Articles tagged with Placebos
Researchers found that those taking phenytoin had 30% less damage to the nerve fiber layer and a 34% higher macula volume compared to placebo recipients. Vision recovery was successful, but long-term visual outcomes showed no significant differences between groups.
A Phase 2 study found that the experimental antibody anti-LINGO-1 significantly improved conduction in people with acute optic neuritis, a common precursor to multiple sclerosis. The treatment also led to improved recovery of myelin, a fatty substance surrounding nerves damaged in MS.
Researchers explore whether genetic variations can modify the placebo effect, potentially leading to better patient selection for clinical trials. Genetic tests could help identify individuals who are unlikely to benefit from treatment, allowing for more efficient and effective medical care.
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.
A study published in Diabetologia found that spending more time watching TV daily increases the risk of developing diabetes by 3.4%. The research used data from participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program, which showed a reduction in sitting behavior despite the absence of specific goals aimed at reducing it.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found paracetamol to be ineffective in reducing pain intensity and improving disability or quality of life for patients with lower back pain. However, it provided small benefits in reducing pain and disability for osteoarthritis, while increasing the risk of liver function test abnormalities.
A phase 3 trial shows that brentuximab vedotin significantly increases progression-free survival in adults with hard-to-treat Hodgkin lymphoma. The drug was found to be well-tolerated, with side effects including peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia.
A study of 11,648 patients found that extended dual antiplatelet therapy after bare metal stent placement did not significantly increase rates of stent thrombosis or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. However, the sample size limitations may have impacted the results, suggesting further trials are needed.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that energy drinks increase resting blood pressure, particularly in caffeine-naive individuals, doubling their blood pressure compared to a placebo.
A recent study found that patients on liraglutide achieved at least 5% weight loss, showing improvements in health markers, blood sugar control, and blood pressure. The results suggest liraglutide as a treatment option for obesity with significant health benefits.
A synthetic oxytocin nasal formulation reduced caloric intake in healthy men, lowering consumption of calories and fatty foods. Oxytocin also improved metabolic measures, such as insulin sensitivity.
A study published in JAMA Network found that premedication with lorazepam did not improve patient satisfaction after surgery, but was associated with longer extubation times and lower cognitive recovery rates. The researchers suggest a lack of benefit for routine use of sedatives as pre-medication.
A study of over 1,500 cigarette smokers found that combining varenicline with cutting back on cigarette consumption increased long-term success in quitting. Smokers who reduced their smoking rate before attempting to quit were four times more likely to succeed at six months and two times more likely to quit at 12 months.
A study found that varenicline was effective in helping smokers reduce their cigarette consumption and eventually quit. The medication produced greater reductions in smoking prior to quitting and increased smoking cessation rates at the end of treatment.
A study found that corticosteroid methylprednisolone decreased treatment failure among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia and high initial inflammatory response. Corticosteroids reduced the risk of treatment failure by 66%, suggesting their potential use as adjunctive treatment for this clinical population.
A recent study published in JAMA found that creatine monohydrate treatment did not improve clinical outcomes for patients with early and treated Parkinson disease. The study, which followed 1,741 participants for up to 8 years, suggests that creatine may not be a viable treatment option for slowing disease progression.
A clinical trial examined the safety and effectiveness of lisdexamfetamine in treating moderate to severe binge eating disorder. The study found that higher doses of lisdexamfetamine (50-70mg/day) were effective in decreasing binge-eating days and episodes, with a significant improvement in four-week cessation rates.
A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine found that smokers who metabolize nicotine quickly have better quit rates with varenicline, a non-nicotine replacement therapy drug. In contrast, slow metabolizers have similar success with the nicotine patch but without side effects.
A systematic evidence review found that several common treatments for knee osteoarthritis are effective for pain relief, with injectable therapies being the most effective. The review also introduced a new reporting guideline called TRIPOD to improve the quality of reporting in published articles describing prediction model studies.
A new formulation of oral budesonide suspension is safe and effective in treating pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, according to a recent study. The treatment demonstrated remarkable efficacy in reducing eosinophilic inflammation and improving symptoms.
