Research on the trials that test new treatments in patients. Covers trial design, respiratory and cancer trials, screening tools, and treatment breakthroughs.
The MYSTIC trial found that patients with STK11 or KEAP1 gene mutations in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer experienced poorer overall survival compared to those without these mutations. Additionally, patients with ARID1A mutations in the durvalumab + tremelimumab arm had longer median overall survival rates.
The MYSTIC trial found that patients with STK11 or KEAP1 mutations had poorer outcomes to anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapies compared to those without these mutations. ARID1A mutations were associated with improved survival in the durvalumab + tremelimumab arm.
Researchers have found that deep transcranial magnetic stimulation can improve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by targeting specific brain areas. After six weeks of daily treatment, 38% of patients showed a significant reduction in symptom severity, with 45.2% responding after a month.
A 2009 trial showed inducing labor at the end of pregnancy reduced high-risk situations, benefiting both mothers and babies. In a follow-up analysis in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, this finding was corroborated, supporting the optimal management strategy for hypertensive disease.
LSU Health New Orleans has been awarded a $13.6 million grant to expand its clinical trials network, providing cancer care and access to over 50% of newly diagnosed patients in the region. The new network will also increase minority patient participation in clinical trials.
A 12-week clinical trial found BioCell Collagen increased skin collagen content by 12% and improved signs of aging in women. The study showed significant reductions in facial lines and wrinkles, crow's feet width, and improved skin elasticity compared to placebo.
Research studies by SWOG Cancer Research Network reveal that low-income cancer patients and those without insurance may not receive the same treatment benefits as their counterparts. Socioeconomic deprivation is found to be a significant factor in cancer outcomes, even after adjusting for race and insurance status.
The University of Minnesota Medical School has been awarded a $945K grant to advance its cell-based therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Researchers aim to replace diseased muscle tissue with healthy muscle cells using human induced pluripotent stem cells.
The PARAGON-HF trial found that sacubitril-valsartan reduced hospitalizations for heart failure in lower ejection fraction patients, but not overall; women and those with ejection fractions 45-57% showed benefits.
Researchers at King's College London found that early planned delivery for women with preterm pre-eclampsia reduces maternal complications and severe hypertension. The study also showed lower costs compared to the current method of care in the UK.
A new clinical trial from Penn Medicine found that administering arginine vasopressin to trauma patients with severe bleeding can significantly reduce the need for blood products, a promising way to save lives. The study, published in JAMA Surgery, showed that patients treated with AVP required less than half the usual volume of blood ...
A cancer therapy invented at Rice University has shown promising results in clinical trials, destroying tumors without debilitating side effects. Thirteen of the first 15 prostate cancer patients treated with AuroLase Therapy showed no detectable signs of cancer a year after treatment.
Researchers found that high-intensity stepping with variable tasks improved dynamic balance and balance confidence in stroke survivors. High-intensity training resulted in significant clinical gains for 57% to 80% of participants, compared to 9% to 31% following low-intensity exercises.
A systematic review of over 58,000 participants found that consuming more long-chain omega-3 fats from fish oils had no impact on diabetes diagnosis or glucose metabolism. However, high doses may worsen glucose metabolism in some individuals.
The FDA approved a new minimally invasive open-heart surgery approach for low-surgical-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Baylor Scott & White has performed over 3,600 TAVRs and is a top-five provider nationally. This marks a significant shift towards catheter-based treatment options.
A randomized clinical trial found that interventions targeting parents in primary care pediatric settings can improve communications between parents and teens about sexual health and alcohol use. The study showed an increased frequency of parent-teen communications about these topics in intervention groups compared to the control group.
A clinical trial found that an oral activator, veledimex, controlled the transcription of human interleukin-12, reducing toxicity while preserving anti-tumor effects. Patients with recurrent glioblastoma had improved overall survival rates, with some experiencing up to 17.8 months of survival.
Landos Biopharma has completed a $60 million Series B financing round to support global Phase 2 clinical trials of its lead product BT-11 for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The funding will also advance additional pipeline candidates, addressing an unmet clinical need for new therapies in inflammatory bowel disease.
A study found that providing current medical research to patients and visitors in waiting rooms increases interest by 30 percent. The trial, conducted in North Queensland, Australia, showed that age and gender also play a role in public interest.
A Phase 1 clinical trial enrolls healthy adults to evaluate the safety and immune response of two licensed influenza vaccines administered with novel adjuvants. The trial aims to improve seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness, which varies from year to year.
