Articles tagged with Randomization
Two studies found that moderate-intensity physical activity did not improve cognitive function, while oral supplementation with nutrients had no significant effect on cognitive decline. However, participants over 80 or with poor baseline physical performance showed better changes in executive function composite scores.
Research found that prolonged hypoxemia during the first 2-3 months after birth was associated with an increased risk of disability or death at 18 months in extremely preterm infants. The study also revealed that intermittent bradycardia did not significantly add to the risk of adverse outcomes.
A preclinical randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate a potential stroke therapy that had shown promise in one mouse model but not another. The study found that the treatment's success may depend on the type and severity of the stroke, suggesting improved clinical trial design could have mitigated this issue.
A randomized trial found that mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy resulted in greater improvement in self-reported PTSD symptom severity compared to present-centered group therapy. The study suggests that this type of intervention may be an acceptable alternative for veterans with poor adherence to existing treatments.
A simple nasal balloon procedure has been shown to be effective in reducing the impact of hearing loss in children with otitis media with effusion. The procedure involves autoinflation three times a day for 1 to 3 months, and has been found to improve middle-ear pressure and reduce symptoms in children aged 4 to 11 years.
Patients with COPD in remission showed improved lung function and quality of life after practicing Liuzijue qigong (LQG) for 6 months. The exercise program, combining meditation and walking, demonstrated marked benefits in mental health as well.
A review of 79 randomized trials involving 6,500 participants found moderate-quality evidence supporting the use of cannabinoids for chronic pain and lower-quality evidence for nausea and vomiting. However, the effectiveness of cannabis for other conditions remains unclear, with increased risk of adverse effects.
A recent study published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that statin therapy may reduce major complications after lung surgery. The study showed a significant reduction in postoperative complications, including pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis, but not in atrial fibrillation rates or inflammatory markers.
A clinical trial funded by the NCI will test the effectiveness of SmartQuit, a smoking-cessation smartphone app developed by Dr. Jonathan Bricker, against traditional quit-smoking programs. The trial, which involves over 1,600 adult smokers, aims to determine whether an ACT-based app is effective for smoking cessation.
The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care concludes that there is no clinically relevant evidence to withdraw nitrous oxide from clinical practice or procedural sedation. The debate focuses on the decline of its use over the last 15 years due to new, well-tolerated anaesthetic drugs and modern machines.
A meta-analysis of 38 studies found that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment for COPD may lower the risk of dying from pneumonia and other causes. The treatment also appears to decrease mortality risk when confounding factors are adjusted for.
A new study found that TAVI is safe and effective as a surgical alternative for selected lower-risk patients, with comparable outcomes at two years. The Nordic Aortic Valve Intervention (NOTION) trial showed no significant difference in mortality rates between TAVI and surgical valve replacement.
In a deadly, rapidly spreading infectious disease like Ebola, traditional randomized clinical trials may be inadequate. Alternative trial designs can provide useful information and are morally justifiable, says a new article in the American Journal of Bioethics.
A new study suggests that exercise training can reduce the risk of premature death in elderly individuals. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology study found that high-intensity training and moderate intensity training both showed promising results in improving fitness levels and reducing mortality rates.
Researchers argue that aneurysm screening programs should be revised due to reduced benefits and increased harm in modern populations. The screenings are estimated to overdiagnose AAA cases by 176 out of every 10,000 men invited.
A randomized trial assessing resident duty hour schedules in the ICU found that shorter hours may be less safe for patients and not associated with reduced fatigue. Longer shifts were linked to more severe symptoms of fatigue among residents. The study suggests trade-offs between residents' well-being and patient safety.
A large randomized trial in the US found that adding STAN to conventional intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring did not improve perinatal outcomes or decrease operative deliveries. The study's results highlight the need for caution when extrapolating results from studies outside the US.
Researchers evaluated 39 screening tests for 19 major diseases and found that only a few tests showed a reduction in disease-specific mortality. Screening for asymptomatic adults has been met with controversy, particularly regarding breast cancer and prostate cancer screening. The study suggests that expectations of major benefits from...
A self-directed walking programme in older people did not reduce incidence of falls, despite increasing mobility levels. Physical activity levels also rose, suggesting that exercise may be useful for overall health, particularly in those under 75.
A randomized clinical trial found intra-arterial treatment improved functional outcome by 71% over medical management with tPA alone. The study showed benefits for all ages, including the elderly, and demonstrated effectiveness up to 6 hours after stroke onset.
A health promotion program combining gym membership with trained health coaches significantly improves fitness and weight loss in people with serious mental illness. The In SHAPE program, a 12-month program, showed more than half of participants achieving clinically significant reductions in cardiovascular risk.
A Duke University study found that job candidates who share the minority partisan view of voters in a geographic district are less likely to receive a callback than those with neutral resumes. Employers appear not to favor majority-partisan views. The study suggests partisanship may play a role in hiring, but further research is needed.
A Swedish registry study suggests that beta blockers can improve survival in patients with HFPEF, which affects women more often than men and is characterized by an impaired ability to relax and fill with blood. The treatment difference persisted even after adjusting for various factors.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that personalized dietary advice based on a person's genetic makeup leads to better eating habits and significant reductions in sodium intake. The study, published in PLoS One, suggests that genetic testing can improve lifestyle changes by providing tailored food recommendations.
A recent study by Dr. Ahmed Dahir Mohamed found that Modafinil slowed down reaction times and impaired the ability to respond in a timely manner in healthy participants. The drug did not improve cognitive performance or enhance creativity, contrary to its marketed claims.
Combination therapy with vemurafenib and cobimetinib achieves greater progression-free survival and response rates than vemurafenib alone in BRAF-mutation positive melanoma. The study also shows a reduced incidence of skin-related side-effects with combination therapy.
A randomized trial found that IVUS-guidance significantly improved 12-month clinical outcomes after new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation, compared to conventional angiography-guided CTO intervention. The IVUS-CTO study showed lower rates of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target-vessel revascularization in the IVUS-...
A study of 307 patients with treatment-resistant MDD found that NeuroStar TMS Therapy induced significant response and remission, which were maintained through 52 weeks. At one year, 68% achieved symptomatic improvement and 45% reported complete remission.
A new randomized trial demonstrated that optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance during stent implantation in primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves patient outcomes. The OCT STEMI trial found lower area stenosis and fewer uncovered struts after nine months, indicating better long-term results.
The PARTNER I trial found that TAVR demonstrated persistent mortality benefits and improved functional status after five years compared to standard therapy. This is the first long-term analysis of the randomized PARTNER I trial, which initially showed TAVR as an accepted therapy for inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Researchers found that clinical practice guidelines for beta-blockers were adopted quickly despite later studies showing no difference in postoperative outcomes. The case study highlights the importance of critically evaluating guideline development processes to ensure reliable and safe medical practices.
A large multicentre trial found no significant improvement in IVF success rates for women who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy before further IVF treatment. The study suggests that endometrial scratching, not routine hysteroscopy, may be responsible for the previously reported improvements.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that providing hospitalized patients with addiction treatment during their stay and upon discharge significantly reduces the likelihood of relapse. Buprenorphine, an opioid substitute, was found to curb withdrawal symptoms and lead to fewer days of illicit drug use.
A new research approach could improve medical study recruitment by adjusting treatment odds based on early results. In a recent study, patients shown an explanation of the odds were more willing to participate, with 67% volunteering compared to 54% without such explanation.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have identified a vulnerability in Android's Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) feature, which weakens its security guarantees. The study reveals that performance optimization features can inadvertently harm the security of an otherwise vetted system.
Cryoprobes surpassed traditional forceps in collecting larger, higher-quality samples for diagnosing interstitial lung diseases. Larger multicenter trials are needed to confirm the benefits and safety profile of this technique.
An analysis of 600 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline recommendations found that 80% were retained at the next revision, while those not supported by multiple randomized studies were more likely to be downgraded. The study suggests the need for frequent re-evaluation of practices and policies based on g...
A daily 20-minute walk can significantly reduce the risk of mobility disability in older adults, with a 18% reduction observed in participants who engaged in physical activity. The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study found that maintaining mobility is key to functioning independently.
The EORTC will present nine abstracts at the ASCO 2014 Annual Meeting, highlighting significant findings in bladder cancer, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. The studies show improvements in progression-free survival for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer and adjuvant chemotherapy efficacy in melanoma.
