Clinical Research Directory

HIP Fracture Accelerated Surgical TreaTment And Care tracK 2 Trial

The HIP ATTACK-2 trial is a multicentre, international, parallel group randomized controlled trial to determine whether accelerated surgery for hip fracture in patients with acute myocardial injury is superior to standard care in reducing death at 90 days after randomization. The trial will also assess secondary outcomes at 90 days after randomization: inability to independently walk 3 metres, time to first mobilization (first standing and first full weight bear), composite and individual assessment of major complications (e.g., mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, and stroke), delirium, length of stay, pain, and quality of life.

Effects of Remimazolam on Postoperative Myocardial Injury

This study is designed as a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of remimazolam on intraoperative cardiac output (CO) in elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia, and to evaluate its protective efficacy against elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels and perioperative myocardial injury.

Multimodal Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease Pathogenesis: The Oxford Acute Myocardial Infarction Study (OXAMI Study)

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of illness and death. It develops when fatty deposits, known as plaques, build up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. These plaques can gradually narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow, causing symptoms such as chest pain (angina). Sometimes a plaque can suddenly break open, causing a blood clot to form and block the artery. This can lead to a heart attack and permanent damage to the heart muscle. Although much has been learned about coronary artery disease, important questions remain about why some plaques suddenly become unstable, how this affects blood flow through the smallest blood vessels of the heart, and why some patients develop more heart muscle damage than others. The Oxford Acute Myocardial Infarction (OxAMI) research programme aims to improve our understanding of these processes. The investigators will study both the disease within the coronary arteries (the "upstream" problem) and its effects on the heart muscle (the "downstream" damage). By examining these together, the investigators hope to understand more clearly how changes in coronary plaques lead to heart injury and how this differs between patients. Participants undergoing procedures to investigate or treat coronary artery disease provide an important opportunity to study these processes. During coronary angioplasty (also called percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI), a narrow or blocked artery is opened, usually using a small balloon and a stent. This procedure can disturb the underlying plaque in a similar way to the plaque disruption that occurs during a heart attack. Where appropriate, the investigators may therefore collect blood and material released from the plaque during these procedures. Blood may be collected from different locations in the circulation, allowing the investigators to study substances released by the plaque and heart muscle. Material that would otherwise be discarded during treatment may also be collected for laboratory analysis. The investigators will use several established and newer techniques to examine the coronary arteries, the small blood vessels within the heart, and the heart muscle. These may include detailed imaging from inside the coronary arteries using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT). The investigators may also measure blood pressure and flow within the coronary arteries to assess how well the small blood vessels supplying the heart are working. Non-invasive heart scans may include cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR/MRI), cardiac computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography (ultrasound). These techniques can provide detailed information about the structure and function of the heart, blood supply to the heart muscle, areas of injury or permanent scarring, and changes that occur following a heart attack. In particular, MRI may help distinguish heart muscle that has been permanently damaged from muscle that is injured but could potentially recover after blood flow is restored. This may be especially important for participants who arrive at hospital several hours after their heart attack began. Other measurements may include electrocardiograms (ECGs), which record the electrical activity of the heart, and measurements of heart pressure, volume and function. Some participants may also have longer-term ECG monitoring. Blood and tissue samples may be analysed using a range of laboratory techniques. These studies will investigate inflammation, blood clotting and other biological processes involved in coronary artery disease and heart attacks. Newer laboratory methods may allow us to measure large numbers of proteins and small molecules in the blood. Material collected from plaques may also be examined under a microscope to identify its cells and structural components. With additional consent, blood samples may be stored for genetic research. This could help us understand whether differences in people's genes influence their risk of coronary artery disease, their response to a heart attack, or the amount of heart damage that occurs. By combining information about coronary plaques, blood flow through the heart's circulation, heart muscle injury, imaging, blood and tissue markers, and genetic factors, the OxAMI study aims to build a detailed picture of coronary artery disease and heart attacks. The programme will establish a carefully characterised group of research participants who may contribute to future OxAMI studies conducted under separate research protocols. Ultimately, this research aims to identify better ways to predict, diagnose and understand coronary artery disease and heart attacks, and to identify new approaches that could improve treatment and outcomes for future patients.

Intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Perioperative Myocardial Injury

PCI is the standard treatment for CAD, yet perioperative myocardial injury occurs frequently in nearly 40% of patients. Perioperative stress and sympathetic overactivation break myocardial oxygen balance and lead to cardiac damage, which further raises short-term cardiovascular events and long-term mortality risks. Dexmedetomidine exerts cardioprotective effects by inhibiting sympathetic excitation, though intravenous use carries risks of hypotension and bradycardia. Intranasal dexmedetomidine shows equivalent efficacy with fewer side effects and better patient compliance. Since no standard perioperative anesthesia regimen exists for elective PCI patients and the clinical benefits of dexmedetomidine remain unconfirmed, this pilot study is designed to test the feasibility and safety of intranasal dexmedetomidine spray before launching large formal RCTs.

Intramyocardial Haemorrhage in Patients With Primary STEMI

The purpose of the study is to assess the frequency and intensity of intramyocardial haemorrhage in patients with primary STEMI and different reperfusion strategies.

Perioperative Myocardial Injury in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Prospective Clinical Study

Perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term outcomes. High-sensitivity troponin assays and cardiac MRI offer reliable diagnostic tools for PMI, but evidence regarding optimal diagnostic thresholds and perioperative imaging strategy is limited. This prospective clinical study aims to determine the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury using multimodal assessments including high-sensitivity troponin, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and perioperative cardiovascular events.

Cardiovascular Risk in Peripheral Artery Disease Patients Undergoing Endovascular Revascularisation

This study will investigate heart-related complications in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) undergoing endovascular revascularization procedures to improve blood flow in the legs. Previous studies have shown that some patients develop silent heart injury after these procedures, even without symptoms, and that this may be associated with worse long-term outcomes. Approximately 500 patients will be included in the study. Blood tests for cardiac biomarkers, including high-sensitivity troponin and NT-proBNP, will be performed before and after the procedure. Participants will also undergo ultrasound examination of the heart to assess heart function, including advanced measures that may detect early or subtle heart damage. In addition, heart rate variability will be measured using a short electrocardiogram recording. Patients will be followed for 30 days and 1 year after the procedure to assess the occurrence of major cardiovascular events, limb-related complications, and death. Additional blood samples will be collected and stored for future analysis of inflammation, oxidative stress, and genetic markers that may help explain the mechanisms associated with heart injury and prognosis in these patients.

TROPOnin FRAGMentation in Myocardial Injury Study

Troponin T (TnT) is a part of the troponin protein complex that principally exists in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells and is widely used as diagnostic biomarker for myocardial injury and, thus, myocardial infarction (MI). Elevated TnT levels can, however, be observed in the presence of other clinical conditions such as heart failure, sepsis and kidney failure and the contemporary high-sensitivity TnT test may yield false positive results when performing diagnostics for suspected MI in these patients. Recent data have demonstrated that in the presence of MI, TnT gradually undergoes fragmentation into smaller fragments. It has been suggested that in the presence of e.g. chronic kidney disease or physical exercise the released TnT is predominantly in the form of smaller fragments. However, the clinical significance of TnT fragmentation is unknown and, thus, we sought to investigate the prevalence of fragmentation of TnT in different patient cohorts.

Implementation of a Clinical Screening and Response System for Cardiac Complications After Noncardiac Surgery

The investigators aim to show the feasibility and medicoeconomic impact of implementing a clinical screening and response system for the early detection of perioperative cardiac complications in high-risk patients. Specifically, the investigators aim to: 1) evaluate the feasibility of implementation of a PMI-screening; 2) evaluate the medicoeconomic impact of implementing a PMI-screening; 3) identify barriers to implementation; 4) generate data for a future randomized controlled trial on outcomes by exploring opportunities to improve care following PMI, the occurrence and timing of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and the treatment effect associated with PMI-screening.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Reduction of Myocardial Injury After Non-cardiac Surgery

This is an investigator initiated, multi-center, open-labelled, superiority randomized controlled trial of 372 patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery. Recruited patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive single subcutaneous dose of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RAs) 1 to 14 days prior to surgery or receive routine care. Dulaglutide (Trulicity; Eli Lilly, USA) is chosen as GLP-1 Receptor Agonists investigational drug for this study. Apart from peri-operative routine care, all recruited subjects will undergo physical, respiratory and cardiac assessments including electrocardiography and blood check including cardiac enzymes. Myocardial injury, cardiovascular outcomes and safety will be assessed and evaluated for efficacy and safety of this prophylactic measurement for the reduction of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery.

