5 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose this investigation is to more thoroughly investigate the effects of ranolazine on arrhythmias and microvolt t-wave alternans in patients who have an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) implanted either prophylactically to prevent sudden cardiac death, as well as in patients who may have had a clinically significant arrhythmic event prompting the insertion of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. It is anticipated this study will provide valuable new insight into the potential use of ranolazine to treat arrhythmias in higher risk patients.
This study is a prospective, non-randomized, multi-center clinical trial that will assess the safety and effectiveness of investigational models of the Promote™ RF CRT-D and Current™ RF ICD devices. These new ICD and CRT-D devices have new features that allow the device to periodically check how much energy is needed to pace a patient's heart and to automatically adjust the amount of energy used to pace the heart.
There is a certain gene called sarcoplasmic reticulum gene (SERCA2a), which is found in heart muscle. This gene is also found in blood vessels and skin tissue. When active this gene builds a crucial protein inside the heart muscle called SERCA2a protein. This is responsible for regulating calcium levels inside your heart muscle. When this gene is not activated, studies have shown that it can lead to abnormal electrical currents in the heart that can lead to death. The investigators are conducting this study to prove that SERCA2a gene is inactive in patients with kidney disease. Scientists found that patient at risk for abnormal electrical currents in the heart can be tested by what they called "microvolt Twave alternans." This is a very delicate machine much more sensitive than a regular electrocardiogram that you do at the cardiology office.
The purpose of the study is to determine the usefulness of microvolt T wave alternans (MTWA) testing of patients that have had a heart attack and have decreased pumping ability of the lower chamber of their heart. MTWA testing is a non-invasive test used to detect the likelihood of developing abnormally fast rhythms in the lower chambers of the heart. The objective of the study is to prove that if a patient has a negative MTWA test, they will be less likely to develop abnormally fast and dangerous rhythms in the lower chambers of the heart. The results of the study will help doctors to determine which patients would benefit the most from having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) implanted.
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have driven a paradigm shift in the modeling of human disease; the ability to reprogram patient-specific cells holds the promise of an enhanced understanding of disease mechanisms and phenotypic variability, with applications in personalized predictive pharmacology/toxicology, cell therapy and regenerative medicine. This research will collect blood or skin biopsies from patients and healthy controls for the purpose of generating cell and tissue models of Mendelian heritable forms of heart disease focusing on cardiomyopathies, channelopathies and neuromuscular diseases. Cardiomyocytes derived from hiPSCs will provide a ready source of disease specific cells to study pathogenesis and therapeutics.