A new study published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that low-dose anticoagulation therapy can be safely used with a newer generation mechanical heart valve. Patients under 65 years old who received this valve had significantly lower risk of bleeding without an increased incidence of thromboembolism.
A pilot study revealed that once-monthly NeuroStar TMS maintenance therapy induced remission in 61.2% of medication-free patients with Major Depressive Disorder after 6 weeks. At three months, 62.5% of these patients maintained response compared to 43.8% without maintenance treatment.
A systematic review of 31,085 deliveries found that induced labor is associated with a lower risk of cesarean delivery. Prostaglandin E2 is linked to significant reductions in cesarean risks.
Researchers found that almonds can help curb appetites, improve nutrient intake and reduce abdominal fat mass in adults. Snacking on almonds may be a weight-wise strategy depending on the foods consumed, with their nutrient profile supporting a healthy weight.
A study published in JAMA found that restricting blood transfusions reduces healthcare-associated infections by 18%, saving lives and costs. The research suggests that a more restrictive approach to transfusions could alleviate patient suffering and reduce hospital costs.
Depression patients showed characteristic path length and node attributes differences compared to healthy controls. An artificial neural network algorithm demonstrated the effectiveness of brain network metrics in machine learning research and clinical diagnosis of depression.
A web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention program was found to be ineffective in reducing the amount of alcohol consumed per episode or frequency of drinking among university students. However, it did show a modest reduction in alcohol consumption per typical drinking episode.
Approximately 25 percent of randomized clinical trials were discontinued between 2000 and 2003, mainly due to poor recruitment, with only 38 percent reported to research ethics committees. Discontinued trials were less likely to be published, especially those sponsored by industry.
A lack of evidence on effective de-escalation techniques has been identified by researchers, who are now calling for a randomized controlled trial to establish best methods. The NHS reports a rise in reported assaults, highlighting the need for research to identify the most successful approaches.
A 4-year follow-up study found that patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care units who require renal replacement therapy do not benefit from higher-intensity treatment. Albuminuria was common among survivors, indicating ongoing risk of chronic kidney disease and mortality.
A recent EORTC study found that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessments provide relevant information in small-cell lung cancer trials, even when treatment efficacy is similar. The study highlights the need for improved HRQOL reporting in randomized clinical trials to optimize their value.
A multicenter study found that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts significantly reduced the risk of peripheral artery disease. The study, published in JAMA, included over 7,400 participants and followed them for nearly five years.
A survey of 3,000 triathletes found a significant association between physical doping and brain doping, with 13.7% of men and 8.0% of women reported doping. The study also revealed that athletes who use legal performance-enhancing substances are more likely to engage in brain doping.
A unique study on Oregon's citizens found that adults covered by Medicaid use emergency rooms 40% more than those without health insurance. The research sheds light on the inner workings of healthcare in the US, challenging traditional economics frameworks suggesting that insurance would decrease medical care usage.
The NeoALTTO trial analyzed event-free and overall survival in patients with HER2-positive primary breast cancer. The study found improved pathologic complete response rates, which may translate to better long-term outcomes.
A randomized controlled trial found that surgical removal of the primary tumor and axillary lymph nodes did not improve overall survival in women with metastatic breast cancer. The study suggests that conventional wisdom may need to be revised for patients who have metastatic breast cancer.
A large systematic review found no link between vitamin D supplementation and reduced risk of acute and chronic diseases, casting doubt on its benefits. Decreases in vitamin D levels are likely a marker of deteriorating health rather than a cause of disease.
A randomized controlled trial found that early surgery for hip fractures in older adults can significantly reduce complications and improve outcomes. The study involved 60 patients aged 45 or older who received either accelerated care or standard care, with the former resulting in shorter wait times and improved surgical results.
Researchers found that lowering blood pressure within the first 48 hours after an acute ischemic stroke did not impact death and major disability outcomes. The study suggests individual clinical judgment should guide the decision to lower blood pressure in these patients.
The HYBRID trial found that combining minimally invasive CABG with percutaneous coronary intervention is feasible and safe for patients with multi-vessel disease. At one year, 89.8% of the hybrid group was free from major adverse cardiac events.
The TATORT-NSTEMI trial found that aspirating blood clots does not significantly reduce microvascular obstruction or the risk of death in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Standard PCI without thrombectomy was shown to be equally effective.