Trials
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Acute heart failure (AHF) is one of the most common diagnoses for elderly patients in the emergency department (ED), with an admission rate above 80% and 1-month mortality around 10%. The European guidelines for the management of AHF are based on moderate levels of evidence, due to the lack of randomized controlled trials and the scarce evidence of any clinical added value of a specific treatment to improve outcomes. Recent reports suggest that the very early administration of full recommended therapy may decrease mortality. However, several studies have highlighted that elderly patients often received suboptimal treatment. Our hypothesis is that an early care bundle that comprises early and comprehensive management of symptoms, along with prompt detection and treatment of precipitating factors should improve AHF outcome in elderly patients. ⋯ If our hypothesis is confirmed, this trial will strengthen the level of evidence of AHF guidelines and stress the importance of the associated early and comprehensive treatment of precipitating factors. This trial could be the first to report a reduction in short-term morbidity and mortality in elderly AHF patients.
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Older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are at high risk of progressing to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Slowing down the effect of dementia by enhancing brain plasticity represents one of the most prominent challenges. Neurofeedback (NF) has shown promising results in improving working memory but has never been evaluated in people with MCI. We aim to examine whether NF training can decrease cognitive disorders, targeting memory, attention functions and brain electrical activity in elderly patients with MCI. ⋯ If the results of our study show improvement in cognitive performances of older adults with MCI, this non-invasive, low-cost technique may deserve better consideration as a therapeutic intervention to delay cognitive decline and dementia. Consequently, research in NF will need to review and develop the rigor of its application in gerontology.
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A stroke often results in gait impairments, activity limitations and restricted participation in daily life. Virtual reality (VR) has shown to be beneficial for improving gait ability after stroke. Previous studies regarding VR focused mainly on improvements in functional outcomes. As participation in daily life is an important goal for rehabilitation after stroke, it is of importance to investigate if VR gait training improves participation. The primary aim of this study is to examine the effect of VR gait training on participation in community-living people after stroke. ⋯ The results of the study provide insight into the effect of VR gait training on participation after stroke.
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Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy disorder, characterised by hypertension and multisystem complications in the mother. The adverse outcomes of pre-eclampsia include severe hypertension, stroke, renal and hepatic injury, haemorrhage, fetal growth restriction and even death. The optimal time to instigate delivery to prevent morbidity when pre-eclampsia occurs between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation, without increasing problems related to infant immaturity or complications, remains unclear. ⋯ Current practice in the UK at the time of trial commencement for management of pre-eclampsia varies by gestation. Previous trials have shown that in women with pre-eclampsia after 37 weeks of gestion, delivery is initiated, as maternal complications are reduced without increasing fetal risks. Prior to 34 weeks of gestation, usual management aims to prolong pregnancy for fetal benefit, unless severe complications occur, necessitating preterm delivery. This trial aims to address the uncertainty for women where the balance of benefits and risks of delivery compared to expectant management are uncertain. Previous trials in this area have been undertaken, but have not provided a definitive answer, and the research question remains active. The results of this trial are expected to influence clinical practice internationally, through direct adoption and by incorporation into guidelines in countries with similar settings.
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Several studies have reported that the triangulating stapling method decreases the incidence of anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. Our previous randomized controlled trial, however, could not confirm the superiority of the triangulating stapling (TS) method over the circular stapling (CS) method in terms of postoperative anastomotic stricture rate. Recently, the functional end-to-end stapling (FEES) method for cervical anastomosis after esophagectomy was developed, and lower anastomotic stricture rates with FEES have been reported than for our previously experienced anastomotic methods. To investigate the optimal anastomotic method, we now compare the TS method with the FEES method for cervical anastomosis regarding decrease in anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer. ⋯ This study should help to define the optimal anastomotic method for cervical esophagogastric anastomosis after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer. The FEES method, if proven to be superior to the TS method, can be implemented routinely for esophageal cancer patients with gastric-conduit reconstruction after esophagectomy.