300,000+ clinical trials. Find the right one.

20 active trials for Arterial Stiffness

Assessing Impacts of Static Magnetic Fields on Peripheral Pulses and Skin Blood Flow

The purpose of this research study is to investigate and determine the effects of static magnetic fields produced by a small magnet on peripheral pulses and skin blood flow.

Start: September 2021

Healthy Age-dependent Reference Values for Microvascular Structure and Function

The greatest challenge in our ageing society are cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, peripheral artery disease of the legs with non-healing wounds (ulcers), or diabetes. How healthy ageing affects the smallest blood vessels (microcirculation) and is not well understood. One reason for this is that no generally available medical instrument has the resolution to study the microcirculation. The recently developed optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), currently mainly used by eye doctors, is able to visualise the microcirculation. We have developed an automated software (OCTAVA) to determine metrics to characterise the microcirculation on the layers of density, diameter and tortuosity. In the current study we aim at providing reference values of these metrics in hands and feet of healthy people according to age together with macrovascular function in arms and legs.

Start: May 2021

Assessment of the Effects of Long-term Lipid-lowering Therapy in Patients With Primary STEMI or NSTEMI

In a single-center, open-label, prospective, controlled, clinical study, it is planned to include 300 patients hospitalized in the cardiology department of SBHI Penza regional clinical hospital n.a. N.N. Burdenko. Recruitment of patients will be carried out at the Department of Therapy of the Medical Institute of the Penza State University. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria and not meeting the exclusion criteria will be included in the study. Initially, lipid-lowering treatment with atorvastatin is prescribed at a dose of 80 mg / day from the first 24-96 hours of AMI in addition to the standard therapy. If there is no achievement of the target level of LDL-C, ?1.5 mmol / L after 5-6 weeks from the AMI onset, patients additionally receive ezetimibe at a dose of 10 mg 1 time / day. Standard AMI treatment includes dual antiplatelet therapy, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers (if indicated). Prescription of proton pump inhibitors and nitrates is possible (if indicated). The total follow-up is 96 weeks. Prescreening - 600 people; screening and randomization - 300 people. Parameters of electrical myocardial heterogeneity, myocardial deformation characteristics, vascular rigidity, and quality of life will be assessed according to the study plan.

Start: February 2020

Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation on Cerebrovascular Aging and Arterial Stiffness Study

This study investigates the effect of dietary inorganic nitrate supplementation on 1) large elastic artery stiffness and hemodynamics and 2) cerebrovascular function in middle-aged and older adults. Participants will be randomized to consume either nitrate-containing or nitrate-depleted beetroot juice.

Start: November 2018

Effects of Cross-sex Hormone Therapy on Eating Behavior, Metabolism, Energy Balance and Cardiovascular System

Current study aims to characterize five highly interconnected physiological systems in patients undergoing cross-sex hormone therapy - namely glucose and lipid metabolism, energy balance, eating behavior, functional brain networks involved in the regulation of eating behavior and the cardiovascular system - to gain novel insights into the effects of sex hormones on the human body. Gathered information will help to identify pathophysiological mechanisms for the development of overeating/obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. Current study is an observational study. The decision if the patient's request for cross-sex hormone therapy can complied with (i.e., if cross-sex hormone therapy is medically indicated) is made prior to the first contact with the study center and with the outpatients clinic for Endocrinology at the University Hospital in Leipzig. Decision ifor treatment is made according to national and international guidelines. Treatment of study participants with testosterone and estradiol/antiandrogens is not affected by the study. During the course of the study no invasive interventions are being performed.

