Atherosclerosis Clinical Trials

Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and strokes, and results in tremendous morbidity and mortality. A Western-type diet is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis because of the high saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined carbohydrate contents. Dietary strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease burden therefore focus on restriction of saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined carbohydrates whereas "lean" protein intake is recommended and has become popular. However, results from studies conducted in animal models suggest high dietary protein intake is also atherogenic. The investigators' extensive preliminary data in animal models show that dietary protein increases atherosclerotic plaque formation and size and promotes necrotic core formation, a characteristic of rupture-prone plaques. The goal of the current proposal is to provide deeper insights into the relationship between protein intake and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by studying the mechanisms involved in protein-mediated atherogenesis and formation of necrotic plaques. The overarching hypothesis is that high protein intake drives atherosclerosis via leucine-mediated mTORC1 signaling in macrophages, which inhibits macrophage mitophagy and aggrephagy and stimulates macrophage proliferation. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that proteins from animal sources are more atherogenic than proteins from plant sources, because animal proteins contain more leucine than plant proteins. The investigators will test these hypotheses by using a sophisticated array of experimental strategies, including assays in primary macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages and genetically engineered mouse models. In addition, they will begin to translate the results obtained in vitro and in animals to people, and explore approaches to pharmacologically target the pro-atherogenic pathways as novel cardiovascular therapeutics. This proposal represents a paradigm shift in how a Western-type diet affects vascular health which has important implications since many adults in Western societies consume excess protein and dietary protein is heavily marketed for its presumed beneficial health effects. Read Less

The plot study aims to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of stress reducing intervention on atherosclerotic plaque inflammation in adults, as quantified by positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in individuals with increased psychosocial stress. Read Less

The use of handheld arterial 'stethoscopes' (continuous wave Doppler devices) are ubiquitous in clinical practice. However, most users have received no formal training in their use or the interpretation of the returned data. This leads to delays in diagnosis and errors in diagnosis. The investigators intend to create a novel machine-learning algorithm to assist clinicians in the use of this data. This study will allow the investigators to collect sound files from the use of the devices and compare the algorithms output to established, existing vascular testing. There will be no invasive procedures, and use of these stethoscopes is part of routine clinical care. If successful, this data and algorithm will be later deployed via smartphone app for point of case testing in a separate study Read Less

This research will help us to learn if the medicine called metformin reduces the risk of death, heart attacks, and/or strokes in Veterans who have pre-diabetes and heart or blood vessel problems. Read Less

This study aims to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of a stress reduction intervention on atherosclerotic plaque inflammation in adults with stable coronary artery disease, as quantified by positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in individuals with increased psychosocial stress. Read Less

The purpose of this collaboration is to establish a multi-modality image database including coronary angiograms, optical coherence tomography (OCT), computed tomography angiograms (CTA) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) for future studies. The main goal of this collaboration is to create a resource to promote further understanding of the pathobiology of atherosclerosis through image analysis. Read Less

The purpose of this clinical study is to compare how well two different devices for achieving hemostasis perform in patients undergoing transfemoral procedures with 6 French Access. Both devices are approved by the FDA for this use, and have already been used by clinicians on patients undergoing transfemoral procedures. It is believed that the use of both devices in combination compared to the Perclose alone will shorten the time that it takes to 'seal' the artery, resulting in a shorter period of time that patients would need to lay flat. Read Less

A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase IV Study evaluating the effects of tirzepatide on atherosclerotic plaque progression assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in participants with a diagnosis of type II Diabetes (T2DM) and atherosclerosis. Read Less

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown in clinical trials, registries, and meta-analyses to reduce recurrent events after PCI. This is accomplished by improving the angiographic result with lesion and vessel assessment to guide stent selection and implantation and intravascular imaging following stent implantation to ensure an adequate treatment endpoint has been achieved. Despite extensive literature supporting the use of IVUS in PCI, utilization remains low in the United States. An increasing number of high-risk or complex lesions are being treated with PCI and we hypothesize that the impact of IVUS in these complex lesions will be of increased importance in reducing clinical adverse events while remaining cost effective. Read Less

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the leading cause of death worldwide. While medications, such as statins, significantly reduce atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk by lowering low density lipoprotein levels, they may also have pleiotropic effects on inflammation. The immunomodulatory effects of these medications are relevant to ASCVD risk reduction given that inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerotic plaque formation (atherogenesis) and influences the development of vulnerable plaque morphology. Patients on statins, however, may have residual inflammation contributing to incident ASCVD despite the potent LDL-lowering effects of statins. While new therapies, such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PSCK9) inhibitors, further reduce incident ASCVD and drastically reduce LDL-C below that achieved by statin therapy alone, PCSK9 inhibitors may also have pleiotropic effects on inflammation. Thus, PCSK9 inhibitors may help reduce arterial inflammation to a level closer to that of patients without ASCVD. This study will apply a novel targeted molecular imaging approach, technetium 99m (99mTc)-tilmanocept SPECT/CT, to determine if residual macrophage-specific arterial inflammation is present with statin therapy and the immunomodulatory effects of PSCK9 inhibition. Given the continued high mortality and morbidity attributable to ASCVD, strong imperatives exist to better understand the immunomodulatory effects of lipid lowering therapies and residual inflammatory risk. This understanding, in turn, will inform the development of new ASCVD preventative and treatment strategies as well as elucidate other indications for established therapies. Read Less