Myocardial Injury and Outcomes Following COVID-19 Vaccination (MYOVAX Study)

The study will focus on cardiac blood and imaging biomarkers to facilitate early recognition of patients at risk for myocardial injury after COVID-19 vaccination. Ultimately, the intention is to identify patients at risk, reduce adverse events, and determine the need for longer-term follow-up in patients with myocardial injury after vaccination.

The Effect of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery

This is a multicentre, parallel-group, randomised, sham-controlled, observer blinded trial, assessing the efficacy of remote ischemic preconditioning on preventing myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery.

Stratified Medicine of Eplerenone in Acute Myocardial Infarction or Injury and no Obstructive Coronary Arteries.

Patients with heart attack or heart injury are tested (angiogram) for blockages in their arteries. Patients may develop heart problems caused by damage to small (microvascular) blood vessels. Eplerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor-selective antagonist, reduces blood vessel injury and is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Aim: to test the use of eplerenone in patients with heart attack/heart injury an no obstructive coronary arteries and small vessel problems (coronary microvascular dysfunction). Patients admitted to hospitals in the West of Scotland (2.5 million) and referred for invasive management to the Golden Jubilee and Hairmyres hospitals because of a suspected heart attack heart will be invited to participate into a registry-based clinical trial. Screening, enrolment and verbal, informed consent will be obtained during the angiogram then written consent on the ward. Small vessel disease will be assessed using a 'diagnostic' guidewire during the standard angiogram. People with small vessel problems will be invited to participate in a clinical trial of usual care or eplerenone. Coronary microvascular dysfunction is defined as an index of microvascular resistance ≥25. Coronary flow reserve (CFR abnormal \<2.0), microvascular resistance reserve ratio (MRR, abnormal \<2.5), and resistance reserve ratio (RRR abnormal \<2.0), measured simultaneously with IMR, are predefined parameters of interest. Patients will be allocated into one of the 3 groups: * Group 1: Patients without coronary microvascular dysfunction. No eplerenone * Group 2: Patient with coronary microvascular dysfunction. Usual care, no eplerenone. * Group 3: Small vessels abnormal. Eplerenone tablets. The primary outcome for the trial will be reduced heart injury (biomarkers) in patients with microvascular disease. We will also test heart function (MRI scan) at enrolment and at six months. All patients (Groups 1, 2 and 3) will have an angiogram. Standard blood tests will be collected during the hospital stay, and then again at 1 and 6 months. Other outcomes include questionnaires (health status). We will gather information on longer-term health outcomes (hospitalisation, death) using confidential electronic record linkage. We will ask for permission to store blood samples for future research. The research will improve scientific knowledge about eplerenone therapy in this patient group. The study will create a repository of clinical samples and images which will provide vital data for studies of endotypes of myocardial infarction or injury with no obstructive coronary arteries.

Effects of Ciprofol on Myocardial Injury After Non-cardiac Surgery in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) refers to postoperative elevation of cardiac troponin (cTn) levels caused by underlying ischemic mechanisms (i.e., coronary artery supply-demand imbalance or atherosclerotic thrombosis) without obvious non-ischemic causes (such as pulmonary embolism), with at least one cTn concentration exceeding the 99th percentile of the test reference upper limit, regardless of whether clinical symptoms and ECG changes are present. MINS, including myocardial infarction and ischemic myocardial injury, typically occurs within 30 days after surgery, most commonly within the first 2 postoperative days. It is an independent risk factor for 30-day postoperative mortality and is also closely associated with increased risk of mortality and vascular complications within 2 years . MINS is a common cardiovascular complication after thoracic surgery. Therefore, reducing the incidence of MINS in non-cardiac thoracic surgery to improve patient outcomes is a critical issue in anesthetic management for thoracic surgery. Ciprofol is a Class 1 innovative drug independently developed in China with global intellectual property rights. Currently, Ciprofol has completed Phase III clinical trials in China and the United States; its approved indications in China include sedation or anesthesia for various diagnostic procedures, general anesthesia for surgical operations, and sedation during intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Completed drug clinical trials and published clinical trial data of Ciprofol indicate that it can better maintain circulatory stability and ideal anesthetic depth during anesthesia induction and maintenance, making it a promising intravenous general anesthetic alternative to propofol. Maintaining hemodynamic stability is an important measure to reduce cardiovascular complications during the perioperative period. Given the good circulatory stability and sedative efficacy of Ciprofol, this study aims to investigate the impact of Ciprofol on MINS in non-cardiac thoracic surgery.

