Research on the trials that test new treatments in patients. Covers trial design, respiratory and cancer trials, screening tools, and treatment breakthroughs.
Stepped wedge cluster randomized trials offer statistical power, incentivized recruitment, and staggered resource allocation. However, challenges include time-sensitive recruitment, retention issues, and the Hawthorne effect.
A study published in AJR found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination-induced axillary lymphadenopathy resolves after a mean of 97 days. Longer resolution times were observed with Moderna vaccination, receipt of second doses, and thicker cortical thickness at presentation.
A multi-center study evaluates the Alleviant System, a transcatheter technology that reduces pressure in the left atrium without implantation. The device demonstrates procedural safety and feasibility, with promising efficacy signals through six months.
A one-year study validated the Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) system's safety and efficacy in treating congenital heart disease patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation. The study showed favorable clinical and hemodynamic outcomes, including low mortality rates and minimal interventions.
A randomized clinical trial found that a specific probiotic supplement accelerated the maturation of the microbiome in extremely preterm infants, leading to reduced intestinal inflammation and improved feeding tolerance. The study also showed potential benefits for reducing the risk of food allergies in these vulnerable infants.
The Disrupt PAD III trial found intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) to be effective in treating severely calcified peripheral artery lesions, with high patency rates compared to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). IVL also showed reduced severe complications and need for additional interventions.
A new weight-loss intervention has been developed to target the instinctive desire to eat, particularly in individuals who struggle with resisting food cues. The Regulation of Cues program trains individuals to use natural hunger cues, reinforces tolerance of cravings, and inhibits urges to eat palatable foods when not physically hungry.
A multicenter trial found that brensocatib did not reduce clinical deterioration or mortality in severe COVID-19 patients. However, a sub-study revealed an anti-inflammatory effect of DPP1 inhibition on neutrophil protease enzymes, which may be beneficial for treating bronchiectasis.
The HIV Vaccine Trials Network is launching a new registry to connect people interested in supporting HIV vaccine research with clinical trials in their communities. The 'Help End HIV' campaign aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for HIV clinical trial volunteers, particularly among young people.
A new mathematical model predicts the efficacy of phage therapy against pathogenic bacteria, highlighting key parameters for effective treatment. The model incorporates data on bacteriophage interactions with the immune system and suggests optimizing administration routes to improve outcomes.
The substudy of the ADVOCATE trial found avacopan reduced glucocorticoid use by 86% in ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with respiratory and ENT involvement, while also showing superiority in remission compared to prednisone.
This study analyzed supportive evidence for FDA approvals of 49 novel drugs in 2020. The study's findings provide insight into the key design characteristics of pivotal trials supporting these drug approvals.
A global study found a combination of two drugs dramatically reduces the chances of suffering an asthma attack. The combination of albuterol and budesonide lowers the number of sudden episodes of shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing in patients.
A clinical trial found that robotic surgery for bladder cancer removal and reconstruction significantly reduced recovery time, hospital stays, and readmissions. The study showed a 77% reduction in blood clots and improved physical activity and quality of life for patients.
A new study has found that robotic surgery reduces the chance of readmission by half and reveals a four-fold reduction in blood clots compared to open surgery. Patients also experience increased physical activity, stamina, and quality of life.
A randomized clinical trial found that expanding common medical abbreviations increased overall comprehension, suggesting automated expansion can enhance patient understanding of their health information. Researchers observed significant improvements in patient comprehension after the expansion of 10 common medical abbreviations.
A new lymphoma treatment, zanubrutinib, has been found to be effective in 80% of patients with marginal zone lymphoma, resulting in significant cancer shrinkage. However, its impact on follicular lymphoma is less pronounced.
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) announced that TVT: The Structural Heart Summit will feature 12 studies as Late-Breaking Clinical Science and Featured Clinical Research. These studies highlight advances in transcatheter aortic valve replacement, mitral, tricuspid, and left atrial appendage occlusion therapies.
Researchers are developing a novel MRI nanotechnology that targets specific markers in solid tumours, including high-grade brain cancers. The new imaging technology has shown promising preclinical results and is set to be tested in a first-in-human clinical trial.
