Articles tagged with Clinical Trials
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The ASCENDE-RT1 trial found that permanent radioactive implants (brachytherapy) reduced prostate cancer recurrence by 50% at five years compared to dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy. LDR-PB also showed an overall survival advantage, but with more urinary side effects.
A recent study analyzed 58 papers on inflammatory bowel disease and found inconsistent methods reporting, leading to difficulties in reproducing experiments. The researchers developed a critical checklist to address the issue, recommending its adoption as a publication requirement to improve study quality and standardization.
A new study published in Neurosurgery finds that surgery provides good functional outcomes and a high cure rate for patients with lower-grade arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain. The research evaluated 105 patients with AVMs from 2005 to 2012, concluding that treatment is recommended for appropriately selected patients.
Researchers found that rats' behavior changed according to waiting times, mimicking human actions. The neural basis was linked to the striatum, where neurons encoded time as a position within an interval, not absolute units.
A fruit-based micronutrient and fiber-dense supplement bar improved metabolism, reduced chronic inflammation, and initiated weight loss in overweight/obese individuals. The CHORI-bar's composition is complex and required years of clinical trials to develop.
Researchers used TACC's Lonestar4 supercomputer to simulate and analyze data for various vaccine trial designs. They found that a phased-rollout randomized controlled trial would provide better information about the effectiveness of an Ebola vaccine.
A new gene therapy treatment has shown significant clinical improvement in six patients with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, a rare and complex immune disorder. The treatment involves correcting genetic anomalies in blood stem cells using a lentiviral vector, resulting in restored immune function and reduced symptoms.
Researchers identify ways to improve recruitment and efficiency of IMPaCT trial, a personalized pancreas cancer clinical trial that used genomic sequencing to guide treatment. The trial showed promise despite initial challenges, including slow technology adoption and complex administrative processes.
A trial conducted in Catalonia, Spain, found that removing blood clots from large brain blood vessels improved function and reduced disability after stroke. The technique, called endovascular therapy or stent retriever thrombectomy, showed a 1.7 fold reduction in disability compared to medical intervention alone.
Analysis of two Women's Health Initiative clinical trials reveals a pattern of changing influences on breast cancer incidence over time, with estrogen plus progestin use linked to increased risk and estrogen alone showing reduced risk. The study suggests that ongoing influences after stopping hormone therapy require recalibration of br...
The World Health Organization has announced a new statement on the public disclosure of clinical trial results, including timelines for researchers to report their findings. The new statement aims to ensure that all interventional clinical trials are reported and publicly disclosed.
A study published in PLOS Medicine proposes a multi-stage approach to testing Ebola treatments, which may be quicker than traditional randomized trials while still providing robust results. This alternative design could potentially triage treatments faster and recommend them without further RCTs under certain circumstances.
The study of genomics effects on placebos introduces the concept of 'the placebome,' identifying a network of genes that significantly influence medicine and clinical trial design. Genetic variations in neurotransmitter pathways modify placebo effects, suggesting placebos play a larger role in healthcare than previously recognized.
Researchers developed a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T algorithm to rule out and rule-in heart attacks in emergency departments. The study found that the new strategy accelerated management of patients with suspected acute MI by allowing safe rule-out and accurate rule-in in 3 out of 4 patients.
A new variety of broccoli, enriched with glucoraphanin, has been shown to reduce blood LDL-cholesterol levels by an average of 6%. The compound is converted into sulphuraphane in the body, which activates genes that help balance metabolism and reduce cholesterol production.
A review of thousands of studies found that only a few dozen programs meet the scientific gold standard for reliability. Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers showed promise with participants losing more weight than non-participants in trials lasting 12 months or longer.
Therapeutic anti-cancer vaccines have been associated with a statistically significant increase in patient survival, but rarely have a noticeable effect on tumor growth. The study suggests that overall survival, rather than progression-free survival, should be the gold standard for evaluating cancer vaccine efficacy.
A clinical trial is enrolling children and adults with graft-versus-host-disease using their own immune cells to target inflammation and reduce organ damage. The personalized cells are derived from the patient's own bone marrow, making them more likely to be effective.
A phase 1 clinical trial found the VSV-EBOV Ebola vaccine to be safe and elicit a robust immune response, with 93% of volunteers developing anti-Ebola antibodies within two weeks. The vaccine's higher dose showed a stronger antibody response.
