High blood pressure clinical trials — recruiting now

Herbal Medicine is known as the medicinal use of herbal substances as a means of treating different conditions in the human body to ensure that the body remains in optimal health and wellness. These substances are known to contain very active ingredients in it and as such is also a very potent means of managing diseases and ailments in the body. Herbal medicine has always been a standby source of getting relief from various conditions over centuries, however, it can be categorically said that the mode of usage of these herbal substances has changed over time. Traditional healers help individuals to make meaning out of the natural herbs seen around that can be useful to one's health. Herbal medicine is the use of plants to treat disease and enhance general health and wellbeing. Herbs can interact with other pharmaceutical medications and should be taken with care. Always seek a regular medical doctor (GP) about any health concerns and tell them about any herbal medicines you are taking or thinking of taking. Never stop taking prescribed medications in favor of herbs without first discussing it with your GP.

Background: Isometric resistance exercises (IREs) have great potential to improve blood pressure (BP) control. However, the effectiveness of IREs in reducing HT is still unknown because their hypotensive effects have not been detected using ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM), which are the current standard for BP measurement. Methods: This first adequately-powered RCT will involve 390 patients with HT who do not meet the current physical activity guidelines defined by the World Health Organization. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using stratified and blocked randomization to either the IRE (wall squat) group or stretching exercise (active control) group. A well-structured, widely accepted, and validated 24-week wall squat program (2 minutes per exercise, 2 minutes of rest between sets, and 3 sessions per week) will be implemented, as it has been commonly used in previous research. Adherence to the program will be monitored using smartwatches, and regular contact with patients through social media will help ensure adherence. All patients will be followed up for 1 year to investigate the long-term effects of IREs on BP. Control group will receive exact same treatment except that IRE is replaced by frequency-matched and time-matched stretching exercise. The primary outcome measure will be systolic daytime ABPM BP at 24 weeks. Secondary outcome measures will include other BP and ABPM parameters at 12 weeks, 24weeks and 1year, cfPWV at baseline, 24 weeks and 1year, and FMD at baseline and 24weeks. Safety data will be collected and reported.

During anesthesia, blood pressure-raising medications are often required to achieve an adequate blood pressure level. However, there is limited knowledge about what constitutes an adequate blood pressure to ensure sufficient blood flow to the brain. This project aims to map the relationship between blood pressure and brain blood flow using an MRI scanner. The results will contribute to a better understanding of this relationship and lead to improved management of brain blood flow during surgery on anesthetized patients. How does the project work? Day 1 Before planned surgery, participants will meet with an anesthesiologist for information and assessment. An MRI scan of the brain will be conducted while participants are awake. The MRI examination has no side effects or risks. The space inside the MRI scanner is tight, especially around the head. If discomfort is experienced, the examination will be stopped immediately. The machine is noisy, so hearing protection will be provided, and communication with staff will be possible throughout the examination. The scan takes approximately 30 minutes, during which participants only need to lie still and relax. Day 2 After planned surgery, an anesthesiologist and an anesthesia nurse will transfer participants to the MRI scanner while still under anesthesia. Participants will not be woken up between surgery and the MRI scan; instead, transportation will occur while still anesthetized, following standard hospital procedures. Participants will remain under the same anesthetic drugs as during the surgery. The same blood pressure-raising medication, norepinephrine, will be continuously used. No additional drugs, beyond those necessary for normal anesthesia, will be administered before the MRI examination. The entire project will take about 1.5 hours in addition to the surgery. If an arterial catheter (a blood pressure monitor via an artery in the wrist) is not already in place, one will be inserted while participants are asleep. Before the MRI examination: Baseline examination - If any abnormalities are detected, the scan will be stopped, and follow-up by a doctor will occur. Blood pressure increase - Blood pressure will be raised by approximately 30% (equivalent to mild physical activity, such as jogging). Follow-up scan at the higher blood pressure level. Blood pressure returns to normal. All blood pressure levels will remain within clinically acceptable ranges for anesthetized patients and will be regulated with the same medication as used during the surgery. After the MRI: Participants will be woken up in the anesthesia preparation room next to the MRI scanner. The arterial catheter will be removed before awakening. Participants will be transported to the postoperative unit for monitoring. The surgeon responsible for care will determine the discharge time. Possible Risks and Side Effects of Participation Transporting an anesthetized patient for an MRI scan outside the operating room carries some risks. However, the hospital has established procedures for daily transportation of anesthetized patients and a structured division of responsibilities to manage unexpected situations. Monitoring will be conducted by an experienced anesthesiologist and anesthesia nurse throughout the procedure. Routine monitoring includes blood pressure, heart rate, depth of anesthesia, and oxygen levels. No long-term effects have been observed from MRI scans or short-term anesthesia for these examinations. Most complications related to general anesthesia occur during induction or awakening, and these risks exist regardless of study participation. Study participation may slightly increase the risk of IV lines or breathing tubes becoming dislodged due to movement while anesthetized. A prolonged period under anesthesia may cause slight additional fatigue upon waking. To ensure understanding of the information about this study, participants will take a simple cognitive test (5 minutes) before surgery. If any unexpected complications arise during surgery, study participation will be discontinued. If the MRI scan reveals any abnormalities, referral to a neurologist or neurosurgeon for further evaluation will be provided. What Happens to Collected Data? The project will collect health information from medical records and MRI scans. All data will be pseudonymized (coded) so that it cannot be linked to individual participants. The key to decoding this information will be stored securely by the research nurse at the Neuro-Head-Neck Center (NHHC). Only authorized research personnel will have access to the pseudonymized data. Information will be protected in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

