Research on the trials that test new treatments in patients. Covers trial design, respiratory and cancer trials, screening tools, and treatment breakthroughs.
A randomized clinical trial examined how users interpret instructions and results from at-home tests, affecting quarantine decisions. The study found that many users misinterpret test results or do not follow recommended quarantine protocols.
A Dartmouth study reveals that consumers using at-home COVID-19 self tests may misinterpret the implications of their test results, leading to either unnecessary or inadequate quarantine. The study suggests that individuals at high risk for infection should still quarantine after a negative test result.
A clinical trial found that combining remdesivir with hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin did not improve health status or safety for adults hospitalized with COVID-19. The trial also showed a higher risk of adverse outcomes among patients who generated SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies before treatment.
A new care pathway has been shown to reduce long-term pain and improve quality of life for people after knee replacement surgery. The STAR care pathway is cost-effective and could potentially save the NHS up to £14 million per year.
A recent study found that adding a booster dose of any COVID-19 vaccine to fully vaccinated adults elicits an immune response and is safe. The trial, sponsored by the NIAID, used 458 adults who received a full regimen of any EUA or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that resuming non-contact physical activity 72 hours after a concussion is safe for children and youth. The study, which involved 456 participants, showed that early return to physical activity can reduce symptoms and delayed recovery.
A review of 392 clinical trials found increased representation of diverse groups in dermatology trials for common skin conditions. The study also highlighted persistent disparities in clinical trial participation among underrepresented populations.
A novel technique transplants patient fat into the sole to reduce plantar fasciitis symptoms, improving quality of life and sports activities. The study laid groundwork for a larger clinical trial with promising results.
The Epstein Family Foundation has donated $50 million to USC and UC San Diego to accelerate Alzheimer's research and discover effective therapies for the disease. The collaboration aims to compress study design, patient recruitment, and clinical trials to expedite the discovery of better treatments and a cure.
A Children's Hospital Colorado study explores a neuromuscular training intervention to reduce injury risk in athletes returning from sports-related concussions. The research found that athletes who completed the 8-week training program had a significantly lower risk of time-loss injuries compared to those who did not participate.
The NRG-RTOG 1010 clinical trial found that adding trastuzumab to chemoradiation and surgery did not improve disease-free survival for HER2-positive esophageal adenocarcinoma patients. Despite this, the study highlights future research opportunities to explore combining trastuzumab with other HER2-targeting agents.
Sophie Paczesny's research aims to validate biomarker panels that help doctors predict chronic GVHD risk and adjust immune suppression treatments accordingly. The study uses machine learning algorithms to analyze stored plasma and blood cell samples from over 1,300 BMT recipients.
The NIH is awarding $170 million to clinics and centers for a precision nutrition study that will develop algorithms to predict individual responses to food and dietary routines. The Nutrition for Precision Health study will recruit 10,000 participants from the All of Us Research Program.
A study published in Science Advances found that cannabidiol (CBD) inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection in human cells and mice, suggesting its potential as a preventative or early treatment for COVID-19. CBD's effects were confined to high purity doses and specific situations.
A new review and meta-analysis found that drug companies are increasingly disclosing negative study findings for antidepressants. While progress has been made, full transparency remains an issue, with researchers emphasizing the need to report all trial results, both positive and negative, to inform patient treatment.
A recent clinical trial conducted by Prof. Alexandra Durr's team found that riluzole does not improve symptoms in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, but provided valuable biomarkers for future trials. The study involved 45 patients and revealed a good tolerance and absence of adverse effects.
A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Oncology reveals that men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer experience improved overall survival with the addition of hormone therapy to radiotherapy. The study found prolonged adjuvant hormone therapy benefits men, while neoadjuvant hormone therapy did not.
CERC-002, a cytokine neutralizer, has been shown to improve survival rates by 83.9% among hospitalized COVID patients compared to 64.5% with placebo. The treatment targets the immune response early on, preventing disease progression.
Researchers at West Virginia University are investigating the link between chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease using animal models. They aim to understand how xanthine oxidase may sabotage brain blood vessels in Alzheimer's patients, and explore whether a medication can block this pathway to keep the brain healthy.
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) will host THT 2022 from February 1-2, 2022. The conference features new and emerging treatments for heart failure, including transcatheter approaches and innovative monitoring strategies.
