Articles tagged with Clinical Trials
Researchers used MEG to study brain activity in PTSD sufferers and healthy individuals, finding increased circuit activity on the right side of the brain. This hyperactive network is linked to involuntary flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
A randomized trial involving 17 black-owned barbershops in Dallas County, Texas found that the enhanced barber-based intervention resulted in greater improvement in hypertension control. The control rate for patrons with hypertension increased from 33.8% to 53.7%, an increase of 19.9%.
Parents of children with cancer reported feeling hurried and less well-informed about clinical trial protocols compared to adult patients. The study found that parents felt they had insufficient time to learn about the trials and asked fewer questions.
A new Women's Health Initiative report shows hormone therapy is associated with a higher incidence of invasive breast cancer and increased risk of death from breast cancer. The study found that postmenopausal women taking estrogen plus progestin had more advanced cancers with lymph node involvement, leading to poorer prognosis
Despite the PARTNER trial's promising results, surgical aortic valve replacement should remain the standard treatment for aortic stenosis. Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) is only suitable for patients at high risk who have decreased life expectancy and cannot undergo surgery.
A renowned gynecologic oncologist expresses concerns about a major ovarian cancer study, highlighting the need for targeted genetics-based treatments over delayed treatment timing. The study found no significant difference in survival rates between early and delayed chemotherapy groups.
A new clinical trial at The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center aims to detect Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in premature infants through a novel technique. If successful, the method could prevent blindness and save $1 million per child in lifetime support costs.
Researchers are conducting a national study to assess whether a targeted rehabilitation approach can aid stroke patients in leaving their homes more confidently. The study will compare outcomes of volunteer patients receiving the intervention with those not receiving it, aiming to improve physical capabilities and boost confidence.
A phase II clinical trial is underway to examine the efficacy of Revatio (sildenafil) in improving cardiac function for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The six-month study aims to slow disease progression and increase life expectancy.
Researchers found that targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) provides substantial clinical benefit for women with hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer. Adding cetuximab to chemotherapy doubled response rate and time to progression compared to chemotherapy alone.
A meta-analysis of eight clinical trials found that folic acid supplements did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, cancer, or death over a five-year period. The study showed a significant reduction in homocysteine levels with folic acid supplementation but no corresponding benefit for cardiovascular health.
A randomized controlled trial found that a structured weight loss program with free prepared meals, combined with one-to-one counseling, resulted in significant weight loss (up to 16 pounds) for participants. The program was maintained at two-year follow-up, suggesting long-term effectiveness.
A new drug targeting the MET receptor added benefit to erlotinib in patients with advanced lung cancer who express MET, improving overall survival and progression-free survival
Researchers at U-M are investigating adaptive clinical trials to improve the efficiency of clinical trials. The goal is to accelerate drug and device evaluation, improve safety for patients, and reduce costs. Adaptive clinical trials make adjustments based on accumulated data to identify effective treatments more accurately.
A new randomised trial shows that starting chemotherapy earlier does not improve survival or quality of life for women with relapsed ovarian cancer. The study found that patients who received early treatment experienced a faster deterioration in quality of life, including role, emotional, social, and fatigue symptoms.
A Phase 3 clinical trial conducted by GlaxoSmithKline and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that a genital herpes vaccine was ineffective in preventing the disease in women. The study, which involved 8,323 women aged 18-30 years, showed that the vaccine had an estimated 20% effectiveness rate.
A comprehensive review of 10 studies involving 711 patients found no evidence that acupuncture aids in stroke recovery. The researchers concluded that the existing evidence is negative, calling for large-scale trials to better understand its effects.
The Northwestern University-led trial assesses the safety and tolerability of human embryonic stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in paralyzed subjects with spinal cord injuries. The goal is to evaluate if these stem cells improve neuromuscular control or sensation in the trunk or lower extremities.
A new treatment has been found to significantly reduce mortality rates among patients with severe aortic stenosis, while also improving their quality of life. The bioprosthetic-tissue valve treatment was shown to save lives and enable patients to walk, exercise, and engage in daily activities.
A multicenter study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that transcatheter aortic-valve implantation resulted in significantly lower rates of death among patients who cannot undergo surgery. The procedure demonstrated safety and effectiveness for this life-threatening illness in unsuitable candidates.
