View clinical trials related to Heart Disease.
Filter by:The focus of this study is to observe the impact of weight loss in overweight individuals who have pre-hypertension (have a blood pressure reading of 121-139/81-89 mm Hg). The specific focus is to observe the difference in diastolic dysfunction (heart function) in these individuals at the beginning of the study and then again after 24-28 weeks. Diastolic dysfunction in this population indicates an increased risk of heart failure in the future. The aim of this study is to prevent or reduce the risk of heart failure in overweight individuals with pre-hypertension.
Regadenoson is approved in the US under the brand name Lexiscan for myocardial perfusion imaging. This study will test whether regadenoson is an appropriate stress agent for stress echocardiography.
The apelin-APJ system is a relatively new discovery. It has generated interest in part due to it's apparent ability to counteract the renin-angiotensin system, which is frequently overactive in many cardiovascular disease. Angiotensin has a powerful ability to cause blood vessels constrict and reduces their diameter. One of the actions of apelin is to cause blood vessels to relax and the investigators specifically wish test the hypothesis that apelin will cause blood vessels constricted by angiotensin II to relax.
The apelin-APJ system is a relatively new discovery. It has generated interest in part due to it's apparent ability to counteract the renin-angiotensin system, which is frequently overactive in many cardiovascular disease. Apelin has the ability to cause blood vessels to relax, increasing their diameter and hence blood flow down the blood vessel. The researchers wish to investigate the hypothesis that an infusion of apelin will reduce the effects of angiotensin II, which is know to reduce the diameter of blood vessels.
The apelin-APJ system is a relatively new discovery. It has generated interest in part due to it's apparent ability to counteract the renin-angiotensin system, which is frequently overactive in many cardiovascular disease. Two of the main actions of apelin are to increase the pumping ability of the heart and cause blood vessels to relax. The investigators wish to assess if these actions are altered in the setting of normal renin-angiotensin activation and increased renin-angiotensin activity.
Hypothesis - Rotigaptide will improve endothelial function in the context of endothelial dysfunction. The lining of blood vessels (endothelium) can react to hormones in the blood stream causing the blood vessel muscle to relax (vasodilatation) and allow more blood to flow. The nitric oxide and prostacyclin pathways are well documented in this process. However, evidence points to the existence of a third powerful relaxant called endothelium derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF) but its identity and mechanism of action have proved elusive. As well as causing blood vessels to relax and more blood to flow, EDHF may be involved in the endothelium signaling, triggering release of a specialised clot dissolving factor called tissue plasminogen activator (t PA). t PA is important to ensure small clots, which are constantly being formed in the circulation, are rapidly dissolved and do not grow large enough to cause heart attacks and strokes. Evidence points towards the requirement for 'gap junctions' in the mediation of EDHF responses. Gap junctions are specialised pores which allow small molecules and charge to pass between cells. They are found between endothelial cells and the underlying muscle of the blood vessel. A drug called Rotigaptide has been developed to cause gap junctions to open. It has been safely administered in healthy volunteers and is now in a Phase II drug trial. By opening gap junctions the investigators hypothesise that it could increase EDHF mediated activity and vasodilatation. It represents a useful tool with which to examine the role of gap junctions in EDHF activity in vivo. Previously the investigators have demonstrated that rotigaptide does not contribute to endothelial function in healthy volunteers. The investigators now wish to examine the effect of rotigaptide in conditions of endothelial dysfunction. By limiting the blood flow to the arm for 20mins the ability of the blood vessel to vasodilate is impaired. By administering an intra-arterial rotigaptide infusion the investigators want to assess any functional preservation.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new monitor that measures cardiac output (amount of blood pumped by the heart). The system that is being tested in this study, called Endotracheal Cardiac Output Monitor (ECOM), uses electricity (impedance cardiography) to measure cardiac output and is not harmful to the patient. This study will test the accuracy and efficacy of the ECOM system in anesthetized and sedated patients who, in the normal course of clinical care in the OR or ICU, are having cardiac output measured. The investigators propose that unlike the standard system for cardiac output measurement, the ConMed ECOM System should result in a simplified, inexpensive, continuous, less-invasive, and accurate method of measuring cardiac output. Such a technique could allow the rapid diagnosis of instability in the cardiovascular system for critically ill patients.
The present study is designed to: 1. investigate the safety and efficacy of Real time myocardial echocardiography (RT-MCE) in adolescents and adults ages 12-50 with congenital and acquired congenital heart disease 2. compare RT-MCE with dobutamine stress perfusion MR for determination of coronary flow reserve and ventricular wall motion 3. assess regional myocardial mechanics using myocardial speckle tracking and MR tagging. 4. evaluate RV volume and function for a subset of subjects using novel reconstruction software
The purpose of this study is to determine whether lipoprotein(a), also called Lp(a), is a risk factor for cardiovascular (heart) disease. Lipoproteins are tiny particles that circulate in the blood. They contain cholesterol, fat, and protein in varying amounts depending on the body's need. Higher levels of lipoproteins in the blood can cause an increased risk of heart disease. The investigators believe that by studying the Lp(a) lipoprotein in Caucasians and African Americans, the investigators can assess for genetic variation factors related to cardiovascular (heart) disease. The investigators will be looking at 100 African-American families and 100 Caucasian families to confirm whether a higher Lp(a) level is an indicator of a higher risk for heart disease.
The purpose of the database is to complete outcomes research of electrophysiological procedures.