The Rare Disease COA Consortium aims to optimize COA selection during medical product development for rare diseases. The consortium will identify and describe potentially fit-for-purpose publicly available COAs, reducing the time and cost associated with developing new ones.
A clinical trial found that people with severe alcohol disorder stayed off alcohol for longer when treated with low doses of ketamine combined with psychological therapy. The therapy showed promise in preventing relapse and improving liver function, with participants having lower depression rates after three months.
The NRG Oncology GOG 0261 trial demonstrated that paclitaxel and carboplatin is a non-inferior alternative to paclitaxel and ifosfamide for treating women with uterine carcinosarcoma. This regimen offers improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared to the current standard of care.
The first-in-human trial of CAR-M cell therapy demonstrated that engineered macrophages can target and alter the solid tumor microenvironment, altering the composition of myeloid cells and T-cells. This innovative immunotherapy offers a promising new strategy in the fight against cancer.
A new graft strategy has reduced chronic graft-versus-host disease in leukemia patients by depleting naïve T cells from donor blood. The approach has shown promising results, with only 7% of patients developing chronic GVHD compared to 30-60% with standard treatment.
A registry study found that people with inflammatory RMDs, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, tolerate their COVID vaccine well, with short-lived reactions being the most common side effect. The majority of participants were able to continue on their normal medication with no changes.
A phase III trial demonstrated that combining Eltrombopag with standard immunosuppression increases response rates and reduces time to first response in patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia. The treatment was found to be safe and well-tolerated, with improved event-free survival.
The combination of relatlimab and nivolumab doubled progression-free survival benefit compared to nivolumab alone, with significant benefits across pre-specified subgroups. The treatment was associated with a lower risk of disease progression or death.
Aspirin use in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease should be individualized based on benefit-to-risk assessment, not age. The authors' updated meta-analysis shows a 13% reduction in cardiovascular disease with similar benefits at older ages.
A clinical trial will test a treatment strategy using a lightweight, wearable robotic device that provides neuromuscular training and makes walking easier for children with cerebral palsy. The study aims to establish fundamental knowledge on adaptive ankle interventions to treat walking impairment relative to standard of care.
The study combined seven randomized clinical trials with 8,000 patients to compare overall and treatment-specific outcomes of Black and white men with localized prostate cancer who received radiation therapy. The results showed that there were significant racial disparities in response to radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
A phase 3 trial has shown that one dose of the Ad5-nCoV COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective against severe disease, with an efficacy rate of 91.7% at 28 days post-vaccination. The vaccine has also been found to be safe, with no serious vaccine-related adverse events or deaths reported among trial participants.
Researchers have developed a new statistical toolkit using the fragility index to determine if clinical trial results are strong and reliable. The new method has been shown to be more flexible than previous versions, allowing researchers to test assumptions and consider implications of a wider range of outcomes.
A recent China-wide study investigated the effect of general versus regional anesthesia on post-operative delirium in older adults undergoing hip fracture surgery. The results showed no significant difference in delirium incidence between the two groups, contradicting previous assumptions.
A new post-surgery approach for treating HPV-related throat cancer uses low-dose radiation and spares the majority of patients from chemotherapy. The trial found high survival rates and quality of life in patients at medium risk for recurrence.
A clinical trial of 18,353 adults found no benefit of omega-3 supplements in preventing depression. The study, led by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, tested the effect of daily vitamin D and/or omega-3 supplements on depression risk over a median of 5.3 years.
A new clinical trial is enrolling young people with rare genetic mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The study will test gantenerumab to prevent the buildup of toxic protein amyloid beta, which can slow or stop the disease.
Researchers found that mRNA vaccines were highly effective (86%) in preventing SARS-CoV-2-related deaths among vaccinated individuals, especially in the elderly population. However, vaccine effectiveness against infection was lower (69%) and decreased with increasing age and comorbidity burden.
A Phase II trial will investigate a prime-boost regimen using two different COVID-19 vaccines, with the goal of expanding access to vaccines in Africa. The study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a mixed schedule of COVID-19 vaccines.
A pilot study by Kessler Foundation found that methylphenidate improved 'state' mental fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis, but had no effect on 'trait' fatigue. The study suggests an important role for dopamine in MS-related mental fatigue.