The Phase II study will establish the optimal dosing regimen and then be tested in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Uganda. The TB vaccine candidate has been shown to have an acceptable safety profile in early-stage clinical trials.
A growing concern is the increasing volume of clinical trials and systematic reviews published every day. The authors propose reducing unnecessary trials to prioritize truly systematic reviews, ensuring that patient needs are met through valid answers. Open access to these resources is also emphasized.
Researchers found that thigh-length stockings can reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in stroke patients, a life-threatening form of blood clot. The study, which included over 3,000 patients from 112 hospitals, highlights the importance of using long stockings to prevent clots.
A US clinical trial demonstrated the strong safety profile of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells in patients after a severe heart attack. The study found improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes at six months, suggesting potential benefits for cell therapy trials.
A meta-analysis of three trials found that stenting is associated with a higher risk of stroke than surgical endarterectomy, particularly in patients over 70. However, younger patients (under 70) can tolerate both treatments equally well.
The Southwest Oncology Group has selected five young investigators to attend a three-day workshop in Seattle, where they will receive intensive training on designing and conducting cancer clinical trials. The YITC program provides mentorship and career support to promising researchers.
Interactive computer packages moderately increase knowledge about sexual health issues and are as effective as face-to-face interventions for improving knowledge. However, their effectiveness in addressing other concerns like psychosexual difficulties or relationship problems is unclear.
A large, randomized controlled trial found that a surgically implanted antibiotic sponge did not reduce the rate of sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery. The study contradicts previous results and suggests ethnic and regional differences may have contributed to the differing outcomes.
A recent study found that departures from trial protocols were more common for earlier-enrolled patients, with queries and protocol deviations increasing as enrollment frequency decreased. Simulation programs can help address these issues prior to subject enrollment.
The ACCORD Eye Study found that intensive blood sugar control and combination lipid therapy with a fibrate and statin slowed diabetic retinopathy progression by about one-third. This study provides evidence for the benefits of these therapies in slowing eye disease progression.
The NIH has renewed its food allergy research program, the Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), with a $29.9 million grant for five more years. The program will expand to include research on genetic causes underlying food allergy and studies of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases.
A landmark study in the US has compared natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) to traditional laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder removal. The trial aims to assess safety, efficacy, pain levels, and cosmetic outcomes of NOTES, which may reduce post-operative infection, hernia, scarring, and pain.
A Cochrane Systematic Review found that music therapy, specifically rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), can improve walking speed and arm movements in stroke patients. RAS therapy was shown to be more effective than standard movement therapy, with an average improvement of 14 metres per minute.
A multi-institutional study found that extended use of anti-clotting drug enoxaparin significantly reduced the chances of blood clots in bedridden patients, especially those over 75 and female. The treatment also increased bleeding risk slightly.
A randomized controlled trial found that patients with chronic low-back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis who took glucosamine for six months showed no significant difference in pain-related disability, pain, or quality of life compared to those who received a placebo. The study suggests that further research is needed to det...
A new non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids, ulipristal acetate (UPA), has shown promising results in reducing total fibroid volume and menstrual bleeding. Patients taking UPA experienced improved quality of life, fertility, and reduced symptoms.
The Phase I trial found low-dose, multi-dosing regimens of BCG vaccination safe in individuals with type 1 diabetes, with no severe reactions reported. A Phase II clinical trial is planned to investigate the safety and efficacy of BCG vaccination as a therapeutic agent for type 1 diabetes prevention or reversal.
A new meta-analysis of clinical trials finds that rosiglitazone is associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction, while the risk of cardiovascular death was not elevated. The study suggests an unfavorable benefit-to-risk ratio for the diabetes drug, raising concerns about its safety.
A four-year clinical trial will investigate the effects of weight loss and increased physical activity on quality of life and co-existing medical conditions in overweight breast cancer survivors. The study aims to reduce breast cancer recurrence risk and improve psychosocial problems.
The NHLBI is funding nine research grants to examine the effects of red blood cell storage time on patient outcomes. A large clinical trial, RECESS, will compare heart surgery patients' outcomes based on stored red blood cells' age.
