Articles tagged with Controlled Trials
A new smartphone app has been shown to significantly improve sex life and delay ejaculation in men with premature ejaculation. The app, developed by urologists and psychologists, teaches men therapeutic techniques and exercises to manage arousal and control ejaculation.
The study found that 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against COVID-19 hospitalization and severe in-hospital outcomes. Monitoring vaccine effectiveness remains crucial to guide vaccine composition and recommendations.
A Medicaid policy promoting high nursing home staffing levels was associated with modest improvements in patient health. The study estimates that similar reform nationwide could prevent 6,142 fewer hospitalizations annually.
The increasing use of unregulated psilocybin mushrooms poses a pressing need for public education, potency testing, and age-specific risk assessment. Existing clinical data are insufficient to guide harm reduction or policy, highlighting the need for real-world research on psilocybin use.
A randomized clinical trial has shown that rituximab is effective in preventing relapses and reducing the need for corticosteroids in adults with relapsing nephrotic syndrome. The study involved 66 adult patients treated with either rituximab or a placebo, with impressive results at the 49-week follow-up.
Researchers have uncovered contrasting risk profiles for individuals who attempt suicide and those who die by suicide, with the former showing more overlap with other mental health conditions. These findings suggest distinct approaches may be needed to prevent suicidal behavior and improve patient outcomes.
A groundbreaking trial published in New England Journal of Medicine demonstrates the benefits of surgical treatment with a shunt for idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) in older adults. Eighty percent of participants showed significant clinical improvement, including improved walking speed and balance.
A new study published in JMIR Serious Games reveals that playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and watching Studio Ghibli films can significantly improve young people’s overall happiness and sense of purpose in life. The study found that immersing oneself in these activities can nurture essential human capacities, including e...
The BREATHE-3 clinical trial evaluates a novel bronchoscopic device to open airways and release trapped air in patients with severe emphysema. The study will assess the safety and efficacy of the Apreo BREATHE Airway Scaffold, an implantable device granted FDA Breakthrough Device Designation.
A new study by Texas A&M University is tracking the health effects of living in an agrihood community, where residents have access to a working farm and green spaces. The study aims to measure changes in physical activity, nutrition, and social connectedness among participants.
The study found that 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines provide additional protection against medically attended COVID-19 and critical illness. These results highlight the significance of receiving recommended COVID-19 vaccinations for adults 18 years or older, contributing to improved public health outcomes.
A new study from Uppsala University found that people with high fitness levels in late adolescence have a lower risk of dying prematurely, but the association between physical fitness and reduced mortality risk may be overstated. The researchers examined data from over 1 million Swedish men and found no significant difference in the ri...
The framework utilizes consortium blockchain architecture for immutable records, minimizing data falsification and cyberattacks. AI-driven tools ensure objective data collection and analysis, reducing human bias.
Researchers developed promising α-synuclein PET tracers that can visualize protein aggregates in living patients, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Tracers like [18F]C05-05 and [18F]ACI-12589 showed significant results in distinguishing synucleinopathies from healthy controls.
A randomized controlled trial demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of integrating exercise and rehabilitation services into routine breast cancer care. The Comprehensive Oncology Rehabilitation and Exercise (CORE) program improved functional deficits, fitness, and strength in patients with stage I-III breast cancer.
Researchers identified a potential new treatment, lorundrostat, which reduced systolic blood pressure in individuals with uncontrolled or treatment-resistant hypertension. The study found a significant 15-point reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to placebo.
Researchers suggest that taking a daily preventer dose of inhaled corticosteroid at mid-afternoon can effectively suppress nocturnal worsening of symptoms and improve lung function. This approach may lead to better clinical outcomes without increasing unwanted side effects or costs, but further larger trials are needed.
Researchers evaluated different types of Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) scores among US trauma center patients. They found that GOSE-All scores capture the combined effect of brain and extracranial injuries, while GOSE-TBI scores exclude extracranial injury effects.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University challenge the current aspirin guidelines based on a flawed trial, advocating for healthcare providers to make individual clinical judgments about prescribing aspirin. They stress that patients should consult their primary care provider to balance the benefits of clot prevention against bleed...
A new paper highlights emerging alternatives to traditional diabetes medicines, such as continuous glucose monitors and lifestyle interventions like GEM, which can improve patient adherence and long-term health outcomes.
