BMJ open
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Resistance training (RT) and nutritional supplementation seem to have beneficial effects on muscle properties and physical performance in older adults. However, the reported effects of specific RT programmes and supplementation prescriptions vary among studies. The present study aims to examine the acute and residual effects of RT and/or beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance in older women with reduced muscle mass. ⋯ The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the TMIG, Japan. The study is being conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The findings will be presented at international academic congresses and published in peer-reviewed international journals.
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To test whether minimum income for healthy living of a person aged 65 years or older (MIHL65) is associated with frailty in older adults. ⋯ These results provide some support for the idea that frailty at older ages is associated with not having sufficient income to lead a healthy life.
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Non-randomised clinical trial designs involving comparisons against external controls or specific standards can be used to support regulatory submissions for indications in diseases that are rare, with high unmet need, without approved therapies and/or where placebo is considered unethical. The objective of this review was to summarise the characteristics of non-randomised trials submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for indications in haematological cancers, haematological non-malignant conditions, stem cell transplants or rare metabolic diseases. ⋯ There has been a large increase in submissions to the EMA and FDA using non-randomised study designs involving comparisons with external controls in recent years. This study demonstrated that regulators may be willing to approve such submissions, although approvals are often conditional on further confirmatory evidence from postapproval studies.
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Evidence indicates e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking; however, more confirmatory trials are needed. To date, no trials have evaluated the effectiveness and safety of combining nicotine patches with e-cigarettes (with and without nicotine) for smoking cessation. ⋯ The Northern A Health and Disability Ethics Committee approved the trial. Findings will be disseminated through publication, conference/meeting presentations, and media.
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Logistical and economic issues make traditional cytology-based cervical cancer screening challenging in developing countries. Alternative, cost-effective, screening strategies must be developed to screen millions of women in resource-poor countries such as Cambodia. ⋯ The results of this study suggest potential modifications of the current cervical screening strategy that is currently being employed in Cambodia. The first step in this new strategy would be self-swabbing for hrHPV. Subsequently, hrHPV+ patients would have DC and immediate treatment based on colposcopic findings: cryotherapy for suspected CIN1 and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for suspected CIN2+.