Ziac

The purpose of this investigation is to examine the role of inappropriate mineralocorticoid receptor activation in endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in otherwise healthy women with a history of preeclampsia. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does overactivation of the mineralocorticoid receptor contribute to reduced endothelial function in women who had preeclampsia? 2. To what extent does the mineralocorticoid receptor mediated exaggerated production of inflammatory cytokines in immune cells from women who had preeclampsia? Participants will visit the research laboratory for 2 experimental visits: * Visit 1: Skin blood flow will be measured using a minimally invasive technique (intradermal microdialysis for the local delivery of pharmaceutical agents) to examine blood vessels in a nickel-sized area of the skin. * Visit 2: Endothelial cells will be collected from an antecubital vein.

The goal of this clinical trial is to treat both hypertension and obesity in adults using a food is medicine framework. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to FIM+DASH or usual-care control. The 24-week trial includes a 12-week FIM+DASH intervention followed by a 12-week maintenance period and leverages existing partnerships with community-based organizations for home food delivery and culinary skill-skill building. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) What is the effect of FIM+DASH vs. usual care control on blood pressure? (2) What is the effect of FIM+DASH vs. usual care control on DASH diet adherence (diet quality), body weight, and waist circumference? (3) How to identify factors associated with the sustainability and scalability of FIM+DASH in real-world settings?

The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the implementation, usability, and clinical outcomes of a wearable medical-grade device in a virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) program, titled HEARTS in Sync. The question guiding this study is: Do patient clinical outcomes differ between those who use the CardioWatch 287-2 during the HEARTS in Sync program as compared to those who participate without using the CardioWatch 287-2? The comparison will happen between two non-randomized groups of patients who are enrolled in the HEARTS in Sync virtual CR program. The wearable device (CardioWatch 287-2), worn on patient's wrists, will provide clinicians with physiological information to better mirror the clinical oversight provided to an in-person CR program. Participants who choose to use the device will be asked to wear it daily. The clinical team will review weekly summary reports to help guide participant progress through the 13-week program. The primary objectives of this study are to: 1. Characterize participants (e.g., demographic health history, patient feedback) between those who choose to use the CardioWatch 287-2 device and those who do not. 2. Compare clinical outcomes between users and non-users of the device within the HEARTS in Sync program, by: 1. Tracking patient enrollment, attendance in virtual education sessions, and program completion rates, 2. Evaluating change in patient bloodwork outcomes, 3. Measuring change is physical ability, 4. Analyzing changes in eating behaviours, and 5. Examining quality of life using validated tools. 3. Asses the feasibility of the CardioWatch 287-2 for the HEARTS in Sync virtual CR program by: 1. Assessing device adherence 2. Reviewing patient feedback survey, and 3. Determining if clinician team were able to access and interpret data collected throughout the program The secondary objective of this study is to compare clinical outcomes of device users during the HEARTS in Sync program with patients who completed the on-site CR program. This research aims to better understand how a medical-grade device may improve virtual CR programming to extend clinical care to the community. As a result, this could lead to a more personalized care and better results for patients.

Background: Abnormal fats in the blood can lead to many problems, including heart disease. Researchers want to learn more about how eating meals with different levels of nutrients affects fats in the blood. Specifically, they want to study people with too much body fat, too little body fat, and a kidney problem called nephrotic syndrome. Objective: To learn more about how different types of foods affect fat levels in the blood. Eligibility: People aged 18 years or older with a health condition that affects how their body handles fats. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants will have 2 overnight stays in the clinic within 6 months. At each visit, after staying overnight, they will eat a breakfast casserole. At 1 visit, breakfast will be a high-fat, low carbohydrate meal. At the other, it will be a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal. Participants will have a tube inserted into a vein in their arm. They will have blood drawn via the tube 12 times in 8 hours: 2 times before they eat the breakfast and 10 times after. Participants will have other tests during their stays: * A resting metabolic test captures the air they exhale and measures how much energy they use at rest. * A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan measures how much fat and muscle they have. * A Fibroscan is a special type of ultrasound of the liver. * A body surface scan uses lasers to measure the total area of the body. * A bioelectric impedance (BIS) exam measures how fast small electric currents move through their body. Participants may opt to have a third visit. At this visit, the breakfast will be high in protein.