A clinical trial published in Appetite found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can reduce or increase appetite depending on a patient's genetic profile. The study used a current of 2 milliamperes and 17 thirty-minute sessions over a month, with participants monitored for six months.
A randomized clinical trial compared a technology-enhanced community health nursing intervention to standard care for female adolescents and young adults with pelvic inflammatory disease. The study found that the tech-enhanced intervention may offer improved medication adherence and treatment outcomes.
A review of clinical trials published in top psychology and psychiatry journals found that more than half of the abstracts contained 'spin' - exaggerating the clinical significance of a particular treatment without statistics to back it up. This practice raises concerns about its impact on doctors' treatment decisions.
Researchers at MIT developed a machine-learning model that can predict cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease up to two years in the future. This could help clinicians select candidate drugs and participant cohorts for clinical trials more effectively, ultimately leading to faster discovery of effective treatments.
A novel RSV vaccine candidate, DS-Cav1, has shown early promise in a Phase 1 clinical trial, prompting large increases in RSV-neutralizing antibodies. The vaccine induced a sevenfold increase in neutralizing antibody levels after a single dose of 50 μg and a 12-fold surge with a dose of 150 μg.
A new vaccine candidate, DS-Cav1, has shown promising results in a Phase 1 human clinical trial, eliciting large increases in RSV-neutralizing antibodies that were sustained for several months. The vaccine's structure-based design approach aims to overcome the challenges of traditional methods in creating an RSV vaccine.
A $21 million national study will test three evidence-based treatments for chronic low back pain in a 20-site trial. The Sequential and Comparative Evaluation of Pain Treatment Effectiveness Response (SCEPTER) trial aims to find the best approach to manage chronic low back pain, with implications for the general population.
A new wearable device has been shown to detect eye flicker with high accuracy, helping diagnose the most common causes of dizziness. Researchers collected 9,000 hours of data from 17 participants, proving the technology's reliability and safety.
A new Phase III clinical trial will assess the efficacy and safety of thrombectomy procedure in patients with larger ischemic strokes. The trial aims to determine if thrombectomy is safe and effective for this population, which has limited treatment options.
Researchers investigated acupuncture as an added treatment to reduce frequency of angina attacks in patients with chronic stable angina. The study, conducted in China, involved approximately 400 adults and showed promising results for acupuncture as a complementary therapy.
This systematic review and meta-analysis found parent-based interventions associated with improved condom use and parent-child sexual communication in adolescents. The findings were generally modest, but there was a significant association across studies.
A Phase 0 clinical trial shows ribociclib effectively targets glioblastoma cells and breaks the blood-brain barrier, offering a new treatment hope. The study identifies a potential mechanism of drug resistance, paving the way for a combined-drug regimen to overcome resistance.
A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of testosterone treatment for women found significant improvements in sexual desire, function, and pleasure. Non-oral formulations appear to have fewer side effects compared to oral testosterone, with benefits including reduced concerns and distress about sex.
A new imaging diagnosis device called a Compton camera enables simultaneous PET and SPECT scans, reducing time and radiation exposure. Researchers detected and imaged radioactive tracers with improved accuracy, paving the way for new forms of medical analysis.
Researchers are investigating how to make talk therapy treatment more accessible to all women, particularly those with mild to severe symptoms. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of non-specialist delivered interventions, such as nurses trained to deliver behavioral activation therapy, in improving mental health outcomes.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center designed an AI-powered system to streamline clinical trial recruitment. The Automated Clinical Trial Eligibility Screener (ACTES) reduces patient screening time by 34 percent and improves enrollment by 11.1 percent compared to manual screening.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy may reduce weight gain and the risk of gestational diabetes, but has no overall impact on adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. The diet's high intake of nuts, olive oil, fruits, and vegetables was associated with these benefits.
A recent Nordic collaboration study found no significant difference in functional outcomes between operative and non-operative treatment in patients over 60 with displaced proximal humerus fractures. Non-operative treatment using a collar and cuff sling and physiotherapy was as effective as surgery in improving patient recovery.
A new study suggests that partial knee replacements (PKR) are as effective as total knee replacements (TKR), with a lower cost. Over five years, PKR has similar or slightly better clinical outcomes than TKR, while offering substantial economic benefits.
A recent review explores how artificial intelligence can improve the success of clinical trials. AI-based models can help with trial design, patient recruitment, and monitoring adherence, potentially boosting success rates by up to 30%.