Researchers found that targeting both tumor and lymph node microenvironments with nanomedicine improves treatment response for metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Long-term tumor remission was achieved in mice models using nanoparticles to deliver immune-modulating drugs.
A combination of aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises alongside personalized nutritional counselling reduced mobility disability by 22% over three years. The intervention also improved physical performance and reduced muscle loss in older adults.
A systematic review and meta-analysis compared traditional strength training with power training for improving physical function in older adults. Power training showed similar benefits to strength training in terms of muscle power and functional ability.
The TVT 2022 program features cutting-edge research on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and other structural heart therapies. The meeting will focus on patient evaluation, imaging modalities, and therapeutic options.
A mailed at-home disposal kit increased self-reported rates of disposal of unused opioids after common surgical procedures. The study found that patients who received the kit reported a higher rate of opioid disposal compared to those without access to such kits.
The NIH has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate an investigational preventative vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The study aims to assess the safety and immune response of the EBV gp350-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine with a saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant.
Scientists discovered that intermittent dosing of PI3Kδ inhibitors can reduce toxicity while maintaining anti-tumor immunity in patients with head and neck cancers. This finding holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and saving lives.
The S1216 study showed an unprecedented median OS of 70 months in the control arm, outperforming previous results by 24 months. This extended survival was attributed to additional life-prolonging treatments patients received after completing the trial therapy.
A new type of cardiac defibrillator implanted under the skin has been found to significantly reduce patient complications, including lead-related complications and blood clotting. The subcutaneous ICD has shown promising results with an average age of patients included in the study ranging from 18 to 60 years old.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treating even mild forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for both mother and developing baby. The study's results demonstrated a significant decrease in pregnancy complications, including severe preeclampsia and preterm births.
The NIH-funded study will enroll 1,050 patients with periodontitis to collect data on the efficacy of antibiotics in treating the condition. The goal is to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines and advance oral health, particularly given the critical need to reduce antibiotic misuse and combat superbugs.
The study compares current recommendations for ventilation and chest compression versus ventilation during neonatal resuscitation using an ovine model. The findings suggest that optimizing ventilation could reduce the need for chest compressions and improve gas exchange in neonates, potentially improving overall outcomes.
Researchers have engineered a tiny living heart chamber replica to study disease progression and test new treatments. The miniPUMP device mimics the real organ's mechanics, allowing for accurate tracking of how the heart grows in embryos and studying the impact of disease.
Researchers investigated the use of intranasal human milk as a stem cell therapy for preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage. The study found that preterm infants could tolerate nasal milk therapy without major safety events, paving the way for further research on long-term outcomes.
A UCLA-led team found that an abnormally suppressed immune system, not a persistently hyperactive one, may be to blame for some cases of long COVID-19. The study suggests boosting immunity in those individuals could be a treatment option.
A randomized clinical trial found that outreach messages were minimally effective at promoting scheduling of adolescent well care visits, but had limited impact on completing visits. Efforts to address widening disparities are needed.
Researchers found no evidence that early selective treatment with ibuprofen reduces death or moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extreme preterm infants. However, treatment reduced the risk of an open patent ductus arteriosus and surgical treatment for a symptomatic PDA.
A surgically implanted device has been found to safely and effectively reduce sleep apnea in adolescents with Down syndrome, with significant improvements in daily functioning, behavior, and language. The device, called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator, was tested in a phase I clinical trial and showed promising results.
A new University of Gothenburg study has found that a drug treatment can reduce the frequency of breathing pauses in sleep apnea by an average of over 20 per hour. The treatment, which involves carbonic anhydrase inhibition, showed promising results with minimal side effects.
A new cell therapy has shown promising results in slowing the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder. The treatment uses heart cells to improve skeletal muscle and heart function, offering a potential cure for advanced disease cases.
Researchers at MD Anderson have made significant advancements in treating neuroendocrine tumors with combination therapy, identified consensus subtypes for hepatocellular carcinoma to improve treatment selection, and found a targetable vulnerability in urothelial cancer due to MTAP loss.