Start: May 2021

CADASIL Disease Discovery

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct (CADASIL) is a lethal disease caused by a gene mutation that affects arteries in the brain. Symptoms include migraines, strokes, memory loss, and dementia. There are no treatments. Researchers want to study people who have CADASIL to learn more about it. Objectives: To learn more about CADASIL by studying people who have it. Eligibility: People ages 18-100 who were diagnosed with CADASIL in the past 5 years and can make their own decisions Design: Participants will be screened in another NIH protocol. Participants will have 3 visits over 2 years. These may include: Physical exam Thinking and concentration tests Blood tests Skin biopsy: A small skin punch is removed from the arm or leg Eye exam and eye imaging tests Fluorescein angiogram: A catheter is placed in an arm vein. Dye is given through the catheter and travels to the eyes. EndoPAT: A small clamp on the fingertip measures blood volume. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI): Artery stiffness is tested with blood pressure cuffs on the arms and legs. Soft electrodes on the skin measure heart signals. Brain MRI or MRA: They lie on a table that slides in and out of a tube that takes pictures. They may get a contrast agent in their vein. It brightens the brain so researchers can see where blood flows. CT scan of the heart: They lie on a table that slides in and out of a machine that takes pictures. They get contrast dye injected through a catheter. They may get a medicine that makes their blood vessels bigger or slows their heart rate.

Start: October 2016

Early Prediction of Preeclampsia Using arteriaL Stiffness in High-risk prEgnancies

Despite advances in obstetric care, preeclampsia (PE) remains the leading cause of maternal death and disability in both developed and developing countries, contributing to over 70,000 maternal and 500,000 fetal deaths annually worldwide. PULSE was designed using a preventative medicine approach, focusing on improving early detection of PE as opposed to managing symptoms after onset. The study aims to uncover the earliest possible signs of PE using a combination of novel clinical tools and established diagnostic techniques to better identify, track, and manage high risk pregnant women. Specifically, PULSE will be examining the incorporation of a non-invasive test for the measurement of arterial stiffness, which has been shown to be predictive of hypertensive disorders. This test, in combination with a wide range of blood biomarkers, detailed ultrasound imaging, and a comprehensive battery of physical and mental health questionnaires, represents the largest, most comprehensive preventative PE study to date. The results of this work has the potential to revolutionize the way PE and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are managed and treated and can serve to inform the design of future preventative clinical research studies.

Start: March 2021

Blueberry Enhances Activity and Cognition Through Increased Vascular Efficiency

Recent evidence suggests that increased berry intake results in a variety of health benefits, across multiple health domains. This 3-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assess the effects of combining daily blueberry intake with weekly exercise (BB-EX) on cardiovascular function, as well as physical activity and cognitive function, in sedentary older adults (>60 years). We will compare these effects to the same outcomes with a control group consuming a blueberry placebo (P-EX) at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

Start: September 2019

Bioimpedence and Arterial Function Monitoring at Birth and in Infants

Babies may be born appropriately grown for gestational age (AGA, >10th centile) or small for gestational age (SGA, <10th centile). Babies who are SGA and have evidence in utero of vascular compromise using antenatal doppler indices are classified as having fetal growth restriction (FGR). Babies with FGR are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adult life. Increased arterial stiffness and intima-media thickness are thought to mediate this risk in adults. It is not known how early in life these changes can be robustly detected. In addition, very little is known generally about how babies' hearts and arteries change in structure and function over the first year of life, whether affected by SGA or not. This study aims to understand if there are differences in cardiac and arterial structure and function between babies born AGA or SGA. Within the group of SGA babies, the study team will investigate whether FGR and maternal pre-eclampsia influence these measurements. The effects gestational age on these parameters will be studied within all groups: half of the babies recruited will be <32 weeks gestational age (GA), and half will be ?32 weeks GA. Study participants will have further measurements at 3-6 months of life to assess if cardiac and arterial structure and function change in babies over the first year of life. The study team will use the Vicorder device to measure arterial stiffness, and assess the feasibility of using this device in neonates. The Vicorder will also be used to measure cardiac output. The feasibility and validity of this device for this purpose will be investigated (Vicorder is not validated for cardiac output measurement in infants). Vicorder cardiac output results will be compared to echocardiography and bioimpedence technology (using the NICaS monitor). The study team will use ultrasound for arterial structure measurements of the carotid artery and aorta.