This study aims to validate the accuracy and reliability of blood pressure (BP) estimates obtained over 24 hours using a PPG-based chest-patch device compared to the gold standard ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) method using an upper arm cuff-based oscillometric BP device, in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals referred by their provider to undergo a 24-hours ABPM for clinical indication. The Awake/Asleep test, which is the primary test recommended for automated wearable cuffless BP devices that are cuff-calibrated (based on the 2023 European Society of Hypertension (ESH) recommendations for the validation of cuffless blood pressure measuring devices), will be conducted in this study. The secondary aim of the study is to assess the feasibility and convenience of the PPG-based device.

A study Comparing the Clinical Benefit of Finerenone Versus a Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) of Extended-Release Torsemide and Spironolactone in Patients with Hypertension and Chronic Kidney Disease.

The MINDBP study will enroll 90 pregnant women at risk for HDP across two sites (MCW and Brown) and randomize them to: (1) mindfulness training (MT) plus wearable biosensors, (2) MT alone, or (3) routine prenatal care. MT participants will receive 8 weekly phone-based MT sessions plus two booster sessions at 1 and 2 months post-intervention. The primary outcome is study feasibility.

The goal of this clinical trial is to study whether having a clinical decision support (CDS) tool available to clinician use will more effectively lower BP 4 weeks after an outpatient visit compared with usual care. The main objective is to assess the impact of the CDS tool, that is embedded with the electronic medical record (EMR), that is available during outpatient clinical encounters, on blood pressure (BP) changes among participants with uncontrolled hypertension. Participants will: Visit the clinic 4 weeks, after their initial clinician visit, for a BP check.

This study explores a novel approach to improving care for postpartum patients with preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and organ dysfunction. Preeclampsia affects up to 9% of pregnancies and can progress to include complications of seizures, stroke, and even death. Over 60% of patients with preeclampsia continue to experience high blood pressure at the time of discharge from their delivery hospitalization, and many of these patients require blood pressure medications for up to 6 months postpartum. Even with blood pressure medications, many of these patients are readmitted to the hospital within six weeks of delivery. In this study, the investigators will utilize point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), a quick and non-invasive, bedside imaging strategy, to look for signs of excess fluid accumulating in the lungs and venous system of postpartum patients with preeclampsia. Because excess fluid has the potential to worsen blood pressure, subjects with evidence of this on POCUS would be treated with a diuretic medication called furosemide (either orally or intravenously) within 24 hours of delivery. The investigators' main goal is to determine whether using POCUS can help physicians make better treatment decisions and improve short-term outcomes for postpartum patients with preeclampsia. The investigators' aim to achieve faster recovery of blood pressure, reduce the need for blood pressure medication at hospital discharge, and lower the rates of hospital readmission for those with preeclampsia. This study could significantly enhance the overall care and health of postpartum patients.

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are hormones produced by the heart and play an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health and have favorable metabolic benefits. Low NP levels are associated with an increased likelihood of the development of cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. NP levels are known to be highly heritable, with up to half of the differences in NP levels being explained by genetics. The investigators aim to describe the genetic architecture of NPs by examining the genetic variants associated with NPs, and generate and validate a polygenic score (PGS) for NPs. The investigators will use this NP PGS to examine the association of genetically determined NP levels with cardiometabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. The investigators will conduct a genotype-guided physiological clinical trial that aims to assess the genetic factors affecting NP levels and their impact on blood pressure and NP response to saline infusion, high-salt diet, and low-salt diet. These findings will help support personal medicine approaches to lower the increasing burden of hypertension in the United States.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the utility of a novel five-point ultrasound as a predictor of volume overload in diverse patients who are admitted with volume overload/congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation at Boston Medical Center (BMC), the largest safety-net hospital in New England. Current standard of care (SOC) involves the utilization of laboratory markers and physical exam, which is often inconsistent and equivocal. The investigators will assess will assess if ultrasound-assisted diuresis reduces recurrent episodes of volume overload/decompensated heart failure.

This trial tests a promising new intervention to promote post-stroke neural reorganization and functional recovery. The Q Therapeutic (BQ 3.0) is a wearable medical system that produces and delivers non-invasive, extremely-low-intensity and low-frequency, frequency-tuned electromagnetic fields in order to stimulate neuronal networks with the aim of reducing disability and promoting neurorecovery. This trial is a prospective, single-arm, open-label, single center clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the Q Therapeutic (BQ 3.0) System in the rehabilitation of people with chronic stroke.