A new study published in PLOS ONE finds that high and very high cardiovascular risk are associated with depressive symptoms, especially in women. The researchers used data from a Mediterranean Diet trial and found that participants with higher cardiovascular risk had lower depressive status scores after following the diet.
The ATS 2022 International Conference features extensive programming on the latest advances in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. The conference will also provide access to on-demand recordings of sessions.
A phase I clinical trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a novel adeno-associated viral vector-based treatment for HIV, producing measurable amounts of a broadly neutralizing antibody. The treatment showed wide-ranging clinical implications for potentially preventing or treating HIV and other infections.
Researchers found that combining durvalumab with novel agents like oleclumab and monalizumab increased major pathological response rates compared to solo durvalumab. The study also identified key immune cell signatures associated with treatment outcomes.
Researchers developed innovative smart sensors to test new vaccines, revealing significant discrepancies between subjective self-reports and objective measurements. The study found that side effects escalate over the first 48 hours and then stabilize, with parameters returning to pre-vaccination levels.
The CodeBreaK 100 trial demonstrated prolonged tumor responses and favorable safety profiles in patients treated with sotorasib. Long-term treatment was well-tolerated, with a two-year overall survival rate of 32.5%.
A new study found that less than half of clinical trials reported race/ethnicity data, with minorities underrepresented despite efforts to increase diversity. Industry-funded studies had the greatest gaps in enrolling minority participants.
City of Hope researchers present new developments in cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia and non-small cell lung cancer. A novel smoking cessation program increases patient desire to quit with personalized counseling.
Researchers found that industry-sponsored clinical trials neglect to cite previous trials by up to 30%, while non-industry-funded trials do so at a rate of 20%. This omission may lead to redundant or less impactful research. The authors call for complete and impartial citation of prior studies in trial protocols.
A randomized clinical trial found that participants treated at non-stigmatizing 'accessible care' centers were nearly three times more likely to be cured of hepatitis C than those referred out to local clinicians. The study suggests that expanding and supporting accessible care models could help eliminate the disease.
A randomized trial by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that pulse oximeters did not change outcomes for patients with COVID-19 in a remote monitoring program. The study enrolled over 2,000 patients and found no statistical difference in the average number of days patients spent alive and out of the hospital.
The study found that TAVR resulted in significantly less structural valve deterioration after five years compared to SAVR. Patients with structural valve deterioration were at about twice the risk of death or rehospitalization as those without, highlighting the benefits of TAVR in reducing mortality and hospitalization risks.
A study found that implantable heart monitors do not reduce cardiovascular events overall, but patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) heart attacks saw strong benefits. Monitoring for abnormal heart rhythms may help guide care for NSTEMI patients.
A recent clinical trial has shown that sodium thiosulfate does not reduce injury to damaged areas of heart muscle following a heart attack. Despite promising results in animal studies, the trial did not meet its primary endpoint or show significant differences in secondary endpoints.
A global trial found that people with heart failure who received an annual flu shot had lower rates of pneumonia and hospitalization on a year-round basis. The study also revealed significant reductions in major cardiovascular events during peak flu season.
Researchers found that SLN360, an experimental siRNA therapy, significantly reduced blood levels of lipoprotein(a), a lesser-known driver of heart disease risk. Participants who received higher doses saw their lipoprotein(a) levels drop by up to 98% and remained lower even after five months.
A study of 806 patients with heart failure found that reducing sodium intake improved symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, and coughing. However, it had no effect on rates of death, hospitalization, or emergency department visits. The researchers recommend a lower sodium intake limit for heart failure patients.
The COVID-19 Variant Immunologic Landscape (COVAIL) trial aims to understand the immune responses to various additional COVID-19 booster shots and prototype vaccines. The study is being conducted to inform booster shot recommendations and protect against future variants.
The ATHENA-MONO trial shows significant improvements in progression-free survival for patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with Rubraca as maintenance therapy. Benefit was observed across all patients, including those with homologous recombination deficiency and BRCA mutant tumors.
The NCCN Annual Conference focuses on the cancer patient journey, featuring state-of-the-art practice algorithms, updates to clinical guidelines, and new therapies. Leading experts present treatment recommendations for various cancer types, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancer.