Research on the trials that test new treatments in patients. Covers trial design, respiratory and cancer trials, screening tools, and treatment breakthroughs.
A randomized controlled trial found that calorie restriction slowed the pace of biological aging in healthy adults by 2-3%, measured using the DunedinPACE algorithm, which translates to a 10-15% reduction in mortality risk. The intervention had no effects on other epigenetic clocks.
A single injection of pegylated interferon lambda has been shown to effectively treat early-stage COVID-19, reducing the need for hospitalization and emergency room visits. The treatment has also been found to work on all variants of the virus, making it a potential pan-virus intervention.
Researchers investigated the effects of everolimus on the STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in TP53 mutant cell lines and xenograft models. Everolimus treatment significantly inhibited cell growth and reduced tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Researchers at Aston University have discovered a new approach to process LDF light signals, allowing for more precise measurement of blood flow in specific areas of the vascular bed. This innovation has shown significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy for detecting microvascular changes in patients with type 2 diabetes and age-spe...
A single-dose of the antiviral drug peginterferon lambda reduced the risk of hospitalization or Emergency Department visit due to COVID-19 by half in high-risk patients. The treatment was effective across different variants of concern, including Omicron, and showed minimal side effects.
A phase 3 clinical trial of nearly 700 patients with early-stage lung cancer found that sublobar resection surgery, removing part of the affected lobe, was as effective as traditional lobectomy in terms of disease-free and overall survival. Patients who underwent sublobar resection also showed modestly better lung function.
A Phase 2 clinical trial found that patients with notalgia paresthetica experienced a significant reduction in itch intensity after taking oral difelikefalin. The medication, currently approved for chronic kidney disease, has the potential to become the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for this condition.
The grant aims to eliminate barriers and facilitate access to early phase cancer clinical trials for medically underserved communities. Researchers will develop and implement a multilevel program to improve referrals and enrollment, exploring the impact of remote clinical trials on enhancing diversity in trials.
The American Heart Association is recognizing 10 leading stroke scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of stroke research. Among them, Dr. Cheryl Bushnell will be honored with the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award for her exceptional mentorship and research in women's issues related to str...
The Alzheimer's Association redefines clinical meaningfulness, finding modest yet significant benefits from approved treatments that expand over time. Combination therapies are expected to provide more substantial benefits moving forward.
The work group reframed what is clinically meaningful to slow Alzheimer's disease progression, including the need for combination therapies and realistic expectations of benefits and risks. Slowing brain deterioration by four to six months in early stages may preserve function, leading to meaningful outcomes for patients and families.
A systematic review found that higher vitamin D intake was associated with a 15% decreased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes. Inexpensive vitamin D supplementation could delay the development of diabetes in over 10 million people worldwide.
An updated Cochrane review found no effect of vitamin D supplements on reducing the risk of asthma attacks or improving control of asthma symptoms in children and adults. The review analyzed data from 20 randomized controlled trials involving over 2,200 people with mild to moderate asthma.
A large Dutch study found that the BCG vaccine does not protect elderly people with co-morbidities against COVID-19 symptoms. The study analyzed 6,112 participants and showed no difference in disease manifestations or hospitalizations between those who received the vaccine and those who received a placebo.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation are conducting a double-blind randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of their strategy-based cognitive training program on new learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The study aims to assess the efficacy of this protocol, which is based on the KF-STEM protocol.
A new study found that women with pre-pregnancy migraine had greater risks of preterm delivery, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. Migraine with aura was associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia than without aura.
The SWOG S1416 clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of PARP inhibitor veliparib in patients with triple-negative breast cancer and a 'BRCA-like' phenotype. Patients treated with veliparib experienced longer progression-free survival times compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone, with median PFS of 5.9 months versus 4.2 months.
Researchers analyzed tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, revealing two major defects that inhibit immune response. The study suggests a new approach using anti-CD137 agonist antibody treatment in combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy to activate T cells.
A phase 2 clinical trial combining immunotherapy and targeted therapy showed a 24.3% confirmed response rate and 5-month median progression-free survival among patients with BRAF V600 mutations. The treatment also demonstrated increased durability, with 57% of patients remaining on treatment for more than 6 months.
A personalized brain modeling approach is being tested in a large-scale clinical trial for drug-resistant epilepsy, aiming to improve surgery preparation and patient specificity. The technique uses virtual models of patients' brains to simulate abnormal activity during seizures, helping clinicians identify target areas more effectively.