The University of Utah researchers are making significant progress in understanding and combating Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease causing progressive muscle weakness. With the support of Families of SMA, they have established a clinical trials network to test novel therapies and advance treatment options for children a...
A Cochrane Systematic Review suggests that giving patients oxygen during a heart attack may increase the risk of dying. Despite widespread use, there is little evidence that oxygen therapy improves outcomes for heart patients and may even cause further damage.
The Nottingham Respiratory BRU Clinical Trials Unit will offer clinical services to NHS patients with respiratory disease while recruiting volunteers for studies on new treatments. The unit aims to develop new drugs and therapies to help people manage their illness, including a study using a diabetes tablet for mild asthma.
The TARGIT-A trial found that targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) is non-inferior to whole breast external beam radiotherapy in reducing local recurrences. Patients who underwent TARGIT had similar recurrence rates to those receiving conventional radiotherapy, with lower rates of radiotherapy toxicity.
A phase II clinical trial by Mayo Clinic found that green tea extract, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), had a significant response rate among CLL patients. The study showed that 69% of patients experienced a biological response to EGCG, with notable reductions in blood lymphocyte count and lymph node size.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center compared the outcomes of two surgical procedures designed to alleviate symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. Both procedures, transvaginal sling and transobturator midurethral sling, appear to be similarly effective in women up to 12 months after the procedures were performed.
A study of 549 newborns found that infants who underwent a newer surgical procedure were more likely to survive their first year without needing a heart transplant. After the first year, both procedures yielded similar results.
A large national clinical trial has shown that carotid artery surgery and stenting are equally effective in preventing stroke, with personalized treatment options available for individual patients. The study found excellent safety and long-term results for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
The REDUCE trial found dutasteride to be effective in reducing the chance of a positive biopsy by 23% and preventing disease progression. However, more detailed analyses are needed to monitor long-term effects on cardiovascular health and selectively identify aggressive disease.
A study found that academic detailing increased prescribing of thiazide-type diuretics in counties with higher activity levels. The intervention led to a small increase in medication dispensing, but other factors may have blunted its impact.
A study published in the Journal of Urology found that girls with vesicoureteral reflux are at higher risk of new renal damage. Boys also showed signs of renal damage, although at lower rates. The study suggests that preventing febrile urinary tract infections is crucial for kidney health.
Peregrine's PS-targeting antibody bavituximab reactivates the immune system to attack and destroy cancer cells, potentially working synergistically with multiple therapies. The company plans to initiate two new Phase II trials in refractory and front-line lung cancer patients by mid-year.
A large U.S. trial found that two common mid-urethral sling procedures are similar in their chance of cure, but each has distinct risks. Women who underwent transobturator or retropubic surgery achieved equivalent levels of treatment success, with 78-81 percent experiencing dryness.
Researchers tested bosentan for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and found no significant improvements. In contrast, two-day neuromuscular blocking agent therapy improved survival in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Oral iloprost showed promise in preventing lung cancer among former smokers.
Researchers found that inhaled N-acetylcysteine (NAC) preserves more lung function in some patients with mild idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis than no therapy. This novel study provides encouraging evidence to pursue a potential treatment for IPF, a lung disease characterized by progressive scarring.
The S-ICD System detected 100% of induced and spontaneous episodes of irregular heart rhythms, offering a viable alternative to traditional ICDs. The system's subcutaneous implantation eliminates the need for lead placement in or on the heart, reducing complications associated with current therapy.
Experts warn that poor scientific quality and lack of oversight can undermine the entire scientific enterprise. The authors propose four key questions to answer when proposing human studies of new therapies to safeguard medical research advancement.
A recent study has found that high-dose vitamin D supplementation is associated with an increased risk of falls and fractures in older women. The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), revealed that women who received a single annual high dose of vitamin D had a higher rate of falls and fractures...
Researchers at Northwestern University led by Theresa Pape are testing if familiar voices can facilitate brain repair and improve coma recovery. The study found that subjects responded more to family voices compared to non-familiar ones, with activated brain areas appearing on MRI scans.
A recent trial in Ghana found that vitamin A supplementation did not reduce maternal mortality, contradicting previous findings from a Nepalese trial. The study showed similar rates of pregnancy-related and all-cause female mortality between the intervention and control groups.