Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. and many Veteran stroke survivors live with severe disability. Despite recent advances in rehabilitation treatments many stroke survivors have persistent physical and mental difficulties such as reduced arm and leg function, difficulty thinking, and depression.
Developing treatments that address these problems is necessary to improve long-term recovery for stroke survivors. Aerobic exercise (AEx) can improve physical and mental function, and reduce depression. Additionally, AEx may enhance physical rehabilitation by making the brain more receptive to, and consequently improving the response to a rehabilitation treatment. Therefore, combining AEx with physical rehabilitation has the potential to improve multiple parts of stroke recovery. This study will examine the effect of combining AEx with physical rehabilitation on physical and mental function in stroke survivors. By gaining a better understanding of the effects of this combined intervention we aim to advance the rehabilitative care of Veteran stroke survivors.

This is a study to evalaute the device's safety, function, and effects on heart function, and clinical outcomes of using the Edwards APTURE system (study device) in subjects with heart failure.

Major study activities include 3 right heart catheterizations (RHC) with exercise, a computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast, multiple ultrasounds of the heart, labs, and other assessments. The length of subject participation in the study is 5 years and includes 11 research visits.

The information obtained from this study will show how safe and effective this approach is in treating the symptoms of heart failure. Alternative treatment for heart failure depends on the cause, but may include diet and exercise, managing stress, medication (such as medications to treat leg swelling, high blood pressure, or abnormal heart rate), participation in another research study or continuing with current medical therapy

This clinical investigation is a prospective, non-randomized, single-arm, multi-center early feasibility study of the Aria CV Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) System implanted in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The device will be implanted in the pulmonary artery and the gas reservoir of the device will be in the abdominal cavity. The purpose of this study is to validate that the clinical use of the Aria CV PH System is safe for the patient, and to evaluate its performance in treating patients with PAH. Some procedures involved in the study include but not limited too: Questionnaires, physical exams, right heart catherization, echocardiograms, blood work and more. The study will be conducted in a maximum of 10 centers in the United States. Up to 45 patients will be consented, and up to 15 patients will receive implants. There is a total of 11 visits over the course of 2.5 years for the study. Because this is an investigational device under the FDA, there may be risk that include but are not limited to: arrhythmia, device infection, endocarditis, and heart failure. If the Aria CV device performs as intended, you may potentially benefit from reduction in or relief of symptoms caused by PH, and depending on your overall health conditions, prolonged life expectancy and/or improvement in your overall quality of life.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and how well the medication levosimenden works versus placebo in treating Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure with a Preserved Ejection Fraction measured by a 6 minute walk. This is a condition where the lower left chamber (left ventricle) of the heart is not able to fill properly with blood during the filling phase and the amount of blood pumped out to the body is below normal. The study will also look at information obtained from the tests performed as part of the study to see if subjects have improvement in symptoms of heart failure. Levosimendan is a drug that has been FDA-approved for intravenous (IV) delivery to your body. This study aims to determine if the tablet form of the drug is as effective as the IV route. Tablets are much more attainable for patients to manage their heart failure from home, rather than going to an infusion clinic for treatments. Participation in this study will last approximately 12 weeks with the option to continue to the stage 2 phase of the study. If the stage 2 phase is selected as well, participation will last approximately 26 months or a little over 2 years. These visits will include such activities as blood tests, questionnaires, physical evaluation by a study doctor, echocardiogram, and 6 minute hall walks.

Participants will be randomized to either the treatment group (and receive the medication) or the control group (receive an inactive medication). Subjects will have a 50:50 chance of receiving the study medication during their participation in the trial. The treatment assignment is determined by randomization, where a computer selects at random which treatment group you will be in (like drawing straws). Neither the subject, nor the blinded personnel will know which group subjects are in. Neither the subject nor the study doctor will decide what group subjects are assigned.

You are invited to volunteer in this clinical research study because you have been diagnosed with tricuspid valve regurgitation.

The type of research study you are being asked to join is called an Early Feasibility Study. This means the device and procedure you are receiving (the treatment) have not been previously studied in humans, and that you will be among the first patients in the world to undergo this treatment. The Device you are receiving is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and its safety and effectiveness are unknown.

Participants will undergo right heart catheterizations, computed tomography (CT) scans without iodinated contrast, multiple ultrasounds of the heart, labs, and other assessments. The length of subject participation in the study is 5 years and includes 11 research visits. You will have a screening right heart catheterization (RHC) to check the pressures and function of your heart. The research procedure and placement of the TRIcares Topaz Transfemoral Tricuspid heart Valve (Topaz Tricuspid Valve) will be placed in a hybrid operating room. This procedure is done by entering a vein in your groin known as the femoral vein. The purpose of this device is to eliminate the regurgitation or leaking in the tricuspid valve of the heart to help reduce the symptoms caused by this leaky valve.

The most common risks associated with the research procedure are those related to the right heart catheterization (RHC) and Topaz Tricuspid valve procedure. Major risks include bleeding and damage to the heart or surrounding blood vessels. There are no known benefits of the research device. There may be possible benefits from the research procedure including improvement in quality of life or a decrease in the symptoms caused by tricuspid regurgitation. The information that we obtain from your participation in this study will help us learn more about how safe and effective this approach is in treating the symptoms of individuals similar to yourself.