Researchers developed a translational step forward in treating brain tumors using intraventricular immunovirotherapy, which has shown safety and efficacy in recent clinical trials. This approach uses oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 to target high-grade glioma with promising results.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that monoclonal antibody CIS43LS provided high levels of protection against controlled human malaria infection. The study's findings suggest that this treatment could be a potential game changer for deploying monoclonal antibody therapies in African countries.
Researchers seek to reduce medical errors among patients with limited English proficiency by implementing three different translation approaches. The goal is to compare the effectiveness of telephone interpreter-based and in-person interpreter-assisted communication in reducing errors.
A new COVID-19 vaccine has been tested in humans, showing a good immune response and few side effects. The effectiveness of the vaccine is currently being investigated, but initial results suggest it could provide long-lasting immunity.
A Michigan Medicine study found that hospitals with the highest stroke care designation reported significantly higher rates of stroke detection after TAVR. The study suggests that comprehensive stroke centers are better at detecting smaller strokes, but this does not necessarily mean they are finding more strokes overall.
A new model called 'The Trust Circle' was developed to increase recruitment of AI/AN populations into clinical trials. The model takes into account the trust between trial participants, researchers, and community leaders, with physicians and ministers playing a key role in promoting trust.
A new study shows that Medasense's NOL monitoring during major abdominal surgery can significantly reduce the proportion of patients with severe post-operative pain. The study found that intraoperative opioid dosing based on the NOL index reduced PACU pain scores by a median of 1.5 points at 90 minutes post-surgery. This technology use...
The COVID-19 Prevention Network's coordinated approach to Phase 3 clinical trials has yielded a comprehensive database of trial participants' data. This dataset will help researchers address pressing questions about SARS-CoV-2 and inform future vaccine development.
A phase 3 trial found that adding nab-paclitaxel to a standard gemcitabine plus cisplatin regimen did not significantly extend median overall survival for patients with advanced biliary tract cancers, but provided benefits for subsets of patients. The treatment also showed improved response rates and progression-free survival times.
A controlled clinical trial has shown that the new drug leriglitazone can prevent neurodegeneration and brain inflammation in patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. The study found improvements in neurological conditions such as balance disorders, which had a positive impact on quality of life.
Researchers found that certain gene signaling pathways, such as interferon γ and beta-catenin, can lead to tumor hyperprogression after immunotherapy. Targeting these pathways may prevent hyperprogression in preclinical models.
A Cancer Research UK-funded clinical trial found that chemotherapy before surgery reduces the chance of colon cancer returning within 2 years by 28%. The study involved 1,053 patients and showed significant benefits in terms of preventing cancer recurrence.
A Phase 3 clinical trial testing an experimental HIV vaccine regimen found the treatment to be safe but ineffective in preventing HIV acquisition. The trial involved over 3,900 volunteers and concluded that the number of HIV infections were equivalent between the vaccine and placebo arms.
A new personalized treatment for bile duct cancer has shown remarkable results, with patients surviving for up to two years when treated with the drug futibatinib. The Phase II clinical trial found that the drug was more effective at reducing tumor size and producing modest side effects compared to chemotherapy.
A new clinical trial of over 12,000 patients found that inexpensive aspirin is just as effective as injectable blood thinners in preventing life-threatening blood clots and other complications. The study suggests that surgeons may change their practice to administer aspirin to patients hospitalized with bone fractures.
Researchers analyzed data from the VITAL trial and found that vitamin D supplementation increased biomarkers associated with vitamin D metabolism in people, regardless of their weight. However, these increases were significantly smaller in people with elevated BMIs, suggesting a blunted response to supplementation.
A new prostate cancer therapy is being tested in clinical trials, targeting the treatment-resistant form of the disease. The therapy uses a drug called Abivertinib to block a specific protein that allows tumors to produce androgens, a goal of using more targeted treatments like TKIs.
A large clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health found that two widely used diuretics, furosemide and torsemide, did not differ in improving patient survival when compared. The study suggests a need for better treatments for heart failure patients and highlights the importance of optimizing diuretic doses to improv...
Researchers found that a pro-oxidant mixture of resveratrol and copper can inactivate cell-free chromatin particles, reducing chemotherapy toxicity. The treatment also showed promise in preventing aging and sepsis.
A new study involving Huma's clinical trial platform showed that participants had a positive experience using the app to report measurements and symptoms. The study found sustained levels of engagement over 6 months, with only 2.5% of participants withdrawing.
