View clinical trials related to Heart Disease.
Filter by:This family environment-focused health behavior change intervention is being carried out by extensively trained community health workers (promotores) familiar with the community in East Los Angeles. The hypothesis being tested is that home environment-focused health behavior change will reduce risk of arterial stiffness, an early-in-life predictor of heart disease. The community health workers will provide most of the health promotion counseling. The promotores will provide up to 16 counseling sessions to a designated adult family member without diabetes. The sessions will focus on improving the home environment in order to reduce television viewing, increase fruit and vegetable intake, decrease intake of refined carbohydrates, prompt more frequent monitoring of body weight and increase daily physical activity. The lifestyle change goals will be tailored to the families' capacity for change and will be consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, especially the MyPlate.gov messages, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and at least 30 minutes of daily moderate physical activity.
The Environmental Polymorphisms Registry (EPR) Health and Exposure Survey is designed to gather health, family history of disease, environmental exposures and lifestyle data on adult EPR subjects. The EPR is a registry established to collect and store DNA samples from 20,000 volunteers from North Carolina and to serve as a resource to scientist investigating genotype-driven translational research of chronic conditions. Under this new protocol, we will administer a health and exposures survey to all EPR subjects. The information collected in the survey will be used to better characterize the EPR population thus making it more useful to NIEHS researchers. The survey contains approximately 200 questions. Data from the survey will help researchers develop hypotheses, design follow-up studies, and select appropriate subjects. The survey will be administered to EPR subjects using a modified version of the Dillman Total Design Method (TDM) for surveys. This method requires following specific time-dependent steps for survey administration that incorporate both self- and phone administration and other types of phone and mail contact. The goal of TDM is to maximize subject response rates.
The purpose of this randomized trial is to study the efficacy of a novel social propagation intervention which integrates social network induction with health education for weight and metabolic control among patients with type 2 diabetes, BMI of 25-30+, and cardiovascular disease. The intervention takes place in the form of a community health program, where participants who enroll in this program will be asked if they would like to take part in the study to evaluate its efficacy. Thus, the investigators will study the efficacy of social networks in propagating changes in lifestyle factors for diabetes and chronic disease management
The objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether an anti-inflammatory medication, pentoxifylline, reduces depressive symptoms and improves artery function. Participants in this trial will be older primary care patients (60 years and up) who are depressed but do not have a history of cardiovascular disease. Half of these patients will receive pentoxifylline, and half will receive placebo. In addition, participants in both arms will receive an evidence-based psychological treatment called Beating the Blues®, which is a computerized, cognitive behavioral treatment program for depression. The investigators will use questionnaires to assess change in depressive symptoms and an ultrasound test to measure change in artery function from pre- to post-treatment. It is hypothesized that patients who receive pentoxifylline will show greater improvements in both depression and artery function than patients who receive placebo.
Background: In Norway each year 130-150 children are born with heart disease that requires lifelong medical follow-up. Children with heart defects have reduced motor skills and reduced physical capacity compared with healthy peers. Increased knowledge in the children themselves and the general public, along with psychosocial interventions improve the child's ability to cope with the consequences of their disease. Descriptions of the experiences that Norwegian children with heart disease and their parents have about participation in rehabilitation programs is limited. Geilomo children's hospital has 75 years experience in rehabilitation of children with chronic illness, and started in 2005 to welcome children with heart disease. At present there is no rehabilitation institutions in Norway that has a special group programs for children with heart disease. Geilomo want to establish such a group for children aged 6-7 years and 11-12 years. Main objective: The investigators will use of methods to learn more about the following: Study 1: The purpose is to generate knowledge about how children with heart disease and their relatives experience participation in a rehabilitation program at Geilomo children's hospital. Overarching question: How do children with heart disease and their guardians to participate in a rehabilitation program, and the impact of this on their daily life afterwards? Study 2: The purpose is to help a) to give the children an increased level of activity in the home environment. Question: Will children with heart disease increase their activity levels at home after a stay at Geilomo? 2b) for the children to improve their physical fitness. Question: Will children with heart disease have improved their physical condition three months after a stay at Geilomo? Work schedule: The project will have a duration of 3 years. The project will seek approval of the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in May 2012. Interview Guide, information sheet and consent form has been prepared. Data collection for the study 2AB can start in March 2013. The first interviews will be conducted after 3 months, in June 2013. Data collection is expected to be completed in December 2013. The analysis will take place in parallel with the interview work. In 2014 and 2015 completed the writing of articles (3 pieces) and publication of results. Method: In order to shed light on the problem in study 1, the investigators will use semi-structured interview. 16 children and 16 parents to be interviewed after 3 months. Study 2a) To get information about their child's activity level in the home environment the investigators will use structured questionnaires. It is one form for children (36 persons) and another form for their parents (36 persons). Study 2b) All children (36 persons) conducting physical fitness test at the first visit and after three months. Children can be referred from across the country via the referral form. Dr. Henrik Holm (OUS) and Dr. Asle Hirth (HUS) determines participation according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Parents submit a written consent on behalf of themselves and their children. Scientific significance: This application describes two related studies, both of which are expected to provide important information that can provide better services for children with heart disease.
The objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a computerized depression treatment, delivered before the onset of heart disease, reduces the risk of heart disease in the future. Participants in this trial will be primary care patients who are depressed but do not have a history of heart disease. Half of these patients will receive a standard treatment (usual care), and the other half will receive eight weeks of an evidence-based psychological treatment called Beating the Blues®, which is a computerized, cognitive behavioral treatment program for depression. To evaluate change in heart disease risk, the investigators will measure the functioning of the arteries using ultrasound before and after the treatment. It is hypothesized that patients who receive Beating the Blues® will show greater improvements in both depression and artery function than patients who receive standard treatment.
B-type natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone secreted from the cardiac myocytes in response to volume load. Plasma levels of BNP, as measured by immunoassay methods, are elevated in patients with heart diseases. However, the biological effects of BNP are blunted in heart failure and other cardiac conditions. Moreover, the peptide levels are also elevated in non cardiac conditions such as the neonatal period, sepsis and renal failure. Recent investigations suggest alteration of the peptide molecular structure in heart failure. These alterations may explain, at least partially, the reduced biological activities of BNP in heart failure. Immunoreactive BNP and NT-proBNP have been identified in human urine. It has been suggested that urinary BNP correlates with plasma BNP, and may serve as a non-invasive measure for this cardiac marker. It is unclear what BNP fractions are cleared in the urine in health and disease. The aim of the proposed studies is to elucidate precisely the molecular form of BNP in various disease and specific physiological states in plasma and urine of infants and children.
The purpose of this research study is to survey patients to learn about their beliefs and behaviors related to the management of heart disease and to discuss options for making healthy lifestyle changes. From the information the investigators get from patients, the investigators hope to develop better methods for taking care of patients who have heart disease.
The aim of the project is to compare two methods for arterial cannulation. The traditional method with ultrasound guided cannulation. The investigators goal is to improve this procedure to reduce pain and complications.
Background: - Bone marrow stromal stem cells (also known as mesenchymal stem cells) have been isolated and are found to make large amounts of growth factors. Because they make growth factors, these cells can help re-grow tissue and encourage repair of damaged tissue. Tests on damaged heart muscle suggest that injecting these cells directly into damaged heart muscle can improve heart function. Researchers want to give stem cells to people who are having open heart surgery to see if they can help to repair heart muscle damage. Objectives: - To test the safety and effectiveness of bone marrow stromal stem cell injections given during heart surgery to treat heart muscle damage. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who are scheduled to have open heart surgery for heart artery or vein blockages. Design: - Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will also be collected. - Participants will have bone marrow taken from both hip bones about 3 weeks before the heart surgery. - During the surgery, the stromal stem cells collected from the bone marrow will be given into the damaged portion of the heart muscle. The rest of the heart surgery will be performed according to standard procedures. - After the surgery, participants will be monitored for complications from the stromal stem cells. - Participants will have heart function tests to see if the stromal stem cell treatments were effective....