SickKids and UHN have developed MedlyPeds which is a smart phone application designed to remotely monitor patients with heart disease. This is a feasibility study which will enroll up to 30 patients with different types of heart disease to see which patient types may benefit the most from MedlyPeds if it were to be used for clinical monitoring. The study is gathering feedback about the app from patients, parents and clinicians to confirm how it needs to be modified to better serve the purpose in a future trial.

The goal of this study is to find out whether phycocyanin, a natural protein from spirulina, can help protect the liver and support recovery in adults having part of their liver removed. The study will also look at whether phycocyanin is safe to take.The main questions are: Does phycocyanin reduce liver injury after surgery? Does it help the liver grow back and recover? What side effects or medical problems happen while taking it? Researchers will compare phycocyanin with a placebo, which looks similar but does not contain phycocyanin. About 30 people will take part. Each person will be randomly placed into one of the two groups, and neither the participants nor the researchers will know which treatment each person receives during the study. Participants will: Take 1.5 grams of phycocyanin or placebo every day for 3 weeks before surgery and 3 weeks after surgery Receive the usual care for liver surgery Give blood and stool samples before and after treatment Allow researchers to study a small piece of liver tissue removed during surgery Return for follow-up for up to 90 days after surgery The samples will be used to check liver function, inflammation, gut bacteria, and changes linked to liver healing. Possible side effects include an allergic reaction or stomach discomfort. The study has been approved by an ethics committee.

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of a modified suprachoroidal silicone tube (SST) shunt in treating patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma (PXG). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the SST shunt maintain intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction over an extended follow-up period? What is the effect of the SST shunt on endothelial cell count (ECC) and overall corneal health? Participants will: Undergo intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements Have their endothelial cell count (ECC) evaluated Complete assessments of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) Be assessed for C/D ratio Be monitored for adverse events or shunt-related complications over time

The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to evaluate the effect of carvedilol (a non-selective beta-blocker) in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease under clinically significant portal hypertension or the grey zone of Baveno VII criteria. The main question it aims to answer is: Does carvedilol reduce hepatic decompensation and mortality in these patients despite the absence of varices needing treatment. Researchers will compare carvedilol to no carvedilol to see if carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation and mortality. Participants will either take carvedilol or not taking carvedilol for 5 years with regular clinic visit for checkups and investigations, including blood tests, ultrasonography of the liver, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, transient elastography.

The goal of the GlycOxiTOD observational registry is to improve the early detection and characterization of vascular and other target-organ damage in adults at increased cardiovascular risk. Target-organ damage (TOD) means changes in the arteries, heart, kidneys, or other organs that may develop before cardiovascular symptoms or events occur. The registry studies how blood pressure, arterial function, vascular imaging, metabolic and glycoxidative markers, and non-invasive optical signals are related to this early damage. The main questions are: * Which clinical, blood pressure, imaging, and laboratory markers are associated with vascular and other target-organ damage? * Can photoplethysmography, a non-invasive optical technique that records changes in blood flow, identify abnormal arterial features? * Are new devices, measurement procedures, and signal-analysis methods technically valid, reliable, and reproducible when compared with established clinical methods? * Can combinations of clinical, imaging, laboratory, and device-derived measurements improve cardiovascular risk assessment? * How do vascular abnormalities and target-organ damage change during follow-up? Researchers will not assign any treatment as part of this observational registry. Participants will receive assessments that may include: * Clinical and cardiovascular risk evaluation * Office and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements * Blood and urine tests for metabolic, glycation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers * Non-invasive vascular ultrasound and arterial function measurements * Optical photoplethysmography recordings from peripheral or cervical arterial sites * Skin measurement of advanced glycation end products * Retinal imaging, when available * Repeated measurements to assess the reliability and reproducibility of selected devices and procedures * Follow-up using clinical visits and medical records to identify changes in target-organ damage and cardiovascular events The registry provides a shared clinical research platform for studies on hypertension, vascular imaging, arterial biomechanics, biomarkers, optical technologies, and the technical and methodological validation of non-invasive cardiovascular devices. Its overall aim is to support the development of reliable tools for early cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention.

Tracheal occlusion IDE approved by FDA for congenital diaphragmatic hernia fetuses and standard of care control group

This is a single-center, open-label, randomized clinical trial conducted at the Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo, Brazil. The study evaluates a simplified treatment strategy for patients with apparent resistant hypertension, comparing fixed triple combination therapy (perindopril, indapamide, and amlodipine) with usual care using multiple separate antihypertensive drugs. The primary objective is to compare 24-hour blood pressure control as measured by ABPM at 12 weeks between the two treatment strategies. Enrollment began on July 15, 2023, and this study was registered retrospectively.

The aim is to establish an effective and practical early warning model for endocrine and metabolic diseases based on an environmental-gene-protein panoramic network, to uncover new mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of these diseases, and to screen for novel therapeutic targets.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if patient education and regular text reminders are a feasible intervention to engage patients and reduce post partum hypertension. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is a structured postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring intervention with education and individualized medication initiation/adjustment follow-up by televisit feasible? Does a structured program reduce the occurrence of postpartum hypertension, ED visits, hospital readmissions, and adverse outcomes? Participants will: View an educational video on HDP post-delivery Receive 1-2 times daily text messages for 6 weeks postpartum Have their blood pressure medications adjusted to lower targets post partum

The goal of this longitudinal study is to investigate the role of virtual health coaching on mitigation of cardiometabolic disease risk in an underserved, food insecure population. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does longitudinal, individualized health coaching directed at lifestyle modification reduce patient 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke? * Does longitudinal, individualized health coaching directed at lifestyle modification reduce rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes? * Does longitudinal, individualized health coaching directed at lifestyle modification improve accessibility to healthcare? Researchers will investigate the effects of regularly scheduled health coaching sessions on composite cardiometabolic risk profile as well as individual modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Participants will: * Participate in in-person cardiovascular screening, occuring at the time of enrollment, months 3 and 6. * Engage in virtual health coaching sessions to talk about diet, exercise, weight loss, blood pressure and diabetes control, and accessibility to healthcare * Keep a log of their blood pressure