A study published in The Lancet found that prostaglandin analogue eye drops can reduce the risk of vision loss in people with open angle glaucoma by over 50% over 2 years. The treatment showed significant benefits even after just 12 months, and more frequent testing can lead to faster data collection and improved drug development.
A groundbreaking study found that the Los Angeles LGBT Center's voter persuasion methods reduced anti-gay prejudice and may have potential to reduce other forms of prejudice. The approach, involving one-on-one conversations, had a long-lasting impact on changing conservative voters' minds.
The study found tamoxifen reduced breast cancer rates by around 30% and oestrogen receptor positive invasive cancer by 35%. After 20 years, the estimated risk of developing breast cancer was 8% in the tamoxifen group, compared to 12% in the placebo group.
A multinational trial of progesterone in severe TBI patients found no clinical benefits, with no difference in outcomes or mortality rates between groups. The study highlights the difficulty in demonstrating efficacy for this complex disease, and emphasizes the need for further research to find effective treatments.
A new clinical trial demonstrates that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improves motor learning and retention in hemiparetic stroke patients. The study used functional MRI to record cerebral activity, showing a significant improvement in motor performance after real tDCS stimulation.
A Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrates that AF-219, a selective and non-narcotic agent, significantly reduces daytime cough frequency by 75% compared to placebo. The study also shows improvements in secondary endpoints such as severity and urge to cough.
The investigational drug patiromer decreased high potassium levels and maintained normal levels in patients with chronic kidney disease. Elevated potassium increases the risk of death in high-risk patients and limits the use of certain drugs used to control hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
A phase 3 trial found zirconium cyclosilicate effectively lowered potassium levels to normal range and maintained them for up to 4 weeks. The treatment was well-tolerated and showed consistent results across patient subgroups, with 84% of patients achieving normal potassium levels within 24 hours.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that both agave nectar and a placebo were more effective than no treatment for young children's cough symptoms. The study suggests that giving children something to drink, like sugar water or honey substitute agave nectar, may help alleviate their discomfort.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that agave nectar and placebo were perceived to be more effective than doing nothing in treating nighttime cough and sleep disturbance in infants and toddlers. Researchers compared treatment with agave nectar, placebo or no treatment at all on symptoms.
A recent study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting found that diphenhydramine-containing medication inhibited cough reflex sensitivity more effectively than dextromethorphan or placebo. The new Dr. Cocoa for Children medicine combines trusted ingredients with a natural cocoa flavor to make dosing easier.
Evolocumab, a new PCSK9 inhibitor, has been shown to significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) by an average of 60% more than placebo. The treatment was well-tolerated and achieved recommended LDL cholesterol targets in over 60% of patients.
A study published in JAMA found that administering high-dose vitamin D to ICU patients with deficiency did not improve hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, or mortality rates. However, a subgroup of patients with severe deficiency showed lower hospital mortality.
Researchers found that using sweat-eating bacteria to metabolize ammonia improved skin condition and appearance in human volunteers. The study showed significant improvements, especially when the levels of AOB on the skin were high, suggesting potential modulation of the skin microbiota.
A study of over 600 patients with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery found that fenoldopam did not decrease the need for dialysis or mortality rates. Instead, it was associated with a higher incidence of low blood pressure.
A multicenter trial of 1358 children found intermittent montelukast reduced wheezing episodes only in those with the specific genetic subtype. The treatment was ineffective in children without this genotype, highlighting the need for targeted research.
A new trial found that darapladib did not reduce the risk of major coronary events or cardiovascular death in patients with an acute coronary syndrome. The study's findings challenge the notion that inhibition of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is a worthwhile approach for patients with coronary heart disease.
Investigational alirocumab produced superior results compared to placebo in reducing low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The study found that 72.2% of patients treated with alirocumab reached an LDL-C goal, significantly higher than the 11.3% on placebo.
A new study has failed to identify a medical treatment for post-operative pericardial effusion (POPE), a potentially serious condition that can lead to cardiac tamponade. The POPE-2 study showed that colchicine had no effect in reducing the volume of fluid around the heart or preventing the risk of cardiac tamponade.
A new study found that pre-surgical colchicine administration reduced post-pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) in cardiac surgery patients, but was associated with high gastrointestinal side effects.
