Research on the trials that test new treatments in patients. Covers trial design, respiratory and cancer trials, screening tools, and treatment breakthroughs.
Scientists have recruited over 20,000 volunteers to a resource aimed at accelerating dementia drug development. The cohort will enable healthy individuals with increased genetic risk to participate in clinical trials, allowing researchers to test new treatments before symptoms appear.
A clinical trial found that aficamten significantly increased maximum oxygen use in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This improvement enables patients to perform everyday tasks more easily, such as walking and household chores. Researchers believe aficamten has promise as a treatment for this condition.
A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that home blood pressure self-monitoring plus medication self-titration reduces BP in the longer term without increasing healthcare use or adverse events. This simple, inexpensive intervention has potential to improve long-term hypertension control in routine clinical practice.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are developing evidence-based mobile health interventions to treat substance use disorders. By leveraging smartphones, they aim to create highly tailored interventions delivered at the right time for individuals, reducing stigma and improving treatment outcomes.
A clinical trial found that adding Radix Salviae decoction to conventional treatment did not change coronary stenosis and restenosis rates after percutaneous coronary intervention. The diagnosis of MI/angina, average stent length, and ALT levels were associated with neostenosis occurrence.
A third Covid vaccine dose has been shown to improve defensive antibody responses in some clinically extremely vulnerable patients. The trial found that 90% of patients who received a booster dose developed significant antibodies, but more than half of those with low initial responses saw no improvement.
A new Cochrane review suggests that taking zinc may reduce the duration of common cold symptoms by around two days, but the evidence is not conclusive. Common side-effects include bowel problems, nausea, and unpleasant taste.
Researchers at UCSF used an AI model to analyze clinical notes and determine patient urgency, achieving an accuracy rate of 89% and surpassing human physician performance in 88% of cases. The study suggests AI could help alleviate ED overcrowding by providing backup decision-making tools for clinicians.
Substantial geographic disparities in cancer clinical trials availability exist in the US, with socially vulnerable counties facing significant limitations. The disparity has worsened over time, with these counties often having fewer trial options available.
A phase 1/2 trial of CRISPR gene editing has demonstrated safety and efficacy, with measurable improvements in 11 out of 14 participants with a form of inherited blindness. The treatment, EDIT-101, was found to be clinically meaningful for four participants and showed significant improvements in cone-mediated vision.
Jeffrey W. Moses, MD, is recognized for advancing the field of interventional cardiovascular medicine through technical excellence and leadership. Dr. Moses has performed over 20,000 interventional procedures and made significant contributions to clinical research and educational activities in interventional vascular therapy.
A head-mounted device generating an ultra-low frequency magnetic field has improved symptoms of four male patients with major depressive disorder. The study suggests that future trials may offer a safe and non-invasive way to treat depression.
A pioneering CRISPR gene editing trial has demonstrated significant improvement in vision for 79% of participants with inherited retinal degeneration. The study's findings support further research into the potential of CRISPR-based treatments for inherited blindness.
A clinical trial shows that cytisinicline can help people quit vaping by reducing the likelihood of relapse and improving behavioral support. The study found that participants taking cytisinicline were more than twice as likely to abstain from vaping for weeks 9-12 compared to those receiving a placebo.
The PSMAfore study found that 177Lu-PSMA-617 prolonged radiographic progression-free survival and improved PSA response rate compared to a change in ARPI. Treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 also increased objective response rate, regardless of prior treatment.
European clinical trials suggest that dequalinium chloride (DQC) may be a viable and well-tolerated treatment option for bacterial vaginosis, but more robust US studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness. The existing BV treatments in the US have limited success, with high recurrence rates after antibiotic therapy.
A new mRNA cancer vaccine has been shown to trigger a vigorous immune response in both human patients and pet dogs with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The breakthrough treatment, which uses a personalized approach and novel delivery mechanism, demonstrates promising results in early clinical trials.
Researchers found that metformin decreases the amount of COVID-19 virus in the body and lowers the chances of viral rebound. The study showed a significant reduction in long COVID cases and hospitalizations among adults treated with metformin.
Menopausal hormone therapy is appropriate to treat vasomotor symptoms in early menopause without contraindications. WHI evidence does not support routine supplementation with calcium plus vitamin D or a low-fat diet for preventing fractures and breast/colorectal cancer, respectively.