Steroid Treatment to Prevent Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Postimplantation Syndrome

Postimplantation syndrome (PIS) is a common and clinically important complication following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). PIS is characterized by a strong systemic inflammatory response to the stent-graft implantation and is manifested by flu-like symptoms, which include fever, increased white blood count, increased levels of acute phase proteins, and fatigue, but without a clear inflammatory and infective cause. Besides, it has been demonstrated that PIS is associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk for postoperative complications, including acute kidney injury, postoperative delirium, and increased postoperative pain scores. Recently, there has been increasing evidence that PIS is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and perioperative myocardial injury. Observational studies suggest that preoperative administration of glucocorticoids may decrease the incidence of PIS after TEVAR and EVAR procedures. However, to date, there are no randomised trials that have investigated whether preoperative administration of glucocorticoids can reduce the incidence of PIS and its associated poorer treatment outcomes following TEVAR. This randomized controlled trial was designed to investigate the effect of glucocorticoid administration on reducing the incidence and improving the outcome of patients who develop PIS after TEVAR.

ZeroHeart Biopsy - Prediction of Deceased Donor Heart Transplant Performance From Organ Donors Using Pre-Transplant Biopsies - A Pilot Study

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate whether molecular analysis of donor heart biopsies taken at the time of organ removal ("Time Zero") can help predict the future function and rejection risk of the transplanted heart in adult transplant recipients. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can early molecular injury in the donor heart, caused by brain death or circulatory death, be detected at the time of organ removal? * Can these early molecular findings predict short-, mid-, and long-term transplant outcomes, such as graft function or rejection? Participants will: * Include heart donors whose hearts are being transplanted (both standard and marginal donors, including DBD and DCD cases) * Provide two small biopsies from the donor heart at the time of organ removal: one for routine pathology, one for microarray-based molecular analysis * Have routine follow-up biopsies after transplantation as part of standard care (no additional procedures required beyond medical standard) Researchers will compare biopsy results from different donor types (standard vs. marginal, DBD vs. DCD) to see if early molecular signals are linked to later heart transplant outcomes.

CRP Apheresis in STEMI

Background: In patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the amount of infarcted myocardium (infarct size) is known to be a major predictor for adverse remodeling and recurrent adverse cardiovascular events. Effective cardio-protective strategies with the aim of reducing infarct size are therefore of great interest. Local and systemic inflammation influences the fate of ischemic myocardium and thus, adverse remodeling and clinical outcome. C-reactive protein (CRP) also acts as a potential mechanistic mediator that adversely affects the amount of irreversible myocardial tissue damage after acute myocardial infarction. Objective: The main objectives of the current study are to investigate the efficacy of selective CRP apheresis, using the PentraSorb®-CRP system, as an adjunctive therapy to standard of care for patients with acute STEMI treated with primary PCI. Design: Investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, open-label (outcome assessors masked), controlled, multicenter, two group trial with a two-stage adaptive design. Innovation: Selective CRP apheresis offers potential to decrease infarct size and consequently improve outcome after PCI for STEMI. This is the first randomized trial investigating the impact of selective CRP apheresis on infarct size in post-STEMI patients. In perspective, the study design allows furthermore to collect robust evidence for the design of a definitive outcome study.

Mechanisms And Prognosis of Stroke-Heart Syndrome

The incidence of stroke-heart syndrome following acute stroke, which encompasses both acute ischemic stroke and acute intracerebral hemorrhage, is notably high and is strongly associated with increased mortality and poor outcomes in stroke patients. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and there are currently no effective prevention or treatment strategies. This study aims to elucidate the neuro-humoral mechanisms of stroke-heart syndrome through multimodal imaging and multi-omics blood analysis. Additionally, it seeks to observe the progression of stroke-heart syndrome and its impact on functional outcomes, cognitive abilities, and emotional issues post-stroke. The research is expected to uncover novel blood biomarkers and brain network mechanisms associated with stroke-heart syndrome, providing potential targets and theoretical foundations for pharmacological treatments or physical interventions. Furthermore, it aims to establish a risk early-warning system for major cardiovascular complications post-stroke, enabling early identification, early intervention, and integrated brain-heart management to improve clinical outcomes for stroke patients.