A Northwestern University study found that clinical trials for finasteride, a common hair loss treatment, inadequately reported sexual dysfunction, which may persist. The study analyzed 34 clinical trials and found no adequate information on the severity, frequency, or reversibility of sexual adverse effects.
A Phase 1 trial of VSV-ZEBOV, an experimental Ebola vaccine, found it safe and elicited robust antibody responses in all 40 healthy adults who received it. The vaccine showed a favorable safety profile with mild or moderate fever experienced by 30% of participants.
A study of 2.7 million US breast cancer patients found that surgeons are increasingly removing only the 'gatekeeper' lymph nodes, rather than all underarm lymph nodes, when a biopsy shows cancer. This shift is attributed to the lower risks for patients who undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy alone.
Researchers have developed a new Ebola vaccine based on the 2014 virus strain, showing it to be safe and provoking an immune response. In a phase 1 clinical trial, participants receiving high doses of the vaccine had a 100% positive immune response rate.
A new hand-held instrument called OsteoProbe measures the bone material strength index (BMSi), which predicts bone fracture risk. The device is more sensitive than standard measurement techniques and can detect changes in cortical bone indentation following treatment with osteoporosis therapies.
A two-year clinical trial found that neither vitamin D supplementation nor exercise training reduced overall fall rates among older women in Finland. However, the study discovered a significant decrease in injurious falls among exercisers, regardless of vitamin D status. Vitamin D also improved bone density and increased muscle strength.
A study found that investigators are more likely to respond to clinical trials if contacted by a point person or navigator. The Point-Person Project built a national network of navigators to find experts in pediatric clinical research.
The study found a significant decline in early recall rates from 20% to 3-4% in subsequent rounds, while lung cancer detection rates decreased by 50%. A well-organized screening program with access to previous images and results is crucial to manage false positives.
A multicenter clinical trial found that clindamycin and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) are similarly effective in treating uncomplicated skin infections, with cure rates of 80.3% and 77.7%, respectively. The study was conducted on 524 adults and children with cellulitis or abscesses.
A large clinical trial found no significant difference in mortality between fresh and older blood in critically ill patients. The Age of Blood Evaluation (ABLE) study, conducted across 64 centers, showed that 423 patients died within 90 days with fresh blood compared to 398 with older blood.
The BRIGHT trial demonstrated the superiority of bivalirudin over heparin monotherapy and heparin plus tirofiban in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Bivalirudin reduced bleeding rates while maintaining comparable rates of major adverse cardiac events.
A study found that noninferiority trials often lack clear justification for chosen margins, leading to concerns about their validity. The authors highlight the need for improved registration and reporting standards within publicly accessible trial registries.
A review of clinical trial data found no effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure due to vitamin D supplementation. The analysis included 46 trials with over 4,500 participants, concluding that vitamin D or its analogues should not be used as an individual patient treatment for hypertension.
A large study has found that routine blood clot removal during heart attack treatment does not benefit patients and may increase the risk of stroke. The TOTAL trial involved over 10,700 patients and showed no differences in cardiovascular outcomes between those who received clot removal and those who did not.
Self-expanding TAVR shows continued survival advantage over standard surgery in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. At two years, TAVR had 4.8% more survivors than surgery, and lower rates of strokes and major cardiovascular events.
A study published in JAMA Network found that combining folic acid with the hypertension medication enalapril significantly reduced the risk of first stroke among over 20,000 Chinese adults with high blood pressure. The treatment also showed significant reductions in ischemic stroke and composite cardiovascular events.
A new device called TriGuard has been tested in a multicenter trial to protect the brain during heart-valve replacement procedures. The results show that patients with protection had fewer ischemic brain lesions and improvements in cognitive function, including short-term memory and delayed memory.
A new brain shield device has shown improved in-hospital safety outcomes, including lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The device also demonstrated benefits for patients' cognitive scores at discharge, with better performance on neurocognitive tests.
The SAPIEN 3 heart valve demonstrated lower death, stroke, and paravalvular leak rates than earlier generation devices in high-risk patients. In intermediate-risk patients, the device showed encouraging results, with a reduced rate of major vascular complications and fewer instances of heart attacks and annular rupture.
The SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve is a feasible option for high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, but valve leakage remains a significant issue. At five years, death and stroke rates were equivalent to open-heart surgery, but rehospitalization rates and functional outcomes differed.