Researchers designed a new AI model that accurately predicts treatment outcomes for stroke prevention in people with heart disease. The model, called CURE, was trained on a massive dataset of de-identified patient information and fine-tuned to focus on specific health conditions and treatments.
The study, led by Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, aims to determine if fertilized ACL surgery enables athletes to return to play sooner. Patients will undergo various tests and assessments before, during, and after surgery.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found no association between new-onset seizures and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The study included over 118,000 participants from randomized clinical trials and found the incidence proportion of new-onset seizures to be similar across vaccine recipients and unvaccinated participants.
A commentary highlights the importance of including nursing home residents in clinical trials to address health equity concerns. The authors propose key elements for successful nursing home clinical trials and emphasize the benefits of conducting research in this setting.
Robert A. Harrington, MD, will be honored for his groundbreaking work in clinical research and clinical excellence. He has made extraordinary contributions to the field of interventional cardiology, transforming cardiovascular care through his pioneering research and mentorship.
A randomized clinical trial of 3,020 patients with high-risk nonmetastatic breast cancer found daily aspirin therapy had no effect on breast cancer recurrence or survival in early follow-up. Aspirin should not be recommended as an adjuvant breast cancer treatment despite its potential benefits and wide availability
A phase 1/2 trial found microarray patches to be safe and induce strong immune responses in children, with over 90% protected from measles. The method could help achieve high population immunity levels required to control childhood diseases.
Administration of antenatal corticosteroids to late preterm babies was not linked to increased risk of neurodevelopmental problems by age 6. Long-term follow-up study suggests the medication may be safe for these high-risk infants.
A phase 3 clinical trial found that 96.7% of patients did not experience severe vaso-occlusive crises, and all remained hospitalization-free for at least one year after receiving the gene therapy CASGEVY.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine conducted a phase I clinical trial using CAR T cells engineered to target the HER2 protein, which is overexpressed on sarcoma cells. The therapy showed safety and associated with clinical benefit, with improved CAR T expansion and persistence.
The Alzheimer's disease treatment landscape is experiencing a significant shift, with numerous potential drugs making their way through clinical trials. Biomarkers have also emerged as a key area of focus, providing valuable information on the drug's impact and allowing for more precise guidance in future trials.
The FDA has approved the use of N-803, an immunotherapy drug, in combination with BCG for treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who did not respond to conventional treatment. The approval is based on a trial led by UCLA's Dr. Karim Chamie, which showed improved outcomes and longer overall survival rates.
A randomized clinical trial found self-administered acupressure to be efficacious and cost-effective in reducing knee pain and improving mobility in middle-aged and older adults with probable osteoarthritis. The treatment also showed significant benefits in terms of quality of life.
A phase 3 trial shows that pembrolizumab significantly prolongs overall survival in high-risk kidney cancer patients. The treatment delays recurrences and helps patients live longer, with a 38% reduction in risk of death compared to placebo.
Researchers found that individuals from certain racial and ethnic groups are less likely to be eligible for Alzheimer's disease clinical trials due to lower amyloid levels at early stages of the disease. Amyloid buildup in the brain varies across different populations, contributing to underrepresentation in clinical trials.
The phase 2 study found an average increased growth rate of 1.8 cm per year in children with hypochondroplasia, a significant improvement over the baseline annualized growth velocity. The treatment was well-tolerated, and some patients showed excellent responses to vosoritide.
Researchers found that riociguat significantly improved blood pressure and reduced the risk of serious adverse events compared to a placebo treatment. The study showed promising results for this potential new treatment to manage complications from sickle cell disease, paving the way for larger clinical trials.
Researchers analyzed blood stem cells in mice with prior sepsis and found they were fully recovered but failed to respond to a second inflammatory stimulus, leading to inefficient immune cell production.
A new three-step prostate cancer screening method can detect aggressive cancers while minimizing the detection of insignificant ones. The study found that this approach reduces unnecessary diagnoses and may lead to improved mortality rates.
A study from the University of Gothenburg found that patient images are severely lacking in scientific articles on atopic dermatitis. This lack of visual aids hinders patients' ability to make informed decisions about their care, as they struggle to understand complex medical terminology and figures. The absence of images also affects ...
A phase I trial demonstrated AZD1390's manageable safety profile and preliminary efficacy in recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. The study showed improved overall survival, with a median of 12.7 months in patients who received higher doses of AZD1390.
