View clinical trials related to Inflammation.
Filter by:FIBRO-RISK study aims to investigate the impact of inflammatory-mediated myocardial fibrosis on the risk of recurrence after successful ablation of atrial fibrillation. The level of systemic inflammation in the pre-ablation and immediate post-ablation period will be assessed on the basis of serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers (hs-CRP, matrix metalloproteases, interleukin-6), while the level of cardiac fibrosis will be determined based on MRI imaging associated with complex post-processing techniques for mapping myocardial fibrosis at the level of left atrium and left ventricle. At the same time, the amount of epicardial fat will serve as an indirect marker of localized inflammation and will be determined at different levels in the heart (surrounding left atrium, right atrium or the entire heart), while ventricular function will be assessed on the basis of serum levels of NT pro-BNP prior to the procedure. All these parameters will be investigated in patients with successful ablation of AF, who will be divided into 2 groups: group 1 - patients who develop AF recurrence at 1-year, and group 2 - patients with no recurrence of AF at 1-year. In all patients, the following biomarkers will be determined: serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers and NT-proBNP at 24 hours and 1 year post-procedure, the amount of myocardial fibrosis at the level of left atrium and left ventricle at baseline +/- 7 days and the amount of epicardial fat surrounding left atrium, right atrium and the entire heart at baseline +/- 7 days. The primary endpoint of the study will be represented by the rate of AF recurrence at 1-year post ablation, documented by either ECG or Holter monitoring. The secondary endpoints of the study will be: - rate of re-hospitalization - rate of survival without relapse - rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE rate, including cardiovascular death or stroke)
Salt-sensitive hypertension affects nearly 50% of the hypertensive and 25% of the normotensive population, and strong evidence indicates that reducing salt intake decreases blood pressure and cardiovascular events. The precise mechanisms of how dietary salt contributes to blood pressure elevation, renal injury, and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Our data indicated that monocytes exhibit salt sensitivity, and the investigators hypothesize that of salt sensitivity of these and similar immune cells correlate with the hypertensive response to salt intake. Currently, the research tools for diagnosing salt-sensitivity are costly, time consuming and laborious. In this study the investigators will identify monocyte salt-sensitivity as a marker of salt-sensitive hypertension.
Given the heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in post-menopausal women, studies are needed to explore novel, feasible methods for reducing risk in this population. Based on prior data, primarily in other populations, progressive resistance training is a promising candidate. This project will test the effectiveness of a practical, progressive resistance training regimen for lowering numerous CVD risk factors compared to both aerobic training and no exercise in post-menopausal women.
The aim of this study is to investigate the inflammatory and maturation processes of immature myeloid cells (IMC) in the vaginal tissue in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (stage III-IV) and in normal non-POP controls. We hypothesize that the processes contributing to POP may be related to immune response and changes in myeloid cell populations and the cytokine environment.
Radiation therapy (RT) of the breast is a critical component of modern breast cancer treatment. RT treatments have led to improved local control and overall survival of breast cancer patients. However, the incidence of radiation induced harmful effects is increasing in these patients. This is because in delivering RT, it is difficult to completely avoid surrounding non-cancerous normal tissue, including the heart. The main concern here is that radiation induced effects on the heart may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in a patient's life, potentially many years after radiation. Despite methods that can detect alterations in blood flow one to two years following radiotherapy, knowledge of early radiation effects to the heart is still limited. A previous animal experiment performed by our group involved delivering a radiation dose to the heart in a manner similar to the way a heart would be exposed, during radiotherapy for a cancer involving the left breast. Taking several images over the months following radiation with a new imaging technique, hybrid PET/MRI, has suggested an increase in inflammation can be detected as early as one-week following irradiation and may be the triggering event for cardiac disease seen in women 10-15 years after radiotherapy. The investigators propose a pilot study where 15 left-sided breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy will be imaged before, as well as one week and one-year post radiotherapy with our hybrid PET/MRI scanner. Areas of inflammation, changes in blood flow, and scar formation within the heart, will be measured by looking at the difference between images that are taken after radiation treatment to the images taken before treatment. The expectation is that any areas of the heart that show detectable differences in the images will be directly related to how much radiation was deposited in those areas. The information gained from this pilot study which will correlate the amount of radiation administered to the degree and extent of injury will help aid in the design of new treatment strategies, that can hopefully decrease or eliminate inadvertent heart damage, thereby, improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients.