The HEART Pathway, a new protocol, helps emergency departments evaluate patients with acute chest pain more efficiently. It has been shown to reduce cardiac tests, early discharges, and hospital stays while maintaining patient safety.
Patients undergoing non-emergency cardiac surgery were given either a low or high haemoglobin threshold for transfusion, with the researchers finding that more patients died in the 'low' group. Health care costs and serious complications were similar in both groups, challenging prevailing guidelines.
Duke Medicine researchers found that only 13.4% of clinical trials reported findings within the required one-year window, with industry-sponsored trials reporting at 17%, while academic/non-NIH-funded trials reported at just 5.7%. The lack of transparency hampers progress and violates obligations to patients.
A new natural treatment for Alzheimer's disease, withanamides, is being developed by Michigan State University. The compound has shown to protect brain cells from damage caused by the rogue protein BAP, which is a common factor in Alzheimer's progression.
Researchers found that patients who received blood transfusions at a higher haemoglobin level had fewer serious complications and deaths after cardiac surgery. The study challenges current guidelines and health policy, suggesting that a more liberal approach to transfusion may be safer and more cost-effective
Researchers at UTHealth successfully enrolled patients from other hospitals into an acute stroke clinical trial using telemedicine. This breakthrough enables the study of stroke treatment on a larger scale, as it was previously limited to large centers with expertise in treating strokes quickly.
A study of 12,000 TAVR patients found a one-year mortality rate of nearly 24% and rehospitalization rates at 47%. The results provide insight into the outcomes of this less invasive procedure for severe aortic stenosis patients.
Research shows that training can effectively eliminate the age deficit in contrast sensitivity, improving visual function in older adults. The study found improvements in both near and far acuity, allowing participants to read more letters on eye charts after training.
A new study by University of Vermont neurologist Andrew Solomon and colleagues reports that MS patients want to know the details of their physicians' financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies. The study found that disclosure of these relationships can influence patients' decisions to participate in clinical trials.
A new cancer drug called PAC-1, which targets cancer cells by restoring an enzyme's activity, is now entering phase I clinical trials in humans. The drug was first tested in pet dogs with spontaneously occurring cancers and showed promising results.
The University of Pittsburgh is leading a $14 million clinical trial comparing two approaches to treat acute lower back pain, one with usual care and the other with cognitive behavioral therapy. The study aims to reduce chronic lower back pain and its effects on daily life.
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer recently published an article discussing the management of locally advanced inoperable breast cancer. The review, led by Dr. Konstantinos Tryfonidis, examines current treatment options and future directions for improving outcomes.
A clinical trial at UTHealth investigates the use of a physician-monitored app to encourage minority stroke patients to lose weight and manage risk factors. The study aims to close the racial disparities gap in stroke care, with patients randomized to usual care or the app group.
A new study found that consuming peanut-containing snacks from infancy can prevent peanut allergy in high-risk infants. In contrast, avoiding peanuts led to a higher risk of developing the allergy by age 5. The findings suggest a shift in advice for parents and healthcare providers to promote early consumption of allergenic foods.
Patients receiving fondaparinux had a lower risk of major bleeding events and death following a heart attack compared to those receiving low-molecular-weight heparin. This association was observed in both hospital settings and six months post-incident.
A clinical trial led by the University of Southern California has successfully implanted an ABI device in four children who were previously unable to hear. The device stimulates neurons directly at the human brainstem, bypassing the inner ear entirely and showing promising results in young children.
The HPV vaccine was highly effective against common cancer-causing human papillomaviruses beyond types 16 and 18. Young women vaccinated before sexual debut showed substantial protection against cervical abnormalities and precancerous cell transformations.
A six-year clinical trial found that patients with low blood flow to the back of the brain are at a higher risk of recurrent stroke. The study used specialized software to visualize and quantify blood flow, identifying a quarter of patients with low posterior blood flow.
Researchers at USF are developing a new treatment for age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a neurodegenerative condition affecting 10% of the population. The Phase II clinical trial aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of modulating potassium channels in the brain.
The NELSON trial found that individuals with better health profiles and younger age were less likely to participate, but the study's findings remain relevant due to modest differences. The trial showed a higher mortality rate among eligible non-participants compared to participants.
A five-year follow-up study of patients with extreme obesity found that duodenal switch was more effective in reducing body weight than gastric bypass, but it came with a higher risk of complications. The study suggests that duodenal switch should be used with caution due to its adverse effects.