to potential to also decrease the amount of calcium in large arteries in dialysis patients and, hence improve survival. We will study hemodialysis (HD) patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease and death by obtaining a multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) Scan of the coronary arteries, carotid arteries and aorta and an assessment of coronary artery stenoses by a simultaneous intravenous infusion of contrast. At the same setting, we will perform tests of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)studies. In those patients at high risk for cardiovascular death, defined as a coronary artery calcification score (CACS)of greater than 50, sodium thiosulfate at a dose of 12.5-25 gm/1.73 M2 will be infused over 15-30 minutes after each dialysis treatment for 5 months. The above studies will then be repeated.
The purpose of this study is to determine if supplemental vitamin K will reduce age-related bone loss in elderly men and women above that achieved by supplementation.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the leading cause of death worldwide. While medications, such as statins, significantly reduce atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk by lowering low density lipoprotein levels, they may also have pleiotropic effects on inflammation. The immunomodulatory effects of these medications are relevant to ASCVD risk reduction given that inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerotic plaque formation (atherogenesis) and influences the development of vulnerable plaque morphology. Patients on statins, however, may have residual inflammation contributing to incident ASCVD despite the potent LDL-lowering effects of statins. While new therapies, such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PSCK9) inhibitors, further reduce incident ASCVD and drastically reduce LDL-C below that achieved by statin therapy alone, PCSK9 inhibitors may also have pleiotropic effects on inflammation. Thus, PCSK9 inhibitors may help reduce arterial inflammation to a level closer to that of patients without ASCVD. This study will apply a novel targeted molecular imaging approach, technetium 99m (99mTc)-tilmanocept SPECT/CT, to determine if residual macrophage-specific arterial inflammation is present with statin therapy and the immunomodulatory effects of PSCK9 inhibition. Given the continued high mortality and morbidity attributable to ASCVD, strong imperatives exist to better understand the immunomodulatory effects of lipid lowering therapies and residual inflammatory risk. This understanding, in turn, will inform the development of new ASCVD preventative and treatment strategies as well as elucidate other indications for established therapies.
The purpose of this research study is to determine the potential benefits of adding information on patients' breast arterial calcification (BAC) results to the standard results letter women receive after mammography. In addition to looking for potential breast cancer, research shows that mammograms can also detect the presence of calcifications within the breast arteries. Those calcifications can be associated with coronary artery disease. Right now, women are not routinely told whether or not they have BAC; that is, it's not part of standard practice to communicate that information to patients. However, previous research has suggested that patients would like to be informed about their BAC status more often. In this study, the team has two goals. First, the team wants to measure the rates of BAC in a large, diverse group of 14,875 women. Because most of the past research on BAC has largely been focused on White mammography patients, the researchers feel it is important to see if the results are similar or different in a more racially and ethnically diverse sample. Second, the study team wants to understand the effects of giving women information on their BAC results as part of their standard post-mammography letter. Specifically, the study team wants to see how sharing that information might affect women's healthcare choices and lifestyle. The research will include 1,888 women in this second part of the study, which will be the first in the literature to explore women's reactions to BAC information. If research shows that women find the information useful, BAC information may be given to women regularly in the future.
The proposed study will investigate the effects of etelcalcetide on the bone and blood-vessel health in patients with CKD-MBD. The investigators will test if etelcalcetide makes bone and blood-vessels healthier. The study hypotheses are that are that etelcalcetide keeps bones strong and lowers the risk of calcium deposits in blood vessels. In Aim 1, the investigators will test if 9-months of treatment with etelcalcetide improves bone strength in twenty ESKD patients with hyperparathyroidism (HPT) by bone biopsy. In Aim 2, the investigators will test if 9-months of treatment with etelcalcetide decreases serum propensity to calcify blood vessels. The potential significance of this study is to provide first-time data on the ability of etelcalcetide to protect bone and blood-vessel health in patients with ESKD.
This study evaluates the local inflammatory and resolution response of patients undergoing peripheral vascular intervention like an angioplasty of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) or popliteal artery, or stenting of the iliac artery or SFA, through the use of Positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI). PET/MRI will be performed prior to intervention, one day and one week after intervention.
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."
The purpose of this study is to test whether active vitamin D (calcitriol) protects bones from weakening and protects blood vessels from calcium deposits over the first year of kidney transplantation.
The purpose of this study is to determine if multiple doses of INZ-701, given once per week over 4 weeks are safe and increase pyrophosphate (PPi) levels in hemodialysis-dependent (HD) end stage kidney disease (ESKD) study participants who have low PPi levels. In addition, the effect of hemodialysis on the pharmacokinetics of INZ-701 and PPi levels will be evaluated.