Colchicine in Patients at Cardiac Risk Undergoing Major Non-Cardiac Surgery

Perioperative myocardial injury and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) are common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients at increased cardiovascular risk undergoing non-cardiac surgery. However, research in recent years has yielded limited preventive and therapeutic measures for myocardial injury/MACE. Recent studies in patients with chronic and acute coronary artery disease have shown that colchicine administration can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. These encouraging results in non-surgical patients ask for a similar investigation in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the effects of perioperative colchicine administration on the incidence of myocardial injury/MACE.

NAD+ Augmentation in Cardiac Surgery Associated Myocardial Injury Trial

A Randomized, Double-blind, placebo-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Oral Nam for the Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing On-Pump Cardiac Surgery

Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Postoperative Myocardial Injury in Elderly Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery: a Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study

This research group plans to design a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study to explore the effect of taVNS on hs-cTnT in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery, and to evaluate the effect on perioperative myocardial injury and postoperative analgesia during thoracoscopic surgery.

Cardiac Blood Flow Patterns Associated With Left Ventricular Myocardial Damage

Various factors affect the performance of the heart: The contractile properties of myocardial muscle cells are the fundamental devices for translating tension-generation and shortening of the cardiac muscle into pressure-generation and blood volume ejection from the heart into the body. On the other hand, the performance of heart can be analyzed with respect to input and output of blood to/from the hollow cardiac muscle and evaluated in terms of the performance of a pump: With every heartbeat blood is sucked from a low-pressure system (veins) and pumped to the arterial high-pressure system via one-way valves, whereas efficiency, ejected blood volume, blood flow and pressures are linked by hemodynamic laws. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the "gold standard technique" to determine cardiac function and muscle mass, as well as for non-invasive diagnosis of myocardial necrosis/fibrosis. Furthermore, new CMR imaging techniques enabling the measurement of myocardial magnetic relaxation times for characterization of myocardial morphology and the acquisition of time-resolved, three-dimensional blood flow velocity fields in the heart and surrounding vessels, represent promising tools for the evaluation of the interaction between myocardial morphology and cardiac function. Aim of this explorative study is to 1. identify myocardial pathology-associated blood flow patterns in the heart and surrounding great vessels, and 2. correlate characteristic blood flow patterns in the heat (existence of vortices, vorticity, vortex formation, propagation dynamics …) with myocardial injuries.

Sufentanil in Patients With Lower Extremity Fracture Surgery Myocardial Damage Function Study

1. To analyze the association of different doses of opioids on myocardial injury/protection through BMP-6/SMAD pathway. 2. To observe the effect of different doses of opioids on the expression of BMP-6 in bone marrow. 3. To investigate the relationship between different doses of opioids and BMP-6 and perioperative cardiovascular adverse events in patients with lower extremity fracture surgery.

the Cardioprotective Effects of Improving Potassium Variability in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

The management of serum potassium in maintenance hemodialysis（MHD ）patients is one of the hot topics at present. In order to control hyperkalemia in dialysis patients, the use of hypokalemic dialysate is the most important measure to reduce potassium. This measure effectively reduces serum potassium, but increases the risk of hypokalemia after dialysis, which increases the risk of all-cause death in patients. Hyperkalemia and hypokalemia during and at the end of dialysis are important factors for arrhythmia and death in MHD patients. Due to the intermittent nature of hemodialysis treatment, MHD patients often experience frequent fluctuations in serum potassium, which is a potential risk factor for poor prognosis of MHD patients. Serum potassium variability can better reflect the potassium homeostasis in MHD patients. In addition to hyperkalemia and hypokalemia, serum potassium variability is a potential risk factor affecting the prognosis of MHD patients. At present, there are few studies on the effect of improving serum potassium variability on cardiovascular complications, especially multi-center randomized controlled trials. In this study, sodium zirconium cyclosilicate was used to control hyperkalemia before dialysis and increase potassium concentration in dialysate, so as to reduce the risk of hypokalemia after dialysis, and to verify whether improving serum potassium variability can reduce myocardial injury in hemodialysis patients.