View clinical trials related to Calcinosis.
Filter by:Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of mortality in the UK with an estimated 80,000 fatalities in 2010. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden and cardiovascular mortality. Mechanisms underlying isolated CAC have not been as yet been fully explained. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), known to act as regulators of gene expression, have also emerged as powerful biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disorders and may be used in the detection of CAC. We aim to investigate the potential for a "microRNA-signature" in patients with CAC by performing a prospective, case-controlled study to identify pathways associated with CAC in humans. Previous research has demonstrated an inverse relationship between CAC and bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting that these processes may be linked. In a further substudy we plan to define the relationship between CAC and BMD as well as a number of markers of bone metabolism.
The aim of this clinical research project is to test the hypothesis that daily dialysis has favorable effects on the calcification propensity of human serum, when determined by the investigators' newly developed in vitro serum test. The investigators' hypothesis is that shorter interdialytic intervals will result in an improved calcification propensity of serum. The determination of serum calcification has the potential to become a novel measure of dialysis quality in the future.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which means that it is important to find out risk factors of CVD in order to prevent or treat it. In recent years, there has been more and more recognition of a very high prevalence of CV calcification in the ESRD population. Many observational cohort studies have shown that CV calcification in these patients can predict mortality, CV mortality and morbidity. Electrolyte imbalance is easily found in the ESRD patients which may result in vessel calcification. Calcification leads to arterial stenosis and increasing arterial stiffness and then heart afterload, both contribute to the development of CVD. Besides, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia pave the way for a chronic, immune-mediated vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease. These factors are prevalent in ESRD patients, which would also cause arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness and stenosis would increase the risk of CV events and mortality. Aortic pulse wave velocity is strongly associated with the presence and extent of atherosclerosis and constitutes a forceful marker and predictor of cardiovascular risk. At the same time, high prevalence of peripheral artery occlusion disease (PAOD) should also be found while arterial stiffness and stenosis, which would increase the condition of infection and gangrene. Thus, life safety and quality would be influenced severely and early detection might prevent future amputation. Uremic patients also have a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Therefore, more studies to evaluate the condition of arterial stiffness and PAOD, especially in HD patients, are needed for future management and preventions of CV related morbidity and mortality.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which means that it is important to find out risk factors of CVD in order to prevent or treat it. In recent years, there has been more and more recognition of a very high prevalence of CV calcification in the ESRD population. Many observational cohort studies have shown that CV calcification in these patients can predict mortality, CV mortality and morbidity. Electrolyte imbalance is easily found in the ESRD patients which may result in vessel calcification. Calcification leads to arterial stenosis and increasing arterial stiffness and then heart afterload, both contribute to the development of CVD. Besides, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia pave the way for a chronic, immune-mediated vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease. These factors are prevalent in ESRD patients, which would also cause arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness and stenosis would increase the risk of CV events and mortality. Aortic pulse wave velocity is strongly associated with the presence and extent of atherosclerosis and constitutes a forceful marker and predictor of cardiovascular risk. At the same time, high prevalence of peripheral artery occlusion disease (PAOD) should also be found while arterial stiffness and stenosis, which would increase the condition of infection and gangrene. Thus, life safety and quality would be influenced severely and early detection might prevent future amputation. As compared with HD or pre-dialysis patients, uremic patients treated with PD have a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Therefore, more studies to evaluate the condition of arterial stiffness and PAOD, especially in PD patients, are needed for future management and preventions of CV related morbidity and mortality.
This study used the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) grade of Bacillus subtilis natto to produce Vitamin K2, Menaquinone-7(MK-7), via fermentation, for functional evaluation. There are four major objectives for this study: (1) bioavailability of calcium; (2) evaluation of bone density improvement; (3) evaluation of blood-vessel calcification and sclerosis improvement; (4) safety evaluation.
The aims of the present study are to investigate the effect of vitamin K2 on bone turnover, bone mass, bone structure, glucose metabolism, and arteriosclerosis. Osteoporosis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease are common diseases that affect large groups of people in the Western world. Our hypotheses is that vitamin K2 (MK-7) reduces undercarboxylated osteocalcin in postmenopausal women and reduces bone turnover and increases bone mineral density; increases insulin sensitivity and decreases indices of arterial calcification.
Calcinosis cutis refers to a group of disorders characterized by calcium deposition in the skin (1). The disorders are classified according to etiology into the following types: dystrophic, metastatic, iatrogenic, and idiopathic (1,2). Dystrophic calcification occurs in the setting of varicosities, infection, tumors, and connective tissue disorders (1). The connective tissue disorders most commonly associated with calcinosis cutis are systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis, although it has also been reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, undifferentiated connective tissue disorder, and mixed connective tissue disorder (2). The pathophysiology of calcinosis cutis is not well understood, and there is a broad range of severity seen, from benign localized, small nodules to large, severely debilitating lesions (2). Although many therapies have been investigated for treatment of calcinosis cutis, including calcium channel blockers, colchicine, minocycline, intravenous immunoglobulin, and bisphosphonates, results have been mixed at best (2). Surgical removal is sometimes feasible in the case of a localized lesion, however, recurrence after surgery is common (2). Recently, several authors have reported cases of dramatic resolution of dystrophic calcinosis cutis lesions with topical sodium thiosulfate preparations (1,3,4). Systemic sodium thiosulfate therapy is commonly used to treat calciphylaxis in patients with renal disorders with very few adverse events (1). A search of the literature to date yields no formal studies that aim to determine whether topical sodium thiosulfate is truly an effective therapy for calcinosis cutis. As a result, patients are often treated with therapies that are unproven or ineffective and their calcinosis cutis eventually leads to significant pain and disability. Research Question: Does treatment of dystrophic calcinosis cutis with topical sodium thiosulfate result in diminution of the lesion and associated pain? Objective: The objective of this pilot study is to investigate whether topical sodium thiosulfate is an effective therapy for calcinosis cutis. This study will also determine the feasibility of our protocol and provide information to help direct a future full-scale trial.
A study of the natural history of bone and mineral disease (BMD) in patients with end-stage renal disease before and after kidney transplantation
This study seeks to compare aortic dimension changes during cardiac cycle in patients with and without aortic valve calcification and to evaluate its correlation with aortic valve calcium score in former group.
The purpose of the CAMONA study is to demonstrate the feasibility of cardiovascular molecular calcification (CMC) assessment by means of 18F-sodium-fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) in a prospective cohort of healthy control subjects and subjects with cardiovascular disease.