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are at increased risk of muscle loss and decreased physical activity. This study will aim to (1) understand the way in which muscle loss occurs in PAH, particularly the role of fat surrounding the heart, and (2) look at the impact muscle loss has on quality of life, daily physical activity, and hospitalizations in patients with PAH. The findings from this study could help identify potentially treatable factors that may improve the overall quality of life and physical functioning of patients with PAH. Subjects will be asked to attend a baseline visit where the following will be performed: * Measure your vital signs * Undergo a research blood draw, less than 4 tablespoons * Provide a urine pregnancy test (if applicable) * Review demographics, personal history, and medical history * Review current PAH medications * Complete questionnaires on how your PAH affects you * Complete a test of physical performance * Complete a grip strength test * Undergo an echocardiogram (Echo) * Complete a six-minute walk test * Undergo a Chest CT Scan * Undergo a scan of your body composition (DXA scan) * Obtain a weight and body composition measurement on the InBody Scale Subjects will also complete activity moniotring, two 24-hour diet recalls, and participate in remote follow-up visits every 6 months

The current situation outside of large cities in lower-income countries, as described above, is suboptimal for the diagnosis of glaucoma. Doctors have no means of assessing visual fields, and as such may not be able to identify the condition until too advanced for any meaningful intervention (ie, to enable preservation of vision). Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. Understanding, through this pilot study, how well the World Sight Foundation Field Machine (WSFFM) works is an essential step towards trialling its use in lower-income countries. The justification for enabling this is to allow clinicians in the developing world to make more informed assessments of their glaucoma patient's status; this should translate in more timely treatments or referral for further investigation before further irreversible vision loss. The WSFFM will be compared to the Humphrey Visual Field (HVF) analyser. The HVF analyser is the gold standard method of measuring visual fields; in our hospital eye service it is almost exclusively the method used, and as such the field technicians are particularly skilled in their use. The output data of the HVF enables easy quantification of level of field loss; by comparing the output from the WSFFM it would be possible to allow some form of quantification against "the standard" such that an idea of how well it works may be calculated.

The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate whether oral semaglutide can be used to treat open-angle glaucoma. The main question it aims to answer is: Does oral semaglutide safely improve inner retinal function in patients with open-angle glaucoma as measured by the photopic negative response of the electroretinogram. Researchers will compare oral semaglutide to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug). Participants will: * Take semaglutide or a placebo every day for 6 months. * Visit the clinic 5 times in total for tests and interviews: At baseline (the first day they are included in the study), after 1 month, after 2 months, after 3 months, and after 6 months (the last day they are included in the study).

The objective of this study is to examine the association between urinary and plasma biomarkers and change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore the safety and efficacy of the FreeFlow percutaneous atrial septal shunt for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the FreeFlow percutaneous atrial septal shunt safe to use in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension? * Does the FreeFlow percutaneous atrial septal shunt reduce all-cause mortality and readmission in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, and how effective is it? Thirty subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for selective implantation of FreeFlow percutaneous atrial septal shunts after balloon atrial septostomy. Participants will: * underwent balloon atrial septostomy and FreeFlow percutaneous atrial septal shunt implantation. * will be followed up at 24 hours after shunt implantation or before discharge, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.

New sustainable models of patient-focused and team-based care for patients with hypertension should be developed to achieve health improvements and cost-efficiency. The aim of this project is to evaluate new ways of sustainable hypertension (HT) management in primary care, starting with a pilot study at 2 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs). At intervention PHCCs cardiovascular risk is assessed with SCORE2 for all hypertension patients. The staff receives education on HT treatment and an easy-to-follow treatment protocol. Non-physicians lead patient education on HT in groups. Patients receive a home blood pressure (BP) monitor and communicate digitally with the assigned nurse on medication update, blood and urinary tests and follow up. The nurse consults with the physician if needed. Regular face to face visits with the physician are only scheduled for patients with high cardiovascular risk or end organ damage, otherwise for all patients if needed. At the control PHCs hypertension care continues as usual. All participants will be asked to complete questionnaires after 6 and 24 months. Outcomes are feasibility for the pilot study and the proportion of patients reaching BP target plus change in systolic BP, cardiovascular risk factors, patients´ and staff´s grade of satisfaction and knowledge, and health care costs for the main study, compared between intervention and control PHCCS. Results will help to establish sustainable models of treating HT patients in Primary Care.

This study was a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of toripalimab combined with GemCis (gemcitabine and cisplatin) as preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for resectable ICC at high risk of recurrence.