View clinical trials related to Plaque, Atherosclerotic.
Filter by:Interventional study with minimal risks and constraints, with evaluation of the incidence of lung cancers by low-dose thoracic CT scan without injection of contrast medium, of the immunological, inflammatory and metabolic blood profile and of the microbiota; systematic proposal of smoking cessation for active smokers or assistance in maintaining cessation.
The objective of this multicenter, prospective, open-label, controlled, randomized trial is to demonstrate the superiority of drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment on non-flow limited vulnerable plaque as compared to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in improving clinical cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Detection of coronary stenosis is of utmost importance in identifying vulnerable patients. The combined use of coronary computed tomography angiography at rest (CCTA) and stress myocardial computed tomography perfusion (stress-CTP) provides both anatomic and functional analysis of coronary artery disease (CAD) using a single imaging test. Stress-CTP evaluates myocardial perfusion by measuring myocardial blood flow (MBF) under pharmacologically induced stress conditions. The drawback is that stress-CTP requires additional scanning and administration of an intravenous stressor with an increase in radiation exposure and potential stressor-related side effects. The investigators recently patented a computational model that can reproduce MBF under stress conditions (Italian patent n. 102021000031475 Metodo implementato mediante computer per la simulazione del flusso sanguigno miocardico in condizioni di stress [Computational method for simulating myocardial blood flow in stress conditions], half owned by Centro Cardiologico Monzino, half by Politecnico di Milano). On top of this, CCTA can characterize plaque type and identify adverse plaque characteristics. Moreover, biomechanics analysis allows the study of luminal stenosis and stress within the plaque. Finally, radiomics, extracting quantitative features from medical images to create big data and identify novel imaging biomarkers, can be applied to improve the diagnostic accuracy of coronary plaques.
Chronological aging significantly contributes to structural and functional alterations in the vasculature, making it a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease and its acute thrombotic events. DNA damage, including telomeric, non-telomeric, and mitochondrial damage, is recognized as a key initiator of vascular aging and atherogenesis. There is abundant evidence indicating the presence of oxidative DNA lesions, telomere erosion, and mitochondrial DNA damage in both experimental and human plaques, as well as in the peripheral cells of atherosclerotic patients. It is increasingly evident that genomic instability activates signaling pathways that lead to a multitude of pathophysiological cellular and molecular changes. These changes promote inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and ultimately, cellular senescence, accompanied by the "senescence-associated secretory phenotype" (SASP). However, the precise mechanisms linking the DNA damage response (DDR) to senescence, SASP in vascular cells, and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and vulnerable atheroma are yet to be fully understood. Additional research is needed to delineate the underlying mechanisms through which mitochondrial dysfunction influences telomere length and vice versa, and how their interaction contributes to the vascular aging process. Progress in this area has the potential to uncover therapeutic targets and novel, more precise diagnostic, and prognostic indicators. The objectives of the VICTORIA study are to examine the levels of aging-related non-coding RNA deregulation (specifically lncRNA TERRA and mitomiR) and peripheral markers of cell aging (including telomere length and mitochondrial DNA content) across the various spectra of angina pectoris (stable angina, unstable angina, NSTEMI, and STEMI). Additionally, the study aims to determine whether these markers are correlated with vulnerable plaque characteristics and major adverse cardiovascular events.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of coronary CT angiogram (CCTA) as a superior guide for the assessment of coronary artery plaque and guiding treatment decisions. The investigators also assess the impact of preventive cardiovascular drugs on the plaque to improve patient outcomes. Participants aged 18-80 years, at intermediate or high-risk for coronary artery disease, with non-obstructive plaque on initial CCTA, will be enrolled in this study. They will be randomized into Standard of Care (SOC) vs. Aggressive Therapy (AT) groups. Both groups will undergo dietary and lifestyle interventions. Follow-up will consist of blood tests and clinic visits at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months. The second CCTA will be performed at 18 months to assess the change in plaque burden, characteristics, ischemia and pericoronary/epicardial fat.
The main objective of the present study is to verify, in vivo, whether shear forces computed solely based on coronary angiography and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques are associated with the biomarkers indicating the prothrombotic tendency of circulating blood in situ - distally and proximally to the coronary stenosis. The study will prospectively assess the relationship between i) the value and distribution of shear rate and shear stress (SS) estimated using three-dimensional angiography and CFD techniques, and ii) atherosclerotic plaque characteristics as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), iii) functional parameters of diseased vessels assessed by vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR), and iv) in situ platelet activation, as expressed by platelet-derived microvesicles (pMVs) and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), platelet aggregometry and other serum prothrombotic or inflammatory biomarkers sampled within the coronary artery.
Branch atheromatous disease (BAD)-related stroke, characterized by subcortical single infarcts without severe stenosis of the large artery, but with a clear atherosclerotic mechanism, is now regarded as a separate stroke type. BAD is associated with early neurological deterioration and poor prognosis, but is lack of effective therapy. The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test the efficacy and safety of intravenous tirofiban in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by branch atheromatous disease. The main question it aims to answer is: Compared with standard antiplatelet therapy based on current stroke guideline, whether tirofiban used in acute phase of BAD could improve the proportion of excellent functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale: 0-1) at 90 days. Researcher will also compare the rate of major bleeding between treatment and control groups.
The goal of this clinical trail is to compare the differences in carotid plaque Treg cells' gene signature for activation, proliferation, and suppressive function using scRNA-seq in patients treated with IL-2 compared to control.
To evaluate the association of surem TRAF3IP2 levels with the atherosclerotic plaque development in human
Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is the most common cause of ischemic stroke in Asia, also in China. Currently, despite vascular recanalization therapy, statins are one of the main drug choices for treating atherosclerotic plaque. High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) can accurately assess the status of intracranial and extracranial arterial plaque, and has high consistency with histopathology. Thus, HRMRI technology has been widely used to monitor the efficacy of drug treatment for atherosclerotic plaque in clinical trials or practice. As a non-invasive technique, HRMRI make it possible to assess the morphologic characteristics of vascular wall and plaque composition of intracranial artery in vivo. It can quantitative analysis including components such as lipid-rich necrotic core, fiber cap thickness, intra-plaque hemorrhage, calcification, etc. Therefore, it is crucial for evaluating the etiology of ischemic stroke and developing secondary prevention strategies. At present, there is a lack of large-scale and prospective study to evaluate the etiology of ischemic stroke including cryptogenic stroke based on HRMRI. In this context, this study aims to establish a multi center HRMRI database of intracranial arteries among Chinese patients with ischemic stroke.