Clinical Research Directory

The THOR IDE Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the Thor system in adult (≥ 18 year old) patients with de novo (new, never treated) calcified lesions in infrainguinal (leg) arteries (peripheral artery disease or PAD). The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * Is the Thor system safe in treating these lesions * Does the Thor system work to treat these lesions Participants will: * Receive treatment with the Thor system * Have follow-up visits at Discharge, 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months

Distrupt Stiffness Trial

Typical symptoms of PAD include exercise-induced pain in the legs (known as intermittent claudication), which can significantly limit pain-free walking. In more advanced stages, pain may also occur at rest. Additionally, the development of chronic, hard-to-heal wounds-especially on the feet and toes-is possible. These wound healing impairments are caused by the insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to the affected tissues. The underlying cause of PAD is usually atherosclerosis, a pathological change in the vessel walls due to the accumulation of fats, calcium, and connective tissue. These deposits lead to stiffening and narrowing of the arteries, severely restricting blood flow. Major risk factors for the development of PAD include widespread chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia (elevated blood lipid levels, e.g., cholesterol), arterial hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and tobacco use. Various therapeutic options are available for the treatment of PAD. In addition to conservative therapy (such as supervised exercise training, pharmacological blood thinning, and risk factor management), interventional, minimally invasive treatment using catheter-based techniques is frequently employed. In such procedures, a thin catheter is guided through the vascular system to the affected area of the leg artery. Depending on the type and extent of the arterial narrowing or calcification, one of the following techniques may be applied: Balloon angioplasty: Dilation of the vessel using an inflatable balloon. Lithoplasty: Application of shockwaves to break down calcifications in the arterial wall.

lncRNAs as a Biomarker to Assess the Therapeutic Impact of Oral Absorbent ± Probiotics in CKD Patients With PAD

Participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a higher risk of developing atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease (PAD). Retention of uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate (IS), p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) during CKD is detrimental to endothelial and vascular function and can predispose to the development and progression of PAD. Many of the uremic toxins originate from gut microbial metabolism. Removal of these uremic toxins by carbonaceous oral adsorbent is beneficial, slowing down the deterioration of renal function and delaying the need for dialysis in CKD patients. However, if carbonaceous oral adsorbent could also improve vascular function and clinical outcomes in CKD patients with established PAD, remains unknown. In this proposal, the investigators aim to determine the therapeutic impact of a carbonaceous oral adsorbent made of activated bamboo charcoal (ABC) with/without probiotics on the endothelial/vascular function, CV outcome and mortality in CKD patients with PAD. In addition, the investigators hypothesize that circulating long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles and metabolome may serve as a sensitive and reliable biomarker to predict the adverse CV outcomes and death in CKD patients with established PAD. In addition, it is hypothesized that circulating lncRNAs and linked to adverse CV outcomes in CKD patients with PAD are associated with dysbiosis of gut microbiota. The investigators also hypothesize that the administration of ABC could normalize the dysbiosis of gut microbiota, dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and metabolome that are linked to adverse CV/limb outcomes in CKD patients with PAD. This will be a prospective, randomized, open-labeled, blinded end-point trial for 6 months, followed by integrated assessment of endothelial/vascular function, changes in conventional athero- and inflammation-relevant biomarkers, circulating long noncoding RNAs, metabolome, and gut microbiota at baseline, ends of the 3rd and 6th month, as well as clinical CV, renal and limb outcomes up to 3 years.

Effect of Breather in COPD Patients With Intermittent Claudication

The aim of this study To show the effect of breather on ventilatory and vascular function in COPD patient with intermittent claudication.

Endovascular Denervation for the Treatment of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Sympathetic overactivity partly promotes the development of peripheral artery disease which mainly leads to ischemia of the lower limbs. Endovascular arterial denervation (ED) is a minimally invasive technique which could deliver Radiofrequency energy by a multi-electrode catheter to the Lower limb artery to restore Sympathetic activity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of multi-electrode radiofrequency ablation system on lower limb ischemia with PAD.