A phase 1/2 clinical trial tested an L-NMMA and taxane combination in patients with chemoresistant TNBC, showing a remodeling of the immune environment in responders. The study's results warrant further investigation in larger trials to identify potential biomarkers for predicting response.
A recent study published in JNCCN found that 33 out of 81 studies lacked transparency on censoring, which can introduce bias and affect trial results. The researchers emphasize the need for improved transparency and reporting in clinical trials to ensure patients and clinicians make informed decisions.
The KEYNOTE-811 trial demonstrates a significant improvement in objective response rate (74.4%) and tumor size reduction compared to trastuzumab and chemotherapy. The combination of pembrolizumab, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy markedly reduces tumor size and induces complete responses in some patients.
A small clinical trial found that high-pressure hyperbaric oxygen treatment resolved severe COVID-19 breathing difficulties faster than standard therapy, with significant improvements in oxygen saturation and reduced risk of complications. However, further larger trials are needed to confirm the treatment's effects on survival.
A new treatment combination of dasatinib, blinatumomab, and prednisone has shown promise in treating older patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The trial achieved a three-year DFS rate of 80 percent and an overall survival rate of 85 percent for enrolled patients.
Researchers found that up to one in five patients experience increased troponin levels after major surgery, indicating potential heart damage. These patients were also more likely to be anaemic before the operation.
Researchers found a novel therapy called AVID200 safe and well-tolerated, with modest improvements in symptom burden, anemia, and spleen enlargement. The therapy needs to be combined with other drugs to optimize impact in patients.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that using CAR T therapy as a second-line treatment provided better outcomes compared to standard care in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The two-year follow-up data showed a median event-free survival of 8.3 months in the CAR T arm versus 2 months in the s...
A new NRG Oncology clinical trial found that bupropion did not improve sexual desire in female cancer survivors. The trial evaluated the effects of extended-release bupropion on postmenopausal women with low baseline sexual desire scores.
A case study published in Nature Medicine reports a patient experiencing progressive neurological features resembling Parkinson's disease after CAR-T cell therapy, suggesting potential neurotoxicity. The study highlights the importance of monitoring for neurotoxicity in patients receiving BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapies.
Researchers discovered that the SET2,3 index provides complementary prognostic information about breast cancer outcomes, particularly for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The study suggests that using both clinical and molecular information from a patient's tumor can guide treatment decision-making.
The Liberty Asthma VOYAGE trial found that dupilumab significantly reduced the rate of severe exacerbations by nearly 60% and improved lung function and asthma control in children ages 6 to 11. Dupilumab was also shown to be safe, with minimal adverse reactions.
A study found that US clinical trials of new drugs and biologics lack adequate representation of racial and ethnic populations. The research highlights the need for greater diversity in clinical trial participation to ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments for all patients.
A randomized clinical trial investigated the effects of a Mediterranean diet and mindfulness-based stress reduction on preventing small-for-gestational age birth weights. The study found that these interventions significantly reduced the risk of this adverse pregnancy outcome.
A $3.1 million NIH grant will fund a trial testing multidisciplinary telehealth intervention to reduce racial disparities in blood pressure control and stroke recurrence among adult stroke survivors. The study aims to identify social determinants of health that impact outcomes and explore ways to address them.
A phase II clinical trial at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found significantly higher survival rates for children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy and the humanized monoclonal antibody hu14.18K322A, resulting in a three-year disease-free survival rate of 73.7% and an overall survival rate of 86%.
A small clinical trial found that eating during the nighttime increased glucose levels, while restricting meals to the daytime prevented this effect. The study suggests that better alignment between internal and external circadian rhythms may drive these benefits.
A study by the CDC found a strong association between obesity and diabetes, both of which are widespread in the U.S., and severe COVID-19 disease. In South Carolina, chronic diseases disproportionately affect Black communities, increasing their risk of developing severe COVID-19.
A multicenter clinical trial demonstrates insulin secretion from engrafted stem cells in patients with type 1 diabetes. The study shows 20% reduced insulin requirements and 13% more time spent in target blood glucose range over a one-year follow-up period.
The $4.6 million NIH grant will help implement a telehealth-enabled audit and feedback process to monitor adherence to recognized standards of care in 14 Intermountain Healthcare ICUs. This study aims to reduce the time patients spend on mechanical ventilators, improving lung protective mechanical ventilation best practices.