A randomized clinical trial of 1,288 adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 found that fluvoxamine treatment did not reduce time to sustained recovery compared to placebo. The study suggests that fluvoxamine at a dose and duration tested may not be beneficial in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
A new study found that MRI-guided radiotherapy is more effective than CT-guided therapy in reducing side effects and improving quality of life for patients with localized prostate cancer. The trial involved 154 patients, who experienced fewer toxicities and better outcomes when treated with MRI guidance.
A phase 2 clinical trial using boiled peanuts followed by roasted peanuts showed promising results in desensitizing 80% of children with peanut allergies. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 61% participants.
A clinical trial found that boiling peanuts for up to 12 hours can desensitize children with peanut allergies. The therapy involved sequential doses of boiled and roasted peanuts, achieving high success rates in participants. While promising, the study's findings require confirmation in larger trials.
A school-based gardening, nutrition, and cooking intervention improved glucose control and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in high-risk youth. Elementary schools can incorporate garden-based interventions to improve metabolic parameters in children.
A study from Japan found that variations in psychiatric diagnoses across different cultures can affect the efficacy of antipsychotics in clinical trials. Researchers analyzed data from 28 double-blind randomized trials and found that psychotic features were associated with varying therapeutic responses to antipsychotic medications.
A study published in Journal of Hepatology found that efficient priming of HBV-specific CD4 T cells is crucial for the success of therapeutic hepatitis B vaccination. The researchers developed a novel heterologous prime-boost vaccine, TherVacB, which induced antiviral efficacy in preclinical mouse models.
Internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy shows promise in expanding care for underserved children with developmental delay. The study found significant improvements in child behavior that were maintained across follow-up visits.
In a Phase I clinical trial, afami-cel achieved an objective response rate of 44% in patients with synovial sarcoma and 24% across all cancer types. The therapy demonstrated manageable toxicity and early activity in other cancer types, suggesting potential for solid tumors.
A new USC study found that the buildup of amyloid beta protein in the brain is not directly linked to Alzheimer's disease, but rather a general change associated with aging. Researchers discovered higher levels of soluble Aβ protein in healthy brains, while insoluble fibrillary amyloid was more closely tied to poor brain health.
The EMBRACE-I study demonstrated the superiority of personalized brachytherapy in treating locally advanced cervical cancer. A targeted approach using magnetic resonance imaging-defined tumor volume resulted in a high tumor control rate and low risk of recurrence.
A new study found that measuring activation of immune-system B cells may be better than measuring either T-cell activation or total number of immune cells in and around a tumor. The findings suggest that six signatures of immune cell gene activation from B cells were associated with higher elimination rates and better survival outcomes.
The American Psychiatric Association's January journal issues focus on childhood- and neurodevelopment-related psychiatric disorders. A study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry explores how brain scans predict treatment response to psychotherapy for OCD.
A new biomarker test, called BD-tau, can detect Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration in blood samples with high accuracy. The test outperforms current methods and correlates well with CSF biomarkers, providing a valuable tool for improved diagnosis and clinical trial design.
A randomized clinical trial found that climate impact menu labels can effectively reduce red meat selections and encourage more environmentally sustainable restaurant food choices. The study suggests that negatively framed labels highlighting high-climate impact items were particularly effective in promoting eco-friendly options.
A randomized trial shows that patients undergoing partial knee arthroplasty (UKA) experience faster functional recovery in walking speed and mobility tests compared to those who had total knee arthroplasty (TKA). UKA also resulted in shorter operative times, reduced blood loss, and improved functional outcomes.
Researchers found that plasma GH levels are a potential biomarker for predicting treatment outcomes in patients with advanced HCC treated with Atezo/Bev. The study showed significantly superior overall survival and non-significant trend in favor of GH-low patients compared to GH-high patients.
Dupilumab, an FDA-approved medication, offers new hope for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, a rising condition in the US. The treatment reduces eosinophil counts and improves symptoms of dysphagia, leading to better endoscopic healing and histologic severity improvements.
A systematic review and network meta-analysis found that acupressure has a greater effect on reducing sleep disturbance in patients with cancer. The study suggests that nurses should be trained in acupressure to help patients experiencing sleep problems. The analysis included 24 randomized controlled trials involving 2,002 patients.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found that all U.S. OB-GYN subspecialties lack racial and ethnic representation in clinical trials and research publications. This absence has negative consequences, including biased tools for diagnosing endometrial cancer and unacceptably low sensitivity in the Black female population.