A large randomized controlled trial found no significant difference in health status between patients with restricted and unrestricted fluid intake. Despite this, patients on fluid restriction reported more thirst and had lower overall health scores at baseline compared to those with liberal fluid intake.
A new study finds that prothrombin concentrate is superior to frozen plasma in controlling bleeding during heart surgery, reducing major bleeding events by nearly 50%. The concentrated product caused fewer adverse effects and saved hospitals resources, suggesting a potential shift in treatment guidelines.
Researchers studied women with ischemia symptoms without blockages in their heart arteries. The five-year trial found no significant difference between intensive medical therapy and usual care for serious cardiovascular events.
A new study found that smartwatches paired with a health app can encourage people with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes to start and maintain purposeful exercise, leading to improvements in blood sugar levels and systolic blood pressure. The programme also helped participants lower cholesterol and improve their quality of life.
Researchers have developed a more efficient method to monitor the olive fly population, enabling growers to make informed decisions on pest control. The new system uses small double-sided yellow adhesive panels, distributed at 4-15 traps per hectare, to accurately estimate olive fly numbers and damage.
A new surgical technique called NeuroSAFE has been shown to preserve erectile function in men with prostate cancer, with 39% of patients experiencing no or mild dysfunction after treatment. This is compared to 23% of those who received standard surgery.
A family-based approach to lifestyle interventions significantly improved weight management and obesity-related health outcomes among individuals with a family history of premature coronary heart disease. The study found that participants experienced an average reduction of 2.61 kg in weight, 1.06 kg/m² in BMI, and 4.17 cm in waist cir...
A TB vaccination has been shown to boost the immune system of bladder cancer patients, reducing cancer recurrence rates by up to 75% in a small pilot study. The vaccine was well-tolerated with no side effects and showed promising results in improving patient outcomes.
A new study shows that comprehensive clinical assessments (CCAs) are equally effective to guiding treatment for women with overactive bladder or urinary incontinence, avoiding invasive urodynamics testing. CCA includes a medical questionnaire, physical examination, and tests such as urinalysis, revealing similar patient-reported outcom...
Researchers developed a new therapy that teaches patients to tolerate stomach and body discomfort, improving functional brain deficits linked to visceral disgust. The study showed improved outcomes for adolescents with low-weight eating disorders compared to traditional family-based treatment.
The ASCOLT trial found that aspirin does not statistically improve disease-free survival for all patients but demonstrates a consistent trend of improving overall and disease-free survival. Aspirin taken for up to 3 years is efficacious in patients with PIK3CA mutation, reducing recurrence by over 50%.
Researchers found that mobile units with peer navigation improved health outcomes for participants with opioid use disorder, with about seven percent on medication and 35 percent virally suppressed. The study also showed lower odds of all-cause mortality in the intervention arm.
The Mount Sinai Hospital has become the first in the US to perform a deep brain stimulation (DBS) implantation procedure as part of a clinical trial investigating its effectiveness for treatment-resistant depression. The study aims to gather evidence on the impact of DBS systems developed by healthcare company Abbott.
Current pay-for-performance initiatives are often costly and ineffective, leading to moral distress for primary care physicians. The authors recommend refocusing incentives on time-limited, low-cost targets that are physician-controlled to support better care.
A large study found that telemedicine and training apps had minimal positive effects on patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. The study suggests that direct care from medical professionals remains crucial for improving health outcomes in this population.
A new study led by UCL researchers has found that the GLP-1 drug exenatide has no positive impact on movement, symptoms, or brain imaging in people with Parkinson's disease. The trial involved 194 participants and ran for 96 weeks, with no benefits shown in any of these areas.
A large study on preterm birth found that a maternal biomarker test can reduce neonatal morbidities by 20% and NICU admissions by 20%. The test identified high-risk pregnant individuals, who received targeted treatment and showed significant improvements in neonatal outcomes.
A major clinical trial has identified three new safe and effective regimens for treating drug-resistant tuberculosis, offering faster, safer, and more accessible care. The new treatments show promise in reducing treatment duration and side effects, making them a significant breakthrough in the fight against this infectious disease.
Research presented at the 2025 STS Annual Meeting reveals that anatomic lung resections such as lobectomy and segmentectomy are associated with improved long-term survival compared to wedge resection for stage 1A NSCLC. Lobectomy offered the highest survival rates, with a 71.9% 5-year OS and 44.8% 10-year OS.
