View clinical trials related to Biomarkers.
Filter by:In Canada, the prevalence of PTSD is approximately 12%, similar to Canadian military personnel. Current treatments for PTSD are limited in efficacy and durability - indicating a dire need for novel interventions in this population. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has a high degree of safety and has been studied as an intervention for many mental health and neurological conditions; even showing initial promise for PTSD. We propose to study this further in a randomized sham controlled trial of TMS for PTSD.
Sepsis is an acute pathology defined as an inappropriate response of the host to infection, resulting in the onset of organ failure (Quick SOFA ≥2, or SOFA ≥2). Septic shock is a sepsis associated with an elevation of lactate ≥ 2 mmol / l and an arterial hypotension requiring vasoactive drugs. Several studies highlighted that sepsis is associated with a plasma L-arginine deficiency. This deficiency induces a lower availability of L-arginine for multiple metabolic pathways including those involved in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) in the vascular endothelium via NO synthase. NO is the main endogenous vasodilator mediator, a lower synthesis induces a vascular and endothelial dysfunction that can promote the occurrence of an organic dysfunction during sepsis. Decrease in available NO was confirmed in patients with sepsis and appears correlated with severity. L-arginine deficiency can have multiple origins: - L-arginine deficiency resulting from a decrease in endogenous production from citrulline synthesized by the enterocytes. Such enterocyte dysfunction has been confirmed in patients with sepsis and is characterized biologically by elevated plasma levels of I-FABP (intestinal fatty acid binding protein - enterocyte-specific protein, cytolysis marker) and lower than that of citrulline (hypocitrullinemia, marker of lower activity). - L-arginine deficiency may also result from a catabolism increase via arginase activity increased. This ubiquitous enzyme, having 2 isoforms (Arg1 and Arg2), allows the synthesis of urea and ornithine from L-arginine. An increase in arginase activity would decrease the available reserves of L-arginine for NO synthesis. The objectives of this work is to evaluate, in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, the prognostic value of the plasma arginase activity and the plasma expression of 2 isoforms Arg1 and Arg2, their kinetics, and the link between activity / expression of arginase and enterocyte dysfunction.
Participants who have signed up to the Watford Football Club Community and Education Trust Weight management programme called Shape Up will be approached to see if they would like to take part in this research study. Their participation in the Shape Up programme will not be affected if they do not choose to opt in to the research component. Fifty participants will be recruited and randomised in to one of two groups. One group will be the control group and they will undertake the Shape Up programme as normal and will be asked to complete some questionnaires in week 1, week 12 and then at 12 weeks follow up. The intervention group will be asked to complete the same questionnaires and will also have a venous blood sample taken at week 1, 12 and then at 12 weeks follow up. This is for measures of cholesterol, sugar, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iron. The participants will receive a report from a medical doctor in layman terms on these results a week later and will have access to their data on an online portal set up by Medichecks. The weight management programme is based on a behaviour change programme where the participants attend a 90-minute session for 12 weeks, and they are then supported for another 12 weeks following the end of the supervision. The participants have weight and BMI measured at week 1, 12 and 12 weeks follow up. Each session consists of an education component followed by an exercise component. Initially, the education part is longer and the exercise is shorter, but as the programme progresses the education part becomes shorter and the exercise longer. The education programme includes topics such as healthy eating, increased physical activity and stress. The exercise programme includes whole body activities such as circuit training as well as other group exercise such as football. The questionnaires will include The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire which will identify the motivation behind the participants' health. A general health questionnaire which is a subjective measure of health (Euro qol EQ-5). The Mental Component Summary of the 12- item Short Form (SF12) which measures emotional quality of life. Physical activity will be measured through the short Active Lives Questionnaire. All these questionnaires have been attached as appendices. All participants will complete an exit telephone interview from the study to determine qualitative feedback on their experience of the study and to explore whether the biomarkers influenced their motivation to change their lifestyle. Some example questions have been attached. This is just a feasibility study, therefore no hypothesis testing will be undertaken.
Objectives: Alveolar resorption is one of the most important events in periodontitis. Osteoclast activity is regulated by the ratio between receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the RANKL/OPG ratio in crevicular fluid after periodontal treatment. Material and methods: A total of 15 patients with periodontitis were included in the study group. Samples were collected from an area with active periodontitis and a healthy area. The RANKL and OPG levels were measured before and after periodontal scaling and root planing (SRP) treatment. The study group was compared to the control group, which included 10 patients without periodontitis.
The primary goal of this study is to investigate the qualitative and quantitative effects of scaling and root planing (SRP) with and without minocycline HCL microspheres, 1 mg on periodontal pathogens and overall bacterial load. A randomized controlled clinical trial of a control (SRP) group and an experimental (SRP with minocycline HCl microspheres, 1 mg) group is planned. Specific Aim 1: Evaluate the cumulative oral periodontal bacterial burden in both control and test groups over a six month period. Specific Aim 2: Assess gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum biomarkers of inflammation.
Despite modern reperfusion strategies, myocardial infarction leads to deleterious processes resulting in left ventricular remodelling (LVR) and heart failure (HF). Several biomarkers i.e. galectin-3 (Gal-3) and soluble ST-2 protein are involved in LVR as a result of inflammatory processes and fibrosis. There is an evidence of a high prognostic value of both biomarkers in prediction of outcomes in HF patients. This study will further investigate the role of Gal-3 and ST-2 in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and without prior HF in prediction of unfavourable outcomes.
The purpose of this study is to assess differential effects of T4 and T3 on cell and tissue level
The primary purpose of the protocol is to compare the diagnostic accuracy in terms of positive and negative predictive values of Premaquick © (combined detection of IL-6 / IGFBP-1 total / IGFBP-1 native) and Quikcheck fFN ™ (fibronectin detection) tests for prediction of spontaneous delivery within 7 days in women with threatened preterm labor. The study hypothesis is that combined detection of IL-6 / IGFBP-1 total / IGFBP-1 native dice the admission will improve the prediction of delivery compared to the detection of fetal fibronectin alone in women with threatened preterm labor.
Cigarette smoking is a habit that has spread all over the world and is a significant risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),asthma and lung cancer. Evaluation and understanding of tobacco health effects are of major interest worldwide and answer to important societal concerns. Identification of new biomarkers of exposure to tobacco smoke potentially implicated in COPD or lung carcinogenesis would allow a better observation of tobacco exposed population, thanks to screening establishment at reversible stages of pathological processes. In this study, we question whether cigarettes smoking alters miRNA profiles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in human broncho alveolar lavages (BALs), which could affect surrounding normal bronchial epithelial cells status.
The central hypothesis of this protocol is that it is possible, using First Degree Relatives (FDRs) of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and assessing a variety of both known and unknown risk factors for MS, to define a risk algorithm for earliest signs of development of MS. The plan will be to do an abbreviated brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan in asymptomatic, young FDRs, analyze blood for a variety of immunological, genetic, neuroaxonal damage, metabolic, viral serology and other markers, and have FDRs fill out a detailed bioscreen questionnaire about lifestyle factors and perform a cognitive screening test. The investigators will then compare the results of the various blood/other studies in FDRs with and without an MRI showing signs signs concerning for MS, as well as age-and sex-matched NON-FDRs who will have blood drawn and fill out the questionnaire. With this preliminary cross-sectional study, the investigators hope to begin to identify a risk stratification model for those at highest risk of developing MS, ie FDRs, with a long-term goal of developing a longitudinal study to increase sensitivity and specificity of the risk model.