A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found no significant benefit of intensive lipid treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe compared to simvastatin alone in older patients after acute coronary syndrome. The study suggests that age may be an important factor in determining the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapies.
A clinical trial at Flinders University and Royal Adelaide Hospital included 27 adults with a history of allergic reactions to European honeybee stings. The vaccine used an adjuvant developed in Australia to neutralize bee venom, showing promising results and confirming safety.
The Keck School of Medicine of USC has received a $4.5 million NIH grant to recruit underrepresented patients in cardiac surgery clinical trials. The grant aims to translate clinical research findings into clinical practice, addressing the No. 1 cause of mortality in the US.
A randomized clinical trial involving 1,685 ICU patients in Brazil found no significant difference in delirium reduction between flexible and standard visitation policies. The study's limitations include its focus on a single country.
Researchers found that a 12% calorie reduction over two years improved cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and reduced biomarkers of chronic inflammation. Participants who maintained a 25% calorie reduction showed significant weight loss, primarily fat, and reductions in metabolic risk markers.
A Yale-developed scorecard has been found to promote better clinical trial data sharing among pharmaceutical companies, with 33% of companies meeting standards after being given the opportunity to improve their practices. The scorecard assesses companies' data-sharing practices and provides a ranking system to encourage transparency.
Eteplirsen shows supportive results in delaying respiratory decline in DMD patients, with slower rates of decline observed in both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. This may have notable positive implications on quality of life and potentially delayed mortality.
A new clinical trial will test the effects of the anti-obesity drug setmelanotide on participants with Bardet-Biedl syndrome or Alström syndrome, two rare genetic disorders that include obesity as a symptom. The trial aims to assess the drug's ability to lead to significant weight loss in these individuals.
A new international consensus document provides guidelines for the conduct of magnetic resonance imaging studies after a myocardial infarction. The main outcome measure recommended is absolute infarct size, with scanning timing between 3 and 7 days post-infarction.
A new study published in Contemporary Clinical Trials found that treadmill exercise reduced period pain by 6% after four weeks and 22% after seven months. Women who participated in the supervised aerobic training regime also reported improved quality of life and daily functioning, but not increased sleep quality.
A significant decrease in depression cases was observed after CPAP treatment for sleep apnea in patients with cardiovascular disease. The study found that CPAP treatment had a broader benefit of preventing depression, independent of improved sleepiness.
A new study published in Brain suggests that neurotechnology-based therapies, such as brain-machine interfaces and robotics, can lead to largest treatment effects when tailored to individual patient needs. Personalized combination of these therapies may allow patients to continue their recovery beyond what is possible today.
A QUT study found that sharing medical 'selfies' improves confidence and satisfaction among patients, while also enhancing the relationship between doctors and patients. Parents who took photos of their children's surgical wounds after laparoscopic appendectomy reported feeling reassured and valued by the service.
A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that high sodium intake increases bloating among individuals, particularly those on high-fiber diets. Reducing sodium intake may be an effective way to reduce bloating and maintain a healthy, high-fiber diet.
A new study found that walking interventions can lead to sustained increases in physical activity and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events and fractures. The research followed participants with pedometer-based walking interventions for up to four years, demonstrating the long-term health benefits of increased walking activity.
A restrictive approach to blood cell transfusions in heart surgery patients resulted in fewer transfusions without increasing the risk of acute kidney injury. The study found that reducing transfusions could prevent adverse effects and conserve the blood supply, while minimizing negative impacts on kidney health.
A clinical trial for a new sickle cell disease treatment, IMR-687, has shown early promise with an increase in F-cells and a reduction in pain, improving biomarkers of the disease.
A nationwide clinical trial found that topical application of ruxolitinib was effective in repigmenting the skin of over 50% of participants with facial vitiligo. The treatment has an excellent safety profile and may lead to better results when combined with phototherapy and sunlight exposure.
Researchers identify barriers to trial accrual, including complexity in staying aware of available trials, identifying eligible patients, and enrolling them. The study suggests addressing these challenges through changes in trial-specific reimbursement and incentives for administrative costs.
The NRG-GOG 0258 trial showed that carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy alone resulted in comparable recurrence-free survival rates compared to combined modality treatment. The study found a reduced incidence of vaginal, pelvic, and para-aortic lymph node recurrences but increased distant recurrences with combined modality treatment.