Trials
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Many patients develop chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after cardiac surgery, which interferes with their sleep, mood, and quality of life. Studies have suggested that propofol improves postoperative analgesia compared with volatile anesthetics, but its preventive effect on CPSP following cardiac surgery is still unknown. This study compares the incidence of CPSP following cardiac surgery for those receiving volatile anesthesia and those receiving propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) using criteria recommended by the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT). ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first prospective randomized controlled trial to investigate the prevention of CPSP following cardiac surgery for patients receiving volatile anesthesia compared to those receiving propofol-based TIVA using validated pain instruments in accordance with the IMMPACT recommendations. This study will provide important information on which of these two anesthetic regimens is better for preventing CPSP after cardiac surgery.
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Due to the large number of patients, high mortality rate as well as high social costs and economic burden, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become one of the most important health problems around the world, which has attracted people's attention. Currently, Chinese herbs have been widely used as alternative medicine (CAM) for COPD patients. The Chinese herbal formula San-Huang Gu-Ben Zhi-Ke (SHGBZK) has shown good clinical efficacy in COPD in preclinical studies. Animal experiments have shown that it has mucosal immune barrier function and can maintain airway wall integrity, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, promote inflammatory damage repair, and relieve narrow airway conditions. ⋯ It is hypothesized that SHGBZK will have beneficial effects in reducing the frequency and duration of acute exacerbations, improving the exercise capacity function of patients with stable COPD diagnosed with a deficiencies in lung qi and spleen qi. This study may establish a new treatment method for COPD patients, differentiating it from other drugs in clinical use used for similar clinical indications.
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Obesity has become a major public health hazard with epidemic proportions, affecting adults, adolescents, and children of both genders. Previous studies have suggested that acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) might be a potential therapeutic approach for obesity. The purpose of this study is to conduct a rigorous and normative trial to determine the efficacy of ACE for obesity. ⋯ The findings of this randomized, sham-, and WL-controlled trial will help to investigate the influence of ACE on clinical variables as well as visceral fat area of obesity, which will provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy of ACE for obesity.
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Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidenced-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Forensic mental health services provide assessment and treatment of people with mental illness and a history of criminal offending, or those who are at risk of offending. Forensic mental health services include high, medium, and low-security inpatient settings as well as prison in-reach and community outpatient services. There is a high prevalence of PTSD in forensic settings and posttraumatic experiences can arise in people who violently offend in the context of serious mental illness (SMI). Successful treatment of PTSD may reduce the risk of relapse and improve clinical outcomes for this population. This study aims to assess the efficacy, risk of harm, and acceptability of EMDR within forensic and rehabilitation mental health services, as compared to treatment as usual (routine care). ⋯ This study will contribute to the currently limited evidence base for EMDR for PTSD in forensic settings. It is the first randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy, risk of harm, and acceptability of EMDR for PTSD in people with SMI in either forensic, mental health inpatient, or custodial settings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Testing the therapeutic effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in semantic dementia: a double blind, sham controlled, randomized clinical trial.
Semantic dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the left anterior temporal lobe, resulting in a gradual loss of conceptual knowledge. There is currently no validated treatment. Transcranial stimulation has provided evidence for long-lasting language effects presumably linked to stimulation-induced neuroplasticity in post-stroke aphasia. However, studies evaluating its effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as semantic dementia are still rare and evidence from double-blind, prospective, therapeutic trials is required. ⋯ The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of tDCS for language/semantic disorders in semantic dementia. A potential treatment would be easily applicable, inexpensive, and renewable when therapeutic effects disappear due to disease progression.