Dry eye disease (DED), as one of the most common ocular surface diseases that affecting visual acuity, is highly associated with ocular surface inflammation. Until now, there is no accurate quantization index system to evaluate real-time ocular surface inflammation. Besides, an individualized therapy for ocular surface inflammation is also badly needed. As we all know, conjunctival congestion is one of the important clinical appearance of ocular surface inflammation. Hence, we suggest that several specific microvascular indexes could measure the change of ocular surface inflammation. Our program is aiming to investigate the correlation between inflammatory factors and blood flow velocity as well as microvascular distribution detecting from bulbar conjunctiva through our own devices and software.Futhermore, we tend to compare ocular surface microvascular indexes and microvascular distribution in normal people and dry eye patients in order to establish a database for Chinese people. By confirming the relationship between ocular surface microvascular indexes and ocular inflammation, we hope to set up new diagnostic criteria for ocular inflammation and an individualized therapeutic regimen based on ocular surface microvascular indexes. Finally, we want to establish a precision diagnostic and therapeutic pattern for dry eye disease.
The objective of this project is to study the influence of mindfulness meditation on psychological health (stress level, affects, emotions) and physical health parameters (rate of inflammatory markers in the blood, activity of white blood cells involved in immuno-inflammation) in caregivers of people with psychiatric disorders. This study will provide the objective scientific data required for the development of mindfulness meditation programs for psychiatric caregivers. 80 participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: - 40 participants in the "Mindfulness" group who will attend mindfulness meditation sessions in addition to their standard follow-up - 40 participants in the "Control" group who will have a standard follow-up The duration of participation is 12 months and includes 3 visits and 8 mindfulness-based meditation sessions for the "Mindfulness" group.
Enrollment criteria and clinical data collection: following the principles of medical ethics, the development of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Selecting 200 cases of chronic venous disease (CVD) according to the Comprehensive Classification System for Chronic Venous Disorders (CEAP) divided into 6 Clinical stages (C1-C6) (Group A). Selecting 200 healthy participants without CVD (C0) as controls (Group B). Blood samples will be collected from both groups. Markers of pyroptosis (NETs, Caspase-1 and Cytokines) will be evaluated between the two groups and between the subgroups, according to clinical stage, in group A.
This study is being done to learn about inflammation in the brain of those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this study is to determine if 11C-ER176 is able to accurately measure inflammation in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Both patients (with either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease) and healthy controls (participants without memory complaints or impairment) will be included in this study.
It is estimated that 15% of adults aged 60-70 years, and up to 50% of adults aged 80 years and older are affected by sarcopenia—the age related loss of muscle mass and function. A disruption of the homeostatic balance between periods of muscle protein breakdown (predominant during fasting) and muscle protein synthesis (predominant following nutrient ingestion) can result in the loss of muscle mass over time. In particular, research suggests that an inability of muscle to fully respond to the anabolic influence of nutrient intake may contribute significantly to age-related muscle loss. This anabolic resistance is likely influenced by increased age-related inflammation. There is evidence in cell line and animal models that increased levels of the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) impairs the molecular pathways that initiate muscle protein synthesis (i.e. mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR signaling), and can accelerate muscle protein breakdown. Obesity, and sedentary lifestyle have been linked to increased TNFα expression, and thus may partially explain impaired muscle protein balance in older adults. The objectives of this clinical trial are to 1) determine if lifestyle modification via weight loss and aerobic exercise can reduce skeletal muscle inflammation and subsequently improve nutrient-stimulated muscle protein synthesis in previously sedentary, obese older adults; and 2) expose undergraduate Kinesiology and Nutrition majors to meritorious research. The investigators have recently published data with undergraduate researchers showing that body composition is associated with elevated skeletal muscle expression of TNFα converting enzyme (TACE). One of the primary actions of TACE is to cleave membrane bound TNFα (mTNFα) to soluble TNFα (sTNFα)—a more mature and bioactive form of TNFα. Both TACE and sTNFα are known to be elevated in a number of clinical conditions, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes. Based on these data, the investigators feel that TACE may represent an important and potentially modifiable (via weight loss and aerobic conditioning) regulator of skeletal muscle inflammation in humans. There are currently no data on the associations among skeletal muscle expression of TACE, TNFα, and muscle protein balance. Thus, the focus of this study is to determine if 5-10% diet-induced weight loss and 6-months (3 days per week) of aerobic exercise training can influence: 1) TACE and TNFα expression in skeletal muscle; and 2) improve molecular indices of muscle protein breakdown and nutrient-stimulated muscle protein synthesis (mTOR signaling) in sedentary, obese older adults. Specifically, 60 sedentary, obese older adults will be randomized to one of the following groups: 1) control group (CON), 2) a diet-induced weight loss group (DIET), 3) an aerobic exercise training group (EX), or 4) a diet-induced weight loss + aerobic exercise training group (DIET + EX). The results of this study will advance the understanding of the connections among skeletal muscle inflammation and muscle protein balance in older adults, and validate TACE as a potentially modifiable target for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and other age-related inflammatory diseases, which will contribute to the development of practice-based guidelines for healthcare practitioners.