Background: * Arterial Calcifications due to Deficiency in CD73 (ACDC) is a rare genetic disease. People with ACDC develop calcification in the arteries of the lower extremities as well as calcium deposit in the joints of the fingers, wrists, ankles and feet. The lower extremities calcification causes claudication because of severe ischemia requiring at time revascularization procedures. the calcium deposits in the joints causes severe debilitating pain in the hands and feet. Currently, there are no standard treatments for ACDC. * Etidronate is a bisphosphonate that interferes with bone metabolism. It is approved to treat Paget's disease, a condition in which the bones are soft and weak and may be deformed, painful, or easily broken. It is also used to treat high blood calcium levels. Researchers want to see if it can be used to treat the calcifications of ACDC and improve pain and blood flow in the lower extremities and arthritic pain of the hands and feet. Objectives: - To see if etidronate is a safe and effective treatment for ACDC. Eligibility: - People between 18 and 80 years of age who have been diagnosed with ACDC. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will also have imaging studies, including CT scan of the lower extremities, x-rays and DEXA bone scans, before starting treatment. Blood and urine samples will be collected. An exercise tolerance test will also be given and ABI (ankle brachial index will be measured. * Participants will take etidronate by mouth once a day for 14 days every 3 months. They will be assigned an individualized 6- month drug schedule to follow. * Participants will have regular study visits throughout the treatment period. These visits will involve imaging studies, full dental exams, and blood and urine tests. Participants will also have exercise tolerance tests and ABIs measured. * Participants may also provide tissue samples for further study. * Treatment will continue for up to 3 years as long as the side effects are not severe and the condition does not become worse. Participants will have a final follow-up visit after stopping treatment.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients often have high levels of a substance called fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), a phosphorus excreting hormone, which has been related to heart disease. As kidney function declines, less phosphorus is removed by the kidneys and as a result phosphorus accumulates in the blood. In response to elevated phosphorus levels, more FGF-23 is released to help facilitate the excretion of extra phosphorus into the urine. In addition to effects on FGF-23, increased phosphorus levels can lead to calcification (hardening) of the blood vessels in the CKD population. Phosphate binding medicines are used in CKD patients to lower the amount of phosphorus absorbed by the stomach and intestines after eating meals and snacks. In patients with CKD, studies have shown that phosphate binders can lower FGF-23 levels in the blood. Lowering FGF-23 levels in CKD patients may also lower substances in the blood that cause calcification of blood vessels in the CKD population. This study is being done to determine if using phosphate binders, either sevelamer carbonate or calcium acetate, in the earlier stages kidney disease (before dialysis) can decrease FGF-23 and biomarkers (substances in the blood) associated with hardening of the blood vessels and heart disease.
The purpose of this study is to determine the ability of 3 commercially available phosphorus binders (calcium acetate, sevelamer carbonate, and lanthanum carbonate) to achieve and maintain a phosphorus level in the normal range in patients with chronic kidney disease.
The primary objective is to assess the effect of 2 dose levels of SNF472 (300 mg and 600 mg) compared to placebo on the progression of coronary artery calcium volume score over a 12-month (52 weeks) period in ESRD patients on HD
1. Statement of Problem According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 43.7% of all firefighters that died on the job experienced sudden cardiac death. The job also affords an incredible amount of stress. Cholesterol therapy has been well demonstrated to reduce coronary plaque progression. However is certainly not the only factor in evaluating for progression of coronary artery disease (CAD), and other factors must play a role. Garlic therapy has been shown to retard atherosclerosis independently. 2. Hypothesis and Specific Aims The hypothesis of this proposal is: In comparison to the placebo group, Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) therapy + Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) will be effective in slowing progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in firefighters with established atherosclerosis, independent of baseline blood pressure, statin use or other cardiovascular risk factors. Specific Aims: 1. Compare the effects of cholesterol lowering effects in a firefighter population of patients under the influence of Aged Garlic Extract + CoQ10 or placebo. 2. Compare whether degree of change in atherosclerotic coronary artery plaque burden will change at a different rate under the influence of Aged Garlic Extract + CoQ10 compared to placebo treatment. 3. Compare whether Aged Garlic Extract + CoQ10 therapy induces changes in baseline values including biological and biochemical parameters, such as LDL cholesterol, homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), and endothelial function.
The PATHFINDER I Registry is a prospective, non-randomized, single arm, multicenter observational study. It is a pilot registry study towards a subsequent large pivotal phase registry. This pilot registry is aimed to evaluate the performance (peri-procedural) and clinical outcomes (intermediate and long-term) of the AURYON™ Atherectomy System, within the initial launch phase of the product in the market.