A clinical trial found that a nasal spray called etripamil effectively and safely treated recurrent episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in patients. The study showed that two-thirds of participants experienced relief within an hour, with an average time needed for symptom relief being 17 minutes.
A 10-minute virtual reality session significantly lessened pain in hospitalized patients with cancer, with sustained benefits even a day later. The study found that VR sessions had a greater impact than guided imagery, improving not only pain severity but also related issues like general distress.
A systematic review of 41 randomized clinical trials suggests that late-stage cancer incidence can be a suitable alternative end point to cancer-specific mortality in some cancer types, but not others. This finding has implications for multicancer screening tests and may change the way these trials are designed.
A new study found that high-dose influenza vaccine significantly improved humoral response in patients with heart failure or prior myocardial infarction. Vaccination remains crucial in preventing influenza-related complications in high-risk populations.
A telephone-based strategy improved guideline-directed medical therapy rates for outpatients with heart failure by 30 days, offering a low-cost solution for rural settings with limited access to care. This study suggests the potential for expanded remote healthcare initiatives to address health disparities.
A new study found that combining pelvic floor exercises with behavioral therapy can be more effective than current medical treatments in helping men with frequent urges to urinate. The Bladder Emptying Disorder Therapy (BEST) Trial showed significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life measures after just 12 weeks.
Researchers found that withdrawing aspirin one month after PCI significantly reduced major and minor bleeding incidents by 55% compared to dual antiplatelet therapy. The study, ULTIMATE-DAPT, showed no increase in adverse ischemic events, suggesting continuing aspirin may cause harm without benefit.
The randomized clinical trial demonstrates plozasiran's potential to reduce triglyceride levels in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Additional studies are needed to determine its impact on complications associated with the condition.
A new approach to heart bypass surgery has been successfully tested, using non-invasive cardiac-CT scan images and AI-powered blood flow analysis. The trial showed a 99.1% feasibility rate, indicating that the procedure is safe and effective without invasive diagnostic catheterisation.
Most cancer drugs granted accelerated approval show no benefit in overall survival or quality of life within five years. Patients should be informed about the limited effectiveness of these drugs.
A new study found that inter-atrial shunts improve symptoms and outcomes in heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), but worsen outcomes in those with preserved LVEF. The device reduces high pressures in the left atrium, causing shortness of breath and hospitalizations.
A new oral vaccine for recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) has been shown to prevent infections in over half of participants for up to nine years. The MV140 vaccine was found to be safe and effective, with no notable side effects reported.
In a preliminary report from an ongoing clinical trial, prostate cancer screenings using PSA, Kallikrein Panel, and MRI detected higher rates of cancer compared to no screening. The study found one additional high-grade cancer per 196 men and one low-grade cancer per 909 men were detected in the screened group.
A randomized clinical trial found that PSA screening compared to no routine screening resulted in a small reduction in prostate cancer deaths after 15 years. The absolute reduction in deaths was modest, but the finding suggests potential benefits of PSA screening.
A simple blood test every five years is sufficient to screen low-risk men for prostate cancer, according to new research. Researchers found that only 0.13% of men with low PSA levels developed cancer after a decade.
A simple urine test can reduce the number of cystoscopies required to follow up high-risk bladder cancer patients by more than half. The test monitors for recurrence of bladder cancer by measuring levels of five target mRNAs and was found to be effective in picking up cancer recurrence before any disease was visible through a cystoscopy.
A handheld device developed by Osaka Metropolitan University's team can detect multiple bacterial species within an hour, including disease-causing E. coli and salmonella. The sensor uses organic metallic nanohybrids to distinguish electrochemical signals on the same screen-printed electrode chip.
Recent trials have shown that testing for tumour DNA in the blood can identify advanced bladder cancer patients who are less likely to relapse after surgery, allowing doctors to target treatments more effectively.
A large trial enrolling nearly 2,800 patients from five countries has clarified the situation for patients with larger metastases. The study found that leaving most of the lymph nodes intact resulted in similar recurrence rates as completion axillary dissection, but with fewer arm-related complications.
Global prostate cancer cases are projected to double from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040, with low- and middle-income countries seeing the highest increases. The number of annual deaths is predicted to rise by 85%, mainly in LMICs due to under-diagnosis.