Start: December 2020

Sleep Apnea, Coronary Atherosclerosis and Heart Failure in Diabetes Patients With Nephropathy

Background: Diabetes, and especially diabetic kidney disease is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease such as calcification in the coronary arteries and heart failure. Sleep apnea is frequent among patients with diabetes and diabetic kidney disease and sleep apnea itself is a solitary risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, sleep apnea is underdiagnosed in diabetes patients because of a discrepancy between sleep apnea severity and actual oxygen deficiency symptoms which makes the diagnosis difficult. For that reason, many diabetics have undiagnosed sleep apnea together with cardiovascular disease. Early discovery of sleep apnea among high risk diabetic patients may therefore be considered crucial before cardiovascular complications develop. For this reason, sleep apnea screening of high-risk diabetics can possibly improve early diagnostics of cardiovascular disease. Aim: This study will seek to establish the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and coronary calcification and heart failure in patients with diabetic kidney disease. The basic hypothesis of the study is that patients with diabetic kidney disease and concurrent OSA have a higher prevalence and severity of coronary calcification and heart failure compared to patients without OSA. Methods: Diabetic adult patients with scheduled check-ups at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, or Department of Renal Medicine on Aarhus University Hospital will be included in the study. Firstly, all included patients are screened for sleep apnea with the devices SomnoTouch® and ApneaLink®. Based on the sleep apnea determination; 40 patients with moderate-severe sleep apnea are compared with 40 patients without sleep apnea. In both groups, the patients are examined for calcification in the coronary vessels using a CT-scan while the function of the heart is examined by ultrasound (echocardiography). The stiffness of aorta is measured and performed using radial artery tonometry (SphygmoCor®). Furthermore, range of blood- and urine samples will be performed The perspectives are that patients with diabetes should be regularly evaluated for sleep apnea and that patients with moderate/severe sleep apnea should undergo further examination for cardiovascular disease even though the patients don't display any symptoms of either cardiovascular disease or sleep apnea.

Start: October 2020

Covid-19 Effects on Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Aging (CARTESIAN)

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the presence of early vascular aging 6 months and 12 months after COVID-19 infection.

Start: September 2020

The African-PREDICT Study

The African-PREDICT study aims to (i) generate new knowledge on the early pathophysiology accompanying hypertension development in black South Africans; and (ii) to identify early novel markers or predictors for the development of hypertension and cardiovascular outcome. By employing also in Africa the latest cutting-edge scientific technologies to measure single and multiple biomarkers proven to predict hypertension and cardiovascular outcome (such as multiplex analyses, proteomics and metabolomics), precision medicine may have the potential to lead to novel strategies in preventing and treating hypertension in Africa.

Start: February 2013

Atorvastatin Effects On Arterial Stiffness In Hemodialysis

This research aims to assess effects of atorvastatin on arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients

Start: September 2020

Diurnal BP Patterns in Those at Increased Risk of CVD

In health, blood pressure (BP) falls at night by >10% compared with day-time values. This natural dipping pattern is important as without it there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent evidence suggests that chronotherapy (taking anti-hypertensive medication at bedtime instead of in the morning) may enhance nocturnal BP dipping and reduce the risk of CVD events. There is therefore an urgent need to characterise diurnal BP patterns in patients who may be at risk of reduced nocturnal dipping in order to maximise protective therapy in all those who would benefit. Similarly, it has previously been demonstrated that increased arterial stiffness is associated with increased CVD risk, however little is known about whether loss of diurnal variations in arterial stiffness confer addition risk. Kidney disease is independently associated with increased CVD events, but the exact makeup of this risk is not clear. Within this heterogenous cohort several very distinct groups exist including those with acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), inflammatory conditions like small vessel vasculitis (SVV), and those who have either donated or received a kidney transplant. Diurnal BP and arterial stiffness patterns within these patient groups are not well characterised. The investigators will recruit patients at increased risk of CVD from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal and Vasculitis Clinics. Participants will undergo 24-hour ambulatory BP and arterial stiffness measurement in conjunction with day- and night-time blood and urine sampling on two separate occasions. This study aims to characterise diurnal patterns of BP and arterial stiffness in patients at increased risk of CVD and compare findings with healthy controls. In doing so, the investigators aim to allow more targeted CVD risk reduction strategies and improve long-term patient outcomes.