A study analyzing over a million Medicare patients found that those receiving multi-arterial grafts had improved survival compared to single-arterial graft recipients. However, when accounting for unmeasured confounding variables using surgeon preference as an instrumental variable, no difference in long-term survival was observed.
This study investigated the feasibility of electroacupuncture-assisted ribavirin dosing in patients with long COVID, using Voll's electropuncture diagnostics. The results demonstrated that EAV can identify meridians with decreased electrodermal activity at acupuncture points, followed by medicament testing to measure daily doses.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a non-toxic bacterial therapy, BacID, to deliver cancer-fighting drugs directly into tumors. The therapy uses genetically engineered strains of Salmonella that can target tumors and control the release of cancer-fighting drugs inside cancer cells.
A randomised controlled trial found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care reduced disability by 1.3 points and helped participants lose an average of 1.6kg more than the control group
Researchers found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care reduced disability by an average of 1.3 points on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, while participants in a 'Healthy Lifestyle Program' also lost an average of 1.6kg more than the control group.
A case-control study found that flu vaccination protects children from all levels of severe influenza illness, emphasizing the importance of vaccination for this population. The findings suggest that vaccine should be administered to pediatric patients to prevent severe influenza.
The 'Bird Sonic' device, developed by Okayama University of Science, was installed at three Kansai airports to deter birds from flying over runways. The system uses high-frequency waves to reduce bird strikes and aims for 80-90% control by gradual reduction.
A randomized controlled trial examines the association between treatment expectancies and the relative efficacy of psilocybin versus escitalopram for major depressive disorder. The results suggest that psilocybin is more effective than escitalopram in treating depression.
A new framework developed by UCLA researchers suggests that genetic data from large libraries of sequenced human genomes can improve the predictive power of genetics in determining how well a patient will respond to commonly prescribed medications and the severity of any side effects. The study, which analyzed data from over 342,000 pe...
A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials found that drinking enough water can help with weight loss and prevent kidney stones. Drinking eight cups a day significantly decreased the likelihood of getting another kidney stone, while six cups a day helped adults lose weight.
Researchers explore adapting agricultural techniques, such as integrated pest management, to treat cancer. By managing cancer as a chronic condition, adaptive therapy aims to overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.
A new study reveals that patients attending first referral hospitals in low- and middle-income countries receive safe and effective surgical care comparable to higher level referral centers. District hospitals manage to deliver safe surgical care despite having fewer full-time surgeons and medically trained anaesthetists.
Researchers found that non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery significantly improves tumor control and reduces symptoms such as tinnitus, cranial nerve deterioration, and vestibular dysfunction. Early treatment can prevent tumors from growing over time and spare patients from irreversible problems.
Researchers found that improved blood sugar control significantly impacts brain health, slowing down age-related brain atrophy by up to 50%. The Green Mediterranean Diet, rich in polyphenols, shows promise in supporting metabolic and brain health.
A new study evaluated the efficacy of a combined hearing and vision rehabilitation intervention for people with dementia living at home. The SENSE-Cog trial showed significant improvements in quality of life in the short term, but further research is needed to understand its long-term impact.
Pragmatic clinical trials compare treatments in everyday clinical settings, but adoption of trial findings has been inconsistent. To address this, the authors propose adaptive trial designs to align trial goals with healthcare system needs. By doing so, they aim to generate evidence that truly improves patient care.
A randomized trial halted after patients in the control arm reached a record high two-year progression-free survival rate of 98%. Deintensified treatments involving lower radiation dose and immunotherapy did not perform as well as standard chemoradiation.
A multi-center phase III trial found photon- and proton-based radiation therapies to be similarly safe and effective in treating low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Patients treated with either IMRT or proton therapy reported no significant differences in quality of life, tumor control, or progression-free survival.
A recent clinical trial found that an IV iron treatment called ferric carboxymaltose works faster and better than oral iron tablets in treating anaemia during pregnancy. The study showed improved haemoglobin levels and iron correction with the IV treatment, with comparable side effects.
Research published in PLOS Medicine found that reducing the serving size for beer, lager and cider in UK pubs resulted in a 9.7% decrease in daily mean volume of beer sold. The study suggests smaller serving sizes could contribute to reducing alcohol consumption and decreasing the risk of various diseases.
A randomized controlled trial found erenumab injections significantly improved medication overuse headache remission rates and reduced acute migraine treatment days in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headaches. The study suggests that erenumab can be a simplified treatment option for MOH patients.