A study of 360 cardiac surgery patients found that colchicine reduced postpericardiotomy syndrome, but not postoperative atrial fibrillation or pericardial/pleural effusions. Colchicine also increased the risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects.
A study found that intravenous iron supplementation improved functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients with iron deficiency, reducing hospital admissions for worsening heart failure. The treatment also showed benefits in measures of functional status and quality of life.
A large randomized trial found paracetamol to be no better than placebo in treating acute lower back pain, challenging universal recommendations. The study suggests advice and reassurance may be more effective than pharmacological strategies for acute episodes of low-back pain.
A study found that receiving antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) during pregnancy did not result in significant differences in pregnancy incidence, birth outcomes, and infant growth compared to those who received placebo. The study's findings suggest uncertainty regarding the safety of PrEP therapy prior to pregnancy.
A recent study published in JAMA found that hydroxychloroquine, a commonly prescribed treatment for primary Sjögren syndrome, did not improve symptoms in patients. The 24-week trial involved 120 patients and showed no significant difference between hydroxychloroquine and placebo groups.
A new dengue vaccine candidate, CYD-TDV, has shown moderate protection of 56% against the disease in a phase 3 clinical trial. The vaccine demonstrated high efficacy against three out of four dengue viruses and reduced severe disease and hospitalizations by more than half.
A study published in JAMA found that combining varenicline with nicotine replacement therapy significantly improved smoking cessation rates at 6 months compared to varenicline alone. The combination treatment resulted in higher continuous abstinence and point prevalence abstinence rates, but also more side effects.
A study published in Diabetologia suggests that consuming whey protein before a regular breakfast can reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes and improve insulin responses. The researchers found that the early insulin response was significantly higher after whey protein, which could be beneficial for individuals with diabetes.
A randomized clinical trial of 200 patients with traumatic brain injury found that administering erythropoietin or maintaining a higher hemoglobin concentration did not improve neurological outcomes at 6 months. Transfusion thresholds also had no significant impact on recovery rates.
A phase 3 study of everolimus failed to improve overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer. In contrast, sorafenib is the only systemic therapy shown to significantly improve overall survival.
The phase III RECOURSE trial found that TAS-102 improves overall and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to standard therapies. The study showed a median overall survival of 7.1 months for TAS-102, compared to 5.3 months for placebo.
A randomized trial found that calcium and vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and LDL cholesterol in pregnant women with GDM. The study also showed improvements in insulin sensitivity and increases in HDL cholesterol.
A new study found that testosterone replacement therapy can improve aerobic capacity and lessen its decline with age in older men with limited mobility. The therapy showed a significant reduction in the rate of decline of an important marker of physical fitness in these men.
A post-hoc analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes found that intensification of insulin therapy with Januvia (sitagliptin) 100 mg once-daily resulted in lower incidence of nighttime hypoglycemia compared to placebo. This is a positive finding for treatment approaches aimed at lowering nocturnal hypoglycemia.
A study published in JAMA found that an endoscopic procedure did not reduce disability due to pain following gallbladder removal. Patients with abdominal pain after cholecystectomy underwent either sphincterotomy or a placebo treatment, and the results showed no significant difference in successful outcomes between the two groups.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that low-dose estrogen therapy and low-dose non-hormonal venlafaxine hydrochloride extended release were both effective in reducing hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women. The treatment options showed similar efficacy, with a slight superiority of estrogen therapy.
A recent study published in JAMA found that physiotherapy for adults with painful hip osteoarthritis does not produce greater improvements in pain or function compared to a placebo treatment. The study suggests questioning the benefits of specific physiotherapy components for this patient population.
Recent studies found that duloxetine and fluoxetine showed no significant difference in response rates when treating major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and teens. The authors suggest that complexity of the studies may be a factor, but also offer valuable insights for designing future investigations.
A post-hoc analysis of the TOPCAT trial showed that spironolactone reduced cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure in patients from the Americas, but not in those from Russia and Georgia. The treatment also increased serum creatinine and hyperkalemia rates.
The Phase 3 trial demonstrated positive trends in lung function, as measured by relative change in % predicted FEV1, with a 2.5% average difference between ataluren and placebo in favor of ataluren. Additionally, there were 23% fewer pulmonary exacerbations in the ataluren group compared to placebo.