Start: March 2020

Effects of White Potato Consumption on Measures of Cardiometabolic Health in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The investigators are examining the effects of potato consumption on indices of glycemic control and cardiovascular health in overweight and obese individuals with type two diabetes mellitus (T2D) to provide feasible and effective dietary ways for individuals to enhance their quality of life. The overall objective of this crossover study is to collect data regarding the effects of potato consumption on indices of glycemic control and cardiovascular health among overweight and obese individuals with T2D. The central hypothesis of this crossover study is that the daily consumption of 100 g white potato for 12 weeks will contribute to improvements in glycemic control, reductions in inflammation, and improvements in blood lipids and vascular function in overweight and obese individuals with T2D compared to a macronutrient-matched refined grain (75 g cooked long-grain white rice) for 12 weeks (with a 2 week washout period between interventions). Specific Aim) The assessment of blood glucose control, vascular function, body composition and overall cardiovascular risk after consumption of potatoes (100g/d for 12 weeks) in individuals with T2D compared to a calorie matched refined grain at the initial baseline visit as well as the 6-, and 12-week study visits (for each 12-week intervention period). This aim will assess changed in blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-? as well as the following: blood pressure (BP) markers of endothelial function [flow-mediated dilation (FMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and endothelin-1 (ET-1)] markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein) body composition via bioelectrical impedance (BIA), lean mass and fat mass assessment lipid profiles, consisting of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL). Atherogenic risk ratios (TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, HDL-C/LDL-C) will also be assessed anthropometrics [weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WC/HC)]

Start: September 2019

Vitamin D and Arterial Stiffness in Elderly

Investigators will examine arterial stiffness and pulse waveform analysis. Subjects with vitamin D insufficiency will be recruited. A double blind randomized controlled study will examine the effects of standard dose vitamin D3 (800 IU) versus higher dose vitamin D3 (5000 IU)-given on a daily basis.In order to understand mechanisms of action by which vitamin D would improve arterial stiffness investigators will use biomarkers. Oxidative and inflammatory stress will be measured by plasma F2-isoprostanes and Sulforaphane levels.

Start: August 2018

RAAS and Arterial Stiffness in SCI

The study is examining differences in central arterial stiffness, orthostatic changes in blood pressure, norepinephrine, and plasma renin in individuals with spinal cord injury compared with age-matched uninjured controls.

Start: June 2018

Light Intensity Physical Activity Trial

In type 2 diabetes (T2D), physical activity is an important modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Unfortunately (long-term) compliance to exercise programs in patients with T2D is poor. Light-intensity physical activity (LiPA) such as walking slowly, household activities or taking a flight of stairs might be a potential target for lowering the CVD risk in patients with T2D since it can perhaps be more be incorporated into daily life. To assess cardiovascular disease risk in this single-blinded RCT, the investigators settled on measuring arterial stiffness as the primary outcome. Arterial stiffness has independent predictive value for cardiovascular events and can be measured reliably and non-invasively. The investigators hypothesize that light intensity physical activity intervention program based upon increasing LiPA by replacing sedentary time is effective in lowering arterial stiffness as estimated by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid distensibility in individuals with T2D.

Start: November 2018

Targeting ER Stress in Vascular Dysfunction

Aging and obesity are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). One process that links both of these conditions to CVD is vascular dysfunction. Data from animal studies indicate that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may play an important role in the development of endothelial dysfunction in aging and obesity. Therefore, the goal of this study is to investigate the relative contributions of aging and obesity on vascular dysfunction and ER stress. Additionally, this study will determine if taking an oral supplement for 8 weeks will improve vascular dysfunction and ER stress. Results from this study have the potential to identify a safe treatment option for improving vascular function in aging and obese populations.

Start: June 2019

Effect of Cassia Cinnamon on Arterial Stiffness Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is considered a serious public health problem that has been raising worldwide. In Mexico, it is an important cause of morbi - mortality and it´s characterized by hyperglycemia that promotes an increase of cardiovascular risk through the impairment of arterial stiffness and endothelial function, which, in a chronic manner promotes the development of micro and macrovascular complications. Many nutraceuticals have been currently implemented aimed to improve glycemic control, and reduce cardiovascular risk and it´s complications, which results in a better quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cassia cinnamon pulverized bark has demonstrated to have vasodilator effect independent of endothelial mechanisms, probably regulating calcium influx or release into or within the cell, the later demonstrated in mice.

Start: August 2018